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Mario kart is the most consistently great game series of all time
- Thread starter blame space
- Start date
Eh. The first Mario Kart I remember really enjoying was MKDS, if I'm being honest. Before that, I liked the battle mode in MK64, but I never had much use for the series otherwise.
That being said, every game since and including MKDS has been a winner, and I consider it even more essential than Smash at this point. I also recognize that the older Mario Kart games are still beloved, so I can get behind the thesis of this thread. I just think MKDS was when it crossed the threshold from "good" to "great" (and MK8 from "great" to "fucking amazing").
That being said, every game since and including MKDS has been a winner, and I consider it even more essential than Smash at this point. I also recognize that the older Mario Kart games are still beloved, so I can get behind the thesis of this thread. I just think MKDS was when it crossed the threshold from "good" to "great" (and MK8 from "great" to "fucking amazing").
The Virtua Fighter series is an excellent example where each iteration was great.
I guess you don't like slamming each other into the side and off the road. And Baby Park was probably too much fun for you guys as well.
Lolno.
Mario Kart 8 was the first truly great Mario Kart game and the only one with remotely comparable quality to Crash Team Racing. Others ranged from shite to decent. Greatness took 8 games to achieve. One of the most overrated franchises in gaming.
Now, mainline Mario? You got an argument. Closest the series ever had to a bad game was Sunshine. Even Odyssey as disappointing as it was, is still a great game.
Mario Kart 8 was the first truly great Mario Kart game and the only one with remotely comparable quality to Crash Team Racing. Others ranged from shite to decent. Greatness took 8 games to achieve. One of the most overrated franchises in gaming.
Now, mainline Mario? You got an argument. Closest the series ever had to a bad game was Sunshine. Even Odyssey as disappointing as it was, is still a great game.
People arguing against the consistent quality of a franchise spanning 25 years and even going as far as to say that Mario Kart 64 is garbage. Gamers be wylin.
Yeah all this MK64 hate is mind blowing. For those who don't like this entry in the series, did you play it on an actual N64 or through emulation? I'll still play this sometimes on raspberry pi and it doesn't quite feel "right" but on an N64 it's still a blast.
Outside of the snes version, I've loved all the other MK entries. MK8 is one of the best games ever created; really hoping Nintendo throws some more DLC our way.
Outside of the snes version, I've loved all the other MK entries. MK8 is one of the best games ever created; really hoping Nintendo throws some more DLC our way.
I think the 3D Mario games are consistently better but the Mario Kart franchise is definitely up there.
Have to agree with the Mario Kart 64 hate. I didn't grow up playing it so when I went back to it it was very clunky. The controls are terrible and make it very frustrating to play. Not to mention it has the worst Rainbow Road ever, what an absolute bore, Mario Kart 8 did us all a favour by making that track only one lap instead of three.
Have to agree with the Mario Kart 64 hate. I didn't grow up playing it so when I went back to it it was very clunky. The controls are terrible and make it very frustrating to play. Not to mention it has the worst Rainbow Road ever, what an absolute bore, Mario Kart 8 did us all a favour by making that track only one lap instead of three.
Forza? It's been incredibly consistent. Forza 5 was probably the lowest point but event that I'd put at around Double Dash/Mario Kart Wii levels of quality. Was one of the best launch games of this gen. All of the Forza games (including Motorsport and Horizon) have all been well received. They haven't made a bad game.
Also you're crazy if you say MK64 is over-rated. I bought it day one and it was fucking amazing then and it's amazing now. I probably ended up liking DKR more but still... MK64 is rad.
Also you're crazy if you say MK64 is over-rated. I bought it day one and it was fucking amazing then and it's amazing now. I probably ended up liking DKR more but still... MK64 is rad.
There isn't a bad Mario Kart, however going back to earlier games after playing newer shows how much has changed. Used to love MK64 as a kid, but now as it's aged bad (as many games from the N64 days did) it's not as playable anymore. Still fun when you've had a few drinks though.
Just cause a game ages badly or is outclassed by later games doesn't make it not consistently fun. Literally every Mario Kart game is a blast in multiplayer and whenever you got a group of people, any Mario Kart is going to keep them happy. Your enlightened hardcore gamer self can stick your nose up at MK64 but you got a buncha casuals playing that game and they're gonna have a blast. The same rings true for Smash Bros. Every Smash has amazing multiplayer regardless of how it plays, what characters or which stages. Pure fun.
GTA? MGS? Soulsborne? All mainline entries were critically and commercially successful, including the more polarizing "black sheep" games like GTA IV, MGS4, and DS2.
Mario Kart has been consistent insofar as every entry is mildly amusing for a few minutes with friends... though for me they get fairly mind numbing and monotonous fast. Same goes for Smash, Guitar Hero, and most other "party games."
Mario Kart has been consistent insofar as every entry is mildly amusing for a few minutes with friends... though for me they get fairly mind numbing and monotonous fast. Same goes for Smash, Guitar Hero, and most other "party games."
Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart Wii were legit bad. I don't really have enough experience with SNES and GBA but they could be bad too.
DS is probably the best one, but my favorite is 8. Double Dash has the best music and aesthetics tho
DS is probably the best one, but my favorite is 8. Double Dash has the best music and aesthetics tho
All the Mario kart games are critically and commercially successful too, so I'm not sure why you use that to argue that Dark Souls II and GTAIV are good games.
I love Mario Kart as much as the next man but its essentially the same shit every iteration. Hard to fuck it up when you never change it.
Also Mario Kart 64 battle mode with friends was some of the most fun I've ever had gaming. Double Dash can see these nuts.
Also Mario Kart 64 battle mode with friends was some of the most fun I've ever had gaming. Double Dash can see these nuts.
Why you call me an idiot? Do you know ppl have different tastes? :'(
There are a few franchises that are so beloved, and are surrounded by a such a degree of fanaticism, that the top fans start to have distorted opinions about which ones are actually the best.
However, when account for mainline entries only, the following titles have astoundingly good track records
However, when account for mainline entries only, the following titles have astoundingly good track records
- Metal Gear
- Zelda
- Mario
- Metroid
Yep, while Block Fort is instantly recognizable as a classic map, lol. OP is right. Franchise is consistently good.
Numbered Final Fantasy games were like this for me from FFI to FFXII. Some, I hold in higher regards than others, but they were all good to great games at the time of their release.
Not a series in itself, but all Infinity Engine games were good to great and I can still enjoy replaying them.
While the Shin Megami Tensei series has a lot of spinoffs on top of the main series, the games are always good to great.
Last but not least, I love the Legacy of Kain series.
Not a series in itself, but all Infinity Engine games were good to great and I can still enjoy replaying them.
While the Shin Megami Tensei series has a lot of spinoffs on top of the main series, the games are always good to great.
Last but not least, I love the Legacy of Kain series.
Whilst I do not love Mario Kart (only played it on the SNES) it is as you say though, pretty hard to fuck it up when it's essentially the same game every time just looks prettier. It would take something pretty special to fuck that up.
Oh boy, are you gonna get some people quoting you and complaining about Sunshine.
I fucking love Sunshine
Even the seemingly polarizing games in those franchises are also great and demonstrate a consistent level of quality that matches, if not outstrips Mario Kart, which, lbr, isnt even on the same level in terms of ambition and scope. It certainly excels at what it tries to do, which isn't much imo. So I suppose I'm qualifying the "greatness" of Mario Kart more than contesting its consistency, while contending that GTA, Souls, or MGS are more consistent in quality than certain hyperbolic internet communities would have one believe.
I don't agree with OP that all the Mario Karts are great, but even Mario Kart 64 is better than Dark Souls II. Dark Souls isn't even consistently great outside of Dark Souls II, as III is simply good.
Some of the older games feel "weird" to control these days...namely the first three titles. For some reason it feels like the carts are really back-heavy for some reason.
But you're right, none of them have been outright bad.
But you're right, none of them have been outright bad.
Before Other M, it was Metroid easily. Yes, even more consistent than Mario and Zelda.
Mario Kart also is pretty good in this regard, but it's been around for less and the basic formula is still the same, which makes it slightly less impressive in my view. Most consistently fun series? That I can get behind, although I've always enjoyed Smash more.
Mario Kart also is pretty good in this regard, but it's been around for less and the basic formula is still the same, which makes it slightly less impressive in my view. Most consistently fun series? That I can get behind, although I've always enjoyed Smash more.
I think Virtua Fighter is probably the best example of this. Each one is a landmark title on all fronts and were all the absolute top of the line visually and mechanically, although VF5 initially started off a little thin before they updated it.
God, where is Virtua Fighter 6??
God, where is Virtua Fighter 6??
Paperboy is the most consistent game franchise of all time, all versions are consistently horrible.
MK had DD that was an horrible snorefest (kinda like Mario Sunshine when you think about it)
I never touched the GBA one so I can't tell.
Otherwise form DS till now, they're on a fucking roll. Masterpieces after masterpieces.
Now? The best we have in the last 8 years is a bad remake :/ (good game but just horrible as a remake, totally miss the point of the original game)
MK had DD that was an horrible snorefest (kinda like Mario Sunshine when you think about it)
I never touched the GBA one so I can't tell.
Otherwise form DS till now, they're on a fucking roll. Masterpieces after masterpieces.
Basically, I'm no fan of Zero Mission but it's still really well made.
Now? The best we have in the last 8 years is a bad remake :/ (good game but just horrible as a remake, totally miss the point of the original game)
I'd say mainline Mario, Dragon Quest, Kirby, and Pokemon are easily just as consistent. Hell, even Uncharted or Ratchet and Clank, if you are just counting mainline games and not weird mobile spinoffs or different genre spinoffs not made by Insomniac/Naughty Dog.
I loved them... not as much as DS1 or Bloodborne, sure, but i still managed to sink 100+ hours into both sequels. Meanwhile I struggle to play Mario Kart 64 for longer than 15 minutes. But hey, different strokes for different folks I guess!
I played a lot of DD last year, and I prefer the handling in DD. Still love 8 though!