Ok, I really, really like the racing mechanics in this game.

That said, the items are complete bull. The first place person gets either the Coin (likely useless), a banana (completely useless), or a green shell (not only useless, but a good chance to hit the caster if actually used). Meanwhile the people in the rear constantly get incredibly powerful, completely unblockable items like Blue Shells, Red Shells, and Lightning. And the AI just saves them until the last round (frequently the last round of the fourth race in a cup) to cast a dozen on you. It immediately cuts you down from 10 Coins to 3 or fewer as you get hit over and over, and your place suddenly plummets.

Oh, and even worse, if timed correctly, the items will send you off the edge (or hit you before you go over a ramp to jump a bottomless pit, with the same effect). This costs you double the coins and even more time. And, again, there is nothing you can do about it.

I like the mechanics. The racing is fun. But my gosh are the items complete bulltrout.