Mario Kart MB - Does SMK hold up?

CastletonSnob Elite Offline I Love Mark 2.0! 3298 days karting United States Gender:	Does SMK hold up? 08/02/16 at 07:37:43 In your opinion, does the game hold up by today's standards?
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Joe Reinreb

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Re: Does SMK hold up?
Reply #1 - 08/02/16 at 07:45:48

It's tough. I've always felt that today's Mario Karts (starting with Mario Kart 64) have always felt slower in comparison to Super Mario Kart. SMK's learning curve is incredibly difficult and hard to master, but I'll always prefer it over the rest of the series only because I am simply more familiar with it than I am with any of the other MKs.

Does it hold up? For people like me, yes, no question, but for anyone else trying to play this game for the first time and thinking it'll be easy to pick up, then I'd have to say no. Just too difficult in that regard. Smiley

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CastletonSnob

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Re: Does SMK hold up?
Reply #2 - 08/02/16 at 07:47:35

Joe Reinreb wrote on 08/02/16 at 07:45:48:

It's tough. I've always felt that today's Mario Karts (starting with Mario Kart 64) have always felt slower in comparison to Super Mario Kart. SMK's learning curve is incredibly difficult and hard to master, but I'll always prefer it over the rest of the series only because I am simply more familiar with it than I am with any of the other MKs.

Does it hold up? For people like me, yes, no question, but for anyone else trying to play this game for the first time and thinking it'll be easy to pick up, then I'd have to say no. Just too difficult in that regard. Smiley

I didn't expect the game to be as difficult as it is when I got it last year. But, it motivated me into getting better at the game.

I didn't grow up playing the game like most of you did.

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Eric Olden

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Re: Does SMK hold up?
Reply #3 - 08/02/16 at 09:06:54

CastletonSnob wrote on 08/02/16 at 07:47:35:

Joe Reinreb wrote on 08/02/16 at 07:45:48:

It's tough. I've always felt that today's Mario Karts (starting with Mario Kart 64) have always felt slower in comparison to Super Mario Kart. SMK's learning curve is incredibly difficult and hard to master, but I'll always prefer it over the rest of the series only because I am simply more familiar with it than I am with any of the other MKs.

Does it hold up? For people like me, yes, no question, but for anyone else trying to play this game for the first time and thinking it'll be easy to pick up, then I'd have to say no. Just too difficult in that regard. Smiley

I didn't expect the game to be as difficult as it is when I got it last year. But, it motivated me into getting better at the game.

It will always be the best in my eyes, unless Nintendo can recreate the magic of the game, which I would find damn near impossible. On the surface it may looked like an aged game to a newcomer, and not that deep, but it is one of the deepest games I have ever played by far. I honestly think the graphics are very pleasing to the eye, especially considering the age of the game. I find it hard to take any serious interest in the other games, I do want to play Super Circuit eventually though.

My only regret about SMK is not playing it all the way through my child hood till now, there was a serious gap between the early 90's till late 2009/10 when Matt downloaded the game on game cube, and got us off and running again. It was not long before he got an actual console, and we would race with Koopa, and Toad, which if I try to go back and race with them now, it seems way more difficult than Bowser or DK.

I didn't grow up playing the game like most of you did.

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Fabrice Baro

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Re: Does SMK hold up?
Reply #4 - 08/02/16 at 18:03:14

Eric Olden wrote on 08/02/16 at 09:06:54:

It will always be the best in my eyes, unless Nintendo can recreate the magic of the game, which I would find damn near impossible. On the surface it may looked like an aged game to a newcomer, and not that deep, but it is one of the deepest games I have ever played by far. I honestly think the graphics are very pleasing to the eye, especially considering the age of the game. I find it hard to take any serious interest in the other games, I do want to play Super Circuit eventually though.

I have to agree with this. To me it's the best as well but I am not objective as it's the first SMK I got. However I feel the same for F-Zero (the first)... the feel of the controls in both games is incredibly precise and intense. All subsequent games feel more "diluted". It's in part due to the speed of the game. Every turn comes max every 2-3 seconds.

I played a bit of MK64 when it came out but I was disappointed. It seems to me the other MKs (on non-portable consoles) have the same general feel.

Eric Olden wrote on 08/02/16 at 09:06:54:

My only regret about SMK is not playing it all the way through my child hood till now, there was a serious gap between the early 90's till late 2009/10 when Matt downloaded the game on game cube, and got us off and running again. It was not long before he got an actual console, and we would race with Koopa, and Toad, which if I try to go back and race with them now, it seems way more difficult than Bowser or DK.

Same here. I played of PAL from 1993 to 97, then a bit of NTSC emulator in 2005-2006, then I started NTSC in 2014 and PAL in 2015... hooked again.

I have had MKW given to me a year ago, but I have yet to even turn it on... to hooked on SMK!

But again, I am certainly very biased.

Now to answer the original question, I feel the game has held up pretty well for several reasons:
- graphics are pleasant enough and clear
- controls are intuitive and well tuned
- game is well balanced
- very little gets in the way of having fun

Back in the day it wasn't always (or often) the case. Many games were frustrating one way or another (watch AVGN on YouTube), partly due to hardware limitations.

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CastletonSnob Elite Offline I Love Mark 2.0! missed 3298 mts United States Gender:	Re: Does SMK hold up? Reply #5 - 08/03/16 at 04:45:54 Honestly, my experience with SMK is kind of limited, since I only play Time Trial.
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wxyz Legend Offline 5481 sex records	Re: Does SMK hold up? Reply #6 - 08/04/16 at 02:57:57 No, the graphics and music are shit and game requires skill to complete. There is no DLC to milk more money out of you and the online options are non existent. This game would be a complete flop if it was first released today.
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Re: Does SMK hold up?
Reply #7 - 08/04/16 at 03:13:17

^

terrible but simple truth

This said, pixel graphics are kinda hype nowadays when it comes to indie games. SMK could be a very popular indie if it was released on Steam those days.

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Aron Langerak wrote on 08/06/17 at 13:47:24:

MKDD is not technical at all

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The feeling of being a world champion is intoxicating, and I didn't want to ever not be the world champion again. Then I realized it didn't matter that much since I had nothing more to prove and achieved my most important goal(s).

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CastletonSnob Elite Offline I Love Mark 2.0! hit 3298 moles United States Gender:	Re: Does SMK hold up? Reply #8 - 08/04/16 at 04:59:29 wxyz wrote on 08/04/16 at 02:57:57: No, the graphics and music are shit and game requires skill to complete. There is no DLC to milk more money out of you and the online options are non existent. This game would be a complete flop if it was first released today. Nice commentary on the current state of the industry.
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Eric Olden

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Re: Does SMK hold up?
Reply #9 - 08/06/16 at 21:11:25

CastletonSnob wrote on 08/04/16 at 04:59:29:

wxyz wrote on 08/04/16 at 02:57:57:

No, the graphics and music are shit and game requires skill to complete. There is no DLC to milk more money out of you and the online options are non existent. This game would be a complete flop if it was first released today.

Nice commentary on the current state of the industry. Smiley

I don't think the music is that bad, especially by these guys. It's a must watch if you have not seen it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPTzCS7caco

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KVD Titan Offline twitch.tv/smk_machin e ate 7789 donuts Netherlands Gender:	Re: Does SMK hold up? Reply #10 - 08/07/16 at 00:02:51 Holy shit! That Koopa Beach especially was truly amazing!
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Chris Ninja Offline wao 5654 days karting Germany, Pforzheim Gender:	Re: Does SMK hold up? Reply #11 - 08/07/16 at 00:56:51 Hot damn! This is a fantastic medley! And I agree, that Koopa Beach was AWESOME!
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Joe Reinreb NinjaEoj Offline Name anagram: Beer Joiner 7259 pubs visited Chicago, Illinois	Re: Does SMK hold up? Reply #12 - 08/07/16 at 13:45:05 Their rendition of Ghost Valley bothered me quite a bit. Lots of wrong notes, even though it's a pretty easy progression.
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Eric Olden Elite Offline Fire Lord of the Kartel. hit 3233 moles Louisiana Gender:	Re: Does SMK hold up? Reply #13 - 08/07/16 at 21:40:48 I can def see that now too. Gotta give them a pass for the rest though, and the sound effects are a bonus.
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