SASRT - Nov 23 12 A
25It's now Nintendo's turn to have it, test it, and release the patch. I must say, I found it pretty impressive that the guys at Sumo managed to figure out what happened and make a patch in less than 2 days after the glitches were discovered. Considering the source of the glitch was the Wii U day-one update, and the update was a gigabyte, this is the equivalent of finding Waldo (Wally in the UK) at Comic-Con without admission in.
Now to wait for Nintendo to make the patch available to everyone so I can go play those Boost Challenges properly.
Race #1
Graveyard Gig
Meemee
Something I did during the meantime was play through the Grand Prix mode. If you looked at my previous video and read its description, you'll have figured I had already gone through it, meaning I've played through every course. This is quite the advantage over those who intend to unlock courses through online races. My opponents in this race seem to be doing just that, and stumbling through this admittedly difficult course. My lead was so strong I DNFed the player in 2nd by sheer knowledge. I figured I had the time to slow down at the church on the third lap for you guys to see what exactly is going on in Graveyard Gig: This whole course is actually an event for the grand wedding of Zobio and Zobiko. That's why they're not playable in this game, folks.
Stickers Earned:
Rad Racer - Place 1st in a Matchmaking race.
Super Paralooper - Do 25 stunts in a Matchmaking race.
Now for the next matter at hand. I think I have figured out what the future of this game's online races will be, and that's two words: Doctor Eggman. By finishing all of the Grand Prix cups in Mirror Mode, you unlock him. Take a look at his default stats: He has a top speed and handling of 4, and All-Star of 5, boost of 3, and acceleration of 1. I fear that Eggman's going to be everywhere online before long.
Race #2
Chilly Castle
Dr. Eggman
Because of how I had shown Dr. Eggman on the character select screen, you get to see waiting for the race and the loading screen. There's Billy and Bantam on that loading screen with the slot machine. A bit of trivia for you: Slot machines are required by law in the UK to have pictures of fruits, rather than the Bars, 7s, Jackpots, and Bells in American slot machines. (Both countries have cherries as a mainstay though.) By now, having seen the Billy Hatcher stage and the Jet Set Radio stage, you're probably getting the impression that this is a rather hard game. And it is. That ice cave part always messes me up because it's not always clear where the boundaries are, nor the turns up ahead.
Stickers Earned:
Super Sonic Racer - Go from last in a Matchmaking race to win it.
Race #3
Carrier Zone
Ulala
Now my opponent, Ravage656, is using Eggman and seems to be just as familiar with Carrier Zone as I am. The fact that my opponent is using Eggman means I have to watch out, because the requirements to get him require dedication--and familiarity with every course in the game. Also, I've learned I should avoid taking that shortcut at the end. It's just not worth it!
And, of course, I should explain who Ulala is, huh? She's the top reporter at Space Channel 5, traveling to incidents to bring live coverage all over the galaxy. She's also a very good dancer, it seems. The Space Channel 5 are rhythm games, using a Simon Says sort of gameplay where you're given a sequence of inputs (Left, Up, Right, Down, Chu, or Hey), and Ulala must repeat them with the same timing. In both games, she finds herself neck deep in a conspiracy that she must rhythm her way out of. It is as weird as it sounds.
Race #4
Rogues' Landing
B.D. Joe
Here's a course from a game you might not be familiar with: Skies of Arcadia. This was a steampunk JRPG for the Dreamcast, and it definitely shows in how this place looks. As it's set in a world of floating islands, with sky pirates on airships pillaging villages, there's a lot of flying in this course. I hope that by now, I've gotten used to the plane controls in this game. My opponent seems to be more familiar with this course than me though, considering the jump in the second lap I never noticed. I'll explain more about Skies of Arcadia when I cover the Grand Prix. (If you're curious, Ravage656 is using Gilius Thunderhead from Golden Axe.)
B.D. Joe is a cab driver from Crazy Taxi, a game for the Dreamcast: He'll get you to your destination faster than anyone else, or your service is free! Of course, true to the name of the game, he is crazy. He will drive through parks, lawns, fountains, drainage ditches, sewers, schools, incomplete road projects, and anything else that can be a shortcut to where his passengers need to go. B.D. Joe is a perfect fit in a racing game as crazy as he is. The only catch is that his services are rather expensive--but worth it if you're running late and he happens to be nearby!