Mario Kart 8 Impressions

So, like I said, I got to play Mario Kart 8 at GameStop as I hope all of you got to as well, and it was fantastic! The graphics were way better than any YouTube video has ever captured, the game handles great, and I'm not sure what cc the demo was on, but things seemed a little slow... Other than that, I didn't see any Spiny Shells, so that was a huge plus. I played as the Koopalings, all of them, because they rock! Specifically Morton and Roy. Anyways, it's great fun and I highly recommend to all! It comes out in just less than two weeks, so pre-order your copy today!

Hands On with Mario Kart 8

This weekend, I am going to play Mario Kart 8 for the first time at GameStop. I'll let you all know how it goes and how it feels, but if you would rather I experience it rather than listen to me talk about it, check out this website here and see how far a drive it is to get to the nearest test-drive area:

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/events/Mario_Kart_8_TestDrive/default.aspx

Why Nintendo?

I am a huge fan of Nintendo, as anyone could tell by reading a few posts on this here blog, but why am I so into Nintendo? Why am I not a Sony or Microsoft Fanatic? Well, I'm going to let you all know exactly why I am a fan of Nintendo above everything else, and why I still maintain that opinion today in a kind-of-book, almost-like-a-story thing. I'll put it up here in a day or two, until then... wait in great suspense.

Also, 

Countdown Clocks

Mario Kart 8 Track Impressions

Mario Kart games usually have a handful of courses that really impress me, but Mario Kart 8 is chock full of them. But which are my favorite? Look below for the greatest tracks of Mario Kart 8 and why.

5. Bowser's Castle

Bowser's Castle courses always impress, but none quite like this. The flames spewing out of his massive castle right at the beginning of the race really sets the mood for the epic, intense drive throughout his castle full of fire wheels, lava hazards, and a gigantic stone Bowser that punches with his fists of lava. Fists of lava.

4. Thwomp Ruins

Thwomp Ruins is set in the Mushroom Cup, so racers will be able to see this course early on, and it isn't mind-blowingly epic like Bowser's Castle, but what it does have that makes it even better is the route selection. After you leave the first tunnel, you come into a clearing. Where do you go? To the sides to avoid the Thwomp in the middle? Or do you risk the tricky flight? Would you rather just dive into the water and drive from there? The choices makes this course a really cool one. Not to mention all of the things that have been done to the design to make it look old and ruin-y.

3. Shy Guy Falls

Another early-on course is that of Shy Guy Falls. Shy Guy Falls, for the most part only has one route to take, so alternate routes aren't its strong point, but the overall design is a thing of beauty. Driving up a waterfall is cool, but driving down one is even more so. Another characteristic of this course that makes it so awesome is all of the working Shy Guy, making a living by mining the precious diamond of Shy Guy Falls.

2. Rainbow Road

There is surprisingly a lot of criticism for Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8, but I believe it is a masterpiece. Critics are saying it isn't a "rainbow" or a "road", it's just a space station. It's a Mario Kart TV space station. THAT'S FLIPPIN COOL. (Just don't ask how they're gliding in space) 

1. Mount Wario

Mount Wario is not only the coolest course in Mario Kart 8, but in the entire series. And that is saying quite a bit. But here's why:

Mount Wario sets the mood right away, when you start inside of  helicopter. From there, you drop onto the snow and begin to race. Once on the ice, you slide around to the bottom of the ice paths. Now you are in a cave, which starts the beginning of both the second lap and the anti-gravity segment. What makes the cave a cool place is the multiple routes available, you can either stay on the anti-grav walls or drop down to the water. There are also flying segments and at the end of the cave chaos comes a brief moment of normality, before entering your second anti-gravity segment, in which you drive horizontally across the face of what appears to be a dam. Once across the dam face, you jump down onto the snow and enter a forest. Once again, the path forks in nearly every direction, and you choose how to get through the maze of trees. And once you find your way out, here is the big finale. Lap 3 begins and you begin to drive down a ski slope. Flags and fences and all. Look to your left and see cheering fans. Look to your right and see Shy Guys snowboarding down the other side of the slope. Then you cross some moguls, and enter one last anti-gravity section which sends you hurtling towards a huge ramp, which allows you to then take to the air and fly down to one last turn before finishing.

What makes this course special is not only the fact that you start in a Mario Kart TV helicopter, but you get to see all of the detail poured out into this level. Shy Guys snowboard alongside you in Lap 3. Fallen trees and logs on the ground act as ramps in lap 2. Overall, the experience of Mount Wario is a spectacular one, and we all can enjoy it come May 30th.

Nintendo NFC Figurines Inbound

I may or may not have already expressed how much I despise the Skylanders franchise because of their overpriced figures and ridiculously expensive starter packs...

Well, with these Nintendo NFCs, I thought I would express my opinion on them. They could be good and cool. But that depends on whether or not Nintendo prices them appropriately. If they can make them at good value to consumers, then there would be one thing right.

And once we actually know more about them, I would love to further express my feelings toward them. But until then, KCDuckling out.

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

It has finally happened. Generation III of Pokemon is being remade for the 3DS, but the interesting thing is that no game play has been showed. However, a lot of "new" was in the trailer, so one can assume that this won't be your traditional remake.
Also, the mascots on the box art are probably the mega evolutions of Groudon and Kyogre. This hints that more X and Y mechanics could come back for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, like... awesome stuff.

KCDuckling out.

KCDuckling Community

With Mario Kart 8 getting closer and closer, I find myself getting more and more excited for all of its features. Particularly, the online features. When I get the game, (and you too hopefully) I think I'll create a KCDuckling Online Community. Feedback is greatly appreciated to gauge interest, so if you are planning on getting a copy of Mario Kart 8, which I strongly advise you do, let me know if you would be interested in joining a KCDuckling racing community.

KCDuckling Out.

CoD Advanced Warfare?

Nah. And here's why: To begin with, I am going to let you all know that I am not the largest CoD fan in the world. Okay, now I can begin.
Call of Duty Advanced Warfare is a Call of Duty game set in the future with fancy and advanced (hence the name) machines and equipment. And here is why I don't like it. Let me repeat what I said earlier: it is set in the future with fancy and advanced equipment. Sound familiar? Halo fans? Call of Duty is famous for using ideas from other first person shooters, and it is really prevalent now. Let's look at some of the things in the trailer that stuck out to me:

• Infrared Grenade - A take from Halo. The futuristic grenade is the spitting image of the Promethean Vision ability from Halo 4. Being able to see through walls and highlighting enemies has clearly been done before.
• Hoverbikes - Another take from Halo.... and every other Sci-Fi game or movie ever created...
• Exoskeletons - The whole idea of wearing a piece of equipment on our body that enables you to perform tasks not usually perform-able (jumping higher, increased power) has been used in all kinds of games, but most recently would be the case of Titanfall and this ties in to Master Chief's Mark VI armor too.

So overall, it looks pretty (but what game doesn't these days) and the drones look pretty darn cool, but a lot of the futuristic objects that CoD is bringing in is clearly ripped off of other games. I mean, for once Call of Duty, get an idea of your own!