Mario Kart Wii

[John Hoare]

a) This is FUCKING fantastic. One of the best games I’ve ever played. Especially online multiplayer.

b) My friend code is 4210-4156-7478, and Tanya’s is 3437-3215-7850. ADD US AND POST YOURS IMMEDIATELY.

Topic

[Phil]

>we?ll be Wii-less this weekend as we?re going to a party?

To celebrate me going to Canada to be crowned KING OF AUTHORS?

>Wii Fit has been lodged in my Wii for too long.

Am I right to assume that’s a positive review on your end? I’m kind of fascinated by the idea of Wii Fit. Overall I’m about an average weight for my height, but I never exercise–ever–and I eat junk, leading me to believe I can’t be anywhere near as healthy as I look.

I’m tempted to get Wii Fit, but at the same time I’d feel oddly embarrassed doing so. Why is it that I’d buy a video game to get in shape but I won’t go jogging before work, or something?

[Pete Part Three]

>Am I right to assume that?s a positive review on your end?

Yup. There are problems with it (a little limited, no way of designing a customised exercise program) but it’s about as fun as an exercise aid can be. Shouldn’t be confused with a game though. The novelty factor has worn off so I don’t particularly “enjoy” it as such (aside from the “rush” that exercise usually brings), but it’s swiftly become part of my daily routine.

I do a reasonable amount of exercise, am average kind of height and am a few pounds overweight according to BMI (presumably due to weekend binge-drinking and eating). I’ve certainly noticed an improvement in about a month’s worth of 30 minute daily sessions. At the end of that I’m sweatier than when I play 90 minutes of football.

I was far more excited about Mario Kart than Wii Fit, but I’d guess I’ve spent more hours with the latter.

Oh, and I’m 27 and my Wii age is 22. It’s like a stasis booth!

[Ridley]

Oh, and Phil – Smash Bros isn?t out in the UK until JUNE THE FUCKING 27TH. As soon as it?s out, I?ll get it?

…Well did you?

[John Hoare]

I’ll probably pop along to town this weekend and pick it up.

[Pete Part Three]

It should be winging its way to me as I type. Or sitting in a depot somewhere.

One of the two.

I don’t think I’ve played SSB for longer than 30 minutes on either the N64 or the Gamecube. The format never really appealed to me (and I’m not entirely sure why as it’s a first-party Nintendo title which should be justification enough). Am giving it another go and took the plunge and ordered it in light of the incredible reviews.

[Phil]

I ADORED the N64 version. It was probably the last time in my life that I would stay up with friends playing the game literally all weekend.

Eventually I picked up a Gamecube just so we could play the next version…and it really didn’t do anything for me. I was very disappointed by it, actually. I think I was just hoping for the same game with more characters and levels. Instead it tried to do too much of everything, and the graphics were actually distracting and difficult to discern, despite them being, in a technical sense, better.

The Wii version is definitely a big step back in the right direction. Nothing will ever top the original for me, if only because of the memories I have, but it’s at least a really good, really solid game that keeps all the advancement of Melee but removes everything it did wrong.

[Ridley]

Which was? Brawl feels a bit slower than Melee

[Phil]

Which I’m all in favor of. Melee came across to me as a button-masher. The only decisions you were ever making was whether to use a long-range weapon or a close-quarters one. I actually prefer the decrease in speed because it means an increase in actual strategy. The N64 version never felt like a button-masher to me. It was comparatively simplistic, yes, but it seemed rewarding in that simplicity. It was easy to pick up, but you always had to keep your wits about you.

In Melee “keep your wits about you” was replaced by “keep whacking the other guy so he doesn’t whack you,” “keep jumping so you don’t get killed by this ridiculous moving stage that doesn’t belong in a fighting game,” and that old chestnut “watch yourself get killed by a hazard that was colored so darkly it was practically invisible.”

[Pete Part Three]

What control method do you favour in the Wii version, Phil?

[Phil]

So far I’ve only played it with the Gamecube controller and with the Wiimote/Nunchuck. If it weren’t for the horrid jumping and discard actions on the Wiimote/Nunchuck I’d spend more time with it. For now, though, I end up with the old faithful Gamecube controller.

In all honesty I haven’t found much time to play it since I picked up Mario Kart Wii, Twilight Princess, and a few Virtual Console games. (Not to mention working my way through the Luigi version of Mario Galaxy.) I’m sure my gaming habits will cycle back around to it, though.

[Ben Paddon]

MarioKart Wii is virtually unplayable using the GameCUbe or Classic COntrtollers as the Stunts are mapped to the D-Pad. Stunt jumps and wheelies are pivotal for success in the 150cc and Mirror cups.

[Phil]

Oops! Was Pete asking about MKWii? In that case I apologize. I mainly use the Wiimote/Nunchuck, though I did spend a lot of time with the wheel, which I only stopped using because I injured my left thumb making item use impossible.

[Pete Part Three]

Yeah, I meant SSB. It’s interesting how Nintendo are offering all these alternatives to the Wii Remote + Nunchuk. Playing with the Wavebird just doesn’t feel right to me.

[Phil]

>It?s interesting how Nintendo are offering all these alternatives to the Wii Remote + Nunchuk.

I’m hoping they keep that up for the new Mario Sluggers game. I loved the Gamecube version because it was very fun in spite of the fact that I’m not a big baseball fan. But the new version intends to use something similar to the Wii Sports interaction for hitting/pitching. Except I’m sure it’ll be more complex in terms of the types of swings/pitches you can do. Also the game is sure to be much longer and more tiring.

Personally, I’m all for hitting a button to swing a bat. It’s nice that the motion-sensing control will be in place for that sort of thing, and I’m sure it’s a lot of fun, but if I intend to play for any very long stretch of time I’d like the ability to control the game more “traditionally.”

[John Hoare]

I did get Brawl, incidentally, but I’ve not had much chance to play it yet, because of… “stuff”. When I have finished “stuff”, I’ll be there.

I’ve had a quick go though, and it made me all fuzzy inside.

[Ridley]

I?ve had a quick go though, and it made me all fuzzy inside.

Wiimote: ur doin it wrong

[Author]

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