CoG Mario Kart 7 Thread

[KamaItachi]

With the game a scant week away, it's time to get the hype train rolling on this one.

Early reviews have started coming in, and they're very good.

CVG 9.4/10

But you'll realise long before you take your place at the back of the Special Cup grid that this is a racer that trades on verve and wonderment. Think of MK 7 as the Mario Galaxy of the roads; a racer with the fertile imagination of a child's mind, and the attention span to boot.

Eurogamer 8/10

The 3D is a treat, benefiting from the technology's more comfortable application in games that travel into the screen rather than across it. Likewise, Mario Kart 7 is a handheld technical marvel, going toe-to-toe with the Wii title for graphical vibrancy, texture and detail.

ONM:93

Fortunately, the new courses revolve around the new air and sea sections in such a coherent way that they never feel tacked-on or superfluous. The additional diversions have given Nintendo's design team much more to play with, and Mario Kart 7's set of courses is the richest and densest crop yet.

More intriguing are the Friends/Opponents and Communities options. The former keeps track of your record against everyone on your friends list, notching up a 'victory' if you finish ahead of them and a 'defeat' every time you don't. It also retains this data on everyone you've faced online recently (whether you're friends or not), and gives you the option of joining their next race if you're particularly keen to overturn the agony of a last minute defeat

I thought we could use this as a general discussion thread as well as matchmaking. Mario Kart 7 also gives you the option of setting up your own communites allowing you to use a single set up code for multiple players to get together and play, without the need for exchanging friend codes 1-1.

Release dates for those interested:

Japan: Dec 1st
EU: Dec 2
AUS: Dec 3
US: Dec 4

CoG community group:
51-2303-7009-7332 -150cc- all items

[Ravenlock]

It's out in a week?!

Shit.

[Blue]

Comes out on my birthday. I'm glad that at (almost) 31, I can walk into a store and purchase Mario Kart with confidence and my own money. Though I'm a little sad I have to buy myself a present, but you can't win 'em all.

[KamaItachi]

Just updated with a new review.

[Blue]

Thanks to Pinchy's kindness in the console thread, I have this pre-ordered and I await its arrival.

[Ravenlock]

I've got $15 at Best Buy that is clearly going towards this next week.

[quidmonkey]

Very pumped. Bought my 3DS for this. MKDS is the best version so far, here's to topping it.

[Ravenlock]

The Gametrailers Review has me pretty damn hyped.

[KamaItachi]

Some seem to be down on it for not doing enough new things. I'm not too down on that, since I'd be happy enough with just a higher fidelity version of MKDS. MK7 has that, with analogue steering and better online features.

[JayVe]

Analog steering alone will make this a worthwhile upgrade to MKDS.

[KamaItachi]

Got my copy today. Been going through single to unlock parts/characters and had a go at online.

So far I like the new tracks and the additions to the older ones open up a ton of new options. Good to see some of Double Dash tracks getting some love.

Online so far, works flawlessly. Silky smooth, with 8 players running at a sweet 60FPS. I actually forgot I was playing against real people on a couple of occasions.

Anyone up for a community setting? There's not a ton of flexibility, really, it's just setting your speed and general item rules (all items, Shells only, mushrooms, no items etc..)so we can easily set up a few for those who want to play a couple of different ways.

[Ravenlock]

Really looking forward to picking it up tomorrow. See you fools on the racetrack.

P.S. Everyone in this thread has already done so, but newcomers, if you haven't, go drop your friend code on us in the Friend Code thread.

[Ravenlock]

It's a shame that you have to lock down community settings.

I guess I'd be up for at least 100 and 150cc All Items communities. Seems like everybody can create them, which is convenient but also havoc if we don't manage it.

[KamaItachi]

CoG community group 51-2303-7009-7332 150cc all items

I think we should stick to just the one for now, but if people start having preferences we can look at adding more. But we don't want to fracture the play group right off the bat.

[quidmonkey]

Ow, my hand! 3DS is too damn small.

I like it, but still no item selection and a gimped slide. Playing through the retro stages makes me realize how much I dislike MKW. Oh, and lightning is hateful - much, much worse than blue shells.

3D is awesome. Netcode is excellent. First-person mode is great. Unlocking items/karts is screwy. I do like many of the new tracks, although fuck Rainbow Road.

One new tweak I've noticed is that if you hop right when you leave the lip of a ramp, you'll get a speed boost.

CoG Community joined!

[Ravenlock]

Holy shit, dude. I was once alright at Mario Kart.

That was pathetic. Practice needed.

[quidmonkey]

Originally Posted by Ravenlock

Holy shit, dude. I was once alright at Mario Kart.

That was pathetic. Practice needed.

Nah. You did great! Talk about serendipitous. No sooner did I login to the Community, and Ravenlock joined! Thanks for the races!

[KamaItachi]

Balls, I'm stuck playing single at work

[Blue]

Looks like mine will be delivered on Tuesday. Bah. I have my fingers crossed it'll come tomorrow but I'm not hopeful - will post when it does.

[Ravenlock]

I'm sitting online in the community room for a bit in case anybody wants to race tonight.