Why hasn't Mario Kart added a story mode?
- Thread starter ThatStupidLion
- Start date
Valjean Lafitte
Banned
Because how would they explain Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, and Baby Rosalina?
LeeRoyBrown
Banned
The more important question for me is why did they kill the franchise for me by removing local coop grand Prix.
Mr Waluigi
Banned
I don't know if you already knew that, but Paper Jam only has like two tutorials in the whole game, and they're for new battle techniques
Muchi Muchi Pink
Member
Because I don't need one in a Kart Racer.
FunkyDealer
Banned
Mario looked around and smiled. Throwing a party had been an excellent idea. It had been a long time since they had all gotten together. All his friends were there: Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi - even Wario and Donkey Kong. They laughed and talked about all the adventures they had shared together in the past. But what was there to do now?
The conversation turned to their dreams for the future. Amazingly, they all envisioned the same thing...
To become a Super star upon whom everyone in the world could rely.
Then Wario asked, "Which one of us is the biggest Super star?"
"I am!" "It's me!" they all shouted. The gang couldn't come to an agreement because they each wanted to be the best. They needed to prove once and for all who truly was number one.
Suddenly, Toad had an idea. "Shouldn't a Super star be great race-driver?"
Everyone realized he was right. Then Toad told them about a series of Racing Cups in Mushroom Kingdom that would take place across the land, and even in some foreign nations. Surely there were no better way to decide who was the best racer.
They all ran as fast as they could to sign up and jumped into their karts. But none of them knew what exciting adventures awaited them on the road to glory...
The conversation turned to their dreams for the future. Amazingly, they all envisioned the same thing...
To become a Super star upon whom everyone in the world could rely.
Then Wario asked, "Which one of us is the biggest Super star?"
"I am!" "It's me!" they all shouted. The gang couldn't come to an agreement because they each wanted to be the best. They needed to prove once and for all who truly was number one.
Suddenly, Toad had an idea. "Shouldn't a Super star be great race-driver?"
Everyone realized he was right. Then Toad told them about a series of Racing Cups in Mushroom Kingdom that would take place across the land, and even in some foreign nations. Surely there were no better way to decide who was the best racer.
They all ran as fast as they could to sign up and jumped into their karts. But none of them knew what exciting adventures awaited them on the road to glory...
It's Mario Party 1's intro, with a few changes
Yeah it's definitely ludicrous to think that a series like Metroid would have something as flippant as a kart racer but I really think a space soccer mini game would really breath new life into the series.
Finally a game you can play as ridley.
Mario Kart 8 plays so well, I hope that's the focus of the next one.
Linkstrikesback
Member
The better question is what happened to the DS challenge mode?!?
What do you mean by co-op? You mean double dashes gimmick?
Because you can still play Grand Prix locally with up to four players on one wii u on mario kart 8.
What do you mean by co-op? You mean double dashes gimmick?
Because you can still play Grand Prix locally with up to four players on one wii u on mario kart 8.
FunkyDealer
Banned
Yeah, for Mario Kart 9 I just want Mario Kart 8 with a great battle mode.
PotionBleue
Member
Similar missions were also in Mario Kart Wii: 2 online tournaments a month with online leaderboards.
http://www.mariowiki.com/List_of_Mario_Kart_Wii_tournaments
It's surprising Nintendo didn't bring the challenges back under MKWii's online-focused form as it gave people an incentive to boot the game regularly.
Unfortunately, it's stupid they didn't allow people to play these tournaments again offline after they were finished.
Salty Hippo
Member
Did you even play DKR or CTR's Adventure mode? It's not about the story, it's about exploring and finding secrets. It's not even called "story" mode for that very reason.
kingkaiser
Member
Mario spent all his coins on mushrooms and got broke. In sheer desperation his Princess starts to work part-time as a pole dancer to help him out of his misery.
Then everything goes wrong, as Pimp Bowser kidnaps her and Mario is forced to participate in illegal street races to win her back.
Then everything goes wrong, as Pimp Bowser kidnaps her and Mario is forced to participate in illegal street races to win her back.
The story/adventure/campaign mode in Crash Team Racing added a significant amount of single player hours to the game and was pretty fun, maybe they could consider it in future for MK. For those who didn't play CTR, in adventure mode there were hub worlds with portals to various races and time trials, and you would earn trophies and gems. Each area had boss you'd have to race one-on-one to unlock the next area. There wasn't really much of a story at all.
I feel like MK 7 and 8 are my favourite kart racers, but I only really play them local multiplayer. So on that basis adding single player content like that would probably be a good thing if they could do it right.
I feel like MK 7 and 8 are my favourite kart racers, but I only really play them local multiplayer. So on that basis adding single player content like that would probably be a good thing if they could do it right.
FunkyDealer
Banned
I can already picture DK as the leader of a rival gang. And Funky Kong would fit right in!
Daisy as the tomboy mechanic...
If we're going to talk additions to Mario Kart, there's only 3 I can think of, and they all come before a story mode.
One is to go in the direction the DLC already went in and make it a full-on Nintendo franchise cart racer (although I detest the name "Smash Kart").
Second is local split-screen/LAN multiplayer tourney configurations. Smash Bros. is also guilty of this. Despite being a multiplayer focused game, setting up tournaments the manual way is a pain in the ass.
Third, and most importantly...
It goes without saying, but this really needs to be a thing. I've read the defence of MK8's battle mode, and while I agree with certain specific points, I can't say that I agree that it adequately replaces the Arena courses.
MKDS was the last game I can think of to really do Battle Mode any real justice, though, and it's because of this...
I'm sorry, but Block Fort is to Mario Kart players what Final Destination is to wannabe Smash pros: it's over-hyped as the be-all and end-all of battle mode courses, and many arena designs since have been trying to crib from that and make it unique, so as to not include the same damn mode and maps in every damn game, despite feeling so similar.
What we need to see if Arenas come back is for the Arena itself to be your adversary just as much as any racer could be, and not just things like pit traps to make you easy prey, either.
And while we're at it, I remember Super Mario Kart being the last Mario Kart game where part of the challenge with Battle Mode was just trying to find an item in the first place, because the respawn for items had a much larger delay.
So there's a place for arena-based battle mode, I agree, but it can't just keep cribbing from the old games like it has done since MK64, which is what I believe the current setup in MK8 was trying (and not fully succeeding) to address.
One is to go in the direction the DLC already went in and make it a full-on Nintendo franchise cart racer (although I detest the name "Smash Kart").
Second is local split-screen/LAN multiplayer tourney configurations. Smash Bros. is also guilty of this. Despite being a multiplayer focused game, setting up tournaments the manual way is a pain in the ass.
Third, and most importantly...
It goes without saying, but this really needs to be a thing. I've read the defence of MK8's battle mode, and while I agree with certain specific points, I can't say that I agree that it adequately replaces the Arena courses.
MKDS was the last game I can think of to really do Battle Mode any real justice, though, and it's because of this...
Übermatik;198203973 said:
I'm sorry, but Block Fort is to Mario Kart players what Final Destination is to wannabe Smash pros: it's over-hyped as the be-all and end-all of battle mode courses, and many arena designs since have been trying to crib from that and make it unique, so as to not include the same damn mode and maps in every damn game, despite feeling so similar.
What we need to see if Arenas come back is for the Arena itself to be your adversary just as much as any racer could be, and not just things like pit traps to make you easy prey, either.
And while we're at it, I remember Super Mario Kart being the last Mario Kart game where part of the challenge with Battle Mode was just trying to find an item in the first place, because the respawn for items had a much larger delay.
So there's a place for arena-based battle mode, I agree, but it can't just keep cribbing from the old games like it has done since MK64, which is what I believe the current setup in MK8 was trying (and not fully succeeding) to address.
geordiemp
Member
Ah, my favourite Kart racer.
When I had a Wii I preferred excite truck over Mario Kart. Progression and challenging things to do solo is fun.
I Wanna Be The Guy
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Because sadly not enough people complain about Mario Kart's TERRIBLE single player content.
gingerbeardman
Member
I was also surprised they didn't bring back the wonderful Mission Mode for MK8
Jo Shishido's Cheeks
Member
Guys I don't think he means a 'one day in the Mushroom Kingdom we find our heroes...' storyline, just more of an adventure-type mode, which isn't a bad idea.
The Dutch Slayer
Member
Bravo
HahahahahaSquall5042
Member
You know Mario, we really were the Mario Kart
Frozenprince
Banned
Why doesn't Madden have one?
Because you really don't need one it's not the point.
Because you really don't need one it's not the point.
ThatStupidLion
Member
a lot of people in here seem to dont know how storymode worked in DKR and CTR... story mode doesnt mean it has an actual full on story...its just more of a cohesive SP adventure with specifics goals on courses, a unified hub world, exploring/secrets and some "boss" challenge races, rather than just cups and points... some races arent neccessarily even built around the mp aspect.
People seem to be mention sonic allstar racing SP mode too, but i cant speak to that... But Even Sonic R had a more deep singleplayer mode than mario kart.
Pretty sure franchise mode, create an allstar, etc are all adventure modes... Madden doesnt only offer a standard season / exhibition
People seem to be mention sonic allstar racing SP mode too, but i cant speak to that... But Even Sonic R had a more deep singleplayer mode than mario kart.
Pretty sure franchise mode, create an allstar, etc are all adventure modes... Madden doesnt only offer a standard season / exhibition
Polioliolio
Member
Because Nintendo ain't Rare.
If they don't have to, they won't.
If they don't have to, they won't.
I don't get why it should be account suicide, the comparison would actually brings a fair point about how some games are judged compared to others. Mario Kart 8 launched with less content than it has now, and still has less modes than past games. I remember some complains indeed, but nothing serious.
On topic, CTR had it a couple of decades ago and it was awesome.
I'll excuse them for Mario Kart 8 & DS since they're loaded with content, but otherwise not having a story mode blows my mind. Diddy Kong Racing, Crash and Snowboard Kids will always be better for me due to their story modes. And yes they also need to fix battle mode... Don't get how they messed up something so simple.
SolVanderlyn
Thanos acquires the fully powered Infinity Gauntlet in The Avengers: Infinity War, but loses when all the superheroes team up together to stop him.
Make a Mario Kart RPG
Preferably by Camelot
Preferably by Camelot
While I don't really need a traditional scripted story mode in MK, I definitely agree that the games are quite lacking in content and extra stuff for those not really wanting to play against others online. As such, my interest in them has definitely been waning over these last few iterations.
Some things I'd definitely appreciate:
- A full featured battle mode with a variety of (larger!) arena's and several modes, playable offline and online and with or without bots;
- Additional reasons to complete cups with all characters, like character-specific endings or reward ceremonies;
- An all-cup tour like in DD, playable in co-op as well, where the first and last course is fixed but the rest is random;
- Maybe an overall points or SFV-style Fight Money reward system where you get stuff for completing most things + have a shop to buy stuff in like kart parts or costumes;
- A bigger role for the Mario Kart TV stuff, like an actual TV studio hub to drive around in and talk to the crew, and a TV sport style framing device where presenters comment on races or replays etc.;
- More unique characters (i.e. NOT babies or Metal versions);
- Some kind of character rivalries and friendships sub-system (based on history as in Fire Emblem, or dynamic like in Shadow of Mordor) in single player races, this in order to elevate the randomly chosen best racing CPU opponent to meaningful rivals to enhance each player's personal experience;
- Missions using existing courses, and boss battles to cap those off.
For such a big series, the MK games have always felt really barebones to me if you don't want to play with others, with little incentives to keep completing cups outside of getting kart parts. Any of the above could make the single player racing experience more meaningful and rewarding I think. The argument that the games sell well without this stuff might be true but at the same time should not be an excuse to stop improving things for only a subset of fans (i.e. the online focused racers).
(And yes, there definitely seems to be a parallel between Mario Kart and Street Fighter here, as others have pointed out, since both seem to focus more and more on one core experience and build every other bit of content around that instead of offering multiple kinds of experiences at once. In SF it's becoming competent in multiplayer fights, with other modes training you for that or allowing you to earn things with which to customise your fighter; in MK it's multiplayer racing with other modes allowing you to practice courses and unlock parts to customise your kart.)
Some things I'd definitely appreciate:
- A full featured battle mode with a variety of (larger!) arena's and several modes, playable offline and online and with or without bots;
- Additional reasons to complete cups with all characters, like character-specific endings or reward ceremonies;
- An all-cup tour like in DD, playable in co-op as well, where the first and last course is fixed but the rest is random;
- Maybe an overall points or SFV-style Fight Money reward system where you get stuff for completing most things + have a shop to buy stuff in like kart parts or costumes;
- A bigger role for the Mario Kart TV stuff, like an actual TV studio hub to drive around in and talk to the crew, and a TV sport style framing device where presenters comment on races or replays etc.;
- More unique characters (i.e. NOT babies or Metal versions);
- Some kind of character rivalries and friendships sub-system (based on history as in Fire Emblem, or dynamic like in Shadow of Mordor) in single player races, this in order to elevate the randomly chosen best racing CPU opponent to meaningful rivals to enhance each player's personal experience;
- Missions using existing courses, and boss battles to cap those off.
For such a big series, the MK games have always felt really barebones to me if you don't want to play with others, with little incentives to keep completing cups outside of getting kart parts. Any of the above could make the single player racing experience more meaningful and rewarding I think. The argument that the games sell well without this stuff might be true but at the same time should not be an excuse to stop improving things for only a subset of fans (i.e. the online focused racers).
(And yes, there definitely seems to be a parallel between Mario Kart and Street Fighter here, as others have pointed out, since both seem to focus more and more on one core experience and build every other bit of content around that instead of offering multiple kinds of experiences at once. In SF it's becoming competent in multiplayer fights, with other modes training you for that or allowing you to earn things with which to customise your fighter; in MK it's multiplayer racing with other modes allowing you to practice courses and unlock parts to customise your kart.)
shadowsdarknes
Member
Rather than an actual plot, just give us challenges.
F-Zero had some cool Single Player Challenges. I'd like to see that.
F-Zero had some cool Single Player Challenges. I'd like to see that.
Like the GBC Mario Tennis aka the best Mario Tennis game of all time?
Don't think MK should get any plot at all, though. Maybe something like a challenge mode with specific, over the top game settings, similar to Smash's challenge mode.
NHarmonic.
Member
Yeah, specially with that brilliant battle mode in 8.