I've been browsing around the forum a lot lately, and I've seen some people calling snaking "cheating", and that people who do it "aren't really racers". I've decided to set up an organised snaking topic for two reasons:

1. Snaking is a hot topic and needs to be discussed, and

2. I disagree entirely.

Snaking is a legitimate technique. If the game designers decided to make it possible to drift on straight-aways, then I can't see how using the bonus drifting offers can be considered "cheating".

The karts that are best at snaking have horrid max speeds. If it weren't for snaking, these karts would be completely worthless. It seems like using mini-turbo's on straight-aways was intended for these karts, as they don't have a chance of keeping up any other way.

Snaking isn't a technique that the game designers overlooked. From what I've heard, the Staff Ghosts in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! snake on certain parts of the track. That right there is an acknowledgement from the creators that snaking is a legitimate technique.

Snaking is a skill that requires practice. It has big rewards if you can do it well, but if you mess up you're severely punished. Anyone doing it is running the risk of messing up, and a well placed item or well timed shell from any other racer will ruin the snake. It isn't an unstoppable technique, and it isn't a game-breaker. It is entirely possible, and in some cases very easy, to beat a snaker.

Snaking gives the snaker the advantage, much the same way wavedashing in SSBM gives the wavedasher the advantage. Everyone can snake, so it isn't a skill that only a select few can use. If you choose to ignore snaking, then you are ignoring a skill that can significantly improve your game. Passing it off as a "cheat" is simply disadvantaging yourself. It isn't any more honorable to not snake.

I'm new to the game, and my ability to snake is limited. But I'm not going to label it cheating and disconnect whenever I see someone doing it (as disconnecting under any circumstance is just downright lame). It is a skill I've yet to master, so when someone beats me with it I'm not sour, I don't say that they cheated and I don't complain. I admit they are capable of things that I'm not, and that they are better than me. I take the experience they offered me, and put it towards bettering my own game.

Thoughts? Opinions? Intellectual discussion only please; I don't want this thread to be overcome with flames. If you have an opinion, tell us why you have it. "Snaking sucks >=(" doesn't qualify as "Intellectual Discussion".

Credit to Barmy_Brat for the first post.

This message was edited by Pricey365 on Jul 21 2007.

so if im gettin ya right, snaking is quick powerboosting like ~~~~~~~~~~ ESPECIALLY ON STRAIT COURSES LIKE FIGURE 8.

if anyone could please descibe to me how to snake good i will like you alot =)


i hate it when people say snaking is cheating, because it obviuosley isnt!!


ITS CALLED SKILL YOU GEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just watch this : Learn To Snake

Maybe you can edit this video into first post Pricey?

That's a great video - I used it ages ago. That's how I learned to snake...also, Pricey, did you just copy and paste that off the original snaking discussion first post? XD

Anyway, I'm not a bad racer...for a girl, anyway...I've completed all cups with gold and unlocked some staff ghosts and I'm OK at missions...

And where were we up to on the original thread? Wasn't it Waluigi06 and Zero Melfice arguing at with each other? Cos' I don't want to carry on from there...

No, and the term "debate" is more preferable. That's what this is, not argueing just debating.

But no one is here to argue, we debate. If there was no debating in the process this thread would be pointless other then just to say "It's cheap!" or "It's a good way to help you get better". Wouldn't that seem kinda boring? Besides I like heated discussions, it really makes something more active and attracts other members.

Anyways, on-topic. I'm fairly good with snaking, I got sub-2 minutes on Choco Mountain with the Egg1. Made me pretty proud.

This message was edited by Jenubis on May 25 2007.

I am trying to get better at snaking...although its coming pretty slow for me! LOL! I will admit though that I have shaved off up too about 10 seconds with each track that I now snake in!

I do also believe that snaking is a valuable skill that should be used by everybody. It's really no fun to burn everybody in every race, if they don't know how to snake...thats why I try not to snake too much against those people

I've also found that many people disconnect because they think snaking is hacking because they don't know how to do it! Others just disconnect because they know it's snaking, but they are getting smoked!

Off Topic: Sorry for getting off topic, but I have thought of one possible solution to stop disconnectors...DON'T SNAKE AGAINST PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SNAKE, OR JUST NOT MUCH!

Going easy against a non-snaker is pointless, its not getting you any better, the only reason I see is to get a win on your record, which doesnt mean much.

Yeah, as long as I can get a little better at Snaking I'm good.

...There is no reason people cannot learn how to snake. But not every kart was built to snake and some do well without it. Besides, some maps restrict the player's ability to snake.

quote Taishaku

Besides, some maps restrict the player's ability to snake.

quote sumazndude

Just watch this : Learn To Snake

Ok Starz, I've added you. When would you like to race?

Name: jenubis

FC: 055925-416153

Ok, mini-turbos aren't cheating because they were obviously intended. Mini-turbos = faster. Therefore you should mini-turbo as much as possible. That's just what snaking is, miniturboing all the way. So if miniturboing is not cheating then how can snaking be.

There is no reason why someone shouldn't "know" about snaking. If they know how to mini-turbo(which they really should do) then it doesn't take a genious to figure out that more miniturbo's = faster. And if they test about with different karts they will see which one is faster for them. You are just being lazy if you don't snake and so you deserve to lose.

Now PRB, that is something to debate about.

quote starz727

quote Taishaku

Besides, some maps restrict the player's ability to snake.

Yeah...like Sky Garden...

PRBing is very hard for me to do. =/

I can barely do it on Sky Garden, and any otehr circuit for me to race on...

But it's really easy to Snake on Sky Garden, that video was a little misleading about that. Maybe not in the Cucumber, but it is easy in the Egg1 and Dry Bomber.

if you ask me, theres nothing wrong with snaking. i do it, but when i dont, someone else does on wi-fi, and i dont care if they do, but they always win it seems.