Wii Warm Up: Mario Kart vs. Smash Bros.
by Candace Savino 
{ Apr 13th 2008 at 10:30AM }
Keep in mind, we're asking about the series as a whole, not one particular game!
Keep in mind, we're asking about the series as a whole, not one particular game!
Breaking news
- PSA: Icarian: Kindred Spirits is now NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
- Fever time: Taito announces European release for Space Invaders Extreme 2, Puzzle Bobble Galaxy
- New Punch-Out!! in Europe May 22, Super Punch-Out!! on Virtual Console tomorrow
- Cave Story dev: Nintendo opens Wii to Flash development
- WayForward's new IP is DSiWare's Mighty Flip Champs
Joystiq Video
Loading Viddler Videos
Joystiq Features
Featured Galleries (view all)
Team Joystiq
Chris Grant
Editor-in-Chief
James Ransom-Wiley
Managing Editor
Ludwig Kietzmann
Senior Editor
Andrew Yoon
East Coast Editor
Randy Nelson
West Coast Editor
Justin McElroy
Reviews Editor
Alexander Sliwinski
Contributing Editor
Ben Gilbert
Contributing Editor
David Hinkle
Contributing Editor
Griffin McElroy
Contributing Editor
JC Fletcher
Contributing Editor
Kevin Kelly
Contributing Editor
Mike Schramm
Contributing Editor
Richard Mitchell
Contributing Editor
Xav De Matos
Contributing Editor
WIN Network
- Autos
- Technology
- Lifestyle
- Gaming
- Finance
- Entertainment on AOL
- Lifestyle on AOL
- Sports on AOL
- Travel on AOL
- Also on AOL
AOL News
All contents copyright © 2003-2010, Weblogs, Inc. All rights reserved
Joystiq [Nintendo] is a member of the Weblogs, Inc. Network. Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Notify AOL
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
gorecki @ Apr 13th 2008 10:33AM
Mario Kart, cos I'm a racer not a fighter
Kyle Kowalsky @ Apr 13th 2008 10:35AM
Don't get me wrong, i love smash bros, but i think mario kart is more fun because you have to go one way or another. it is more streamlined. also, smash is a button masher, whereas mario kart is a pick-up-n-play type game
Matt @ Apr 13th 2008 10:51AM
Tournament players would turn red if they heard you say the game was a button smasher.
Go1denchi1d @ Apr 13th 2008 12:49PM
How dare you call brawl a button masher! U can hold down some buttons and keep attacking! why waste the energy???
SoshiKitai @ Apr 13th 2008 1:54PM
:P "CAN BE a button masher", is what you're SUPPOSED to say.
If attacks can be planned out, and timed correctly, while dodging and blocking, and jumping and grabbing, and countering and reflecting... and if all that is actually PLANNED and PRECISE, then it can't be a full-button masher game... trust me, Soul Calibur is 100x more a button masher to people than Super Smash is (meaning, a lot more people button mash in SC than in SSB).
So the correct term is "CAN BE a button masher".
Kyle Kowalsky @ Apr 13th 2008 10:35AM
too bad i dont have a job, cuz i blew my money on brawl, so now i cant get MKW
SoshiKitai @ Apr 13th 2008 1:55PM
It's called-trade-in... or possibly sell your SSBB at a good price, then buy a used version of Mario Kart. (Trust me, some kids are crazy enough to sell it)
Evan @ Apr 13th 2008 10:48AM
I have to go with smash bros but that might be because that's what I'm playing now.
yooper1019 @ Apr 13th 2008 10:51AM
Mario Kart: b/c its less technical and more balls to the walls multiplayer fun!
Matt @ Apr 13th 2008 10:52AM
I would love Mario Kart more, but it's stupid rubber band AI makes me dislike it so much at times.
Mike Sylvester @ Apr 13th 2008 12:54PM
That seemed to be more of a problem in MK64 than in the other games. Mario Kart games now decide which power-ups to give out depending on race position. Mario Kart DS is a well-balanced racer, and it's not the AI that makes you cuss. (It's the snaking.)
andyl @ Apr 13th 2008 10:53AM
Mario Kart, all the way... I played Melee a bit (I've never played the original Smash Bros), but I remember playing each iteration of the Kart series on their intended platform...and Super Mario Kart (SNES) was _fun_ to play on holidays with my cousins...
...and why isn't the SNES original on VC yet?! ESRB still has it rated for SNES and hasn't moved it up to Wii yet... It isn't going to come out for VC before Mario Kart Wii is released???
SoshiKitai @ Apr 13th 2008 1:58PM
Shhh... it's all a conspiracy... Nintendo will release every game we've ever waited for on the VC just when Fall starts again, so that we have money to waste all of it on Wii Points cards... :P
...shhh.
Roto13 @ Apr 13th 2008 10:54AM
Smash Bros., definitely. Mario Kart doesn't have nearly as much staying power. Except Mario Kart 64. :P
Patrick @ Apr 13th 2008 12:08PM
Maybe you should play some of the Mario Karts that are actually GOOD...:)
Roto13 @ Apr 13th 2008 1:03PM
I've played them all except the arcade one(s?) and none of them stick.
Metal_Link @ Apr 13th 2008 10:56AM
As far as online play goes (and I've heard that so far, MKWii's online mode is great and actually works), my vote goes for MKWii.
But Brawl is such a better party game because I've also read that the split-screen multiplayer for MKWii was cut down a bit.
andyl @ Apr 13th 2008 11:01AM
It was cut down for on-line play, right? As in, you can only take two people from a single Wii online...but you _should_ still be able to have four players at a time on a single screen within a single location.
So far as party games go, it is much easier for me to get other people to sit down and drive a kart around a track at a party instead of keep track of everything going on in a four-player game of Brawl (which is quite fun, don't get me wrong ;-).
Carlos @ Apr 13th 2008 10:57AM
mario kart... wii! best game ever, seriously, i'm having so much fun! don't believe any bad review about it, they all lie!!!!
SoshiKitai @ Apr 13th 2008 1:59PM
....they have bad reviews? O_o
Brian @ Apr 13th 2008 11:21AM
Super Smash Bros Brawl...
not that I'm saying Mario Kart isn't good, it is fantastic fun.
vidGuy @ Apr 13th 2008 11:23AM
Easy, Smash Brothers. MK games have been only slightly improved over time, whereas Smash has seen significant updates in gameplay, items, game modes, characters, etc. Although my Smash and MK parties largely attract different players (maybe not surprising, Mario Kart attracts the girls a lot), I'd rather sit down with Smash.
Dan Bruno @ Apr 13th 2008 11:23AM
Mario Kart. Smash Bros is fun, but it makes a better museum than a game, in my opinion.
ChrisCanberg @ Apr 13th 2008 11:35AM
Smash Brothers because its a collection of Nintendo, including almost every franchise Nintendo has to its name one way or another. As much as I love Mario, Mario Kart is just a Mario & Friends racing.
Tyler @ Apr 13th 2008 11:32AM
Brawl. It's incredibly long lasting, has so many customizations to choose from, it's simply the perfect game. Mario Kart Wii, I dunno. It's not out yet here, lol.
padraig.d @ Apr 14th 2008 4:02PM
smash bros
lewisj82 @ Apr 13th 2008 11:49AM
Mario Kart for sure. I had Melee for a while when I had a GC, but I never could get myself wrapped up in it like I could other games. Kart is always fun when you've got other people over too. Plus, I'm just a big fan of racing games...
Jmanx24 @ Apr 13th 2008 11:50AM
Smash Bros all day baby,
Nothing against MK, but Smash is a game I could play forever. . .
TheOverlord#2(Toon Link FTW)(1461-5875-9923) @ Apr 13th 2008 12:09PM
IT'S TOO HARD TO CHOOSE!!!*head explodes*
It would have to be both. Whatever i'm playing at the moment...I play Brawl only now, and haven't picked MKDS back up in a while. But MKWii looks like so much fun...my Wii's disc drive will be in overtime playing MKWii and switching to Brawl...
TheOverlord#2(Toon Link FTW)(1461-5875-9923) @ Apr 13th 2008 12:16PM
Oh...and a point for MKWii cause my sister is the only one who I know will mildly pick up games(used to play MKDS DS Download) so if I can get a free wheel or if she'll use a Remote separately...
MKWii attracts multiplayer easily cause it's so easy to pick up and play.
TheWarlock @ Apr 13th 2008 12:13PM
Lol, no contest whatsoever, its going to be Brawl. I think the great majority of us here like kicking Yoshi in the face than smoking him on Yoshi Falls.
But thats just my opinion, they're both very big games and in a certain sense, it is impossible to compare them. It would be like comparing apples and oranges. They're equally good and both bring something unique to the gaming table.
Georgios @ Apr 13th 2008 12:16PM
Mario Kart because it has online rankings!!!! At Brawl they forgot it...it loses points because of that.
Eternityx @ Apr 13th 2008 12:18PM
Smash Bros is more entertaining to me. Still I preordered MKWii already
igorponweed @ Apr 13th 2008 12:22PM
Mario Kart = Awesome. Smash Bros. NO FIGHT!!! Sorry, but brawl gets the gold.
vegi-saurus @ Apr 13th 2008 12:25PM
If only there's Mario Smash Kart Bros. :p
I think i'll get more play time with MK as it is more intuitive for the family.
Chazz @ Apr 13th 2008 12:31PM
I would have to say smash bros. Mario Kart pisses me me off whenever I'm leading a race and then the computer players launch three blue shells in a row at me and then use a mushroom to pass me for the win. It's bullcrap I tell ya. That said, I still do like Mario Kart. But only when there other people to play with. I could play smash bros. by myself all day and never get tired of it.
pierre @ Apr 13th 2008 12:36PM
Mario Kart is less strenuous and more visually sane!
Smash Bros isn't good to play when you want to just chill
AshStampede @ Apr 13th 2008 12:41PM
smash brothers.
simply because IT IS pick up and play A and B is the only attack buttons. But you can be pro at it, skill is actully a factor, in any game where there is a clear winner loser seniario ala racer or fighter skill should always be the deciding factor. Mario kart is broken, the SNES version highlighted skill, all other iteration after prooved best item draws win.
Joe H @ Apr 13th 2008 12:52PM
Mario Kart, especially Mario Kart Wii over Brawl, because MK's online is a million times better.
velocitystrike @ Apr 13th 2008 12:59PM
I enjoy how you've mixed the franchises in that one pic. Cleverment.
Also, I prefer Mario Kart, if only for the multiplayer which is sometimes a little better received than Smash multiplayer (Press A to go as opposed to Press X to jump and A to punch and B to...)
Candace Savino @ Apr 14th 2008 6:44PM
I wish I could take credit for being clever, but that's actually just the Mario Kart stage in Brawl :).
SamuraiD @ Apr 13th 2008 1:02PM
Confession time: I've only ever played one Super Smash Bros. game in the series; that was for the Nintendo 64! I'm very much looking forward to Super Smash Bros. Brawl to hit European shores and I am extremely excited about it!
With that said, Mario Kart has my vote. Having picked up Mario Kart Wii at midnight on 10 April, I can say it's the best in the series thus far and boy has Nintendo got it right with Nintendo WFC.
Jay @ Apr 13th 2008 1:35PM
I think smash wins out since its more than just a game.....its a piece of culture (see: trophies, etc)
Mr Khan @ Apr 13th 2008 1:40PM
Smash Bros
The playmode options alone mean that, single player or multiplayer, online or off, there is always a broad set of options to go for
They both have that casual/hardcore cross appeal, but Smash Bros has, especially with Melee and Brawl, always served up more across the board
And i've never been as much of a racing game person, i like my Mario Kart and my F-Zero, but i'm even less of a fighting game person, Smash Bros is the only modern fighting series i can tolerate, unless they make another Sonic the Fighters...
SoshiKitai @ Apr 13th 2008 2:08PM
...
...
*sigh* Mario Kart...
You see, I try to weigh things with "Which do I like more?" compared to "Which is a lot more fun?"...
The thing is, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a favorite of mine for obvious reasons. It's just plain fun and awesome, with skills and luck sprawling all over the place. Cool characters and items and skills and stages. I mean, it's just plain awesome.
And local Brawls? Awesome as heck. It gets amazing, with a lot of "Ooh!"s and "AAAAH!"s coming from every corner of the room. It gets so dramatic and soo close-called!
But...
Mario Kart Wii... now there's a game any kid or adult would want to play. It becomes harmless fun for parties, instead of whole-hearted competition that Brawl sometimes dishes out. Kids and parents crowd around the screen as we keep fighting over who's turn is it next. There's no obvious "Oh, he's this kind of player" and "Ah, I know your weakness"... it's a simple racing game. So fun and simple. No hassle of losing over and over to the one who's completely skilled... even the kid who can't drive has a huge chance of winning if he finds a good item (compared to SSBB, where having a great item can still get you killed). It feels like it brings the family closer in a light-hearted kind of way. And in all honesty, that wins my vote.
xeleion @ Apr 13th 2008 11:50PM
Man, you took the words out of my mouth, Soshi. I know I'll prefer Brawl to MKWii, but when it comes to playing casual with friends, Kart is so much easier to pick up and lighthearted that you get more enjoyment out of it with casplayers. However, when it comes to people who actually know how to play videogames, Brawl is where it's at.
Charles @ Apr 13th 2008 2:10PM
Well, they're equal and it all depends on my mood. When I heard Brawl was coming to Wii, I just had to get up and dance, then delay after delay until finally launch day came, and I was...happy...
But MKWii has me so hyped i might shoot myself by mistake :P! No clue why though...
Nebinator @ Apr 13th 2008 2:15PM
I only have brawl
MrTyzik @ Apr 13th 2008 3:03PM
Mario Kart
I'm better at it and I like zooming around the silly and fun tracks. Also, I generally like the music better. Remember, I'm mid-core so I would naturally choose a fun race in Mario Kart over a tense brawl in Smash Bros.
Bryan Law @ Apr 13th 2008 3:21PM
Smash Bros, no doubt. I like racing games, but Mario Kart has never appealed to me. I like games like MotorStorm or Burnout when it comes to that. Smash Bros is a chaotic, random, pick-up-and-play fun experience that simply can't be beat. You can only play on so many tracks with Mario Kart, but with Brawl you can play a million different modes on a nearly limitless amount of stages with the stage creator. Take that and stick it up your tailpipe! :P