Nintendo WiiU : Thread 05

[DeathAdder]

I rather like that Yoshi box art. But I think it will only reinforce the view that so many gamers seem to have that Nintendo games are for kids.

[randombs]

I'm in love with that Yoshi box. Feels like I'm peering into an actual world made of wool. I didn't know about this game until I saw it in the Direct so I'm off to google and ogle the graphics.

Wii-U will most likely be my current-gen system if it doesn't die before I'm ready.

[kryss]

Liking the boxart here too. Very excited for the game.

[Sam The Man]

Brilliant box art. Doubt il buy the game though.

[Asura]

Managed to get the WiiU working again after sourcing a USB hard drive, so we could finally update Mario Kart 8.

Technically the second time we've played it, and I'm wondering if my experience of it matches that of others.

Firstly, it looks amazing; sure that isn't news to anyone. It's just so solid and well put-together visually. Even with all the VFX and bright colours, you never seem to lose track of what's going on. The framerate holds up really well, even in 2-player splitscreen. As a piece of technical work and a visual showpiece, it's wonderful.

However, on the gameplay front, first experiences are a bit mixed.

A lot of elements in it seem to have changed, from prior MK games, to lean it further toward being like Mario Party (i.e. removing a lot of longer-term strategy in favour of twitch skill and/or luck, which naturally is better for families with young kids, who Nintendo always like to court).

Couple of examples include...

• The shorter Lakitu retrieval time making intentionally knocking people off-track less effective
• The increased situations in which weapons are stolen from you - even if you're hit by ink, now, your weapon gets taken away. This makes you want to use your weapons ASAP; I don't feel it's under my control as I'm so likely to lose it in the next 10-15 seconds (as everyone behind me has just gained weapons!)
• The inability to "stock" weapons while holding other weapons
• The speed-up potential of things like the mushrooms seeming a bit flat
• The track design offering less places for shortcuts using the mushroom/star, so there is less reward for learning the tracks
• Alternate track routes which tend to boil down to the same distance/mirror images of each other, so less reward for advance track knowledge
• Sometimes these extra routes have coins to differentiate them, but often I find myself having 10 coins most of the game. Also makes the coin power-up a little redundant?

Collectively, these things probably make it a better party game, but I find it less entertaining to race against the AI than I did in, say, Mario Kart 64.

Do the higher cc levels alleviate some of the above, or will some new depth to it become apparent?

EDIT: However, the highlight reel is something I can wholeheartedly get behind. It's AMAZING. More games should do this.

[Pikate]

I think as you sink some time into it those concerns will disappear, the 50cc class is so lacking in challenge it makes the game barely enjoyable, 100cc is a little better but in the 150cc class the quality of the AI definitely ramps up and with the more fierce/assertive AI and the karts carrying more speed it makes it harder to deviate your line to collect coins a lot of the time, or at least the race itself becomes a more pressing concern and you forget.

I'm really looking forward to the new 200cc mode myself, hopefully they've turned up the speed 33% but left the AI otherwise unchanged so it's not brutal for those of us with average skills

[PaTaito]

I think as you sink some time into it those concerns will disappear, the 50cc class is so lacking in challenge it makes the game barely enjoyable, 100cc is a little better but in the 150cc class the quality of the AI definitely ramps up and with the more fierce/assertive AI and the karts carrying more speed it makes it harder to deviate your line to collect coins a lot of the time, or at least the race itself becomes a more pressing concern and you forget.

I'm really looking forward to the new 200cc mode myself, hopefully they've turned up the speed 33% but left the AI otherwise unchanged so it's not brutal for those of us with average skills

Yeah just the extra pace is all that is required. Could take this game to SNES levels.

[kryss]

I was thinking of pre-ordering Splatoon direct from the eShop, but it's the same price as retail...So I think I'll just get the disc. Silly Nintendo.

[PaTaito]

I was thinking of pre-ordering Splatoon direct from the eShop, but it's the same price as retail...So I think I'll just get the disc. Silly Nintendo.

I guess its better than being higher priced than the disc. PSN/XBOX Marketplace style.

[yesteryeargames]

Lovely yoshi boxart , I really love those wooly amiibos , going to be an expensive month .
Thank you for the tip on the splatoon price .

[Nu-Eclipse]

Could take this game to SNES levels.

Somehow, I really doubt it.

[PaTaito]

Somehow, I really doubt it.

Its what made SNES mario kart so awesome though.

Then again SNES had much better balance in power ups, harder and more rewarding handling etc, so yeah...you are probably right lol.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Then again SNES had much better balance in power ups, harder and more rewarding handling etc

Is correct.

That said, I have been trying to give MK8 more of a chance in recent times and playing it more regularly. 150cc can be hella cheap on some tracks, and massively frustrating as a result.

[speedlolita]

I grew up playing 150cc in Mario Kart because I thought it meant that the karts were faster, not that it was the difficulty level.

200cc might be nice because frankly the AI isn't at all difficult.

[Nu-Eclipse]

200cc might be nice because frankly the AI isn't at all difficult.

Difficult? No. Cheap? Very much so, in a way that seems more so than in previous MK games.