History of Mario Kart (1992 - 2025) | Documentary | Every Mario Kart Game, Ranked
- Thread starter IbizaPocholo
- Start date
- Opinion Analysis Trailer
NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
I'm surprised that I agree so much with the rankings video.
I'd only put SMK above 64. But Super Circuit is right where it ought to be, ie at the very bottom. And 64 is nowhere near the top. This is justice.
No doubt in my mind that 8 Deluxe was peak Mario Kart, and while I'm still very early in World, it feels just as solid as 8D.
I'd only put SMK above 64. But Super Circuit is right where it ought to be, ie at the very bottom. And 64 is nowhere near the top. This is justice.
No doubt in my mind that 8 Deluxe was peak Mario Kart, and while I'm still very early in World, it feels just as solid as 8D.
IbizaPocholo
NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
I like MKW more than I do MK8DX. I think that tracks are more varied, more you can do with the grinds, and also it's cleaner in its art style.
I would say both games suffer from unfun when you're in first, they should really come up with new items when you're first. Getting a coin or a green shell ain't it.
I would say both games suffer from unfun when you're in first, they should really come up with new items when you're first. Getting a coin or a green shell ain't it.
Mozza
Member
Very reasonable argument with lots of insight and nuance. Not a bait drive by in any way... lol
Mozza
Member
It's a tough one because MKW and MK8 are both very different games and to be honest I love both. But I do feel if Nintendo had simply produced Mario Kart 9 I would not have been as invested as with MKW as the open world is awesome imho. I'ts pretty much driving around an awesome MK8 course but them being able to leave the confines of it and expolre further. A special mention to the traditional Mario Kart course when you find the binocular viewer and realise it's actually three courses joined into one with differents exits etc.. The fact I have played arounf 40 hours or so and have only completed two 50cc Grand prix events and one Knockout tour is a testiment to how much fun I am having simple exploring this awesome world.
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He did not only drive by shit post, he got hit by a blue shell and is upset.
ChoosableOne
ChoosableAll
This might be the only series that has shown no progress or innovation over the years(33 years!). They tried something new for the first time, like open world, but it seems that wasn't well received either.
My favourite MK is still SMK on the SNES. It has beautiful pixel graphics in mode 7, banger soundtrack (amazing how catchy these short loops are), lap times in GP mode (something MK8 and MKW lack), circuits weren't too crazy, and I like how the karts get oversteer depending on the ground and weight of them. I'm playing it weekly in 2P mode with a friend of mine.
N64 MK was cool at the time but the lack of the GP mode for 3+ players was and still is a bummer.
N64 MK was cool at the time but the lack of the GP mode for 3+ players was and still is a bummer.
GigaBowser
The bear of bad news
world best garphics annnd gameplay mechnics easy bee best when all dlc
Mozza
Member
Based on what evidence?, the game is selling very well. Or are we taking the views of a few YouTubers with no subscribers or views.
You can literally do tricks with the Kart which added a lot of branching paths, there's also a fresh knockout mode...
How did other racing series changed?
ChoosableOne
ChoosableAll
You can see it in the comments about open world gameplay here too, it's not just youtubers or reviewers. The fact that it sold well doesn't necessarily mean it was well-received, especially considering it's the first Nintendo exclusive for the new console and comes bundled with it. I didn't say the game as a whole was disliked, but the open world part, which was the biggest "innovation", doesn't seem to have been well-received. The knockout mode seems to have been liked, and the on-rails and water sections also seem cool. What I meant was that watching the history of Mario Kart would have been boring because they released similar games for 33 years(until now), and they finally tried something new for the first time.
Yeah, you're right — we could say the same thing for a lot of ongoing series(not just racers). I guess I'm just a bit salty because I paid $60 for Mario Kart 8 and played it only for 30 minutes.
I like it more than 8. The world is full of fun challanges. I also paid 50 euro for it, part of the bundle.
ChoosableOne
ChoosableAll
It looks and probably plays better than 8, and it will get better with dlcs, but I won't fall for it again(probably). Sorry for the derail, I'm not posting anything in here, have fun guys.
BlackTron
Member
Yeah I do think I played through Super Circuit once when it came out but pretty much forgot that it existed once I lost the cart after. The only time I really ever recall the game is from the cool single cart multiplayer feature. The game itself I can't remember other than squinting at the og GBA's screen to play it.
Objectively, 8 DX is the best one but 64 still has my heart though. Which MK let you play Block Fort battle mode in between bouts of Goldeneye, Starfox and Mario Party. The only answer is 64.
Objectively, 8 DX is the best one but 64 still has my heart though. Which MK let you play Block Fort battle mode in between bouts of Goldeneye, Starfox and Mario Party. The only answer is 64.
My Rank
1. Mk64
2. Mk DS
3. Mk DD
4. Mk 8
5. Mk World
6. MK SC
7. MK Wii
8. MK 7
Objectively 8 is probaby the best overall. Ds is the best competitively, DD has the best gimmick, 64 has the best atmosphere, World has the really fun trick stuff. The rest are far below for me in comparison.
1. Mk64
2. Mk DS
3. Mk DD
4. Mk 8
5. Mk World
6. MK SC
7. MK Wii
8. MK 7
Objectively 8 is probaby the best overall. Ds is the best competitively, DD has the best gimmick, 64 has the best atmosphere, World has the really fun trick stuff. The rest are far below for me in comparison.
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Rran
Member
This series is pretty consistent for me, and I got each one around the time they came out.
Super Circuit gets dumped on a lot these days but I think it still has its place for people who want a SMK-style game with a lot more tracks.
I think the weakest is actually MK8. Unlike most people I got it when it came out (and it came with a free digital Wii U game which was pretty cool) and besides the audiovisual boost it was a very modest upgrade. Same number of tracks as before with no new modes, janky item balance, and an awful Battle Mode. Its big innovation was supposedly anti-gravity but that was a really subtle change that effectively did very little. And then MK8D came out but by then I'd already played the game so it was held back by being a full-price port of a game that came out three years prior.
Conversely, I think Mario Kart World is awesome and might be my favorite.
Super Circuit gets dumped on a lot these days but I think it still has its place for people who want a SMK-style game with a lot more tracks.
I think the weakest is actually MK8. Unlike most people I got it when it came out (and it came with a free digital Wii U game which was pretty cool) and besides the audiovisual boost it was a very modest upgrade. Same number of tracks as before with no new modes, janky item balance, and an awful Battle Mode. Its big innovation was supposedly anti-gravity but that was a really subtle change that effectively did very little. And then MK8D came out but by then I'd already played the game so it was held back by being a full-price port of a game that came out three years prior.
Conversely, I think Mario Kart World is awesome and might be my favorite.
Mozza
Member
Not trying to rain on your parade here but how many people is this in reality. We are drawing conclusions from data that is simply not there.
Chukhopops
Member
Once you get used to wall riding and trick chaining in World it's simply the best MK with so much skill expression.
All it needs is one DLC (or at least alt paths that make use of all the unused track variations) to be the absolute best.
Also hot take but 8 became worse with the second DLC adding a lot of boring, poorly designed tracks which diluted the excellent roster of tracks after Wave 1.
All it needs is one DLC (or at least alt paths that make use of all the unused track variations) to be the absolute best.
Also hot take but 8 became worse with the second DLC adding a lot of boring, poorly designed tracks which diluted the excellent roster of tracks after Wave 1.
Mk world has the highest skill ceiling but its mid level is poorly balance in a game like mario kart, its incredibly punishing to go for the new mechanics a majority of the time at the average level. If you dont practice or optimize like crazy they are borderline useless.
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rodrigolfp
Haptic Gamepads 4 Life
Shit how?
Chukhopops
Member
It's like MK Wii where you want to jump but don't want to stay in the air, any long jump or bad trajectory can be devastating. Short hops and fast trick chains are the key.
But I like that the game feels less random than 8 especially in online survival mode, can't imagine going back to it at this point.
Calverz
Member
The views of few YouTubers with no subscribers or views is just as valid as a YouTuber with millions of views. Why? Because gaming is art. Therefore subjective.
Mozza
Member
But they are suggesting some wider outrage. Which is simply not true.
Calverz
Member
Well I've seen more discontent with this Mario kart than others in the past. So not outrage but there is people not happy not with entry.
While playing the cpus I just get so bored (the cpus show you how you should just stick to doing it like older mario karts and not waste your effortsa majority of the time) when its just better to ignore the new mechanics the majority if the time. Optimally using a charge jump is incredibly niche for how its emphasized as a new mechanic 90% of the time its just better to not do it, which is super boring.
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Are there entire races/circuits on or mainly on water like there?
Mozza
Member
Again what metrics are we going off. This does seem like a case of people in bubbles speaking to other people in similar bubbles.
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LordOcidax
Member
Best Kart series out there by miles.
Mozza
Member
Oh no it's the dreaded ranking lists section of the thread. Must resist the urge to make a list lol.
Mozza
Member
Ther only Kart series by a country mile.
Calverz
Member
Well you can't really have metrics for discourse. I can only speak from what I have seen. And Iv seen a bit of it on social media. More than Iv ever seen for Mario kart.
I think online thats the general vibe. Its a combination alot of questionable game design choices, missed potential and an 80 price tag.
The npc characters are awful to unlock, the open world has no npcs or meaningful unlockables (npc charcters would have been so easy to implement here), Grand pris having in between courses make it feel just like knockout tour and the lack of 3 laps on the best part of courses is a bummer, no unlocks from getting 1st in knockout tours, no 200cc, new mechanics being to niche a majority of the time to be consistently useful for the majority of players, etc.
Mozza
Member
We are not really getting anywhere with all this. The general vibe from a few YouTubers and the very small amount of people that left a negative review. On the whole most will be simply kicking back and playing this game and enjoying it. Totally unaware of the online storm in a teacup or that it's even being discussed in the first place.
Oh I agree everyone is still having a good time its just the vibe is a general dissapointment. The trick stuff, npc characters, knockout tour and open world are still cool.
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Mozza
Member
Like I said far too small a sample size to make any real judgement. Compared to the millions that have already bought this game.
Calverz
Member
Ok but the discourse is from people who have bought the game. I have bought the game and I have some big issues with it. The proof will be if Nintendo make future changes to specific things that people are complaining about. My biggest gripe is the Grand Prix.
Oh if your talking about the main casual player base that makes sure mk is on the top most selling games every year, they probably love it with the open world.
Plies
GAF's Nicest Lunch Thief and Nosiest Dildo Archeologist
Calverz
Member
100% this. The game will continue to sell millions. It's not terrible a game. I just think for the more hardcore crowd it's a weaker entry.
Mozza
Member
I am not a casual gamer and I love the open world.
Yes.
I would say you are a minority among the more hardcore crowd then.
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Mozza
Member
Again far too little evidence to make that statement. And define core players some casuals will sink many hours into games too.