Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

[MVS]

Edge Magazine: 5/10.

[AstroBlue]

I think the production values for Nintendo titles in general are subpar... Blah blah blah... wank wank wank.... shit shit shit... money, it costs you money.

Metroid Prime did have voice overs in the PAL version. Eternal Darkness was voiced by professional voice actors, practically the same ones that do the Metal Gear Solid games, and that was a Nintendo production.

Granted that almost all other Nintendo games are mute (Zelda, but for a good reason) or are voiced by NOA staff (Super Metroid, Super Mario Sunshine). But I certainly don't care... I can only think of a handfull of games that really benefited from having voice overs... Symphony of the Night benefited from voice acting to add comic relief.

Tetris has music that is arguably "worse" than a midi, yet the music in tetris is the most memorable video game tune ever. Also, I can remember some really cool inspired music in Nintendo games, like the Django-esque theme of Delfino Plaza in Super Mario Sunshine. Whether you use a full orchestra, a protools strings assortment, or a midi doesn't matter, it's what you do with it.

Costcutting is not Nintendo's problem, the fact they make mediocre games is. Throwing money at a game wont make it good, just look at Daikatana or Metal Gear Solid 2.

[Green]

GamePro.com 12/1/2003 5 out of 5 100.0%
Electronic Gaming Monthly 12/1/2003 9.83 out of 10 98.3%
IGN 11/12/2003 7.9 out of 10 79.0%
Total Games Network 11/8/2003 94 out of 100 94.0%
Eurogamer 11/3/2003 9 out of 10 90.0%
Total Video Games 11/10/2003 9 out of 10 90.0%
Play Magazine 11/1/2003 A- 90.0%
Game Play 11/10/2003 9 out of 10 90.0%
Cube Europe 10/22/2003 9 out of 10 90.0%
Lawrence 11/12/2003 85 out of 100 85.0%

[Teddman]

I wonder if all those UK sites/mags tended to give Mario Kart a bit more positive review than they would have if it didn't get released in Europe before the U.S. A lot of them sounded positively giddy about getting review copies two weeks before the rest of the world for once...

[Adrian]

Because then people like you and Fran would just complain that the music is just a rehash of SSBM's soundtrack.

Also, the carts are supposed to look ridiculous. Do you expect the Kongs to be driving a Toyota Supra or something?

It seems as though Fran was expecting Mario Turismo instead of a new Mario Kart game.

As far as i'm concerned they can rehash the SSBM soundtrack as much as they like, the music there was amazing. Why defend the indefensible dude? It's low grade MIDI garbage ffs when Nintendo are capable of so much more.

And no, I expect them to look like carts not barrels, prams or cadillacs.

Really, everything will be okay if you just let people say they're not looking forward to Double Dash. You don't have to immediately justify your own excitement for it by telling them they're wrong.

IGN's review pointed out a lot of things about the game that disappoint me. It doesn't matter that it's just one review or that it's IGN, it just matters that if Mario Kart contains the faults they mentioned, then I'm sure I will be let down by it. There is no conspiracy or inside job going on to screw Nintendo just because I'm not looking forward to the game like you are.

Spot on.

[Kidnemo]

I reserved it!

And I thought the demo looked neat, even though I'm still not sold on the new cart designs.

*doesn't have much else to add to this thread until he plays it*

[Kbu Chan]

GameNow gave it an A-, and "Game of the Month". The only negative review I've seen is from IGN. Those guys have been a little off for a while now so, no biggie. I've played the demo maybe 40 times or so, the game rocks just based on the one track demo alone.

I think the production values for Nintendo titles in general are subpar.

- No voice acting/voice overs. How much more ass would Metroid Prime have kicked if there had been say... some dialog/voice over at the beginning talking about Samus' history. Even Super Metroid had voice and it was a SNES game!

- Lack of unlockables. This is every game that isn't SSBM. What did Mario Sunshine give you to work for? Oh, sunglasses and a hawaii themed t-shirt. Woo! Wouldn't Pikmin have benifited from something more? Like say mini-Marios?

- Music. They're still using midi music? Jebus. EA hires orcastras(sp)! They have good talent, but it seems that the talent needs the tools. One only needs to look at Halo to see how music can be a positive factor, well worth the money and time it takes.

Nintendo seems to be trying to crank out games faster and cheaper... and they're failing to do so. Cutting corners doesn't save you money, it costs you money.

No offense, but I'm glad the decision makers at Nintendo don't think the way you do.

[Teddman]

I don't see much wrong with what Zondaro is saying... all three of his points apply to the new Mario Kart somewhat. Nintendo's music hasn't been so hot this gen, and almost every MK: DD review agrees that its theme music is execrable.

[Rumpy]

A 7.9 really isn't that bad. I don't see the need to get your panties in a bunch over it. I'm sure once tunneling is up and running the game will be even better in multi.

[Melf]

No offense, but I'm glad the decision makers at Nintendo don't think the way you do.

..because doing so would mean they would have to snap back to reality, as his points all make sense.