As much as I hate to admit this, this game is no fun for me. Before you get your panties in a bundle, hear me out. I have been playing mario kart religiously since the SNES days, which were good times indeed (and nowadays movies are horrible too, I'll add.) Have some respect. They dont make 'em like they used to thats for sure. I most definitely hold rightful judgement over the pre-puberty biased numbskulls on this topic who have no way of appreciating the way things used to be by not growing up in the era. I was born in 1982 and was privileged to be brought up in a video game era that relied on solid games, and not graphics to draw popularity and widespread acceptation amongst the worthy. I used to be into PC gaming too and I personally witnessed the transitional era that made graphics mandatory--which simultaneously, unintentionally, and unfortunately changed the way people view video games.

What pisses me off about the game mostly is the complete and absolute unfairness of the game. It really is out of control. Yes, I am familiar with the concept of mario kart. At almost any given moment you are one 'box' gift away from remaining in the back of the pack or taking over a top place. It's crazy that you can have a flawless run and then be bombed with a blue shell that all of the sudden puts you in 8th place or worse for the run. The first 2 were much more practical, yet entertaining. I absolutely love the SNES and N64 version of this game and I was never too hot on the Gamecube version but I eventually warmed up to it. I always have thought it was inferior to the previous versions but it was worth owning as it was cheap entertainment that would otherwise be $$$ spent in a bar in a very short matter of time.

Things that suck about the new MK's include the ridiculous items, especially the blue shell. Why does that thing explode and take out anybody within the immediate area? My god that sucks!! The controls are horrid. Since the GC version you have to take turns with a different approach which sucks for a guy who logged so many hrs getting used to a particular style. Why the hell are the green shells so deadly all of the sudden? Also, why is it so much harder to take out a red shell that is honing in on you? Why is it that the red shell takes you out even if you pass somebody and they become the closest target to the shell? It is just so much different from the originals and those are the type of tactical methods that a veteran DOES not want to sway from.

Ultimately, I guess this game is for the kids, which I am no longer a part of. I am not trying to ruin it for them, but I guess I am complaining on behalf of those who are disgusted by the way things have gotten. Take it for what you will.

Regardless of that, my life is not ruined. I am now a 26 y/o--as of last week, and I am used to things not going as planned (or expected,) I make 60K plus annually (so far) on zero debt, I am in phenomenal physical condition, I bang model quality girls on a regular basis, and life is generally good. I am just pissed that my nostalgic roots cannot be satisfied to the extent that I wish they could be in regards to my mario kart tastes. I guess this is gods way of telling me that things always change, for good or bad, and that I need to deal with it.

I hope that you teenagers out there who most definitely were not around for the glory days (which is impossible for you to understand) take this seriously and try not to flame a guy who has already been torched. You cannot burn a marshmallow twice. Mine is already roasted.

If it is so unfair why is there a wide range in the online rankings? Generally if you are in first place you are rewarded, you aren't constantly being hit by stars and Bullet Bills. Yes you will get unlucky, but as you say, this is Mario Kart after all.

If you hear a Blue Shell coming and you are in second get out of the way, it's that simple. It gives a chance for others to catch up, what's the harm in that?

Instead of complaining about it, why not get use to the new control style?

They are?

It really is quite easy, just hold down the item trigger when you have a banana or similar item and it will remain behind you and block the incoming shell.

I'm pretty sure that happened in Double Dash as well.

Games generally aren't exactly the same as there predecessors.

How is changing some of the mechanics making it a kids game? Just because you are struggling dosen't mean it automatically is tuned into a kids game.

Congratulations.

Perhaps you should stop crying a river and get to know the new game mechanics. Yes I enjoyed the other Mario Karts in the series and this one does take a little while to get use to but the enjoyment for me is still well and truly there.

To some extent I agree with the OP. The level of luck involved is too high, particularly on tracks like Luigi Circuit. Yes, I know it's not exactly Gran Turismo, but I prefer it when games reward skill rather than luck. Few things are more aggravating than racing a perfect race for three laps, only to have it stolen at the last corner by some blue shell which you have no way to block (though you may be able to boost out of their way through carefully timed use of a mushroom, you don't get mushrooms while in first). Methinks Nintendo geared this game too far towards the casual gamer end of the market, so they wouldn't feel like they could never win anything.

Precisely what I was trying to avoid but whatever. Just throwing out an opinion, guy. I realize things change, as I noted earlier. However the controls are not very good. I am not struggling, just proclaiming disappointment. Change is not always for the better. =

I was also throwing out an opinion "guy".

You were the one who said this:

I think like with every game it is each to their own opinion, it's a shame that you have been let down with this game however i really do think it's doing it's purpose! As annoying as it is when you're happily going along in first and you get hit by a blue shell of doom, and then a number of other objects, when you're sat playing with a friend it's hilarious! I generally play with my brother who like you has been playing Mario Karts since the start, he gets the rage over it but just accepts that alot of younger children play this game and although it's annoying for us when we get taken over by the person who has been sat in 12th place all race, that person could be 9 years old! And we can't really begrudge them a shot!
You made alot of good points, i don't know how long you've had the game but maybe you'll warm to it a little if you play with friends or even online with friends. I find it alot more fun that way. But hey, maybe it's just time to get the ol' N64 out and have a few games on that!

Edit: Oh noes, not thread wars =(

I'm with Napalm on this one. I think a nice addition would be some invincibility for a couple of seconds after you've just been hit. Getting hit once at the end isn't too bad if you're far enough in front. Three times within 3 seconds is just sickening.

I was in agreement with the you up until the end when you went into your life story ( lol @ validating your existence b4 any1 tries to flame u for it. that was prob. genius in some way) as well as ranting on about all the the obstacles in the game that are i guess maybe causing you to lose. Thing is change is nothing new, when it comes to music, games, sports, life etc. its just the way things are.
as far as graphics go i have to applaud nintendo on their not sacrificing gameplay for graphics, at least to the extent some other systems do. theres no doubt about it this isn't the mario kart of the snes days but did u really not expect things to change? making it harder to win isn't really that shocking, and it cleary is not impossible to win.

voicing an opinion and treating it like fact often does that,

especially having "mario kart wii sucks" in the title, he was just asking for this, and breaking the forum rules doing so

edchoche-i suggest acting your age, a lot of people don't like brawl compared to melee, but they don't start threads like"brawl sucks"(well i think there was one, but it wasn't a smash veteran)

Eagles is just countering your OPINIONS, with his own, and i'm going to have to agree with eagles on this, the reasons why you think this game sucks is kind of pathetic

i'm a mario kart vet too, ever since the original, and i think mario kart wii is the best yet...(but i'm not going to treat that like fact)

My thought are consistent with what you have to say in your 1st post Napalmbrain. Yea, I am 26 years old, but still a kid inside. Sorry... I mean no harm. Eagles, try not to stress to much. I am not here to make an arch rival, I am just venting some major disappointment. IMO things have changed for the worse in the MK world and if you disagree, fine by me. The world didn't get to where it is today with every one getting along and agreeing upon things.

Kettricken, I identify with what you have to say.

Honestly, it really does suck when you get bombarded with an onslaught of items in a matter of seconds that take you out of the race. The game is too casual for me to really appreciate these days......

In retrospect I will say that the thread title that I chose was a bit aggressive and unproductive to a meaningful discussion about any potential demise of the mario kart franchise that was percieved by me. For what it is worth, I wish I could rename the thread. Oh, and I was not aware I broke forum rules with the way I titled the thread. I really wasn't "asking" for this kind of response, I said things like I would have stated it to a friend.

There were a lot of things I'd agree with in your first post and some, I disagree. Sure Mario Kart has changed, maybe not for the better but we should all embrace it, otherwise we'd be stuck playing the same old game day-in, day-out. Now I did play the original MK games, despite being only 20, I own a NES, SNES and an N64(I probably have a brick sized gameboy lying around somewhere). And I yes, games(and movies) aren't the same as they were back then(Though we are younger than you, we still have access to the classics). Also, 6 years IS NOT a huge age gap, especially in our generation.

Another thing, trying to say you "bang model like women" is the last thing you want to say on a forum, ANY forum. Because 1).We honestly don't give a rats ass(sorry if it sounds harsh, but its true) 2). It does NOT validate your points any further. and 3). As far as we know, your a fatass 40 year old virgin.

Now, I know my last Paragraph was a bit harsh and I don't want to start any kind of Forum war or anything of the sort, but it what we all think.

Now, I'm not going to say your wrong, because everyone has their own opinions, but some are better off not being voiced.

I agree that Mario Kart is too much about random luck and not enough about getting credit for whatever skill you had, but edcoche could've done a lot better without all the self-entitlement and ego-stroking.

Glad you're so proud you're 26 and sleep around a lot. I'm 33, so I was rockin' video games before you were even a twinkle in your parents' eye, kiddo.

Well, I was born in 1976, grew up on Super Mario Bros and Duck Hunt. I've owned every Nintendo system built and I must admit.....MARIO KART WII ROX!!! I haven't had this much fun gaming SINCE playing SNES Mario Kart with my brothers. Quit crying, go bang some model quality girls and move on with your life.