Topic: Namco and Nintendo Reveal Mario Kart Arcade

[Spak-Spang]

I really have to question why people are upset about Pacman being in the game.

Its a racing game...its not like the image of Pacman taints, hurts the gameplay, or does anything negative to the game.  I think its kinda cool.  Its another option, that is all.

I could understand complaining about PacMan in a 3D Mario Game, or in Smash Brothers, because then the gameplay could be dramatically different.  Not so with in this case though.

Its just like secret characters in Tony Hawk or SSX3.  They are wierd for sure, and don't seem to fit, but they also don't hurt the game.

[couchmonkey]

I agree with you on that, Spak-Spang.  If you don't like Pac-Man, just don't play as him.

But I still think the game is only a little better looking than Double Dash.    I grabbed a pile of screens from both Gamesarefun and PlanetGameCube to make sure I wasn't fooling myself.  I think the thing that makes the Arcade game look better to everyone is that they're going for a more realistic style.  As someone else here said, they're not basing it on Super Mario Sunshine.  Which is great, but its also a matter of taste.  Qualitatively, I think the only things that definitely look better in the Arcade screenshots are:
- Sharper graphics, mainly because it isn't using a depth-of-field effect
- Better character models, however there is also only one character per kart, and from what I've seen, only six karts are on the track at one time!  There is way more chaos in the Double Dash screenshots.

I'd still like to see this game as an early Revolution port, and I wouldn't even mind if they don't enhance the graphics, I just think Revolution will be capable of more.

[PaLaDiN]

Outside of the two person per kart thing, I can't tell the graphical difference between this and the GC version.

[Pale]

I think its awesome that PacMan is in it.  It lets everyone know that this is Namco's mario kart.   One of the things that bugged me about F-Zero was that Sega didn't really do anything to put their stamp on it.  It would have rocked if there was a Green Hill race track or something.

[Mario]

Yuck, while this game looks alright, I do NOT want it to be a "Revolution launch title", I want the Revolution Mario Kart to be by Nintendo. I want this ported to GCN. GameCube can easily handle this, I don't see the point putting this on any other console.

[Djunknown]

*Yawn*

Yeah, yeah Mario Kart comes to the arcade. Whoopty-do. I really can't be too excited; F-Zero AX is nowhere to be found in my area(or my state for that matter), and what few arcades are left just have the DDR upteenth mix and Tekken 5 as the newest games. Granted, this is Namco we're talking about, who are better off than Sega, but I won't hold my breath.

The whole Triforce gig was a wasted opportunity, at least here in the North America.  I wanted to play F-Zero AX. Very badly. But Sega didnt' distribute them En-mass, and Nintendo didn't bother taking up distribution duty. I shouldn't have to bend over backwards just because they didn't put their best foot foward.

Oh well, but if it indeed shows up around my area, I'll quit my bitching.

[Savior]

Looks great, wish it were coming to the US but its doubtfull. 1.Arcades in USA suck, 2.its doubtfull on the GCN...  

[Hostile Creation]

I don't mind Namco incorporating a character, but it'd be nice if they had something other than Pac-man.  The game sorta lost its charm when it went 3D and started sucking, and so did the character.  Hell, it wasn't even a character to start with.

[MattVDB]

Don't Triforce boards have double the Ram as a GCN?  If so, wouldn't "porting it down" to the Gamecube be harder then porting it to the Rev?  I like the fact that it is currently at a higher res, or so it seems.  I am so happy to actually see go carts as well, instead of "go cars."  This game excites me all over again.  And you wonder why DD is the second best selling game on Gamecube?  Heh.

[KDR_11k]

I doubt this will be as scarce as FZero AX. Compare the sales numbers of DD and GX, I think it's safe to say there's more demand for Mario Kart.

[JonLeung]

Six Degrees Of Super Mario (variation of "Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon"):

Pac-Man has been in Pac-Man Fever with Astaroth.
Astaroth has been in Soul Calibur II with Link.
Link has been in Super Smash Bros. (and SSBM and SMRPG and Tetris (NES)) with Mario.

Ha!  Three degrees!

Thanks to several comic book/video game/etc. crossovers, you'd be surprised at how many characters are in the same multiverse as Mario.  Pac-Man is just closer than he was before, if you don't count Pac-Man Vs.  (Lara Croft, Optimus Prime, Batman, and several other characters are also in the same multiverse as Super Mario if you think about it.)

Besides, Pac-Man is a cartoony character, and a major classic game character.  It's inevitable that they should meet.  If you don't like it, don't play him.

Though I wonder what features you'd be able to add on your picture if you chose Pac-Man.  It's not like there's much to Pac-Man, unless they make your face yellow or put his arms coming out of your ears.  o_0  

[Bill Aurion]

They stick your face in his mouth... <_<

[KDR_11k]

Well, considering Pac-Man is also in Tales of Symphonia I'm expecting some Mario vs. Lloyd matches in the future!

[JonLeung]

Isn't Pac-Man just a snowman in ToS, though?  Or am I wrong?

When I do the "Six Degrees Of Super Mario" game I don't count it unless they're actually there in person; though I also allow for different incarnations of the same person (eg. Link, Predator).

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Klonoa floppy-ears was also in Tos.  *o*

I wonder if the Mario Kart "hop" will return in the arcade version, and therefore the seats will JUMP UP TO GIVE YOU A HEART ATTACK accordingaly.  Make sure you don't have anything solid in your backpockets, cuz it will hurt bad.

[King of Twitch]

I heard you press accel+brake to hop. And to punch other racers off their cart you use your fist

[KDR_11k]

Jon: Yes but how would the inhabitants of the worlds know of Pac-Man? I certainly didn't see any arcades over there.

[CHEN]

Even this can't woo you guys.

[dafunkk12]

Quote
Originally posted by: PaleZer0
I think its awesome that PacMan is in it.  It lets everyone know that this is Namco's mario kart.   One of the things that bugged me about F-Zero was that Sega didn't really do anything to put their stamp on it.  It would have rocked if there was a Green Hill race track or something.

Wow, I hadn't thought of having a Sonic track before you mentioned it, but now the possibilities are racing through my head!

Oh, and I played F-Zero AX at Rocky's Replay a dedicated arcade building here in Orlando, and maybe it was just me, but it felt a bit "wrong."

[Hostile Creation]

A Sonic F-Zero track would be awesome, since the two games are so compatible in that sense.  Though one of the mechanically-looking worlds would have been more appropriate (though the contrast would be nice).  Sega influences are obvious, though: they certainly like casino areas.

I think this is awesome and would be ultra-hyped if I got to play it.  This is the sort of thing that could get me to break my "no arcade" philosophy.  Hopefully some version of this comes to some system, because it sounds like it could be a blast (despite pac-man).

[King of Twitch]

Quote
The basic karting control is about the same as it was in the SNES days, wherein hitting both the gas and the brake at the same time will cause the kart to hop into the air

Blasphemy.