Picked Mario Kart over Crash Team Racing for game night - big mistake

Last Friday I had to choose between Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Crash Team Racing for our couch co-op night. I went with Mario Kart because I figured it was safer for mixed skill levels. But after 4 races, three people were bored because they kept getting blue shelled every single lap. Crash Team Racing has that adventure mode where everyone can progress together, and the drifting actually takes some practice. I should have gone with CTR because it kept everyone more engaged last time we played it. Has anyone else found Mario Kart gets old fast with a group of 4?

2 comments

2 Comments

xena_miller3118d ago

Agree with you completely but here's the thing nobody brings up - Mario Kart punishes you for being good at it. The blue shells and items are designed to keep everyone bunched up so nobody runs away with the lead. CTR actually rewards you for learning the drift mechanics and the skill gap feels earned not ruined. I've seen groups fall apart in Mario Kart because the person in first just gets destroyed over and over while the person in last gets all the overpowered items. CTRs item balance might not be perfect but at least you feel like you're improving and not just getting slapped around by the game itself.

fiona33218d ago

But isn't that sort of the whole point of a party game though? Mario Kart is designed to be played with friends on a couch, and if one person could just drive perfectly and lap everyone, the rest of the group would sit there bored out of their minds after the first race. The rubber banding and blue shells keep things exciting for everyone, even the person who can't nail a single drift. I totally get that CTR feels more "fair" from a competitive standpoint, but not every game needs to be a hardcore skill test. Sometimes you want a fun, chaotic mess where your little cousin has a real shot at winning, even if you've been playing for years. That's what makes Mario Kart the go to for family gatherings and parties, not tournaments.