9

When you touch a block in Mario Kart 64, the box that shows the item you have will start cycling between different items. If you press Z, you will get the item sooner.

Are there any advantages or disadvantages of pressing Z vs. letting it go through all the way and choose one for you?

For example, does pressing Z usually decrease the chances of getting a good item? Is patience rewarded at all?

Improve this question

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
5

I'm not sure if there are any probability differences by pressing Z, but here are some things to consider:

  • If you touch a block that guarantees you a blue shell, you might as well press Z to get the shell sooner. Since you are guaranteed a blue shell, even if there is a statistical advantage of not pressing it, it makes no sense in this situation.
  • If you are near the finish line and trailing behind someone, you might as well use it sooner rather than later, since getting something (anything) and using it is better than wasting time and letting it select something for you, which you can't use since the race is over.
  • If an opponent has a ghost, it is better to press Z and use your item immediately so that they can't steal it.
Improve this answer
2

From my experience, you are more likely to get items like shells, lightning bolts etc if you are trailing far behind. Banana peels and the occasional green shell if you are up front.

So to answer your question, i would say it is ambiguous.

Improve this answer
1

From my personal experience, getting an item sooner in MK64 has a big probability-skewing effect - I've gotten Golden Mushrooms and Lightning while in second place with it, which I'm pretty sure isn't supposed to happen. Back when I played it a lot I actually had the suspision that stopping the roulette early would skip the "what position are you in?" check and just give you whatever the roulette showed. I don't remember it working in first place though.

Improve this answer
0

The randomization function for the game's items in MK64 is run when you press Z or when you let the roulette finish. You'll get a "random" item no matter what so it does not make a difference whether you wait or not for which item you get (at least that human can control).

Some extra info

Improve this answer
1
  • The items are definitely weighted based on your position in the race as well.
    – JMac
    Jul 13, 2017 at 22:49

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .