Editorials > Mario Kart DS Snaking

Mario Kart DS Snaking - is it fair?

Many people have asked for my opinion on this, so I will give it to you. I want to first say that this question has no definite answer. One plus one equals two, that is a definite answer. It is a law of mathematics. However, there is no definite answer to this snaking question, there are only opinions.

Do I think it is fair? Yes.
It is fair because anyone can do it with practice, and it requires no extra tools or modifications to the game or DS handheld unit.

Is it cheap? Yes and no.
Veterans might argue that it's just a natural progression of the game, so it is not cheap, and that's a true point. On the other hand, other people say it takes the fun out of the game, and I see what they mean, so that's a true point also.

We need to remember that "fun" is subjective in of itself. Something is only fun if you think it is fun.

Personally, I prefer racing without snaking, simply because snaking can make my thumb hurt.

Did Nintendo do it on purpose? Most likely.
You need to understand the history of snaking. Nintendo has known about it ever since Mario Kart 64. Snaking is also a part of other racing games, such as F-Zero. It was possible to snake in MK64, MKDD, and now MKDS. Do you really think that's a coincidence or an exploit? It's not. Even if the designers were to claim they did not intend it, they knew it was going to happen based on past experience.

Does it throw off the balance of the game?
That depends on how you define balance. Does the fact that most people used Ryu and Ken in Street Fighter II mean that the game was unbalanced? And who said that Nintendo was trying to make a balanced game to begin with? Let's not forget that some characters in Super Smash Brothers Melee are obviously better than others. So the "balance" argument is a weak one.

If you play online, people are going to snake. That's just how it is. If you play Counterstrike online, people are going to use aim bots. That's just how it is. If you don't like this, then do not play online, or force yourself to only play with friends who agree they will not snake.

In conclusion, I think Nintendo should not include snaking in Mario Kart Revolution, or at least make it less useful like it is in MK64. The main reason is that there are just too many people who complain about it like little babies.

Every adult needs a little break from Mario Kart now and then. Be sure to try some online casinos. You can play internet poker, slots, roulette, or my personal favorite: online blackjack.