MK8 compared to the other games

[Troll]

How good is this game compared to the previous ones? I don't own a Wii U or a 3DS so I haven't played 7 or 8, but I've played all the ones before it.

I think Mario Kart Wii would be a good comparison. Most of what I remember from MKW was that it was a generally decent game with a lot of really cool tracks, but it felt like the game had this obnoxious "balancing" mechanic in which it tried to hold you back from dominating each race by sending 7 red shells and a blue shell at you. Also the Wii Wheel was frustrating and Battle Mode was a let down.

 

[Luigidenne3DSGCN]

My time with Mario Kart 8 was the best! Out of the nine tracks I've played, I enjoyed all of them (and that's just the beginning)! Looking around and awing at the sights is breathtaking, the Anti-gravity is awesome, and the GamePad feels so natural in my hands. I can't wait to try out the full game and its delights. Like every game, it takes what the previous installments did and makes them better!

 

[Guy Shy]

The game is much more balanced then Wii, unless you get really picky with items because 8 really changed up who gets what items. I've gotten a Golden Mushroom and a Star in a row when I was in 4th.

 

[SpiderStaryu]

How good is this game compared to the previous ones? I don't own a Wii U or a 3DS so I haven't played 7 or 8, but I've played all the ones before it.

I think Mario Kart Wii would be a good comparison. Most of what I remember from MKW was that it was a generally decent game with a lot of really cool tracks, but it felt like the game had this obnoxious "balancing" mechanic in which it tried to hold you back from dominating each race by sending 7 red shells and a blue shell at you. Also the Wii Wheel was frustrating and Battle Mode was a let down.

Honestly, if you think MKWII had it bad with balancing, you might not like MK8's item system too much. MKWII item raped happened a lot, but you could recover from it, cuz when you dropped to last you'd get like a Golden Mushroom/Bullet Bill, etc. But with Mario Kart 8, if you get item raped, that's pretty much it cuz it's really impossible to catch up. So when you get hit by tons of stuff and drop to let's say 10th, it will not be uncommon for you to get a Coin/Green Shell/single Mushroom in that place, while people in 3rd/4th are getting Golden Mushrooms, triple mushrooms, etc.

I think Mario Kart 8 is a lot of fun, especially with friends. All the courses are pretty awesome, great graphics. The item system is literally my only problem, but it might not bother you that much. And hey, blue shells are not as common as MKWII (probably only 1 per race), and no Thunder Clouds, so those are already 2 huge pluses. Definitely should pick it up if you get a Wii U.

 

[cookieboy17]

Yeah the funky item system where if you get nailed with a couple item systems in a row and get dropped to 10th and then get like 3 green shells in 10th is my only peeve with this game.

End of the day it's still Mario Kart and if you love Mario Kart you'll like the game. If you don't like Mario Kart...what the hell is wrong with you

 

[Darkboo007]

Item System is not helpful in MK8 since it due to distance rather placing... so if you're close to 1st place yet 10th place overall, expect a sole mushroom or even a damn banana peel

 

[AegisReflector]

The item system is what turns me off from MK8 online. It's fine if you're playing with CPUs or on multiplayer, but it's just very hard to maintain a stable position if some schmuck has a Gold 'Shroom in 3rd place and there's a Bullet Bill coming at you from 5th. While it's certainly not as bad as MKWii's system, it's way more challenging to work around.

I think it wouldn't be a problem so much if you could dodge with two items like in MK7. Because you know that Triple Shells will be common in 2nd or 3rd places now. If bigger items get issued in top positions, then more dodging mechanics like the 2-item defense should be implemented again. I hate having to waste a Coin in first place and totally open to defense. It isn't fair. This isn't Mario Party where everything should be based on chance. Your driving skills become meaningless because of this.

Also, is it just me, or is the drifting in this game a bit off from MKWii or MK7? It seems to be a tad sharper, and yes, I have been using different kart setups and it still doesn't feel right to me. I also noticed that you don't gain speed while in the act of drifting anymore, which I like.