Tracks that should have been in Mario Kart Wii

I loved Mario Kart Wii. That's no secret. However, after looking back at some of the previous Mario Kart games, I've noticed a few great tracks ending up AWOL. Also, a lot of tracks that did make the cut weren't that great (Yoshi Falls? Seriously? And why so many plain 2D tracks?). If it were up to me, these are the classic tracks that would have been in Mario Kart Wii.

Yoshi Valley

Game: Mario Kart 64

Yoshi Valley is one of the craziest tracks ever in Mario Kart history. Insanely twisted up and full of holes to fall into, it's a miracle Yoshi even wants to be associated with such a tangled mess! Despite being so incredibly disorderly and confusing, Yoshi Valley was one of my favourite tracks in all of Mario Kart 64. The fact that it's never been remade in any Mario Kart game so far is a travesty.

Lakeside Park

Game: Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Probably the only 2D track I like, Lakeside Park is full of sharp turns, deadly water and even features falling volcanic rocks from the second lap onwards. Hitting one of these spins the kart out of control, usually resulting in the player spinning off into a lake, wall, or large patch of grass. One thing I really like about Lakeside Park is the section in the lower part of the above image. Joining the ranks of only one other 2D track to do so, Lakeside Park incorporates a jump across an earlier section of the track. Mess up this jump, and you're dropped a significant distance behind. My kinda track. Like Yoshi Valley, though, I'm fairly sure Lakeside Park has never seen the light of day since its original release. Seriously unfair.

Royal Raceway

Game: Mario Kart 64

Some of my fondest memories of gaming are the days I spent playing Mario Kart 64, and a big part of that was Royal Raceway. Zigzagging next to a lake, flying through the air and even driving right up to the castle's front door was great fun, even if that last one usually involved losing the race. This want for a Royal Raceway revival isn't based solely on nostalgia, though. Royal Raceway was a very fun track with many twists, hills and jumps. It really showed off what the Nintendo 64 could do, and I loved every minute of it. Finding out this track wasn't in Mario Kart Wii really, really sucked.

Toad's Turnpike, Shroom Ridge and Mushroom City

Games: Mario Kart: Double Dash, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart DS

Each of these levels is amazing in their own way, but they ultimately fall into the same basic category of "Public Road" tracks. They're called this because of the fact that drivers share the road with other, life-sized vehicles such as trucks, cars, Bob-omb karts, and even Wiggler trucks. These vehicles make for unique obstacles, as they move around the course constantly throughout the race. It's rarely possible to take a guess as to where a vehicle will be at any given time, making each turn incredibly risky. Who knows what dangers lie around the bend? The tracks were always a complete blast to play, and they are more than deserving of a revival in Mario Kart Wii.

Waluigi Pinball

Game: Mario Kart DS

Very few tracks compare to how incredibly surreal Waluigi Pinball is. Instead of racing on a track, players are thrown into a gigantic, active pinball machine. Before Mario Kart DS, I never would have expected a pinball would become an obstacle in any game ever. Yet, here I am driving about a gigantic pinball table, fleeing Indiana Jones-style from huge, steel ball bearings of death. Sharing the road with a pinball requires the player to pay attention to very many things at once, demanding a greater level of concentration than most tracks. When the race finally gets down to the paddles, it really gets insane. Balls flying all over the place, bumpers bouncing players in every which direction, and the paddles themselves throwing racers to the top of the track section. Not a track for the faint of heart. Maybe that's why it didn't make it into the more family-friendly Mario Kart Wii?

These are but a few of the great tracks time seems to have forgotten. I managed to trim it down to the selection you see here, but I assure you, many other tracks were deserving of a Mario Kart Wii re-release. Really, almost any track would have been preferable to the myriad of crappy, two-dimensional tracks that made it in from the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance. Man I hate those flat, uninteresting tracks. There's a reason for games having three dimensions nowadays!

But, I'm just ranting now. What do you guys think of my choices? Also, what classic tracks would you like to see return in a future Mario Kart game? Please, feel free to speak your mind in either the comment section, or this forum thread.

In-depth thoughts on the DSi

The DSi was announced early in the morning last Thursday, meaning I've had much time to consider everything we know so far about the successor to the DS Lite. After looking at pretty much every available image of the console and reading all there is to know about it, I'm ready to give my in-depth thoughts on the DSi.

First, the look. I like that they didn't do anything overly drastic with the new design. I've been looking at many DS 2 mock-ups over the years, and most of the time, I felt the artist took things a little too far in the creativity department. If the DSi were revealed to look like this, I'd be pretty upset. It's just too drastic a change. Sticking to the basic design of the DS Lite and tweaking things here and there was a good choice, and I'm happy with how it turned out.

Of course, in order to make the DSi as small and sleek as it is, Nintendo had to axe the Game Boy Advance support. Personally, I think this is both a good and a bad thing. I mean, the GBA has been obsolete for almost four years now. I'm pretty sure most of us have played all the Pokémon Ruby and Drill Dozer we need by now. If we do want to go back to those days, we can always just whip out our older DS models, or heck, even dig out the old GBA! Losing the ability to play GBA games on the DSi is no big deal to me.

However, losing some functionality in a few DS games is worth making note of. With the DSi, we'll no longer be able to transfer Pokémon from our GBA games to Diamond, Pearl or Platinum. We won't be able to play Guitar Hero: On Tour anymore, since there will be nowhere to plug in the guitar grip. Metroid Prime: Pinball will be a lot less involving, since we won't be able to use the Rumble Pak. Many DS games will suffer from decreased capabilities because of the GBA slot being ditched.

Countering the loss of GBA compatibility will be the addition of a music player and camera functions. First off, the music player sounds like a real stinker. I mean, AAC format only? That's a load of crap as far as I'm concerned. Everyone listens to MP3s, Nintendo. The only people who listen to AACs download their songs from iTunes, and they generally already have a music player in the form of an iPod. If I ever want to use this player, I'm going to have to dig up some format converter online, then swap all my MP3s into being AACs. Boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. For the love of god, Nintendo, just pay the extra licensing fee and make everyone's lives easier.

As for the cameras, I'm still not sure what their actual resolution is. Some say 0.3 megapixel, others say 3.0, and yet more say that one camera will be 0.3, and the other, 3.1. Whatever the case, chances are we'll be somewhat underwhelmed with the final products clarity. So yeah, the DSi will stink as a digital camera. Why don't I care?

I don't care because the DSi cameras have the potential to add so much to our games. Now, I know this is generally "taboo", but I'm going to reference... The Gizmondo. Now then, this famously terrible console that went down in a mafia-entangled ball of flames (This "ball of flames" more accurately described as "Ferrari getting sheared in half") actually had an interesting aspect to it: A digital camera. Interestingly, this camera could be used to take pictures of real-life objects and have them translated and utilized in the game. I remember hearing a while back of a game that required the player to draw a symbol on a piece of paper and take a picture of it. The game then interpreted the image to make sure it matched the symbol, then allowed the play to continue. Yes, I know, mega-lame utilization. But just imagine what the camera could be used for...

Remember Monster Rancher? You know, that sort of reverse-Pokémon franchise that involved freeing creatures from discs and fighting alongside them? Back in the days of the Playstation, a trademark mechanic of the game was to remove the disc at a certain point, then place a music CD or another game in the Playstation. If the correct disc was inserted, the player would "free the monster" from it, unlocking the creature to be used in his team. Now, imagine the same basic idea, but with, say, bar codes instead of discs. Players take pictures of bar codes, the game analyzes them, and matching codes unlock a hidden feature of the game. Yeah, so my idea kinda stinks, but I'm sure a variation on it could be imagined! If Monster Rancher were to make a return in a form similar to this, I would be a very happy gamer. Dang it, I liked Monster Rancher!

So yeah, while the DSi may suck as a digital camera, it'll rock for revolutionizing the way the real world influences the game world. The day I get to paste my own face on my Pokémon character's head is the day I can die happy.

Another big addition being made to the DSi is the DSi Store. Similar to the Wii's Shop Channel, the DSi Store will enable users to download software straight from the internet onto the handheld's internal memory, for a fee ranging from gratis to eight bucks. Seriously, this is awesome. With so-far-announced titles such as a notebook application with short animation-making abilities and a handheld Opera internet browser, the DSi Store has the potential to make the DSi the only handheld electronic we need.

Oh my, what's this? Is it an SD card slot I see? Why yes, it is! Just in case the so-far unknown storage capabilities of the DSi aren't adequate, we can just plug in an SD card and add gigs of storage space at ease! Now, let's just hope Nintendo doesn't totally mess it up like they did with the Wii's gimped SD card slot. The day they announce a storage solution for the Wii that actually helps is the day birds start flying upside down (And it won't be because of liquor this time).

Overall, the DSi seems like a worthy successor to the DS Lite. Sure, it's not perfect, and it may even be somewhat flawed, but it's certainly worthy. Not quite awesome enough to warrant every DS Lite owner to rush out and buy it, but certainly worth looking into if you haven't yet made the jump to the DS Lite (Or if your DS Lite is broken). Oh, and if you're one of those crazies still holding on to your original model DS... Just upgrade already. Your cramped wrists, strained retinas and stretched pockets will thank you.

So yeah, I'll pick up the DSi on day one. My old Lite's failing on me, and hey, I'm a sucker for the new-and-shiny. Okay, so the DSi is actually less shiny than the DS Lite, but you know what I mean. It's purdy. Now then, if only I didn't have to wait at least six months to get my hands on it... Curse you region-locking!

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Poll #60: "Are you ready for a new DS?" results, banner

"Yes! Gimme gimme!" 16 votes (48%)
"Sounds cool, I guess" 5 votes (15%)
"I don't know..." 1 vote (3%)
"Too soon!" 5 votes (15%)
"I just got a DS Lite, for crying out loud!" 6 votes (18%)

Well, it seems most people are ready to make the jump to a new system. Good thing, too, considering Nintendo confirmed the rumours by announcing the DSi!

Speaking of which, this week's banner features three of the biggest announcements to come out of last week's conference: The DSi, Punch-Out!, and Sin and Punishment 2. I had to use some Brawl trophy renders for them, though, considering no official art has been released yet. So Little Mac's hair is black and Saki's all low-poly. Nothing I can do!


That just leaves this week's banner: "What do you think of the DSi?" Personally, I'm pretty happy with it, but not 100% blown-away. What about you folks?

Alrighty, tonight's article will be up soon... I guess.

Press conference thoughts, opinions and prediction accuracy

So, Nintendo's press conference has come and gone. The DSi is revealed, we get a few new games, and everyone generally comes out happier than when they went in. Do I agree with these happy folks, or am I angry and disappointed? Hey, you know what to do: Read on and find out!

First off, the conference began with the announcement of the DSi. Taking several cues from the design of the DS Lite, the DSi adds larger screens, music playback, SD card support, a built-in web browser, and, most notably, two digital cameras. Looking at that, you really couldn't ask for more, right? Well, there's a catch: The music-playing features and digital camera functions are fairly low-end as far as we know. In a recent interview, Reggie Fils-Aime pretty much admitted that the music playback is nothing too special (Not to mention the fact it only supports AAC format, no MP3s). As for the cameras, there's a lot of conflicting information running about. Some say the cameras have 3 megapixel resolutions, while others say it's only 0.3 megapixel. I've seen more outlets referring to it as 0.3, so that's what I'll consider it to be for now. Anyways, as you can probably tell, 0.3 is pretty low-quality. Again, Nintendo admits this. Why bother put these in when they're so insufficient?

Well, these applications aren't meant to replace digital cameras or MP3 players. These features are here to give the DS a little more in the way of entertainment, and little more. Also, consider how the camera could come be implemented in actual gameplay. Here's a paragraph I wrote on Monday concerning cameras in the new DS:

"Imagine taking pictures of real-life objects and having them affect your game. You could put pictures you've taken into picture frames in Animal Crossing, edit them in a new Mario Paint, or even send them to a friend over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Of course, this camera could also be used in a similar manner to the PS2's Eye Toy, tracking motion and interpreting your movements, then translating them into the game as input. Certainly a tantalizing concept."

A tantalizing concept indeed. See, these cameras don't have to be used in the traditional sense of merely taking pictures. They can also be used to evolve and enhance gameplay experiences. Take off the horse blinders and look into the abstract use for these new additions. Putting your own songs into the next Elite Beat Agents, or even using your own face to represent yourself in an online game. These new features aren't part of some multimedia device: They're part of a gaming console, and Nintendo definitely won't forget this.

I love the black DSi. How 'bout you?

Also added to the DSi is a brand new DSi Store, similar to its console brother's Wii Shop Channel. We'll be able to download brand new software onto our handhelds for no more than $8 each, with the possibilities for applications ranging from the mundane (Calculators, day planners) to the amazing (Complete games or a handheld Virtual Console). Even better, we can store all this and (Hopefully) use it directly from the SD card slot located in the side, making the DSi the most flexible Nintendo handheld yet.

Of course, no console is without its downsides. The DSi, in interest of preventing piracy, lowering costs and making a small handheld even smaller, has lost all Game Boy Advance support. Not only that, DS peripherals such as the Rumble Pak, slide controller, Guitar Hero grip and Tony Hawk motion sensor will now become entirely obsolete. Personally, I'm not too miffed. I hardly play GBA games any more, and if I do, I can just whip out my DS Lite. As for the peripherals, the only one I own is the Rumble Pak, and it gets so little use out of me it may as well not be there (Although it did make Metroid Prime Pinball AWESOME).

Another low point, as I stated earlier, is the complete lack of MP3 support in the music player. I understand there's a heavier licensing fee on MP3 than there is on AAC, but come on, Nintendo; Walk into any electronics store. What do you see: MP3 players, or AAC players? People don't listen to AACs all that much, unless they have an iPod, in which case music playback means nothing to them.

Finally, the DSi has a slightly lower battery life than the DS Lite, with only 3-4 hours at full screen-brightness, opposed to the DS Lite's 5-8. Then again, these battery readings depend on what the DSi is being used for: If you're taking pictures constantly, the flash is sure to drain your battery like mad. If playing a game, though, I'm sure the battery life is more comparable. Also, who's to say the DSi's maximum brightness isn't brighter than the DS Lite's? It's sure a possibility.

Other than those three downsides, the DSi is pretty damn-near perfect. When I first heard this new DS was to have all these features, I was excited, but skeptical. I'm happy to say that now, though, I'm incredibly pleased with what I see. If only us North Americans didn't have to wait so long!

All these features and more, right at your fingertips!

Of course, what good's a hardware revisions if we don't get any new games? Like a pro, Nintendo revealed a slew of new games yesterday for the DS, some of my favourites being Mario & Luigi 3, a new WarioWare, and a new Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. Three heavy hitters sure to be joining my game collection next year!

And how could Nintendo forget about the Wii? An even more astounding line-up was announced for the little white and blue box, with some favourites being Endless Ocean 2, Punch-Out!, Trace Memory/Another Code 2 and Sin & Punishment 2. I could hardly ask for more, especially considering the long-awaited Punch-Out! sequel is part of this barrage of excellence! Finally, Little Mac is back, baby!

Speaking of bringing back titles from the past, Nintendo will also be re-releasing several Gamecube titles on the Wii. So far, known titles are Pikmin, Chibi-Robo, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Sadly, for no apparent reason, Jungle Beat doesn't seem to have bongo support as far as I can tell. What's the big idea, Nintendo? Are my bongos to simply fade into obscurity? Oh well. At least these re-releases may convince Nintendo to go back to the bongos and Chibi-Robo. Chibi-Robo Wii? Sign me up!

Also announced was the Wii Speak Channel, a brand-new application for the Wii free with every Wii Speak (Each unit comes with a code that can be entered for the channel download). Now we can use our Wii consoles like conference-calling phones, chatting with up to four rooms full of people across the world. After all, the Wii Speak is out in the open for all to speak into, making the virtual family reunion a reality! Wait, virtual family reunion... Hey, that's not a bad idea! No stealing it! It's MIIIINE.

You're probably tired of seeing all these new channels and WiiWare games announced, huh? After all, we still have the whole Wii Fridge problem to deal with. Well, have no fear, as Nintendo has come to save the day with... An upgrade that doesn't really solve anything. Starting next Spring (Why so far away?), we'll be able to download software directly from the Wii Shop Channel onto an SD card. That's great, right? Wrong. While we can download straight to the SD card, we still can't play straight from it. That's right: Instead of solving the problem, Nintendo gave us something that's no help at all. Gee, thanks.

If only the Wii Fridge were so spacious...

As for the American conference, it was all basically the same stuff in English, but with one difference: The announcement that Club Nintendo is coming to North America! The Nintendo rewards program made famous for its exclusive giveaways will finally launch here by the end of 2008, meaning we'll be able to use those darn registration codes in our games for something! Finally, we'll be able to get something for nothing like everyone else. Of course, if the European program is any indication, we shouldn't get too excited. We might just get little puzzles for insane amounts of registrations and discontinued Game Boy Advance games. Well, it's still better than nothing, I guess.

And now we come to the final section of the article: My prediction accuracy. Let's make a checklist, and cross out any that I got wrong:

-The conference will start with sales talk
-New DS will be shown
-Franchise revival possibilities: PilotWings, Punch-Out or Kid Icarus
-Wii storage solution (Not solved, just avoided)
-New Wii Channel (The Wii Speak Channel)
-A sequel to a current franchise (Endless Ocean 2, Trace Memory/Another Code 2)
-American conference will basically be the same, but in English (Club Nintendo in North America announcement)

5 out of 7! Hey, I didn't do bad at all! Also, when I said "Kid Icarus, Punch Out!, and Pilotwings" on Wednesday, I meant "Kid Icarus, Punch Out!, or Pilotwings". Just clearing that up.

So, all in all, I think it was a pretty good show! We got a new DS, a bunch of new games, and assurance that Nintendo does indeed still care about us hardcore fans. A success all around!

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Press conference predictions

Well, the press conference starts in a little more than two hours. It's almost here, folks! We know a few things are pretty much sure to happen, but what about the specifics? We know that there's likely to be a franchise revival, but what could it be? Here's my thoughts on all this and more.

First off, as everyone can expect, Nintendo will likely blather on for a bit about sales or whatever. Hey, it's only natural. They are a business, after all. After this, though, I expect the real interesting stuff to begin (Listed in no particular order).

I'm nearly positive we'll see that new DS in some form, even if it's as minor as Nintendo saying that the rumoured functions are true. They may not show off glamour shots of it, but I'm fairly sure they'll mention it in some way.

As for the franchise revival we're all expecting, I'm leaning towards three series: Kid Icarus, Punch Out!, and Pilotwings. First of all, I'm saying Kid Icarus because rumours have been going nuts about it ever since the Wii was first released. Second, I'm naming Punch Out! because of the fact that the controls are downright perfect for a revival, and Wii Sports: Boxing proved this. Nintendo would be foolish to not recognize the potential in a Punch Out! Wii. Finally, Pilotwings is getting a mention because of the Wii Sports: Airplane demo shown waaaay back in 2006. This game looked chock-full of potential, and I have a fairly good feeling Nintendo's been working on this in the shadows, on and off, ever since then. Also, it's just about as casual-friendly as you can get. What's stopping them from cashing in?

Another thing I'm seeing happening is some sort of solution to the infamous Wii Fridge issue. Hard drive, announcing SD card direct-play, or even that crazy holographic storage are likely to show up tonight. Let's just hope it happens, because I'm sick of cleaning out the fridge on a weekly basis.

Next up, I'm expecting Nintendo to announce some new Wii Channel. What could it be? Heck if I know. A music-playing channel? Some sort of new software to interact with the next DS? Or maybe they'll finally address all the requests for folders in which to sort channels into?

How about another game announcement or two? Not necessarily a "revival", but a sequel to a currently-ongoing franchise. New Star Fox, anyone? Personally, I could go for another dose of Luigi's Mansion. A new Pokémon Snap would really hit the spot, too!

Of course, I'm not expecting all of this to happen. However, I'm fairly sure at least half will go down tonight. The only way to know for sure, though, is to wait!

As for tomorrow's conference in California, I'm seeing what is basically a rehash of tonight's conference, all in English, with any announced release dates being adjusted for North America. No more. It wouldn't make sense to have it any other way, though, would it?

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