Mario Kart World is apparently "dead"

This is internet nerds speaking of course.

Have you played it? What do you think of it compared to Mario Kart 8?

I think most Mario Kart games are dead for people older than 12

I still play the game, but offline. Online play in kart-racing games tends to be... stressful.

The course designs are generally great, the new techniques are great and allow you to pull off some really satisfying tricks/shortcuts, and the skill ceiling emerging from those techniques is extremely high (WR time trials are pretty impressive to watch).

The whole "drive between tracks" thing was a nifty novelty, but with that novelty worn off it's not particularly fun. The intermission tracks themselves are fairly boring, and the fact that you generally only get one lap on the destination track when you get there means that you only get to enjoy those good course designs and fun technical challenges for 1/3 of any given race, which also makes it much harder to learn those tricks without dedicated practice because you only get one shot at them per race (as opposed to being able to try again next lap with what you learned from missing it the first time). That part kind of sucks, and they've updated the game so that if you choose random course selection, 75% of the time it'll pick one of the courses connected to the previous one and you'll drive between them instead of getting three laps of the new course.

It's that last bit that has people bemoaning that the game is "dead," since most people pick Random online (before the update, because it had a high chance of picking a non-connected course and avoiding the intermissions, but the update broke that) and driving on intermissions for 2/3 of any given match just isn't that fun. It would be easy to solve this problem by adding an option to not play intermissions between tracks (and matching you up with people that chose the same option), but whether or not they'll do that remains to be seen. I'm also not sure just how much of a problem it actually is, since a bunch of vocal nerds complaining about something doesn't actually mean it's a huge issue.

Still, I enjoy playing it and will likely play about as much of online as I did with previous entries (not much), while breaking it out to play with family/friends whenever the opportunity arises. It's frustrating that they've made a conscious decision to make the game less enjoyable for many by forcing those intermission tracks to make up the bulk of a match, but it is what it is and it's not terribly difficult to work around it offline.

adjl posted...

t's that last bit that has people bemoaning that the game is "dead," since most people pick Random online (before the update, because it had a high chance of picking a non-connected course and avoiding the intermissions, but the update broke that)

This is pure Nintendo, though.
"You will enjoy this gimmick, dammit!!"

It's the same reason Pokemon Let's Go refuses to let use use actual controls while playing on a TV, despite that control scheme working just fine in handheld mode.

*people having fun*

*Nintendo being mad people are having fun wrong*

I only just got my Switch 2 yesterday. Im loving it. Havent played MKW online but I hear private lobbies are the way to go anyway.

But also, some weirdos on the internet are for some reason buttmad at the Switch 2 existing, and theyre pushing this narrative that Nintendo is failing, the games are bad, etc, when it just isnt the case.

Questionmarktarius posted...

This is pure Nintendo, though.
"You will enjoy this gimmick, dammit!!"

It's the same reason Pokemon Let's Go refuses to let use use actual controls while playing on a TV, despite that control scheme working just fine in handheld mode.

Which I have mixed feelings about. On one hand, this is an industry where artistic visions are routinely compromised for the sake of (real or perceived) mass appeal, with publishers pressuring devs to make or remove creative decisions based on what they expect will generate the most sales and/or microtransaction revenue. In that regard, it's kind of refreshing to see a company greenlight people making the games they want to make and not trashing their ideas for the sake of maximizing popularity. So often, games as an art form get gutted by their commodification, and I think it's worth applauding anyone that pushes back against that philosophy.

On the other hand, though, being pleased that developers are able to operate with creative freedom doesn't necessarily mean liking the output. Totally ignoring popular appeal for the sake of artistic vision often results in games that just aren't that good, or have glaring issues that could have been fixed if somebody had said "hey people aren't going to like that we should change it."

The impression that I get from the outside looking in is that the game is a shallow experience made for ultra-casuals, which means it was never going to appeal to the sort of people who care about whether or not a game is "dead" for very long.

That being said I haven't played a Mario Kart game since the GameCube and I haven't liked one since the SNES, so at this point my personal opinion of the game is utterly meaningless. They're not made for me.

adjl posted...

On the other hand, though, being pleased that developers are able to operate with creative freedom doesn't necessarily mean liking the output. Totally ignoring popular appeal for the sake of artistic vision often results in games that just aren't that good, or have glaring issues that could have been fixed if somebody had said "hey people aren't going to like that we should change it."

I don't recall many people demanding "traditional controls" for Ring Fit or that cardboard piano, but instead rather a lot of people disappointed that Let's Go wouldn't let us optionally use a control setup the game already has.

How so?

I've never played it (I have no Switch 2, for one), but I watch some professional players who stream it.

I enjoy watching it more than MK8.

HValle posted...

How so?

Are you talking to me?

This is the shortest video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSUJfhfP2TM

Questionmarktarius posted...

This is pure Nintendo, though.
"You will enjoy this gimmick, dammit!!"

It's the same reason Pokemon Let's Go refuses to let use use actual controls while playing on a TV, despite that control scheme working just fine in handheld mode.

literally the reason i never played lets go

i don't care if i can just go grab the joycons and play it, that's not what's in my hands and won't ever be in my hands

Questionmarktarius posted...

This is pure Nintendo, though.
"You will enjoy this gimmick, dammit!!"

It's the same reason Pokemon Let's Go refuses to let use use actual controls while playing on a TV, despite that control scheme working just fine in handheld mode.

Why are you playing Pokemon Go on your TV? Isn't the whole point of Go is to get out of your house?

Damn_Underscore posted...

Are you talking to me?

This is the shortest video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSUJfhfP2TM

I'm not watching a video.

I'm sure the game still works fine

SunWuKung420 posted...

Why are you playing Pokemon Go on your TV? Isn't the whole point of Go is to get out of your house?

That's Go, not Let's Go

ParanoidObsessive posted...

The impression that I get from the outside looking in is that the game is a shallow experience made for ultra-casuals, which means it was never going to appeal to the sort of people who care about whether or not a game is "dead" for very long.

That being said I haven't played a Mario Kart game since the GameCube and I haven't liked one since the SNES, so at this point my personal opinion of the game is utterly meaningless. They're not made for me.

The multiplayer on the og and 64 were fun as kids but I have no interest playing against randoms online

I don't see people talking about it anymore. Not as much staying power as 8 had I guess

You'll read something like that then jump online and find a match in no time at all

Why were Nintendo fans so excited for and spent all that money on this game when they knew they really wanted more Mario Kart 8? In fact they stopped playing this new game after a month.

MomSpringfield posted...

I don't see people talking about it anymore. Not as much staying power as 8 had I guess

people don't talk about fortnite or call of duty, either, and they aren't really going anywhere are they

Damn_Underscore posted...

Why were Nintendo fans so excited for and spent all that money on this game when they knew they really wanted more Mario Kart 8? In fact they stopped playing this new game after a month.

You should consider trying to base your impressions of the state of a given market off of what youtube videos chasing the praise/hate bandwagon are saying. If it's not a market you care enough about to invest that kind of attention, you should consider not forming an opinion at all.

Questionmarktarius posted...

I don't recall many people demanding "traditional controls" for Ring Fit or that cardboard piano, but instead rather a lot of people disappointed that Let's Go wouldn't let us optionally use a control setup the game already has.

In the case of Let's Go, I'm guessing the only reason it had the button option is because otherwise it would have been impossible to play on a Lite and impractical to play in handheld mode on other models, and that's a sizable market to alienate. If not for that, I expect they would have gone all-in on "I want to make a game where you throw the pokeballs with motion controls."

Like I said, I do feel a certain amount of respect for saying "I've made the game I wanted to make, take it or leave it" instead of compromising that vision in hopes that more people will like what you've made. Commercial art often struggles to maintain that conviction, especially in a corporate space. It is, however, frustrating to have an otherwise-great game dragged down by a couple instances of stubborn artistic pride resulting in decisions that make it worse. I can respect the conviction but also feel that the end product is ultimately worse for it.

KJ_StErOiDs posted...

I've never played it (I have no Switch 2, for one), but I watch some professional players who stream it.

I enjoy watching it more than MK8.

It is fun to watch, just because of how flashy the new techniques are and how high the skill ceiling is. They've essentially slipped parkour elements into a kart racing game, and that means high-level play gets pretty wild.

HValle posted...

That's Go, not Let's Go

Did Nintendo hire Tom Brady to name it?

adjl posted...

In the case of Let's Go, I'm guessing the only reason it had the button option is because otherwise it would have been impossible to play on a Lite and impractical to play in handheld mode on other models, and that's a sizable market to alienate. If not for that, I expect they would have gone all-in on "I want to make a game where you throw the pokeballs with motion controls."

Like I said, I do feel a certain amount of respect for saying "I've made the game I wanted to make, take it or leave it" instead of compromising that vision in hopes that more people will like what you've made. Commercial art often struggles to maintain that conviction, especially in a corporate space. It is, however, frustrating to have an otherwise-great game dragged down by a couple instances of stubborn artistic pride resulting in decisions that make it worse. I can respect the conviction but also feel that the end product is ultimately worse for it.

that's all well and good, but it just uses the gyroscope in the joycons, which all nintendo controllers have

I haven't even played the online yet so I don't know what that experience is like. From what I've played of single player, it's a well-made game with some odd design choices that seems like maybe a step back from 8. I'm not really interested in what internet clickbait-peddlers have to say though. I doubt that a franchise as big as MK could have a game that's really "dead" after less than two months

ConfusedTorchic posted...

that's all well and good, but it just uses the gyroscope in the joycons, which all nintendo controllers have

While true, I strongly advise against trying to perform a throwing motion with the entire Switch Lite.

bachewychomp posted...

I doubt that a franchise as big as MK could have a game that's really "dead" after less than two months

I fully expect that there are more people still playing 8 than playing World, but that's kind of a given. Between the original and Deluxe, there are 76 million copies of 8 out there. There are roughly 2.5 million copies of World. While I would expect that a much greater percentage of that 2.5 million is still actively playing World than of that 76 million (especially where no small number of people own both 8 and 8 Deluxe and presumably only play the latter), that's still a very, very large difference.

Wait has it really only sold 2.5 million copies? That can't be right, or if it is, then it really was a flop (by Mario Kart standards). Wikipedia says Mario Kart 8 sold 2.82 million copies in a month. I have a hard time believing that a console that sold as fast as the Switch 2 would have a launch game move fewer copies than a Wii U game.

bachewychomp posted...

Wait has it really only sold 2.5 million copies? That can't be right, or if it is, then it really was a flop (by Mario Kart standards). Wikipedia says Mario Kart 8 sold 2.82 million copies in a month. I have a hard time believing that a console that sold as fast as the Switch 2 would have a launch game move fewer copies than a Wii U game.

Is it possible they didn't count bundle sales?

I'm just going by the VG sales wiki, which was the first result when I searched. I wouldn't expect that to have particularly up-to-date figures.

It's also worth noting that by the end of June 2014 (MK8 launch May 29, 2014), there were 6.7 million WiiUs sold, so 2.8 million copies sold by then would be about a 40% attach rate. The Switch 2 sold 5 million units in its first month, so 2.5 million copies would be a 50% attach rate.

I'm seeing estimates elsewhere that 82% of Switch 2 owners bought MKW in that first month, though (which makes sense because there were literally no other exclusive games to buy), so I'm guessing the actual sales figure is just higher. Maybe that doesn't include bundle sales, as suggested above, or maybe it's just that the sales wiki is out of date (which is probably true regardless of other factors).

Even so, though, if every single Switch 2 owner has MKW, that's still just 1/15 of the number of copies of MK8 sold. I still wouldn't be surprised to see more people playing 8.

I love world. Graphics and environment feels so smoove

teddy241 posted...

I love world. Graphics and environment feels so smoove

I made a topic near when it was released saying the game's atmosphere reminded me of Sonic Adventure. I don't think it would be the same way without the transitions between each world, but I dunno

Damn_Underscore posted...

I made a topic near when it was released saying the game's atmosphere reminded me of Sonic Adventure. I don't think it would be the same way without the transitions between each world, but I dunno

I am kind of torn, because stylistically I do like the interconnected world and the idea of driving between courses. For GP (and, by extension, Knockout Tour, though I haven't actually tried that yet), I actually think it works pretty well. It just shouldn't be the only option for VS matches.

Iv probably logged 40 hours into the game with like 35 of them coming from knockout mode. It's fun and easy just to pick up and enjoy a lil competitiveness. Love it.

Hardly ever drive around the world it seems bland

The open-world mode is dead, I can tell you that.