Mario Kart 8

I'm going to avoid reading write ups on the DLC tracks as I've not seen much at all and want to go in as fresh as possible, I also typically like tracks that others don't.

SNES Rainbow Road is always frantic; at least, in my memory. No course has ever given me the terror sweats so bad.

Well this time it looks wide, barriered, and as flat as most of the SNES tracks. I'm more excited for WGM than I am that.

Anyway, a bit of fun: Nintendo Life suggest their own DLC packs. Anyone care to fire off your own? I'll post mine in a bit: several ideas come to mind.

Would anyone be interested if we did some sort of tournament with the arrival of the DLC? I can't recall ever using the community/tournament feature of this.

Aye that'd be nice to do but I'd suggest to folk that you should only put yer hat in if you can make it on the days whenever the tournament runs otherwise some might get an unfair advantage because of the way the pts system works.

I think if we are super strict about the day & time then it could work or if people get into a race with less than 4 GNamer-ites we could deduct those pts earned from their total.

Thoughts?

Y'all probably know this, but the DLC is out NOW. Or, when I get home from work, from my perspective. Link, Master Bike, Egg Cup - have at it.

As for my own DLC packs, I'd love to see Pokémon x Mario Kart. Pikachu, Mewtwo, and... I dunno, probably Luigi in a Mr. Mime costume, given past performance. The best bit would be scootling around on the Pokémon series' tiny bike! And then falling off the side of Sky Pillar.

And unless my online performance has miraculously improved, I have no opinion on tournaments. I will get it fixed at some point, I will I will.

I don't mind doing a tourney at some point.

I'd do one next month some time

New Mercedes/MK8 trailers continue to be hilarious.

I love those Mercedes commercials. The Luigi one is phenomenal.

So, has everyone dabbled in the new Mario Kart tracks? I'll have more spoilery thoughts later but for now: oh. My. God.

I downloaded and done both cups with my boy link and it's great DLC again from Nintendo, I hope that continues with games going forward especially with SMASH.

Online a issue wanted to play some games and people are voting for things like Toad's Turnpike over the new tracks, so I gave up with that. So do hope to see some of you online and we stick to the 8 new tracks.

I've been playing online on and off all day, and for the most part people have been playing the new tracks. Especially Hyrule and Mute City.

I've dabbled now.  The galling thing is not getting stamps for the new characters.  It means that I have no reason to try out Tanooki Mario, or play more than the one Grand Prix as Cat Peach.

The courses, after a brief sampling, in order of Balla-preference (worst first):

Rainbow Road SNES
Wario's Gold Mine
Excitebike Arena
Yoshi Circuit
Hyrule Circuit
Ice Ice Outpost
Mute City
Dragon Driftway

Egg Cup definitely got the better courses, although I feel that Ice Ice Outpost has been undersold and Hyrule Circuit oversold.  Ice Ice reminds me of F-Zero GX's Phantom Road, only without being absolutely evil; meanwhile, once you get past the sound effects and the Master Sword bit, Hyrule Circuit feels a bit dull.

The best thing about the whole pack, though?  The billboards in Mute City saying "Show me your moves!"  I now want a new F-Zero even more.

The DLC is bloody brillaint! & it only get's better when played online with certain tracks springing to life a bit more than they do in single player track highlights are definitely Hyrule Circuit, Dragon driftway & Mute City but in my opinion there is no bad track in the dlc.

mas wrote:

Online a issue wanted to play some games and people are voting for things like Toad's Turnpike over the new tracks

I've seen some weird picks from folk as well, I was with just 2 folk earlier today & snes rainbow road/sunshine airport comes up on the vote and they both vote the latter to my complete surprise.

I instantly thought what a bunch of wimps.

Oh also when playing a few races with Fronk & Beemoh I had a big dilemma Vote Moo Moo Meadows or Mute City? Of course I picked MMM & I was the only one who had.

EDIT: Here's a live performance of the music from the tracks I mentioned

Dragon Driftway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEQUIPIYtjI&list=UUGIY_O-8vW4rfX98KlMkvRg (That fucking bass bit is deadly!)

Mute City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeDvIJ-u7oM&index=3&list=UUGIY_O-8vW4rfX98KlMkvRg

Hyrule Circuit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyE9rnjQwiA&list=UUGIY_O-8vW4rfX98KlMkvRg&index=4

I suppose even the new tracks might be a little tiresome for anyone that's been playing online all day and you can't deny the original tracks don't lack quality.

Aye I definitely got the feeling folk were voting for the dlc tracks at times just because they are new.

The_Jaster wrote:

I've seen some weird picks from folk as well, I was with just 2 folk earlier today & snes rainbow road/sunshine airport comes up on the vote and they both vote the latter to my complete surprise.

I instantly thought what a bunch of wimps.

Honestly, I'd have done the same now. A couple of plays on SNESRR were enough. The track just doesn't interest me.

.....but it has an ace racing line you Wimp!

Don't you like Toad's turnpike? You can't get more than that.

I do wonder, after hearing what everyone has said, whether my love for TT is built on solid foundations. While there's lots going on, from jump ramps to the zero-G walls (genius ideas, by the way), there's no doubt that the track is less packed than back in its N64 days. Still, playing chicken with meagre traffic is better than barely having to move to dodge Thwomps.

One thing I will say is that my impressions of Ice Ice Outpost were positively affected by its racing line. And Yoshi Circuit, with the extra speed, is more fun than its previous iterations too.

Hyrule Circuit feels a bit of a letdown, to be honest. They could have done a tad more with Zelda's rich history. However, Mute City is everything I hoped it would be. The Excitebike track lives up to its potential too, if I'm honest (again). The returning tracks are fun in their own way.

DIGRESSION ALERT: You've hopefully seen The LEGO Movie by now, and know Benny, whose catchphrase is "SPACESHIP!"? That's what I'm like about SNES Rainbow Road. That track is what's kept me coming back to Mario Kart so many times over the years.

Of the (other) newbies, Dragon Driftway stands out and Ice Ice Outpost does does not.

You know how Mute City is great? Someone's only gone and made it in F-Zero X. Make me want F-Zero U even more, why don't you.

And all I think is Eh.. But that could be as not a fan of F-Zero

Fast Racing Neo might fill the F-Zero Void on the Wii U even though it's slightly more wipeout.