So Close, Yet…

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April 30th, 2008

So Close, Yet…

TimFirst of all, I’m really loving Mario Kart Wii right now. It’s lots of fun both single-player and with friends. And the online modes blow Brawl away. I officially take back everything I said in the podcast! Everything except the comments I made about rubberbanding. That still gets annoying, but it’s not quite as bad as I thought it would be. Just remember, don’t get too comfy in first place!

Also, we’re moving servers, so apologies if the site acts up over the next 24 hours.

RayYeah, yeah, Tim. You say that now, but just wait until you try to earn a three-star rank in Mirror Mode…

For anyone who is interested – here is the vector work of this comic.


56 Comments

  1. Lilguitarist says:

    I haven’t played Mario Kart Wii yet, but I totally get this from the other Kart games.

    NCG

  2. Narnian says:

    Very funny! I kept scrolling through the page… but there was always ONE more item! I too haven’t played it yet, but understand the feeling from previous MKs. So close, yet so far away.

  3. paq says:

    If only the feather from the SNES version was still there I guess he could make it 😉

    It needs some Blooper and POW-blocks though 😉 I suppose the white in lower right corner is a lightning cloud?

  4. Gewurztraminer says:

    He could still make it!

  5. dr. game says:

    that’s the same thing that happend to me on MKDS on yoshi falls one minent i’m in frist and then I get pelted and I come in LAST I just stared at the sreen not beleving what just happend

  6. Narnian says:

    I suppose the white in lower right corner is a lightning cloud?

    Actually that’s the wing of the Blue Shell 😉

  7. Andrew says:

    NCG!

    You get bonus points for the item shadows and the Wii Wheel icon, but you lose points because Mario just isn’t shiny enough.

  8. paq says:

    Actually that’s the wing of the Blue Shell

    Ah, now I see! 🙂 Well, then it needs some more lightning 😛

  9. Andrew says:

    By the way, I am totally printing the vector art for the first panel and using it as a coloring book for my siblings.

    “See how easy it is to draw mario?”

  10. hyper says:

    He could still make it!

    ya he could still make it, i can explain how but it would take a while

  11. EL CH33S3 says:

    Man this is so close to the truth it’s not even funny. I keep trying to complete this on 150cc and it’s annoying the heck out of me. To think that mirror mode is just around the corner is beginning to give me a head ache.

  12. mkava says:

    This is exactly how it feels right now… playing MKWii when I should studying for a programming exam.. 12 people is a tad much. Great comic.. truly expresses the massive 12-player races…

    Also, it was nice to play with you, Tim. I played under the same nick and played as Luigi on a bike. I know I screwed you over a fair amount of times, as you did I. The last VS match I had with you had 12 people on Grumble Mountain. A fitting reenactment of this comic…
    And yes, I know it was you… that Mii is unmistakable. 🙂

  13. Thank you for visualizing my pain! Man, when I saw this comment I couldn’t help but laugh. Its funny and so true.

    I’m loving Kart, especially the multiplayer.

  14. alpha jammer says:

    Wow. Really superb job on this weeks comic.
    Love the overhead style 🙂

  15. tustin says:

    This is great! I love how Mario’s situation just gets worse and worse as you scroll down the comic. 🙂 🙂 🙂

    GCG!! (That’s “great”, not just “nice”)

    BTW, I first thought that the fake item boxes were real item boxes. I was like, “How are those bad for him?” Then, with the second scan through, I realized that they were fake item boxes. I guess the upside down question mark should have tipped me off. 🙂

  16. sugaristan says:

    I half expected the wheel to lose it’s connection and make mario have to forfeit

  17. Tim says:

    Mkava, that’s AWESOME!!! I’m glad you recognized my Mii (even though you wouldn’t recognize me in person). I had no idea it was you, but of all the people I was racing, I do distinctly recall seeing Luigi on a bike get in my way a few times. I think you and I finished 1-2 a couple times. That was a lot of fun. Probably the most fun online gaming experience for me in quite some time. (Sorry Ray, getting my butt kicked by you in Brawl isn’t up there very high).

  18. Cyon says:

    lol Mario

  19. kernal says:

    holy cow, this is EXACTLY what its like. i love this game, i think it is one of if not the best mario kart so far, but holy crap does it seem really unfair sometimes.

    “oh good, im in first place with a good gap between me and everyone else. ah!.. stupid red shell.. and blue shell… damn, and red shell… what, lighting too? how did i get in 10th place?!”

    there was seriously a time where i get hit with 5, count them 5 blue shells on one track!

    but… i love this game

  20. Andre says:

    That comic was fantastic — good work! And nice art style

  21. gametaku says:

    Great comic, I’m still loling right now :).

  22. lrjavene says:

    I love you.

  23. lwelyk says:

    So true. I am loving MKWii, and we need somewhere to exchange friendcodes!

  24. Brawler08 says:

    Wow, so much detail on the comic its amazing! Like the how Toad is in the cart with the star.

  25. Silverway says:

    Yeah I know, x_x;; the item system is so unbalanced, those AI racers just abuse those items

  26. dj75728 says:

    GCG, and there should be a post for exchanging MKWii friend codes like lwelyk said. And an e-mail or text message notification system for whenever new posts are brought up would be really cool to have. Just saying :mrgreen: .

    YAY Rubber-banding!!! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come back from 7th-12th place cause of it, I honestly like it and think it adds more excitement to the races.

  27. charmy says:

    Great comic. I don’t have the game, I might get it later. I wish one of my friends had it so I could play. That vector thing was crazy!

  28. Andrew says:

    YAY Rubber-banding!!! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come back from 7th-12th place cause of it, I honestly like it and think it adds more excitement to the races.

    Yeah, you just have to change your strategy from “Stay in first” to “Get a good item and stay in third until almost the end”

  29. Metal_Link says:

    That Blue Shell looks like it would make a nice Wallpaper.

    How about a 2P Start gathering online in MKWii?

  30. Andrew says:

    That Blue Shell looks like it would make a nice Wallpaper.

    Yeah, it would go perfectly in the extras section, in the wallpaper area, right next to the brawl images area and the past icons area.

  31. Psyco says:

    Man NCG, this reminds me of many a race played by poor poor mii “Petey”(I hope to see some of you guys online) :(. At this point I kind of feel sorry for mario, the poor ignorant guy is blissfully oblivious to the massive amount of pwnage about to rain down on him.

  32. Ray says:

    Yeah, it would go perfectly in the extras section, in the wallpaper area, right next to the brawl images area and the past icons area.

    Blame Tim. My hands are clean on this one….

  33. Saturn2888 says:

    LOL! Wow. Awesome guys. I knew you’d have that blue shell in there too for the added touch. And the artwork, spectacular! Some of the best so far.

  34. djDysentery says:

    I really like how the 2P Start icon changes with each comic. It’s a very nice touch! This week’s comic made me laugh really hard, especially since yesterday night I was compelled to play MKDS online, and I was put against a cheater who cast about 100 lightning bolts in 2 minutes before disconnecting.

    Just a tidbit, I was tricked by your “Is fire hot or cold” anti-spam question thing for contacting y’all. I accidentally answered with “Fire”. I am now fully aware that fire is indeed, fire. Now the important question is if it’s hot or cold….

  35. vincecult says:

    i think this comic has better graphics than the game

  36. dj75728 says:

    Yeah, it would go perfectly in the extras section, in the wallpaper area, right next to the brawl images area and the past icons area.
    Blame Tim. My hands are clean on this one….

    >_> …Tim, get off your butt and work on the site!! :mrgreen:

    Hey, did anyone else notice that Toad was inside the kart with the star? You can see his hat if you look close enough, or if you check out the vectors.

  37. Tim says:

    I’ll have you know that any negative comments towards Tim are considered spam and will be deleted immediately!

    Actually I really do want to finish up the extras section, but our host is moving us to a new server and I’d rather not make any big changes until that move is done. That also explains the lack of a Mario Kart Wii Friend Code post which I’m also itching to put together!

  38. Rokai says:

    Oh no! Mario is in the Death Zone!

  39. dj75728 says:

    @Tim: Good enough for me! :mrgreen:

  40. Tristan says:

    hey dj75728, this is gonna seem like a really strange question, but is your avatar supposed to be tails or fox? i cant tell -_-

  41. Old Style says:

    Haha so true, so true.

    And @ Tristan; I think it’s their retarded love-child.

  42. Eddie says:

    That is so true in a 12 man race.

  43. dr. game says:

    what’s rubber banding it sounds fun!!!!!!!!!!

  44. Charles says:

    If only the feather from the SNES version was still there I guess he could make it
    It needs some Blooper and POW-blocks though I suppose the white in lower right corner is a lightning cloud?

    Nope, that my friend, is the wing of the Spiny Shell

  45. Junewe says:

    I just found this site via a swedish gamesite. I really love your comics. Tomorrow I will try your podcasts.

  46. dj75728 says:

    hey dj75728, this is gonna seem like a really strange question, but is your avatar supposed to be tails or fox? i cant tell -_-

    It’s actually Fox, but Since I’m a huge Sonic fan I love the fact that he kinda looks like Tails too.

  47. CF says:

    Having played MK Wii extensively over the past few days, this comic bears special emotional significance to me. It’s almost a tragedy. We see the hopefulness of an individual shattered by the crushing reality of a world that is out to destroy him. You got my vote for Joystiq’s webcomic wrap up.

    Missing in action: Mega Mushroom.
    Getting flattened is almost as frustrating as getting knocked off the edge by a Bullet Bill or Starman empowered racer.

  48. brian says:

    I haven’t played Mario Kart Wii yet, but I totally get this from the other Kart games.
    NCG

    No you don’t, trust me. Other Kart games (i’m guessing you mean other mario kart games) didn’t have 12-players racing.

    Trust me you won’t understand this comic fully unless you played mario kart wii.

    stupid blue shells.

  49. Taco! says:

    Woah. Mario’s arms are way too realistic. Just saying.

  50. KimmKatt says:

    I have MarioKart Wii, and I can totally relate to this. Awesome job.

  51. Minimimitchi says:

    i know,right? the second you arrive in 1st place you’re bombarded with every power-up there is.

  52. chriskatching says:

    Haha I loved this game.

  53. R says:

    Where is the Star when you need it!!

  54. GamerBlue53 says:

    Revisited this because it got to the front of Reddit Gaming. It’s been so long since I first saw this. 6 years….

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