Time for Round 8 Grades!
psb123's grades:
Waluigi Pinball by TheMarioAddict:
Iconic Status: 5/5
A lot of Mario Kart fans recognize this track. No doubt largely due to it being a Waluigi themed track, and Waluigi is one of the most notable Mario Spin-off characters.
Originality: 10/10
There are a lot of unique things in this stage that I like. The difference in Gravity between the fighters and the karts, the incorporation of the stuff you'd expect from a pinball table stage, things like that. Definitely an idea different from stuff we've seen in official Smash Stages.
Playability: 7/10
I've seen more tedious hazards before. But some of the ones here do seem a bit hectic. The bumper and the flippers mainly as they can make traversing the stage a bit tricky. The Pinball also is pretty powerful but it's rarity saves you a few points.
Overall Score: 22/25
Baby Park by Kevandre:
Iconic Status: 5/5
One of the most memorable tracks from Double Dash. Things like the course having 7 laps instead of 3 make it so that a lot of fans remember this place.
Originality: 10/10
At first I was worried that this stage seemed a little too similar to Big Blue. But in the end I think there are enough differences to where it's not a problem. The roller coaster going up and down and the Baby Bros. and how they function on the bottom is what saved your score here. Plus, this kind of stage works well for Mario Kart.
Playability: 9/10
Clarifying that hitting the road of the track knocks you up instead of scrolling you off really helped you out here. That does still lead to enough damage to where I can't give a perfect playability score. But a stage doesn't always need a perfect score to by a great addition. Spirit Train anyone?
Overall Score: 24/25
Donut Plains by GolisoPower:
Iconic Status: 5/5
The first track from the first Mario Kart. Of course it sticks out in peoples memory.
Originality: 1/10
Now I won't deny that this stage is unique in how it works. But it reaches that status at the cost of any functionality. Fighting on Top of the karts in an overhead view is something I cannot picture in a workable way. The only way I can envision it puts it at the status of the least amount of footing for a Smash stage I've ever seen.
And being able to hop in the karts is not needed. It messes with the gameplay formula too much. The stage may be from Mario Kart but that game being played is still Smash Bros.
I know this is the originality section not the playability one but honestly this stage is more NA (Not Applicable) in both categories then anything. There is hardly a stage to even play on.
Playability: 1/10
I'm sorry to be so critical. But I just can't picture this stage being functional enough to work. I already explained why in the Originality bit so that covers that.
Overall Score: 7/25
Tick Tock Clock by Jubileus57:
Iconic Status: 4/5
It's not unrecognizable by any means. But I can't give it a perfect score because it doesn't stand out as well as other Mario Kart Tracks. Or even as well as other Mario 64 levels.
Originality: 10/10
It does remind me a bit of Brawl's Mario Circuit but I think the stage does enough differently to where it's not a problem. Mainly with the Pendulum and the lack of walk off zones.
Playability: 9/10
Not too bad, but some clarification on how much damage the pendulum does would have helped. But even then I don't think it would have given you a perfect score here. The Pendulum seems easy enough to read so that's not my issue. My issue is the Blue Shell.
It seems easy to deal with I just don't think it needs to be there in the first place. Seems like one gimmick too many.
Overall Score: 23/25
Bowser's Castle by AlphaSSB:
Iconic Status: 5/5
One of the most iconic locations in Mario as a whole, let alone Mario Kart. Honestly you could have based this track on any Mario Kart game or even just Mario Game and people would know what it is.
Originality: 10/10
It stays very faithful to the section of the track used as the stage which in of itself is very faithful to the kind of elements you'd expect to see in a Bowser's Castle stage.
Playability: 5/10
I don't think any of the hazards should be removed other than the kart racers, I just think they need to be tweaked to not be as big a obstacle of the fight.
The fireballs surrounding the platforms should be spread farther from those platforms and the giant fireball from the metal bowser should appear less often.
And as said before, the kart racers don't need to be there. I like the ideas put into this stages hazards I just think their execution could be improved.
Overall Score: 20/25
Toad's Factory by PeridotGX:
Iconic Status: 3/5
A unique track to be sure. But it doesn't stand out as well as quite a few others. It being a made up track with only one appearance certainly doesn't help it here.
Originality: 10/10
The unique setting of the track does help it out here though. And the hazards incorporated fit well for the source area.
Playability: 8/10
The Hydraulic Press and the conveyor belts aren't a problem. The Pres would have been if not for it instantly going away if there's only one fighter on a side of it.
What are problems however are the walk-off zones and the item monitor. Items are already a feature of Smash Bros. as a whole and you didn't clarify whether or not turning regular items off would disable this feature of the stage.
Either way though the Item monitor is not necessary. The stage can honestly do better without it.
Overall Score: 21/25
Cosmic77's grades:
"Waluigi Pinball" by TheMarioAddict:
Iconic Status: 5/5
Waluigi Pinball has been one of the more popular Mario Kart tracks, reflected by its theme being in two Smash games now. It should be pretty iconic.
Originality: 10/10
Having a stage based on a game of pinball is a really creative concept. I love the use of the flippers, and I really appreciate how the four platforms rotate similarly to how the bumpers did in the real track. The gravity for the karts is a little weird in this stage, but I suppose the ant-gravity theme added in MK8 would explain this.
Playability: 5/10
I'm sure you saw this coming. The hazards on this stage are crazy, especially with the pinball dealing 30% damage. Players will have to be extremely cautious, as there's plenty of different things here that could KO them.
Overall Score: 20/25
"Baby Park" by Kevandre:
Iconic Status: 5/5
Such a weird stage to represent Mario Kart. Nevertheless, it's made three appearances so far, and fans really seem to like it. I think it'll be recognized by both old and new Mario Kart players.
Originality: 7/10
The idea of fighting on a rollercoaster was pretty cool. I think that idea opens the door to a lot of interesting layouts for the stage as the coaster goes up and down the track. The babies and their kart being an additional platform was also nice. My only complaint is that this stage doesn't feel very Mario Kart-ish. Feels more like the stage we'd get to represent a Super Mario amusement park spin-off.
Playability: 9/10
Aside from the babies' Chain Chomp, there aren't many hazards on this stage. The coaster platform itself is flat, and while the ups and downs of the track could make getting KOs difficult, I don't think they're that big of an issue.
Overall Score: 21/25
"Donut Plains" by GolisoPower:
Iconic Status: 5/5
The original Mario Kart. Iconic as iconic can get.
Originality: 9/10
Lots of creative ideas for a Mario Kart stage. Having an overhead view is something I never even thought of, and the items really compliment the whole Mario Kart series.
Playability: 4/10
This stage is way too hectic for a Smash battle. The karts draw way too much attention from the actual match, and I feel like the placement of the platforms would make an actual fight pretty hard.
Overall, I feel like you put way too much emphasis on your stage's gimmick. Just having characters fight on the top of cars would have been enough for me.
Overall Score: 18/25
"Tick-Tock Clock" by Jubileus:
Iconic Status: 4/5
Setting my personal bias for this stage aside, I don't know how many people would automatically associate this with Mario Kart. Don't get me wrong, this stage is iconic, but is it iconic because of Mario 64 or Mario Kart DS? I'm not so sure I know the answer.
Regardless, this stage returned in MK8. At the very least, people who have played the latest Mario Kart game will recognize it.
Originality: 10/10
I'm tickled at how wonderfully simple your stage's gimmick is. Having the pendulum swing back and forth in background like that until a kart rams into it and knocks off a fighter is EXACTLY what I think we would see in a stage based off of Tick-Tock Clock.
Playability: 8/10
Even though the layout of the stage is fine, I really wish you would have clarified how much damage and knockback the karts and pendulum would cause. Both of those hazards could frequently hit a player, and knowing how much damage they cause makes a difference between people willingly and carelessly getting hit by them or people being completely paranoid the entire match because they don't want the insanely OP hazard to KO them.
Overall Score: 22/25
"Bowser's Castle" by AlphaSSB:
Iconic Status: 5/5
Bowser's Castle appears in every Mario Kart and almost every Mario game in general. Unless you live under a rock, you know where this stage comes from.
Originality: 9/10
The angles helped you out a lot.
This is actually a pretty cool section that you cut out and made into a stage. Between the karts jumping through the hoops and the giant Bowser statue spitting out giant fireballs, I think you did a pretty good job of representing this stage in Smash.
Playability: 6/10
Those hazards seem a little tedious. Avoiding those spinning fireballs during a match is hard enough, but imagine trying to fight while avoiding getting knocked back into the karts or the giant fireball Bowser launches too.
Because of the hazards, this stage seems like a scary and dangerous place to have a Smash battle, but perhaps that fits the theme of Bowser's Castle.
Overall Score: 20/25
"Toad's Factory" by PeridotGX:
Iconic Status: 3/5
Toad's Factory has only made one appearance in the Mario Kart series, and because it isn't based off an actual location from a Mario game, I don't think it's the best option to represent the series.
Originality: 10/10
Your concept is pretty cool. The hydraulic presses and conveyor belt are very unique, and they fit right in with the whole factory theme. The way you implemented items was also very nice.
Playability: 8/10
Since the stage is a walk-off, I don't think the hydraulic presses blocking someone would be that big of a deal. Honestly, the only hazard I'm worried about is the presses squashing someone.
Overall Score: 21/25
Total Scores:
TheMarioAddict: 42 points
Kevandre: 45 points
GolisoPower: 25 points
Jubileus57: 45 points
AlphaSSB: 40 points
PeridotGX: 42 points
The Winner is.........
Red Team!!!!!!
Well this is MARIO Kart we're talking about and Red is Mario's signature color. So it felt right to use Red Team to describe our two way tie of........
Baby Park by
Kevandre
AND
Tick Tock Clock by
Jubileus57
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!