Topic: Mario Kart 8 - OT

I don't think being in first place is too advantageous. I've had online races during which I led the whole race and got 1st, led the whole race and ended up in 5th+ (those are seriously the worst), and came back from being as far back as 11th to take 1st.

Sometimes I get lucky and I exclusively get green shells and bananas while in first; other times I only get coins. If you ask me, I think it's pretty balanced.

I know exactly how that feels. There's some races where I'm doing really good then one second later....

My brother picked up this game today and I am loving it. The controls are alot better then Mario Kart Wii (I was using the Classic Control Pro) the music the graphics the level design all terrific. I even love the updates they made to the older course in fact a few of them even seemed totally new to me lol.

Just a couple of quick questions

1. How is it determined what character we unlock? Is it just random or does it pertain to what place you finish overall or what.

2. After you win a race I noticed that there was a number in the upper left hand corner of the screen right next to a star and you can press the + button to increase the number of stars. Anyone find out what that does?

It's completely random.

That's to save your favourite replays in Mario Kart TV.
You can have up to six favourites at a time which will remain there till you unfavourite/delete them.

I get what @Ferret is talking about. Usually if a person can get into first early, they can hold it for the entire race if nothing goes wrong. If you stay back with the rest of the pack, you'll be bombarded with shells, Bob-ombs, and everything else thrown by people with better item luck than you. At least that's what seems to happen to me a lot. Sometimes it just isn't possible to recover from a beating, especially when you can't get anything good to help you. Often times I'll get Triple Mushrooms when I'm near the back. The problem? They don't help much. Sure you can use them to cut corners and use shortcuts, but when the people in front of me are racing just as well or better than I am, going a bit faster three times doesn't do anything. Weapons are needed to slow the others down, or catching up is impossible.

Staying ahead can be just as difficult sometimes. If you get nothing but coins from item boxes, you'll have no protection for if a red shell heads your way. If you've managed to get a good lead on the person in second this is less of an issue, but can still end in disaster depending on what items that player gets. Triple Red Shells in second place in the third lap? Instant victory. In a recent online race, I was in first for the entire time up until the end. Near the end of the third lap I got hit by two Red shells and a Blue shell within the span of about 10 seconds. Boom. Seventh place. How fun. Such is the nature of Mario Kart, though.

@BenAV: AH ok thanks for the answers

@MegaStoneSmash91: Yeah I totally agree with you. I was MK8 for most of the day with my son and brother and every time it seemed when I was back in the pack like sixth place or lower I would just get the triple mushroom and nothing else. It was so annoying. Everyone else around me was getting shells and Fire Flowers and even a Bullet Bill but one race The Thwomp Fortress I think it was I just about gave up after the third triple mushroom in a row I got. But as you said that's just the nature of Mario Kart.

Was little sad to not see Luma next to Rosalina in MK8.

I miss playing as Diddy Kong. I noticed they didnt put in any new dk-track, maybe they are planning a DK-DLC? 4 new jungletracks and Diddy, Dixie and Funky as playable characters? I would love it.

I don't mind the fact that if you're in first you tend to stay in first unharmed. Make it more fun to me. I have a realistic expectation of just finishing 6th or higher. If I do then I'm happy. I want to be rewarded for getting first place Not be dumped into 6th after half a lap because of item spamming. That drives me up a wall more then anything. I still say this is the most accessible Kart yet as past games were a whole lot worse imo. Just for the fact you could carry 2 items. I'm glad they did away with that. I'm now rewarded more for driving better then just repeatedly getting item spammed!

I would love to see this. Funky Kong was amazing in MKWii, if Funky gets back in MK8 I will cry tears of joy. :'D

...A guy can dream, can he?

pls no funkerino nintendo

Well my son. brother and I finished all the courses on 50cc , which is what I start on to learn the courses when I get a new MK game. Unlocked a few characters as well as so me car parts. Might go over to my brothers again and try some online later today, after the US/Germany soccer match of course.

This. I used to hate how I felt like I was being punished for being more skilled than who I was playing against in some past games (especially MKWii). Though it does seem like you get beat to death in this one more when you are in the middle of the pack (about 4th - 7th or so) which makes it tough for people like a friend of mine who isn't quite the same skill level..

Curious quesion. When you guys go online to play do you have any problems? Such as when a player doesn't break the item box but gets the item anyways? Or when you hit somebody but they don't slow down? I just want to make sure I'm not the only one.

It happens to me too, it's lag issues. At least I don't have disconnects, but I was in a race on Tick-Tock Clock and on my GamePad screen, there was such an extreme amount of tearing and lag. Today, the drift sparks weren't even showing at times. They should update the game's online. I was afraid the game was gonna break (even though it was downloaded).