My thoughts on the main STK tracks
Posted: 25 Sep 2020, 21:13
21. Fort Magma
Final tracks are supposed to be the hardest and most exciting ones in the game. This track is not difficult at all. In fact, it's one of the easiest tracks in the game. The track is very boring, and adding a short cannonball section as an obstacle does not make this track any more interesting. Music is decent but doesn't fit well for a final track (it could be used for a different track).
In terms of graphics, this isn't the worst track but this is very disappointing for a final track in the game. They could have added some more obstacles, speed boosts, or change the pathing to make the turns more sharp and 90 degrees.
20. Volcan Island
I think this track is the most poorly designed track in the game. The textures used in this track are terrible, and the lap time is too long with no interesting sections at all. A large portion of the track is just going around in circles around the two volcanoes. The inside parts of the volcano doesn't even feel like a volcano. Volcanoes are supposed to be dangerous but this one has nothing. At least add some speed boosts during this section or maybe add some lava on the track or lava obstacles or something to make this track better.
This track is essentially a weaker version of Gran Paradisio Island and I think it should be removed.
19. Shifting Sands
Shifting Sands is probably the easiest track in the game. It's also one of the most boring ones since most of the time there isn't any good scenery and nothing is going on. The pathing is good enough to where this track can be improved unlike Volcan Island or Fort Magma. Here are some suggestions:
* When entering the pyramid's main section at the main path, if going fast enough, the player will start flying in mid-air and be unable to control himself. This needs to be fixed.
* Sven improved this track (https://invidious.honeypot.im/watch?v=8zuCsenlc-o) by adding some graphical tweaks. Using these could make the track slightly more interesting and much better graphically.
* There is a small oasis section right before the branching paths which I think should be bigger. Maybe add a bit of grass to make it feel like an oasis.
* The music isn't terrible but it's also very boring. I suggest replacing it with some kind of battle theme like the one used in the addon track Shifting Sands Timewarp.
18. Hacienda
This track isn't terrible but the actual "hacienda" section feels too short and the ramp with the large nitro tank is completely broken (you're guaranteed to miss or come to a complete stop just by attempting that). After spending less than 10 seconds inside the actual building the rest of the track is just a boring desert drive with no interesting scenery, obstacles, alternate paths, or even speed boosts. The music, which isn't even that great but does fit the theme, is probably the best part of this track.
17. Snow Peak
One of the worst tracks, if not the worst, in terms of graphics. There are too many noticeable polygonal textures, and every turn is pretty much a 90 degree turn with no variety. I also think this is one of the most overrated tracks since it gets selected a lot online. The music is pretty good, but the graphics and pathing is terrible.
This track might as well die because the replacement (https://invidious.honeypot.im/watch?v=BxwwVl6ShfE) will be much better.
16. Antediluvian Abyss
One of the nicer looking tracks in the game, but it's also a very boring one, especially on the easiest difficulty, it goes on forever. Maybe add in a few speed boosts? At least the water track that came before this had some giant fish you could drive inside of. This track has nothing.
15. Zen Garden
Now we get to the tracks that are actually pretty decent. This track is fun to race on because it's fast-paced, has good music, and has an original theme (there's already 2 desert tracks, 2 ice-themed tracks, and 2 beach tracks). Zen Garden does have problems, such as the graphics being terrible with lots of polygons and shit. The track itself could be better just by making it slightly bigger.
14. Northern Resort
This track suffers from a few problems such as polygonal textures, weak pathing which makes the track look like it was built using some console video game's level editor, and I can even see the track limits. If I fell off on the right side after the first bridge, I'd be out of the track.
Other than that, this is a somewhat fun track to race on.
13. Around the Lighthouse
Another fast-paced track which doesn't need much improving although I noticed a cutoff between the grass and sand. Shouldn't the grass and sand blend or transition better than just a straight line where it was just cut off? Also there's an invisible wall towards the end of the track if I tried to take a shortcut at the end. These are just very minor issues.
This track is actually fun to race on and could be better if a shortcut was added or if some speed boosts were added all around the track. This could create an amazing chaotic race if the AI used the right items.
12. XR591
This track, with all it's sharp turns, is probably the hardest track in the game. It's one of the more unique tracks and very fun to race on, but it also has terrible graphics. The polygons make this a very bumpy track to race on and the one section where the two branched paths reconnect, the arrows showing which paths to take suddenly disappear and reappear. That should be replaced with a single large arrow sign hovering over the road so they don't have to disappear just so the player can keep racing.
11. Ravenbridge Mansion
Blackhill Mansion was a terrible track which was completely broken with user-accessible track limits and the sharpest turn in the game. Ravenbridge Mansion is an improvement, but it just feels too open and easy.
The main path is too wide, the actual mansion section is too short and most of the track is just driving out in the yard. This suffers from the same problems as Luigi's mansion in Mario Kart DS. There are alternate paths and shortcuts which help improve the track, but the main track itself just feels too open and is one of the easiest tracks in the game.
10. Oliver's Math Class
This is one of the more creative tracks in the game and it feels like you're one of those remote-controlled racers in a classroom racetrack setup by the students and their teacher. This is like that new AR mario kart game that will suck (seriously, we wanted an actual Mario Kart 9, not some shitty kids AR whatever the fuck it is).
I don't think this track needs improving, but what would be even better than a track that takes place in a single classroom, is a track that takes places inside the entire school, including the hallways, cafeteria, gym, and if it's an elementary school, a playground. Of course, that would make for a very long track (probably even longer than Black Forest).
The biggest problem with this track is that it's too short, which can only be fixed by renaming it to Oliver's School and adding in a new hallway section or maybe even a cafeteria.
9. Nessie's Pond
Despite having graphics worse than any other track in STK (except maybe Volcan Island or Snow Peak), this track is still fun to race on. It's the track that proves that a track doesn't need fancy graphics to be good. This track is easy, but not too easy to the point to where it's boring unlike Shifting Sands. I like the change of scenery between the actual town section, the drive by the ocean, and then the actual pond.
I think this track needs a different name since the actual pond is only shown in a small portion of the level.
Imagine how good this track will be once it gets improved in 2.0. We're talking about what could become a Top 5 track.
8. The Old Mine
One of the most difficult tracks in the game. There isn't anything too bad about this track but the reason it's not higher is because it's somewhat boring compared to other tracks. Once you get past the random minecart section, the rest of the track just feels easy and boring.
7. Gran Paradisio Island
While this track was an improvement over the old island track, and it is now one of best desgined tracks in the game, there are a few problems.
* Some sections, particularly the very long spiral turn towards the end of the track, feels too long and should be shortened (maybe go around once instead of twice).
* The alternate path involving the woodne bridge to the airport is hidden to the point to where players can't even see where they're supposed to jump off the main track and into the bridge, and they will probably fall into the water several times.
* There is a cutoff between the sand and dirt sections which should be smoothed to where the sand and dirt blend together instead of just being a straight line dividing the two. This problem is very minor.
6. Minigolf
Like Oliver's Math Class, this track is one of the few creative ones. It is a bit short but the track itself is hard enough to where most players will have trouble trying to complete the track in full speed without crashing at least once.
5. Candela City
Here is where we get to the best tracks in the game which are enjoyable and well designed. This track has some excellent music and almost feels like you're driving through some festival at some old town. I did notice some random giant blob in the background if I pressed 'b' to look backwards during the long road, and then again towards the end of the track. This track is actually very easy, too easy to be unlocked late into the game (should be swapped with Zen Garden in the 2nd grand prix).
4. Cornfield Crossing
Probably the best easy track in the game for the beginners to race on. The best part is getting launched into the barn and then racing down an anti-gravity section. This alone makes it more enjoyable than the shit Moo Moo Farm and Moo Moo Meadows from the Mario Kart series. The only graphical problem is the skybox needs a bit of fixing, I can currently see the cube lines when racing.
3. Cocoa Temple
Excellent track with many alternative paths. Only problem in this track is the broken ramp inside the temple in which you can get a large nitro can.
2. STK Enterprise
Driving inside a space station is actually pretty fun in this track (although the last room after the big jump is boring). This track does everything right. Good item placement, very hard (especially with the first 90 degree turns inside the circular room followed by a banana placed at the right position to where you're going to hit it). Some of the best music in the game, and solid graphics.
1. Black Forest
By far the best designed track in the game with the best graphics. So many alternative paths and hidden shortcuts, including one in which you drive inside an actual house and inside a train tunnel. This is the longest track in the game, but this isn't a bad thing since there is so much to see in this track, unlike Alpine-2 or Volcan Island.
Final tracks are supposed to be the hardest and most exciting ones in the game. This track is not difficult at all. In fact, it's one of the easiest tracks in the game. The track is very boring, and adding a short cannonball section as an obstacle does not make this track any more interesting. Music is decent but doesn't fit well for a final track (it could be used for a different track).
In terms of graphics, this isn't the worst track but this is very disappointing for a final track in the game. They could have added some more obstacles, speed boosts, or change the pathing to make the turns more sharp and 90 degrees.
20. Volcan Island
I think this track is the most poorly designed track in the game. The textures used in this track are terrible, and the lap time is too long with no interesting sections at all. A large portion of the track is just going around in circles around the two volcanoes. The inside parts of the volcano doesn't even feel like a volcano. Volcanoes are supposed to be dangerous but this one has nothing. At least add some speed boosts during this section or maybe add some lava on the track or lava obstacles or something to make this track better.
This track is essentially a weaker version of Gran Paradisio Island and I think it should be removed.
19. Shifting Sands
Shifting Sands is probably the easiest track in the game. It's also one of the most boring ones since most of the time there isn't any good scenery and nothing is going on. The pathing is good enough to where this track can be improved unlike Volcan Island or Fort Magma. Here are some suggestions:
* When entering the pyramid's main section at the main path, if going fast enough, the player will start flying in mid-air and be unable to control himself. This needs to be fixed.
* Sven improved this track (https://invidious.honeypot.im/watch?v=8zuCsenlc-o) by adding some graphical tweaks. Using these could make the track slightly more interesting and much better graphically.
* There is a small oasis section right before the branching paths which I think should be bigger. Maybe add a bit of grass to make it feel like an oasis.
* The music isn't terrible but it's also very boring. I suggest replacing it with some kind of battle theme like the one used in the addon track Shifting Sands Timewarp.
18. Hacienda
This track isn't terrible but the actual "hacienda" section feels too short and the ramp with the large nitro tank is completely broken (you're guaranteed to miss or come to a complete stop just by attempting that). After spending less than 10 seconds inside the actual building the rest of the track is just a boring desert drive with no interesting scenery, obstacles, alternate paths, or even speed boosts. The music, which isn't even that great but does fit the theme, is probably the best part of this track.
17. Snow Peak
One of the worst tracks, if not the worst, in terms of graphics. There are too many noticeable polygonal textures, and every turn is pretty much a 90 degree turn with no variety. I also think this is one of the most overrated tracks since it gets selected a lot online. The music is pretty good, but the graphics and pathing is terrible.
This track might as well die because the replacement (https://invidious.honeypot.im/watch?v=BxwwVl6ShfE) will be much better.
16. Antediluvian Abyss
One of the nicer looking tracks in the game, but it's also a very boring one, especially on the easiest difficulty, it goes on forever. Maybe add in a few speed boosts? At least the water track that came before this had some giant fish you could drive inside of. This track has nothing.
15. Zen Garden
Now we get to the tracks that are actually pretty decent. This track is fun to race on because it's fast-paced, has good music, and has an original theme (there's already 2 desert tracks, 2 ice-themed tracks, and 2 beach tracks). Zen Garden does have problems, such as the graphics being terrible with lots of polygons and shit. The track itself could be better just by making it slightly bigger.
14. Northern Resort
This track suffers from a few problems such as polygonal textures, weak pathing which makes the track look like it was built using some console video game's level editor, and I can even see the track limits. If I fell off on the right side after the first bridge, I'd be out of the track.
Other than that, this is a somewhat fun track to race on.
13. Around the Lighthouse
Another fast-paced track which doesn't need much improving although I noticed a cutoff between the grass and sand. Shouldn't the grass and sand blend or transition better than just a straight line where it was just cut off? Also there's an invisible wall towards the end of the track if I tried to take a shortcut at the end. These are just very minor issues.
This track is actually fun to race on and could be better if a shortcut was added or if some speed boosts were added all around the track. This could create an amazing chaotic race if the AI used the right items.
12. XR591
This track, with all it's sharp turns, is probably the hardest track in the game. It's one of the more unique tracks and very fun to race on, but it also has terrible graphics. The polygons make this a very bumpy track to race on and the one section where the two branched paths reconnect, the arrows showing which paths to take suddenly disappear and reappear. That should be replaced with a single large arrow sign hovering over the road so they don't have to disappear just so the player can keep racing.
11. Ravenbridge Mansion
Blackhill Mansion was a terrible track which was completely broken with user-accessible track limits and the sharpest turn in the game. Ravenbridge Mansion is an improvement, but it just feels too open and easy.
The main path is too wide, the actual mansion section is too short and most of the track is just driving out in the yard. This suffers from the same problems as Luigi's mansion in Mario Kart DS. There are alternate paths and shortcuts which help improve the track, but the main track itself just feels too open and is one of the easiest tracks in the game.
10. Oliver's Math Class
This is one of the more creative tracks in the game and it feels like you're one of those remote-controlled racers in a classroom racetrack setup by the students and their teacher. This is like that new AR mario kart game that will suck (seriously, we wanted an actual Mario Kart 9, not some shitty kids AR whatever the fuck it is).
I don't think this track needs improving, but what would be even better than a track that takes place in a single classroom, is a track that takes places inside the entire school, including the hallways, cafeteria, gym, and if it's an elementary school, a playground. Of course, that would make for a very long track (probably even longer than Black Forest).
The biggest problem with this track is that it's too short, which can only be fixed by renaming it to Oliver's School and adding in a new hallway section or maybe even a cafeteria.
9. Nessie's Pond
Despite having graphics worse than any other track in STK (except maybe Volcan Island or Snow Peak), this track is still fun to race on. It's the track that proves that a track doesn't need fancy graphics to be good. This track is easy, but not too easy to the point to where it's boring unlike Shifting Sands. I like the change of scenery between the actual town section, the drive by the ocean, and then the actual pond.
I think this track needs a different name since the actual pond is only shown in a small portion of the level.
Imagine how good this track will be once it gets improved in 2.0. We're talking about what could become a Top 5 track.
8. The Old Mine
One of the most difficult tracks in the game. There isn't anything too bad about this track but the reason it's not higher is because it's somewhat boring compared to other tracks. Once you get past the random minecart section, the rest of the track just feels easy and boring.
7. Gran Paradisio Island
While this track was an improvement over the old island track, and it is now one of best desgined tracks in the game, there are a few problems.
* Some sections, particularly the very long spiral turn towards the end of the track, feels too long and should be shortened (maybe go around once instead of twice).
* The alternate path involving the woodne bridge to the airport is hidden to the point to where players can't even see where they're supposed to jump off the main track and into the bridge, and they will probably fall into the water several times.
* There is a cutoff between the sand and dirt sections which should be smoothed to where the sand and dirt blend together instead of just being a straight line dividing the two. This problem is very minor.
6. Minigolf
Like Oliver's Math Class, this track is one of the few creative ones. It is a bit short but the track itself is hard enough to where most players will have trouble trying to complete the track in full speed without crashing at least once.
5. Candela City
Here is where we get to the best tracks in the game which are enjoyable and well designed. This track has some excellent music and almost feels like you're driving through some festival at some old town. I did notice some random giant blob in the background if I pressed 'b' to look backwards during the long road, and then again towards the end of the track. This track is actually very easy, too easy to be unlocked late into the game (should be swapped with Zen Garden in the 2nd grand prix).
4. Cornfield Crossing
Probably the best easy track in the game for the beginners to race on. The best part is getting launched into the barn and then racing down an anti-gravity section. This alone makes it more enjoyable than the shit Moo Moo Farm and Moo Moo Meadows from the Mario Kart series. The only graphical problem is the skybox needs a bit of fixing, I can currently see the cube lines when racing.
3. Cocoa Temple
Excellent track with many alternative paths. Only problem in this track is the broken ramp inside the temple in which you can get a large nitro can.
2. STK Enterprise
Driving inside a space station is actually pretty fun in this track (although the last room after the big jump is boring). This track does everything right. Good item placement, very hard (especially with the first 90 degree turns inside the circular room followed by a banana placed at the right position to where you're going to hit it). Some of the best music in the game, and solid graphics.
1. Black Forest
By far the best designed track in the game with the best graphics. So many alternative paths and hidden shortcuts, including one in which you drive inside an actual house and inside a train tunnel. This is the longest track in the game, but this isn't a bad thing since there is so much to see in this track, unlike Alpine-2 or Volcan Island.