No.

The heavier a game focuses on storytelling, the less it focuses on gameplay. Because gameplay essentially reduces the story to the mundane or even 'pauses' the storytelling until the next (interactive) cutscene. There are very few exceptions to this rule (Cryostasis would be one).

But let's just look at the evidence. Is there any game out there that can even compete with the best novels in terms of delivering a story? If your answer's yes, then you have probably not read enough novels yet.

This does not mean that games are totally worthless in that regard. Games are ideal for immersing yourself into a fictional world, but this process is based on the overall atmosphere of a game rather than just the storytelling. But the fact that, at the end of the day, a game revolves around gameplay rather than story means that video games will be more technical in nature, as they will have to focus on getting the ground mechanics right before even thinking about delivering a story.

The fact that the moment a game starts being an interactive story is often the moment where it stops being a game should tell you enough about the current limitations of the medium.

It was a fun, cheesy game with occasional frustrating parts. Really though, at the end of the day it was more like a quirky, proof-of-concept indie game than a high-quality production. I had fun playing through it, but you there's no need to lament the fact that it didn't make it to America, especially not after all these years.

Apples and oranges, but I'll just say that MK8 deserves any award it can get because it's a masterful entry into the series and worth getting a WiiU for.

I tend to forget about it as I experience the superior controls. And when I don't, I plug in my controller.

I haven't been here in a long while, and what's going on right now is part of why I lost all interest in talking about video games.

Like in an actual war, neither side in this online conflict is completely clean. However, it is awfully convenient journalists are just able to dismiss legitimate complaints about the lack of professionalism in their sector under the pretext that "it's all driven by sexism". Let's face it, there have been complaints for years, varying from the Dorito Pope to Activision practically bribing reviewers for good scores. We all know game journalism generally doesn't deserve the moniker 'journalism'. It's a joke.

I was briefly hopeful that a more mature, contemplative discourse in video game journalism could at least create a niche for more balanced, less hysterical coverage. But once I witnessed the tiresome third wave feminism perspective weaseling its way into video game world, personified by the likes of Sarkeesian and random fools complaining about 'the lack of female characters on Mario Kart's roster', I knew it was a hopeless situation. I dropped my hobby of writing about video games and moved on to music instead. If there was to be any 'intellectualisation' or 'maturing' of video game journalism/coverage at all, it would be immediately hijacked by the politicised fringes of postmodernist academia, resulting only in many fruitless exercises in moralistic arrogance. I'll just play games and not say a word about them anymore because the fun's over.

To summarise, what we see at play here is a messy conflict that sees at least some gamers finally trying to enforce cleansing journalism from the excesses of corruption and hidden agendas. The kneejerk response echoes the Frankfurter Schule method; just try to diagnose or defame everyone who disagrees with your views instead of debating them. Hence why people such as Leigh Alexander are pushing this 'sad manchildren' narrative with venomous arrogance, getting ever more entangled in their vociferous animosity towards their own audience. It's sickening.

Light characters are mostly useful for hectic races with lots of item hits, because acceleration quickly after being hit can be the key to success in those races. This is what makes them a great choice for beginners, as they can get back on their feet in no time when they get hit by items or fall into a cliff.

However, this is also their weakness, as better players will find themselves at the front of the back more often, and high speed is required to keep or expand a lead. For that purpose, the heavier medium characters (such as Ludwig) or downright heavy characters are more suited.

I had the same feeling when someone pointed out that Mario Kart 64, the game I grew up with, is now 18 years old. :(

It isn't that it was bad, just that it didn't live up to the ultra-high standards of Mario platformers. I guess people had a problem with the setting being a bit too monotonous when compared to Super Mario 64. I could live with that, but my main gripe with the game was that the controls and camera were not refined enough to make for a seamless platforming experience. This was blatantly obvious in the more abstract levels. Fortunately, the Galaxy games fixed these errors.

Still a good game, though.

Actually, that isn't necessary. If you complete a cup in 150cc, the results will automatically transfer to 50 and 100cc. So in order to get everything, you will only need to complete 150cc and Mirror.

No, I think that's pretty logical. It's like in Steam, where you have your account name and your profile name. The former is used to log in and give to people you want to connect with, while the latter is displayed in games, and can be changed at any moment.

Suppose your Nintendo ID is your full name and your year of birth. People probably wouldn't want to delve into online games with dozens of random people with such private information. A Mii you can simply change.