Mario Kart, IMO, doesn't have a lot mechanically outside items. I feel like it would lose something without items, not to mention making it a lot harder to catch up to people. Smash Bros, meanwhile, still functions perfectly well sans items.
...Oh. Weird.
edited 23rd Sep '14 7:05:42 PM by Zarek
"We're home, Chewie."It does, but most people don't, from what I can tell. The game is actually not very balanced without items, since it just comes down to who has the fastest kart and starts in the lead, then.
Random items are never balanced, but it's ironically more balanced than without since there's at least some predictability to them.
You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!I can't help but feel that if Smash never had items in the first place, it would lose something. Not gonna say I don't occasionally turn them off though.
This song needs more love.I'm actually part of a Smashboards usergroup that's trying to advocate allowing some items that don't immediately turn the match around.
In an all-items match, though, there is no balance whatsoever if Villager's on the field. He can store a Fairy Bottle for later, use a Warp Star from any point on the stage, combo into a golden hammer...
edited 23rd Sep '14 7:14:33 PM by BaffleBlend
"It's liberating, realizing you never need to be competent." — UltimatepheerThough, when I do turn items off, I leave smash balls. I have grown far too accustomed to the flashiness of final smashes.
This song needs more love.![]()
I can agree. I'm of the opinion that everybody should play with items on for the first few matches for pure fun factor, then if they want to try testing out raw skill disable them.
I like to play both, though I trend towards items on because I don't really have anyone to play with who is as experienced and familiar with the game as I am. With items off it becomes a wholesale slaughter, which isn't fun for either of us.
edited 23rd Sep '14 7:16:00 PM by Anomalocaris20
You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!I do really love the game-changing items, though. If only because 1) you usually have a chance to stop them being used, and 2) they're so much fun. Seriously, all the new items in 4 like the Gust Bellows and the S-Flag and the Beatle and that grabby-grabby spaceship are really satisfying to pull off, and also terrifying when your enemy gets hold of one.
"We're home, Chewie."
I just feel cheated if a match is decided solely by an item, whether I won or lost. The computer won, not me.
edited 23rd Sep '14 7:16:08 PM by BaffleBlend
"It's liberating, realizing you never need to be competent." — UltimatepheerI vary from time to time. For tourneys, I usually go for no Items. Even the ones I run myself. The courses are selected to try and avoid extreme turnabouts due to those alone, instead of the player using the course to their advantage a bit. Chain Grabs/Walk Offs aside.
But for fun, many things go. I sometimes put on all explosives, Poke Balls, whatever works.
Shadow?I do not think items have a place in a formal tournament. They're FUN, but tournaments are less about random fun and more about treating it as a sport.
I mean, if people want to run an item tournament that's totally fine, but I think an itemless tournament is a much better competitive environment if you want raw skill vs. raw skill.
You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!

Makes me wonder if Mario Kart had an option to turn items off, if most people would do it.