Mainly from my time playing time trials recently, since online activity for this game isn't as high as it used to be. However, if you're going for decent records and attempting to play GP mode for that not so elusive triple star rank, these tips might be somewhat useful.
For General/Time Trials
Get as many reasonably placed coins as you can on the first lap. Due to the fact coins raise you maximum speed, it will pretty much be impossible to have the first lap be the fastest one, and on courses with sections and gltches like Wuhu Mountain Loop, you want as many coins as possible before the shortcut as to give you more of a boost at the other side.
However, ignore any coins right on the outside of turns/raised banks, they're always too slow to get and are never particularly useful.
When trying to choose better karts and characters to use for time trials, it can often be annoying switching from the likes of a kart with decent handling to one with poor handling but higher speed. So to minimise this, try and beat your records with a slightly better kart each time. It's hard to explain, but if you were playing on Rainbow Road (new one) with say, Koopa and the standard kart, you'd do this:
Try 1: Koopa + standard kart + mushroom tires
Try 2: Metal Mario + standard kart + mushroom tires
Try 3: Metal Mario + B Dasher + mushroom tires
Try 4: Metal Mario + B Dasher + slick/gold tires
It's much, much easier to adapt more slowly than just drastically change kart/character combo when beating your records. Plus, you get a sense of progress, each change will slowly cut down the time you take to race a track and you'll slowly adjust to the stats of the second vehicle and develop a decent strategy.
Take breaks somewhat regularly, since I've noticed that spending too long on one thing will often make your performance worse, especially once you start screwing up and making minor mistakes.
Learn the various glider cuts and places to use Mushrooms. Indeed, watch videos of world record runs to see examples of what to do, as well as those glitch comparison videos to find out the latest tricks.
For Grand Prix
There is no requirement to frontrun the entire race for any amount of laps. Really, even for getting three stars. If an opponent is nearby and you see a Blue Shell on the touch scren waiting to be fired, it's perfectly fine to slow down and let the person behind you take the hit. Of course, be reasonable here, if you're about half a lap in front of everyone you may as well keep going and try and shrug it off. If you've got a Mushroom you should obviously dodge it (this even works on 50cc), and if you're really desperate and in a difficult track, hitting an enemy before the Blue Shell impact basically nullifies it due to mercy invincibility.
Similarly, going off road for a bit or getting hit a few times doesn't really have too much of an effect on your ranking. Obviously you should avoid hitting everything and anything in sight and boucing off walls like a pinball, but you can take a hit or end up off road without a Mushroom and still get three stars. Heck, you can even fall off the road if you get to your destination faster!
Take any uber shortcuts you can safely use. Safely meaning 'you pull them off on the first try' and can use them consistently. Wuhu Mountain Loop's gltch won't harm your rating (better use it before the patch comes into play!), Wuhu Island Loop is the same, as is the Bowser Castle 1 shortcut. If you can use them, you'll only do better by using them.
However, note I say 'first try'. If you screw up once, it's probably better to drive normally. If you screw up twice on the same shortcut, might as well stop trying.
Since the AI is generally pretty much fixed (aka, the game makes one or two opponents race much better than anyone else), try and sabotage these opponents. If you can, you'll probably have much more of a lead in points by the final race and be slightly more likely to win the cup.
Hold on to items for as long as possible to block red shells and other similar items. Best combo is probably having a banana held behind your kart and a Mushroom in your item box, lets you dodge both blue and red shells with ease.
So, anyone else got any random tips for Mario Kart? Post them in this topic!
For General/Time Trials
Get as many reasonably placed coins as you can on the first lap. Due to the fact coins raise you maximum speed, it will pretty much be impossible to have the first lap be the fastest one, and on courses with sections and gltches like Wuhu Mountain Loop, you want as many coins as possible before the shortcut as to give you more of a boost at the other side.
However, ignore any coins right on the outside of turns/raised banks, they're always too slow to get and are never particularly useful.
When trying to choose better karts and characters to use for time trials, it can often be annoying switching from the likes of a kart with decent handling to one with poor handling but higher speed. So to minimise this, try and beat your records with a slightly better kart each time. It's hard to explain, but if you were playing on Rainbow Road (new one) with say, Koopa and the standard kart, you'd do this:
Try 1: Koopa + standard kart + mushroom tires
Try 2: Metal Mario + standard kart + mushroom tires
Try 3: Metal Mario + B Dasher + mushroom tires
Try 4: Metal Mario + B Dasher + slick/gold tires
It's much, much easier to adapt more slowly than just drastically change kart/character combo when beating your records. Plus, you get a sense of progress, each change will slowly cut down the time you take to race a track and you'll slowly adjust to the stats of the second vehicle and develop a decent strategy.
Take breaks somewhat regularly, since I've noticed that spending too long on one thing will often make your performance worse, especially once you start screwing up and making minor mistakes.
Learn the various glider cuts and places to use Mushrooms. Indeed, watch videos of world record runs to see examples of what to do, as well as those glitch comparison videos to find out the latest tricks.
For Grand Prix
There is no requirement to frontrun the entire race for any amount of laps. Really, even for getting three stars. If an opponent is nearby and you see a Blue Shell on the touch scren waiting to be fired, it's perfectly fine to slow down and let the person behind you take the hit. Of course, be reasonable here, if you're about half a lap in front of everyone you may as well keep going and try and shrug it off. If you've got a Mushroom you should obviously dodge it (this even works on 50cc), and if you're really desperate and in a difficult track, hitting an enemy before the Blue Shell impact basically nullifies it due to mercy invincibility.
Similarly, going off road for a bit or getting hit a few times doesn't really have too much of an effect on your ranking. Obviously you should avoid hitting everything and anything in sight and boucing off walls like a pinball, but you can take a hit or end up off road without a Mushroom and still get three stars. Heck, you can even fall off the road if you get to your destination faster!
Take any uber shortcuts you can safely use. Safely meaning 'you pull them off on the first try' and can use them consistently. Wuhu Mountain Loop's gltch won't harm your rating (better use it before the patch comes into play!), Wuhu Island Loop is the same, as is the Bowser Castle 1 shortcut. If you can use them, you'll only do better by using them.
However, note I say 'first try'. If you screw up once, it's probably better to drive normally. If you screw up twice on the same shortcut, might as well stop trying.
Since the AI is generally pretty much fixed (aka, the game makes one or two opponents race much better than anyone else), try and sabotage these opponents. If you can, you'll probably have much more of a lead in points by the final race and be slightly more likely to win the cup.
Hold on to items for as long as possible to block red shells and other similar items. Best combo is probably having a banana held behind your kart and a Mushroom in your item box, lets you dodge both blue and red shells with ease.
So, anyone else got any random tips for Mario Kart? Post them in this topic!