# Mario Kart Wii. Help me understand the shells before they ruin the game for me. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 29, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105 "2008-12-29T19:37:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/21 "2008-12-29T23:51:51Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > To my knowledge, that’s because it’s not there. I think there are some settings you can choose when in multiplayer regarding the items. I saw it today. I’ll take another look. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/22 "2008-12-30T00:07:15Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I think there are some settings you can choose when in multiplayer regarding the items. I saw it today. I’ll take another look. On review, you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/23 "2008-12-30T02:09:15Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > ETA: The Blue Shell is very evil in that it will hit the person who was in first place WHEN THE SHELL WAS INITIALLY FIRED. So, say you are in first place and someone fires a blue shell… then you slip on a banana, get shot by a red shell followed by a rogue green shell and fall to 4th place. Yea, the Blue Shell will still go for you and not the person who is now in first place. Lame. Are you sure about that? If so, that’s new on the Wii. The previous versions of the game would hit whoever was in 1st when the shell arrives. As usual, xkcd has an appropriate [comic](http://xkcd.com/290/). ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/24 "2008-12-30T03:11:30Z")
In Mario Kart DS, you could dodge blue shells reliably be releasing your power slide for the boost just before it would hit you. Probably doesn’t work in the Wii version since they removed everything that could let a person win by anything other than chance. Controller \>\> Wheel, always. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/25 "2008-12-30T03:22:13Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Are you sure about that? If so, that’s new on the Wii. The previous versions of the game would hit whoever was in 1st when the shell arrives. > > As usual, xkcd has an appropriate [comic](http://xkcd.com/290/). I can confirm that as I’ve been hit by blue shells just after getting knocked down to 5th place or so. I was getting frustrated with the attacks like POW and lightning until I found out they hit everyone on the track except the user. That makes it a little more bearable. The only attack that is unacceptable in any form is the blue shell as it serves no purpose other than to spoil the race. It does not help the last place person in any way. I just found out I can unlock characters on this game. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/26 "2008-12-30T05:32:21Z")
I decided to go ahead and try MK out online and I must admit that I was able to join a 10 person match and start racing right away with little to no lag. It was all random people but it was smooth. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/27 "2008-12-30T05:40:41Z")
I’ve probably wasted a good 60+ hours playing Mario Kart Wii. I really do enjoy the game, and even enjoy the online aspect. I really just chimed in to offer tips to the questions from upthread. To avoid a POW: Wait until the third 'thud" sound, the sound that sends you spinning. At that moment you need to pop a wheelie (not sure if this works on karts). Normally a POW makes you spin 3 times, then accelerate from a dead start. If you pull the wheelie trick, you will spin once then resume at your current speed. (This can be dangerous if you’re directly lined up with a cliff or something other object though. ) Blue Turtleshells: They have a bigger blast radius than the Bomb items even do. Yes they will speed right by you if you’re not close to the leader. If you’re within about 5 kart-lengths of the leader when it detonates though, you’ll be flying up in the air along with the leader. I’m not sure if the speed boosts from cornering can beat the blue turtleshell, but if you launch a mushroom when the shell is hovering above you, about to land, you will avoid it. Lightning: I think it only affects the racers ahead of the person using the item. (If you’re 9th, 10-12 won’t be hit by it. This also applies to the POW). Stars and falling off a side of the track are the only ways I’ve found to negate it. Also note: Lightning effects where off quicker the further back you are. The #10 racer will bounce back about 2 seconds after the lightning is used, the leader will take about 10 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/28 "2008-12-30T17:22:56Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I decided to go ahead and try MK out online and I must admit that I was able to join a 10 person match and start racing right away with little to no lag. It was all random people but it was smooth. Most of my online experience with Mario Kart was very very nice. The last time the girlfriend and I fired it up, it took 5 minutes to find a game. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/29 "2008-12-30T17:47:18Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I was getting frustrated with the attacks like POW and lightning until I found out they hit everyone on the track except the user. That makes it a little more bearable. The only attack that is unacceptable in any form is the blue shell as it serves no purpose other than to spoil the race. It does not help the last place person in any way. This is exactly the conclusion I came to. Despicable blue shell. I can cope with everything else in the game except something that simply punishes you for racing well. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/30 "2008-12-31T22:49:24Z")
As a Mario Kart recovering addict, I can confirm that the blue shells’ behavior has changed very significantly from 64/DD to Wii. In prior games, the blue shell zoomed down the center of the track. It only veered from its path to hit its target, and would always go towards the first place candidate (as determined a few seconds before impact). In the Wii version, the blue shell does travel down the track, but it cannot hit targets. I believe the explosion is also larger. I am not sure that it will target people forever even if they slip back a few places. What it will do is avoid your own team members. Let’s say Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and Wario are on the same team. Mario is in 1st, Luigi is 2nd, Bowser is 3rd and Wario is in last. If Toad is in 4th place and is on the opposite team, and Wario shoots a blue shell, it will hit Toad, not Mario. This probably accounts for the behavior you are seeing. Blue shells are more significant in competitive races where giving one player a five second delay can mean changing everyone’s place in a race. Because it can hit other players, the results can be significant; in a five man race, I’ve gone from last to first using a blue shell. It’s all in the timing. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/31 "2008-12-31T22:59:24Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > I see your point. Since the Blue Shell tears through anyone in its path to get to the person in first, though, the shooter may get lucky and take out a whole line of racers. Also, in a very tight race, the AoE (or “Area of Effect”) blast radius can take out a whole group. IIRC, it didn’t always used to be this way. Back in the N64 version (when the Blue Shell travelled along the ground), it would home in on whoever was first at the time. The problem was that it promoted people to slam on the brakes, forcing 2nd place into 1st…unless they too slammed on the brakes. In effect, it would bring the race (to the people in front, at least) to a standstill, which I can only imagine would be exasperated in Mario Kart Wii were this still the case, given the online features. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/32 "2008-12-31T23:02:25Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > In Mario Kart DS, you could dodge blue shells reliably be releasing your power slide for the boost just before it would hit you. Probably doesn’t work in the Wii version since they removed everything that could let a person win by anything other than chance. > > Controller \>\> Wheel, always. This is simply not true, unless you’re just not very good at the game. I regularly play online and win 1st at least 70% of the time, using the wheel. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105/33 "2008-12-31T23:13:33Z")
Just to second the opinion- you must just keep playing and eventually you will be good enough that it just doesn’t matter. When you get to the 150 cc level, it gets amazingly unfair. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run perfect races only to have a blue shell, random green shell, red shell… then get knocked off course by 2nd third and fourth places… to finally finish 8th all with the finish line in site. In order to unlock everything, you’ll need to finish all the Grand Prix events with a Star rating or better. This effect gets all the more frustrating… since any one blue shell can ruin your rating. It took me for freakin’ ever (Hours of cursing, and stomping around and throwing the Wiimote) to do it on 150cc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mario-kart-wii-help-me-understand-the-shells-before-they-ruin-the-game-for-me/479105.md?page=1)