Snaking not allowed in Mario Kart Wii; anybody sad?

By Joe Fourhman | March 17, 2008

This is already peppered across every game site in existence, so we might as well get our lumps in. The Official Nintendo Magazine (think UK’s Nintendo Power) has an review on the latest Mario Kart and mentions that snaking is not part of the game.

Ever since Mario Kart 64, kart players could gain a speed boost by going into a slide and then wiggling the analog stick back and forth. Although this was a perfectly acceptable strategy when drifting around curves, savvy players soon figured out that you could pull it off on straightaways as well. This became known as snaking because you’d see your opponent zig-zag down the track, leaving you in the dust like a sap. Many players - myself included - credit snaking as the reason why they bailed on Mario Kart DS’s online play. At least in MK64 and Mario Kart Double Dash, you could punch a snaking player in the arm.

It has been argued that snaking is simply a high-level technique and that players unable to pull off the extreme waggling are just not playing hard enough. No matter your opinion, Nintendo took it out (your boost level is now dependent on long you hold the drift)… so if you’re a Jerky Hawk Pro Snaker, you’ll have to stick to one of the older Kart games.

All I have to say is: Mario Kart Wii purchase confirmed!

via Kotaku via GoNintendo via Official Nintendo Magazine (UK)