The Official Mario Kart thread

Rainbow Road 8 is simpler-looking, but some of those turns are anything but. The boost pads on the outside of the track just before you reach the starting line are death traps. I have a much easier time on 64.

That said, I'm not a huge fan of the one-go tracks. I don't feel like I can work back up if things go wrong. They're objectively well-designed, but I never really feel like I have a chance on them.

No it's not. I've been able to keep away from the AI for long periods of time, even on 150cc.

Sorry, but I refuse to believe that is the case 100% of the time. I played with near max top speed before and played aggressively to stay ahead with minimal trouble, but the minute I get hit once or twice, someone would be there to pass me.

You can build enough of a lead to give yourself from a hit even on 150cc. It's very difficult, to be sure, but it can be done. In fact, that's how I play. I try my best to build enough of a lead that Green Shells are virtually a non-factor and Red Shells aren't as much of a threat due to the number of obstacles in the way.

But again, building such a lead is very difficult and requires substantial skills and perhaps luck on anything higher than 100cc.

Is it better to have great handling so you don't hit walls and terrain, or poor handling so that you drift-turbo more often?

I try to keep my handling high since coming to a dead stop (or close to it) due to hitting a wall or going off road is a lot more damaging than only getting a Mini Turbo from a drift.

It's not possible 100% of the time. I can however manage this about 65% of the time when I play at 150cc (and a percentage of those wins I screwed up and still landed first). Seeing the computer have no means of catching up to me when I'm a couple seconds from the finish line is something glorious to behold.

11% of the time, I simply pass them by and keep that lead to the end because they have no means of passing by a high-speed vehicle once I get going.

10% of the time I get hit before the finish line and still get first.

9% of the Time I get second place, either because of the computer or because of my own screw-ups (and the latter actually happens far more often than the former). the rest of the time I get a lower spot than that for the same reasons.

The only problem I have with my build is on Dolphin Shoals (fuck Dolphin Shoals) and that's more because of my underwater speed and handling being garbage than top speed being useless.

On lower difficulties I can hold my first place about 99% of the time. (The rest I place lower because of screw-ups)

A handling greater than 3-4 is not needed, while a handling lower than 3 than still be salvaged with practice. My most favored build have it between 3 and 4, depending on what my traction stat is.

edited 24th Jun '14 9:54:46 AM by Folt

I'm sorry, but N64's Rainbow Road does not have a lot going for it. In the original version there was barely anything to it aside from massive stretches of road.

My problem with Rainbow Road in MK 8 (which is also why I favor N64 Rainbow Road, whether it's the original or the remade one) is that MK 8 Rainbow Road is actually rather barren in terms of obstacles on top of being both short and easy. 64 Rainbow Road at least had the Chomps and that impressive shortcut which could cost you the race if you didn't pull it off successfully (and because it was so long, I had much more time in absorbing the glorious neon lights of the racers).

MK 8 Rainbow Road also lacks uniqueness from a gameplay standpoint, there isn't much there that I haven't seen before in other Rainbow Roads. What further hurts it is how the remake of N64 Rainbow Road also gets a couple points that make it stand out from it's little brother, and while those also aren't unique, they make it feel much more satisfying aesthetically as a final race where you've got to give it your all.

Stretches of Road...and the many Chain Chomp obstacles along the track...and maybe even that giant dip in the road in the beginning in which you can catch a ton of air to make a short cut out of.

Also, for all you guys wondering whether you want to give up either acceleration or top speed, I have a combo that gives you good top speed AND good acceleration.

1. Pick a Heavyweight character of the heaviest class that isn't a metal character (In this case, Bowser, Wario, Morton or Heavyweight!Mii)
2. Pick an inward drift bike (Comet, Sport Bike, Jet Bike or Yoshi Bike)
3. Pick a "Roller" type tire (Roller, Azure Roller or Buttons)
4. Pick a Glider that changes your stats (aka. anything but Super Glider, Wario Wing, Waddle Wing, Plane Glider or Gold Glider)

Congrats, you now have a racer with 4.25 ground top-speed, 5.25 water top-speed, 5 air top-speed, and 4.25 anti-gravity top-speed. And what's the acceleration you say? Why, it's exactly 4 acceleration, which gets you to the 4th tier of acceleration (the tiers? 1-1.75, 2-2.75, 3-3.75, 4-4.75, 5, 5.25, 5.5, 5.75, the last four tiers have veeerry small increments between each other) which should be more acceleration than you'd ever need in this game.

EDIT: Fixed errors regarding both set-up and information.

edited 24th Jun '14 11:59:41 AM by Folt

I still believe it's RNG on whether or not the AI will be aggressive towards you or not, speed be damned.

And N64 RR is boring in either version. Chain Chomps aren't anything wow worthy and the so called shortcut is only a big deal if you play with others who do the same.

Or do time trials.

As for the AI, they can be as aggressive as they want to because the fact remains that I win and get first place more often than not.

edited 24th Jun '14 11:50:46 AM by Folt

I don't really like how bikes handle, to be honest. They turn corners so sharply that it's very hard to get a drift going on the less sharp curves you see on most tracks.

N64 RR has awesome music. That's all I need to like it.

Well yeah, that is pretty much the flaw of the combo: Outward drifting is more useful than inward drifting in this game.

Well, that and the traction stat is shot to hell so you will want to be on the road all the time.

edited 24th Jun '14 12:08:37 PM by Folt

My combo of Pink Gold Peach, Biddy Buggy, Rollers, and the Cloud glider works pretty well.

My combo is Rosalina, Sport Bike, Retro Off Road, and Parafoil. The wheels have changed once or twice but it is a combo that has served me very well.

Well, since we're posting combos, Luigi with the Pipe Frame, Cyber Slicks, and Super Glider (since I don't have Waddle Wing yet) great speed and good handling. Sometimes I swap Luigi out for Iggy, Ludwig or my Mii.

If I need more speed, I use Waluigi or the Circuit Special in order to still have decent handling.

I also use the Retro Off-Road tires coupled with the MKTV Parafoil or Bowser Kite in case I need tier 3 acceleration.

edited 24th Jun '14 2:34:49 PM by Folt

I don't know what to stick with, but I always aim for high acceleration, handling, and traction.

I run Mario on Yoshi Bike/Cyber Slick/Waddle Wing.

...at least, if I had the Waddle Wing unlocked. Super Glider works too, at least.

I am the worst ever so I just use Baby Luigi on a bike with pretty random parts. I'll figure out the stats when I have every part, damn it!

So apparently Nintendo has tweeted that MK 8 has sold 2 million units worldwide. The Wii U has sold approximately 6 million units. That's a really good attach rate.

The real important bit is how many Wii Us were sold as a result of Mario Kart 8. That's kind of what they want after all.

edited 26th Jun '14 11:37:58 PM by edvedd

I'm thinking about holding another race later today or tomorrow if anyone is interested.