Mario Kart Wii (now with spoilers! Even in a racing game...)

[Drago]

Mario Kart Wii Friend Code Directory
Austrian ViceMaster Alex: 3351-4368-5881
DragoKnight: 3523-2392-3541

If there's any credibility to the rumours, this sucker will debut April 10th, I thought it was a good time to open the conversation onto that 'other online Nintendo game', Mario Kart Wii!

So far, we know that the game will come with the 'Wii Wheel', 12 racers will now be on the course in each race (which may sound weird to 16-year Kart veterans, eh?), and motorbikes will now take the track.

http://kotaku.com/353152/new-mario-kart-wii-images
http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/849/849925p1.html

- online league and a global world ranking
- local rankings
- dedicated channel for online aspect
- send and receive time attack scores online, online ranking for time attack as well
- upload/download Ghosts
- play as Miis

Any excitement? Or do we have to wait for Brawl to come and go? On a related note, I played MK Arcade GP a couple days ago for the first time. Thinking myself to be quite the hero, I went straight to the hardest cup. On the plus side, I got fifth. On the negative side, there were only six racers.

[Andrew]

I'm loving the idea of the motorbikes and none of this double person shit.

However, the shitty auxillery characters are coming back. HI IM DAISY. Ugh. Baby Marios. Ugh.

Make it stop!

[PNT510]

I really find it hard to care about this game with taking out the second rider and with motion control for steering.

[Blademaster]

I'm only posting here to bitch that the Galaxy thread didn't ever get responses this fast.

[Heald]

I'm quite looking forward to this. Mario Kart has always been a solid game. I wonder how they're going to do the blue sparks this time round though, given the WiiWheel.

Also, will you be able to play just using normal controls or do you have to use motion sensor?

I doubt taking out the second driver will make much of a difference (it was really a gimmick in Double Dash!!; the only real difference it made was which special weapons you got and what weight class you were restricted to). I've also heard Baby Peach is being included. Shit. As long as they have the best character in, I'll be happy.

Of course, I'm talking about Waluigi.

I'm not too worried about the online aspect: I live away from home and I don't have a TV, so I only play Wii when I am at home, which is very little. Still, I hear it is going to be solid.

[Austrian ViceMaster Alex]

As long as there's a decent Rainbow Road (not like the one in Mario Kart 64) I'm happy with any kind of Mario Kart game. Though I wasn't too fond of the "two-men-on-a-kart" concept on the GameCube either. Good if that one's gone.

[Drago]

I'm loving the idea of the motorbikes and none of this double person shit.

However, the shitty auxillery characters are coming back. HI IM DAISY. Ugh. Baby Marios. Ugh.

Make it stop!

HI I'M BABY PEACH. I thought they'd actually hit the rock bottom with R.O.B., and frankly I still think that's as low as they could've gone. As far as they have my Koopa Troopa, I'm fine. Seriously, they could have baby Wario for all I care (oh lord I forgot, that character already exists)...

I really find it hard to care about this game with taking out the second rider and with motion control for steering.

Also, will you be able to play just using normal controls or do you have to use motion sensor?

Call me an idiot for, as always, omitting something, and I don't take credit for spotting this, but... in the online menu third down on the right, you can see the A and B buttons. Possibility of multiple control schemes? Though it feels like Nintendo is almost apologising for the motion sensor, I see multiple schemes as being a better idea; I would have enjoyed games like Star Fox Command a lot more if the gimmick hadn't been forced down my throat.

Also, I wonder if someone smarter than me could help me out with something; how hard is it to implement a two-player per kart system? It was a very unpopular decision in Double Dash, so it got the chop as soon as MKDS hit, but would it be very difficult to have it as an alternative mode? I have little faith that's ever going to happen, but you know, it'd be a nice option, eh?

I'm only posting here to bitch that the Galaxy thread didn't ever get responses this fast.

TPMers dig multiplayer? I guess the hype comes with screenshots; the Star Fox Assault topic didn't pick up until screenshots came into play, then we could bitch about everything from the generic-looking enemies to Falco's horrible bodysuit.

Of course, I'm talking about Waluigi.

I'm not too worried about the online aspect: I live away from home and I don't have a TV, so I only play Wii when I am at home, which is very little. Still, I hear it is going to be solid.

There is absolutely no way they'll have Baby Peach and no Waluigi. If they did, it would be just to spite us all. I reckon the increase in racers has opened the floodgates for a lot of hopeful character options that were always left out on a smaller roster; Kamek, I'm looking at you to finally take that position that should've been yours all those years ago.

And online sounds like it'll be about the best effort Nintendo has put forth, certainly better than Brawl (though the latter makes up for it by being friggin' BRAWL).

As long as there's a decent Rainbow Road (not like the one in Mario Kart 64) I'm happy with any kind of Mario Kart game.

Back in MKDS, when Retro Cup was revealed to be a combination of older games' tracks, I called a Rainbow Cup as being the ultimate last challenge, with nothing but Rainbow Roads from previous games. ...I'm still hoping for that one.

Also, I hope they correct one big flaw from MKDS; every character using every kart. Once you've unlocked that option, did the character you choose have any influence on the stats at all? Because it appeared to me as though the character was irrelevant, it was all about the stats of the kart.

[AntiAsh Superstar]

I'm thinking... ooh, no second rider, re-adding the hopping, if they have any sense at all they'll have numerous control schemes to accomodate both the Wii novice and the MK veteran as well. Haven't seen a Mario Kart game that improved on the N64 version up until now so looking forward to this one, hopefully it can be to Mario Kart 64 what Mario Galaxy was to Super Mario 64.

[Heald]

I actually quite liked MK: DD. At least the harder cups at harder speeds were actually hard. MK64 was one of the easiest games I've ever played. Oh no, not Special Cup on Extra speed! Oops, beat the next closest racer by at least 10 seconds every time!

[Blademaster]

...What? You MUST have been cheating.

That, or I just suck at a Mario game, which I assure you is quite impossible.

[Heald]

I'd actually say that Mario Kart 64 was one of the easiest games I've ever played.

[Starry Might]

If there's any credibility to the rumours, this sucker will debut April 10th, I thought it was a good time to open the conversation onto that 'other online Nintendo game', Mario Kart Wii!

That release date is for Japan, according to the Kotaku link in your original post.

Any excitement? Or do we have to wait for Brawl to come and go?

"SSBB" is my most-wanted Wii game, but I liked "Mario Kart 64", "Mario Kart: Double Dash!!" and "Mario Kart DS", so this is one of many other games that'll go into my future Wii collection, too (assuming I can ever FIND one of those stupid things...SHORTAGES STINK!! ).

On a related note, I played MK Arcade GP a couple days ago for the first time. Thinking myself to be quite the hero, I went straight to the hardest cup. On the plus side, I got fifth. On the negative side, there were only six racers.

LOL, yikes.

I've seen that game in the arcade in my local mall, but I've never played it.

[Heald]

Wait, you've been raving about SSBB all this time and you don't have a Wii.

You've probably mentioned this about a million times, but I blame the whiskey personally.

Also, do you ever show your dad the stuff we post here? Although, considering he's Superman, he seems to know everything before we do.

[Starry Might]

Call me an idiot for, as always, omitting something, and I don't take credit for spotting this, but... in the online menu third down on the right, you can see the A and B buttons. Possibility of multiple control schemes? Though it feels like Nintendo is almost apologising for the motion sensor, I see multiple schemes as being a better idea; I would have enjoyed games like Star Fox Command a lot more if the gimmick hadn't been forced down my throat.

Ehhhh...your link in this post takes me to a picture of a woman and a man who look like figure skaters.

Also, this is off-topic, but about "Star Fox Command"...you're talking about flying with the stylus, right?

I have that game, and I thought that was really cool once you got used to it! (That was in the training mode, though...I tried the single-player, and was almost immediately turned off by its "Draw-Your-Flightpath-Beforehand" gameplay. )

Wait, you've been raving about SSBB all this time and you don't have a Wii.

You've probably mentioned this about a million times, but I blame the whiskey personally.

Also, do you ever show your dad the stuff we post here? Although, considering he's Superman, he seems to know everything before we do.

Yeah, I have.

[AntiAsh Superstar]

Okay, the more I hear about this the more excited I get. Using Miis as characters and actually having numerous control systems so those of use who prefer using an analog stick to steer can (as far as I'm aware five control systems have been confirmed now)? Basically I'm now at the stage whereby I think this could very well equal MK64 and you can bet your life I'm grabbing this.

[Drago]

NOE have revealed a couple details about how online will work... Nothing too groundbreaking, but it's interesting when there's nothing else around.

Going global with Mario Kart Wii
In Mario Kart Wii you can go online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection by yourself or together with a friend playing on the same Wii console, and let the games begin! You can directly jump into online races with random players Worldwide, or opt for Continental if you prefer a challenge closer to home.

Then you will be placed in a new group of people looking for a match, or you will join an existing group. When the latter happens you will become a spectator of that group’s race currently in progress, as you wait for your turn to hit the track. With up to 12 players being able to battle or race on the circuits of the Mushroom Kingdom simultaneously, Mario Kart Wii is set to provide the biggest challenge in the series to date!

After swapping Friend Codes with other players, you will also be able to see how many of your mates are online, and choose to Create a Room or select Join Friend to gather in a room with your friends before you start your engines.

Once inside a room, the globe familiar from the Forecast Channel will highlight the location of all players present. This is where you can text chat with your friends by making a selection from dozens of predefined messages, letting you suggest exactly which kind of race you want to play: from Battle to Grand Prix, and from Team play to your circuit of choice. The Host then decides the race settings, but the track selection is based on the votes of all players combined.

Mario Kart Wii also allows you to install the Mario Kart Channel on your Wii console. This Channel lets you check up on a host of options without the need of inserting the Mario Kart Wii disc into your system.

The Ranking option lets you see your statistics for each track and compare your results to those of your Friends and other players worldwide, represented by their Miis. You’ll have the option of racing against the Ghosts of the best players, or improving your results gradually by taking on the Ghosts of rivals whose times are only slightly better than yours. Players can choose whether they want to share their Time Trial Ghosts with the rest of the world, allowing you to match your skills against the cream of the crop whenever you want.

Another all-new feature of this Channel are the Competitions, where Nintendo will on a regular basis invite players to speedy challenges similar to the Missions of Mario Kart DS. The Channel also allows you to check your ranking in running Competitions as well as Time Trials. You can also go here to register Friends and see if any of them are currently online.

Really does sound like they're trying with online this time, eh?
By the way, IGN's got gameplay footage up, which completely confirms that, better than in a blurry screenshot, Koopa Troopa is back. With such a big roster it was pretty much a given, but it's nice to know for sure.

[PNT510]

Yeah they're trying to go online by copying stuff that other companies did year ago and by still using friends codes!

[Drago]

By Nintendo standards, that's SOLID GOLD and better than we're getting with Brawl. I learnt a long time ago not to expect much from Nintendo's online services.

EDIT: I wasn't sure if there was a gold colour, so I just tried it. Apparently there is. Yay!

[Blademaster]

I hope this game's online is better than the online I get with Budokai Tenkaichi 3.

[Starry Might]

Okay, the more I hear about this the more excited I get. Using Miis as characters and actually having numerous control systems so those of use who prefer using an analog stick to steer can (as far as I'm aware five control systems have been confirmed now)? Basically I'm now at the stage whereby I think this could very well equal MK64 and you can bet your life I'm grabbing this.

WHOA, MIIS CAN PARTICIPATE IN RACES?!

[Napoleon Dynamite]Flippin' sweet![/Napoleon Dynamite]

[Starry Might]

Sorry for the "Bump!", but I just got the latest "Nintendo Power" in the mail earlier, and they have a big article on "Mario Kart Wii"! I'll summarize the stuff in it here as best I can.

Shown Tracks (16 out of 32):

Mushroom Cup:

* Luigi Circuit
* Moo Moo Meadows
* Mushroom Gorge
* Toad's Factory

Flower Cup:
* Mario Circuit
* Coconut Mall (one of the tracks is a mall? GAME OF THE YEAR! )
* DK Summit (it's snowy)
* Wario's Gold Mine

Shell Cup:
* GCN Peach Beach ("Mario Kart Double Dash!!" track; the pipe launch near the start is gone, but the shortcut can be reached by a boost ramp after the first turn)
* DS Yoshi Falls ("Mario Kart DS" track)
* SNES Ghost Valley 2 ("Super Mario Kart" track)
* N64 Mario Raceway ("Mario Kart 64" track)

Banana Cup:
* N64 Sherbet Land ("Mario Kart 64" track)
* GBA Shy Guy Beach ("Mario Kart Super Circuit" track)
* DS Delfino Square ("Mario Kart DS" track)
* GCN Waluigi Stadium ("Mario Kart Double Dash!!" track; now with half-pipe boost pads!)

Battle Mode Stages:
* Block Plaza
* Delfino Pier
* Funky Stadium
* Chain Chomp Wheel
* Thwomp Desert
* SNES Battle Course 4 ("Super Mario Kart" stage)
* GBA Battle Course 3 ("Mario Kart Super Circuit" stage)
* N64 Skyscraper ("Mario Kart 64" stage)
* GCN Cookie Land ("Mario Kart Double Dash!!" stage)
* DS Twilight House ("Mario Kart DS" stage)

Characters
* Baby Mario
* Baby Peach
* Bowser
* Donkey Kong
* Koopa Troopa
* Luigi
* Mario
* Peach
* Toad
* Waluigi (*CUE THE SOUND OF HEALD REJOICING IN THE BACKGROUND*)
* Wario
* Yoshi

There are 6 hidden characters, and apparently, you have the unlock the ability to play as a Mii.

Vehicles:

There are karts and bikes (but you already knew that ).

50cc class only allows karts, 100cc class only allows bikes, and 150cc allows both (at least at first...).

Karts can get two-stage Mini-turbos. Bikes only get one stage Mini-turbos, but can pop wheelies to go faster (obviously, this is best done on straightaways).

Karts and bikes are rated in the following categories: Speed, Weight, Acceleration, Handling, Top Speed, and Mini-Turbo (the Items category in "Mario Kart DS" no longer exists). There are four kart and four bikes per class (Small, Medium, and Large). There are 12 karts and 12 bikes (24 vehicles) total; each class has one hidden kart and one hidden bike.

All Items:
* Green Shell
* Triple Green Shells
* Red Shell
* Triple Red Shells
* Spiny Shell
* Mushroom
* Triple Mushroom
* Golden Mushroom
* Mega Musroom (NEW; makes you giant)
* Lightning
* Lightning Cloud (NEW; speeds you up for awhile, but shrinks you; you can pass on the shrinkage to another racer by bumping into them before it's too late)
* Banana
* Triple Bananas
* Blooper
* Bob-omb
* POW Block (NEW; all other vehicles come to a screeching halt after a quick warning)
* Star
* Fake Item Box
* Boo
* Bullet Bill

Game Modes:
* Grand Prix (1-2 players)
* Battle (1-4 players)
* Time Trials (online players can challenge each other's ghost data)
* Vs. (2-4 players)

Battle has two modes: Balloon Battle (classic battle mode) and Coin Runners (coin collecting game). Two six-player teams square off in both modes, and CPUs will fill spots unoccupied by human players. Dropped items don't hurt teammates. In Balloon Battle, you're no longer eliminated from the fight if all three of your balloons pop; you'll respawn. Both modes have time limits.

"Mario Kart DS's" Mission mode is gone.

Controls:

Here's a list of what the buttons do:

2 Button: Accelerate
1 Button: Hop/drift/reverse
A Button: Look behind you
B Button: Same as 1 Button
D-Pad Up: Throw item in front of you
D-Pad Down: Drop item behind you
+ Button: Pause
Speaker: Plays an alarm if a shot item is coming up behind you; also plays sounds for hops and tricks

Pressing left or right on the D-Pad lets you hold an item (e.g. a banana) behind you to protect you from attacks.

"NP" really liked the Wii Wheel that comes with the game. It takes a little bit to become acclimated (they recommend small movements for steering), but it doesn't take very long at all. The wheel is only a little wider than a sideways Wiimote. You squeeze the Wiimote into the middle of it, and you pop it back out by pushing a finger through a large hole on the wheel's back (incidentally, the Wiimote's wrist strap goes through here). The wheel has a small opening on the side so the pointer isn't obstructed. There's a B button on the back of the wheel and it presses the Wiimote's B button (they say it's large, easy to reach, and feels soft).

Drifting is a little trickier this time around. Verbatim quote: "One of the first things that everyone here at NP noticed is that, initially, it's much easier to begin drifting in the wrong direction. You have to take a moment to make sure that your kart is pointing into the slide before you press the button to hop into a drift. It takes very little time to get the hang of this change; it's only worth mentioning since we suspect everyone will encounter this when they first play the game."

Speaking of drifting, there's now an Automatic Drift option. You'll automatically drift around sharp turns, but you don't earn Mini-turbos and you can't hop.

Both stages of Mini-turbos can now be executed by simply holding a drift regardless of which way you're steering (sharper turns will charge 'em faster). Mini-turbos are also earned by hitting the gas as soon as you hit the road after a fall, and by doing mid-air tricks.

Some of the tricks are small jumps, wheelies, half pipe jumps, medium jumps, and big jumps.

Drafting (following someone very closely to gain speed) is back.

Misc.:

Verbatim quote: "All extra vehicles and characters (plus staff ghosts) are prizes for winning Grand Prix cups."

The timing for the turbo start is the same as "Mario Kart DS": hit the gas right after the number "2" count.
.
.
.
.
Phew! That was a lot of typing... (*COLLAPSES*)

[Heald]

* Waluigi (*CUE THE SOUND OF HEALD REJOICING IN THE BACKGROUND*)

Rock on.

Also, my Terrance and Phillip Miis can be playable now, meaning Terrance and Phillip get to race in a karting video game for the first time since South Park Rally. Woo.

[Starry Might]

Rock on.

I knew you'd love that.

Also, my Terrance and Phillip Miis can be playable now, meaning Terrance and Phillip get to race in a karting video game for the first time since South Park Rally. Woo.

[Drago]

Thanks for the update! So many things to discuss there, but there are two things that stick out in my mind...

Battle mode without N64's Block Fort? Risky business, let's hope "Block Plaza" can fill that void...

Am I the only one who thinks 18 characters is a little slim? I know, by MK standards it's big, but with online and extra racers on the track, I would have expected a more fleshed out roster, especially when they're letting in rejects like Baby Peach. Oh well. I've got my Koopa, I've got everything I need.

[Drago]

Eurogamer review our little Mario Kart Wii...
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=95123

8/10. Nothing too groundbreaking in there, but at least we have a confirmation on what we all suspected; a solid little title and a worthy entry into the series. Day one, I assume?

[PNT510]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3167210

Looks like the gamecube and classic controllers might be gimped.

[Blademaster]

The last poster in that article (Bong Johnson or something...) is a complete and utter douchebag. He's basically saying that he's willing to convert from a Nintendo fanboy to a PS3 fanboy over this. Grow the fuck up.

My response to people who complain about this and who bought a Wii: You bought a WII. Not GameCube: The Sequel. The Gamecube controller is for GAMECUBE games, and the Classic Controller is for CLASSIC games - SNES and N64 titles that the Wiimote itself can't handle. Adapt to the Wiimote and/or the Wiimote/Nunchuk like you adapted to the controllers of the last 4 Nintendo consoles and stop bitching about something everyone else who plays this game is gonna have to learn to.

[Heald]

The Motion Features are the reason why the Wii are leaving the PS3 and the XBox 360 eating its dust. I didn't buy the Wii so I could play Mario Kart Wii with a Gamecube Controller, I bought it to have a completely different gaming experience. That idiot who said he would now buy a PS3 because of it, I'm glad he is buying a complete piece of shit console, because he obviously doesn't have the brain capacity to comprehend why the Wii has revolutionized gaming, whereas the PS3 and XBox 360 are just doing the same things my PC could have done 3 years ago.

Hell, the Wii is a multiplayer console. I started out with 2 Wiimotes and 1 Nunchuk, and now I have 4 of each, because all of my friends and family are begging to have a go. I have 2 Gamecube controllers, which I occasionally use for Gamecube games and Virtual Console games, but if people were willing to buy 4 controllers and play Double Dash!!, and now not willing to pay to play 4 players MK Wii, then they're just spoiled brats. Fuck 'em.

[Blademaster]

I'm glad to see I'm not alone in this. I mean, what if Mario Kart Wii didn't have 'Cube or CC controller compatability to begin with? You'd have to use the Wiimote or the Wii-chuk combo anyway, so why bitch about it?

I think stripping certain features off the GC and the CC is a good idea - it acts as an INCENTIVE to use the stuff that came WITH the system.

[PNT510]

I'm glad to see I'm not alone in this. I mean, what if Mario Kart Wii didn't have 'Cube or CC controller compatability to begin with? You'd have to use the Wiimote or the Wii-chuk combo anyway, so why bitch about it?

I doubt I'd buy the game at all if it was just Wii-mote controls. Racing games that use the Wii-Mote for steering sloppy at best.

Although I personally don't think gimping the classic controllers and gamecube controllers is a bad idea. They're obviously going to be more precise than a Wii-mote giving standard controller users an advantage. So you make it to where people who use normal controllers can't do all the special moves or whatever to balance it out.

[Drago]

I think stripping certain features off the GC and the CC is a good idea - it acts as an INCENTIVE to use the stuff that came WITH the system.

I'm kinda mixed about this... Yes, I realise that ignoring the Wii's main thing is dumb, but that doesn't necessarily mean it should be shoved down everyone's throats. I bring up Star Fox Command as my primary example. I really, really hated the control scheme there. It was almost as though they were using it just because it was possible, and it really limited that game in my eyes.
I realise the solution would then be to fix the inadequate controls, but if it's potentially going to cut into your sales to exclude alternatives, it would not be a wise option.

[Drago]

The final 24-character roster revealed. Far more WTF than one man could possibly fathom.


Yes they've done it. HI I'M BABY DAISY.
And yessir, that is indeed Dry Bowser.
But Funky! At least Funky!
But Rosalina. Peach v.02.
...Ah hell I don't even know anymore.

[Starry Might]

The final 24-character roster revealed. Far more WTF than one man could possibly fathom.

http://lh4.google.com/gohanrice/R_xJ...JPG?imgmax=512
Yes they've done it. HI I'M BABY DAISY.
And yessir, that is indeed Dry Bowser.
But Funky! At least Funky!
But Rosalina. Peach v.02.
...Ah hell I don't even know anymore.

WOW.

Cool.

[Heald]

So for anyone who doesn't want to look at them all...

Baby Daisy
Baby Mario
Baby Luigi
Baby Peach
Birdo
Bowser
Bowser Jr.
Daisy
Diddy Kong
Donkey Kong
Dry Bones
Dry Bowser
Funky Kong
King Boo
Koopa Troopa
Luigi
Mario
Mii
Peach
Rosalina
Toad
Toadette
WAΓUIGI
Wario
Yoshi

Funky Kong was an unseen addition, so thank God there is at least 1 decent new character...Dry Bowser is pretty cool, I've never really liked regular Bowser.

[Blademaster]

...

Baby Daisy.
Rosalina.
Dry Bowser.
FUNKY KONG.

WHAT. THE. FUCK!?!??!?!?!

[Heald]

To be honest, there aren't many more characters they can stuff into these, unless they start adding in Wart, Pidgit, Toadsworth, one of those Delfino assholes from that shitty Mario game, or even Weegee.

[Blademaster]

Yeah, but come on! FUNKY KONG?!? Rosalina I can accept as she was a mainstream character (and hence, a fair target ), Baby Daisy I'll TOLERATE if only to give Baby Peach a partner, but FUCKY KONG? This is MARIO Kart Wii, not Diddy Kong Racing Wii!

And Dry Bowser... Great idea, Nintendo. Put the most HATED creature in the history of Super Mario Bros. into your next Kart game. Top notch.

I'll digress, though... The roster IS pretty good, but one thing that kinda bothers me is the lack of balance for some characters: King Boo and Koopa Troopa lost their partners. Petey may be annoying as Hell, but I'll gladly take him over Dry Bowser or Funky Kong. And Koopa Troopa... Well, his 'partner' was the Paratroopa. That kinda sucked, but come on... Why not give him a Goomba for a partner? So what if the little guy has no arms - that doesn't stop him from playing baseball!

[Heald]

I like Funky Kong! Possibly because of his awesomeness in DK64...or perhaps because he had an awesome Jamaican accent in the ill-fated Donkey Kong TV series.

Whatever you say, the Dk and Mario universes seem to be inextricably intertwined, so it is no surprise they added another Kong. Maybe we'll get Candy, Dixie or Kranky in the next one.

Baby Daisy and Baby Peach are a terrible idea, not only for the terrible concept, but also...4chan. And Rule 34. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, Rule 34 has probably already been invoked on these two abominations. And no, I am not going to look myself.

I'd reckon Paratroopa was taken out to make way for Dry Bones, since I imagine Dry Bones and Koopa Troopa have different stats, whereas Koopa and Para were more or less the same in MKDD.

Also, they have taken out the partner idea, so there is no need for partners like in MKDD.

I haven't played Galaxy yet so I care little for Rosalina. And I'd take Dry Bowser over Petey any day.

[Drago]

I don't like Petey, but his exclusion really leaves me scratching my head. He had made pretty much every roster before this; he was starting to find his way into the 'usual suspects'. Now he gets a snub in pretty much the premier Mario sports franchise, and in favour of who? Rosa-f'in-lina? Look, I really wouldn't be fussed under certain circumstances. Rosalina is an interesting character... but the fact that she looks like just another Peach is what really irks me. If she had a different personality you coulda just called her Wapeach.

And honestly, who wouldn't prefer to see a Goomba behind the wheel? They're Mario mainstays, even if they get no love, even moreso than my beloved Koopa. They're far more important to the series than BABY DAISY, I assure you. I really don't know why I care considering I have my character, but it's just one of the most ecclectic rosters one could come up with.

[AntiAsh Superstar]

Maybe they axed Petey on account of the fact that he was awful to play as? Perhaps I was just doing it wrong but I always found his HUGE head a serious hinderance in Double Dash as it always seemed to block my view about as much as the Blooper powerup in MKWii and MKDS.

Aaanyway. Am enjoying MKWii a lot. The inclusion of the 'classic' cups as seem in MKDS is very welcome and the twelve player racing makes it insanely and awesomely chaotic at times. And while some sites complain the online is glitched I haven't noticed that enough for it to detract from the gameplay.