Mario Kart 8 Review

I got it, played it, and was very impressed with it. That is the most condensed form of my review possible. Now if you want me to elaborate, read on.

I picked it up at 10:00 a.m. the day of launch and proceeded to play it until 5:00 p.m. the next day, only stopping for bathroom and applesauce breaks. So yes, I have played the game enough to judge it. Just throwing that one out there.

The game's graphics and sound are absolutely amazing, and even with the recent test that confirmed that Mario kart 8 did not run 1080 p, the game still has the same resolution of Battlefield 4 on XBOX One. The sound is live orchestra for the most part, and from the stages to the selection screen, all of the music is absolutely perfect and wonderful to hear over and over and over again.

Grand Prix is your typical Grand Prix, you race four tracks, and win. Pretty simple, huh? Well in Mario Kart 8, the COM racers seem to have gotten a bit harder making getting all 3-star rankings on all of the cups more of a hassle than before, but its all worth it to get that little 3-star icon next to your name when you race online.

Now for the online functions. As Wii U is the only console left to offer free online play, people have said that that leads to poor quality online, and that is certainly not the case here. Every time I've played online, I have not once had a communication error or had any trouble racing smoothly with my friends or strangers. Now for the friends aspect online, you can create a lobby for just your friends, and you do have voice chat, but as soon as the race starts, the voice chat goes out and comes back after the race. Although I do see how listening to your friends shout some colorful words after getting hit by a spiny shell in the 3rd lap wouldn't be very representative of Nintendo's peaceful online scene, I do wish I could talk to my friends during races. But that is my only complaint for online, however I do have just one more complaint. Let's head over to the roster...

As Buzz Lightyear would put it in his internet-famous meme:

And I have to agree with Buzz here. Although Baby Mario and Baby Luigi are actually in Mario games, Baby Peach and Baby Daisy have no right being in any video game. And I was even fine with them until... Baby Rosalina. NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE LIKE ROSALINA, WHY WOULD YOU MAKE A BABY HER? Because Nintendo fucking hates you, that's why. Also, who the hell came up with Pink Gold Peach? Really? Some guy at Nintendo: "Hey, maybe we should bring back Dry Bones! Maybe Diddy Kong?" Some other guy who is hopefully fired now: "Nah. Lets add one more baby character and a Metal Peach... no, wait... PINK GOLD PEACH!" And everyone just agreed with him? Seriously, where is Dry Bones and Diddy Kong? BECAUSE THEY ARE IN GAMES AS WELL. And I love the Koopalings, but I bet Bowser Jr. is pretty upset he was ousted for them...

Overall, the game rocks (minus the stupid roster and the chatless online with friends) and Mario Kart TV is a blast to watch and use. The game's gyro controls are more precise than MK Wii, so it's much more fun to play. The course design is clever and fun to race on, the retro courses all have been perfected and updated to now include flying, underwater, and anti-grav sections of their own. It's really a great game and I really think that all of you should get it. And yes, it is even worth getting a Wii U for. Just promise me something, will you? If you see Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, or Baby Rosalina on the track, please DESTROY THEM for me. Thanks.

Edit: How could I have forgotten those damn coins? P.S. the item balance is awful. If you're first, the majority of your items will be coins, which cannot be used to defend or attack, merely add 2 coins to your coin count. Already at 10 coins? Well then you just got fucked over you fucking bitch. Also, I've been in dead last (12th place) and gotten a green shell and at the same time, 2nd place gets a Crazy Eight, Dear Item god, 2nd place probably needs that star less than I do. But seriously, its really bad. But still a good game. Good day.

Edit again: Item balance is awful fine. There are plenty of instances where people way ahead of you will be gifted with better items than you but such is life. Not game-breaking.

95 out of 100... stupid babies.

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.