Mario Kart and the joy of fake racing

I don't like 'real' racing games. No matter how exactly the physics match the real world, it's just never going to be like a real-world racing experience. The problem as I see it is the lack of peripheral vision in games. When driving, obviously I look straight ahead but it’s what I see out the corners of my eyes that lets me know how fast I’m going. This tells me if I am going too fast or too slow to take a corner or, as a teenager, to donut my mum's Nissan Micra.

In 'real' racing games, I can't tell the difference between 60mph and at 160mph. I tend to crash a lot and spend vast amounts of time skidding around in gravel at the side of the track.

Fake racing games are another matter. The one I’m most looking forward to at the moment is the Nintendo Wii edition of Mario Kart. I had the original Mario Kart on the SNES and have had every version since. It’s about as far departed from real driving and real-world physics as is possible. I like watching a giant dinosaur with a spiky shell on his back burning round a track in a tiny go-cart without tipping over, no matter how top-heavy he is. I enjoy throwing banana skins all over the track and firing red shell homing missiles to take out other racers.

The question is, will the game be as good as it should be or will it suffer from too much programming?

If I had to choose between Mario Kart on the SNES and Mario Kart on the Gamecube, the SNES version would win hands down. The graphics weren't as good, it wasn't in real 3D and there weren't as many features, but it had a good feeling of speed and the gameplay was set at the perfect level between fun and frustration. I did like the Gamecube version and it was very pretty, but it just didn't have the sense of speed or the same feeling of fun. For me, if you are making a racing game, make it fast and make it fake.

If all of this is new to you and you have never experienced a Mario Kart game, get hold of the version for the DS. It has tracks from the original SNES version and loads more besides. I've missed my stop on the Tube several times because of an all important time trial speed that had to be beaten.

I haven't had a go of the new Wii version yet, but I hear that there are motorbikes in it. I am a little worried: just because you can add something, it doesn't mean you should. But there is going to be online racing with up to 12 people which should be great. I'm sure in a month or so you will be able to read a post on here with me complaining about 12 years olds beating me at racing as well as Call Of Duty 4.

Comments

[Guy]

Yea, im a fan of the original Mario Kart too. I know what you mean by alot of driving games trying to be realistic and falling short of the real experience, however there's a forthcoming game called 'GRID' by codemasters which apparently is all about 'the thrill of the race' and not too bogged down in the boring stuff. Fingers crossed as I've yet to find the ultimate driving game to escape into so hope GRID delivers a new take on the driving genre but ill go for Mario Kart Wii too..

[Seekew]

I think you might be suffering from something I think of as sequel syndrome. A second, third or fourth installation of something is never as enthralling as the magic and originality of an, err, original. The difficult second album if you will.

*Yes. I am aware of exceptions to this rule. Empire Strikes Back, Godfather 2, Grease 2(!)

I think fighters went downhill after Way of the Exploding Fist. Platformers after Jet Set Willy and drivers after Outrun.

How about Grand Turismo 5. Any thoughts, hopes, fears? Or have you already written it off for being 'real'?

Oh and speaking as one who has driven a Formula 1 car, I can safely say that it's the approaching corners that give a sense of speed (and warm underwear).

[ali waheed]

I have to completely agree with you. Can't put the thing down since I bought it for my DS. Cant wait for the wii version although I'll probably have to due to oversubscription. motorbikes could be fun.

[Owen]

Mario Kart double dash on the Gamecube is by the far the best game ever made. FACT.

[Kwyjibo James]

I agree. Super Mario Kart on the SNES is still the number one kart racing game on a home console. The ever increasing gimmicks has cut the entire racing element out of Mario Kart and reduced it to nothing more than a party game.

Still, the handheld titles are going strong. Mario Kart Advance and Mario Kart DS still know that it's a racing game at heart, not some fanservice party title.

I hope Mario Kart Wii puts the emphasis back onto racing, they've just introduced bikes and tricks. I'll have to wait and see.

[Ed W]

Nobody's mentioned the N64 version yet - probably my favourite. I guess it just depends on which one you played the most during your formative years.

[The Judge]

You write "I don't like 'real' racing games. No matter how exactly the physics match the real world, it's just never going to be like a real-world racing experience. The problem as I see it is the lack of peripheral vision in games....

In 'real' racing games, I can't tell the difference between 60mph and at 160mph. I tend to crash a lot and spend vast amounts of time skidding around in gravel at the side of the track."

This is probably because you insist on playing games on a 3" handheld screen and assuming that it gives you the same experience as a 42" widescreen TV running 1080P HD resolution.

Fortunately that is not true and is yet another reason why your postings are just so laughable.

You don't have an HD home entertainment setup yet seem to feel you are qualified to comment on the benefits of HDTV over SD. Now you seem to belittle the efforts of the GT5 type (hyper realistic) developers just because it doesn't look as good on your 14" goldfish bowl style CRT (or whatever passes for a TV in your house)

The reason you don't get peripheral vision effect in *your* games is that you don't have the equipment to experience it, not that it doesn't exist!

[Jim Robinson]

THE JUDGE: So because the DS version of Mario Kart is the best racing game, you think it's invalid because it's not on a 42" screen? You twat. The online equivelent of walking around and sneering at people is an ugly and pointless trait.

I prefer fake racing games too as I also have trouble judging speed on "real" racing games and I have a beautiful 32" screen. Is my opinion also invalid because I don't have a 42" screen? Well done on owning a huge TV though. Really great achievement.

I rather like David's posts about normal gaming.

[Suprmonkey21]

"Mario Kart double dash on the Gamecube is by the far the best game ever made. FACT" - That is the most untrue thing I have ever heard of. FACT. People nowadays don't ever get to experience the clasics. For example, I have a friend who thinks that Super mario sunshine is the best game ever. He's never even heard of Super mario 64 or super mario world. Same goes here. Double dash suffered from the lack of great, simple courses (there were some exceptions like yoshi circuit) and that whole 2-man kart thing. Just because thay added that doesn't mean they should. If you want to play a mario kart game, pick up the ds, snes, or wii versions.