Latest news with #Kosu
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mario Kart World (Nintendo Switch 2) Review
Mario Kart World has the unenviable task of being the successor to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: arguably the best game in the series and inarguably Nintendo's best selling game of all time at 68.2 million units sold. Much to its credit, Mario Kart World breaks away from the formula established, which Mario Kart 8 has pretty much perfected, but while with this comes new-found success, also emerging are some growing pains. The result, nevertheless, is a great launch title for the Switch 2 and one that is truly worthy of a podium place when considering all of the entries in the Mario Kart franchise so far. Many of the 20-odd hours I spent with Mario Kart World, I spent in its front-facing game mode: Grand Prix (GP). For those unaware, GP is a single-player exclusive mode found in every Mario Kart and which involves accumulating as many points as possible, done by placing as high as possible in the standings, throughout four different tracks which together form a cup. Mario Kart World features 7* total cups and three engine speeds to race at: 50cc, 100cc and 150cc. The engine speeds can be interpreted as the game's difficulty modes (easy, medium, and hard), while accessibility options such as smart steering, auto-accelerate, tilt controls and auto-use items can be used to, more or less, fine-tune the level of challenge. Surprisingly, in continuing the theme of breaking with tradition, Mario Kart World does not have a 200cc mode, although, in an interview with Rolling Stone, producer Kosuke Yabuki didn't completely rule out a future update which would include it. This being said, during CGM's own interview with Kabuki-san, he discusses why sometimes the best way to move forward is to leave beloved features behind, so, at least for now, the jury is still out as to how he and his team will handle post-launch support and whether or not 200cc will eventually be part of their plans. Personally, the game's skill ceiling is so high—more on this later—that I didn't miss 200cc too much, but I can understand why some players are asking for it, especially when Mario Kart World boasts a large and interconnected map. Speaking of, the presence of an interconnected map is Mario Kart World's most important and prevalent (hence the title) gimmick. In practice, what this means is that, instead of disparate locales, all of the courses here are linked together by connective tissue—the first and last lap of each race usually involves driving to and from places such as Dino Dino Jungle, Starview Peak and more. In regards to quality and enjoyment, for my money, Boo Cinema and World's version of Rainbow Road are the absolute standouts, but all of the courses present are winners. In any case, Mario Kart World's, um, world, feels like it definitely took inspiration from The Super Mario Bros. Movie, in an effort to perhaps consolidate the whole Mario IP into something more uniform. Beyond the map and the courses, Mario Kart World shakes up the gameplay by introducing new mechanics altogether. For example, in addition to the essentials (rocket start, drift, jump boost, etc.), players can now rewind time for their character and vehicle, à la Forza Horizon, angle their shots, grind on rails and even perform audacious wall jumps. In just a few days, as more and more players got to experiment with the new tricks at play, the skill ceiling got raised significantly—later is now—and the new meta has, so far, involved wall riding/jumping and grinding as much as possible. Considering that drifting used to be king, this is refreshingly different from what we've seen from the franchise so far. Nowhere is this wall riding and grinding meta more apparent than in Knockout Tour, which is, by far, Mario Kart World's most riveting game mode. As is probably clear from the name, Knockout Tour pins a maximum of 24 racers (a record high number for the series) against each other in an elimination-style marathon to the finish line. The catch is that the goalposts keep changing throughout said marathon, making it so that, at the end of the first out of its six laps, only the top 20 qualify for the next lap, then only the top 16 and so on until someone eventually gets crowned the winner. This is incredibly exciting as it does give the impression that no race is over until it's really over, even more so when items are constantly flung left, right and center. So, yes, whereas GP is theoretically Mario Kart World's primary game mode, Knockout Tour ends up stealing the whole show instead and is, hands-down, the best addition to the Mario Kart series in years. Incidentally, it's playing Knockout Tour that showed me just how entertaining game chat with friends can be, more so if they also use cameras. I'm still not particularly impressed, and would not be paying for a Nintendo Switch Online subscription solely for game chat (shout-out Discord), but I must admit that the Mario Kart World integration worked better than I initially thought it would. Moving on, Mario Kart World's other game modes, namely, Battle Mode, Time Trials and Free Roam are sadly nowhere near as good or as fleshed out as Knockout Tour is. Not much is interesting with regards to the former two, which I found to be inferior and tired renditions of, at least in the case of Battle Mode, something that used to be a Mario Kart staple so, as such, I'll turn most of my attention towards the latter. In theory, the idea of free roaming in any Mario Kart game, but especially World, given its interconnected map, is tantalizing, but, unfortunately, the execution leaves much to be desired. This is because, even though collectibles, missions (sort of like in Mario Kart DS) and characters are peppered throughout, the world itself feels barren and underwhelming. In the end, I found that Free Roam is best enjoyed as a dessert, more so with friends, rather than a main course, which is disappointing considering the expectations maybe set by Nintendo's open-world offerings such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, what Mario Kart World lacks in Free Roam, it more than makes up for with the numerous characters, vehicles and outfits present. It's been genuinely hilarious to see Cow (yes, the one from Moo Moo Meadows) players run amok in online lobbies and Dolphin riding a Dolphin Bike…?\ When added together, Mario Kart World boasts 50 selectable racers ranging from the mascot himself, Mario, to celebrity NPCs such as Pirahna Plant. And, yes, not everyone gets an equal amount of outfits, if any, and, yes, Mario gets 9 different ones, but, in the end, it's all worth it to get vampire Waluigi, a.k.a. Wampire, right? As for the vehicles, besides the fact that there are a whopping 40 of them, the decision to have them be preset only, meaning no more changeable parts, is a good one as when playing Mario Kart 8, for example, I've always defaulted to the best wheels (Roller) and not much else. At least in World, I was more tempted to give different vehicles a go as I found them to be better balanced against each other. Otherwise, as expected from a marquee Nintendo title, Mario Kart World impresses in the audiovisual department. The soundtrack, for one, is phenomenal and, what's more, it wonderfully remixes in loops and sounds from games past and present. It helps, too, that Mario Kart World is stunning and convincingly among Nintendo's best looking games to date: I've never been more happy to see my favourite Mario character. (Luigi. It's Luigi.) Thankfully, the graphics come at no apparent cost to performance, as I was able to maintain a rocksteady 60fps in single-player and two player split-screen in either docked or handheld. Regrettably, local multiplayer in more than two players is locked at 30fps, but that did not come as a surprise since it's a caveat also found in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Overall, Mario Kart World is a great game, but definitively not the best Mario Kart there is—that recognition, as expected, is retained by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However, I don't think that World necessarily aims to be 'the best', anyway. From the off-set, the developers over at Nintendo EPD wanted this to be a fresh and new title and to take bold risks with it. Not everything panned out as well as it could have, looking at you, Free Roam, but I will always respect swinging for the fences in favour of going back to formula. With this in mind, I strongly believe that, whereas, again, Mario Kart World is not the best game in the series, it does align the franchise in the best possible direction: forward.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Lynx Select Trio of Forwards in 2025 WNBA Draft
Photo by Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images The next wave of WNBA players took center stage in The Big Apple on Monday with the 2025 WNBA Draft taking place at The Shed at Hudson Yards in Manhattan, New York City. Many from Minnesota had their eyes on this draft specifically, in part due to Hopkins native Paige Bueckers going first overall but also to see who the Minnesota Lynx would select at No. 11 overall and with one of their four draft selections. Advertisement But, like on the eve of the draft last year, Minnesota traded away its top selection before the draft began, obtaining an additional first-round pick in 2026 only to trade one of the them away the morning of the draft with the acquisition of Karlie Samuelson from Washington. As a result, the Lynx ended up with three selections in this year's draft — two in the second round and one in the third. Let's take a look at the new faces of the Lynx. Round 2, Pick 3: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu 6-foot-1 Forward | Russia 18.7 mins | 9.5 points | 5.1 rebounds | 1.2 assists | 1.8 steals | 1.0 blocks 55.5 FG% | 25.0 3PT% | 70.0 FT% With the first selection of the night, the Lynx went with somewhat of a surprising pick with the selection of Russian forward Anastasiia Olairi Kosu. Advertisement Kosu is a name some might not be familiar with, but those who keep close tabs on the international game are familiar with the potential that resides within the 19-year-old who will turn 20 on April 21. The selection of Kosu is another draft-and-stash selection for the Lynx, who don't really have a need for a rookie to come in and contribute and quite frankly don't have much room left for a rookie to claim a roster spot. 'Olairi is a young talent who has been playing the game at a high level in Europe from a young age,' Cheryl Reeve stated after the draft. 'She plays with pace, is a very good cutter and she defends and rebounds at a high level.' Kosu is a young athletic forward that is strong defensively while still developing her overall game. In 2019, she made her debut with the Russian National Team in the FIBA U16 European Championships, later becoming one of the youngest players to play in the EuroLeague at 15. Currently, Kosu is playing with Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg, having appeared in 34 games while impacting the game in many ways. The selection of Kosu might not get fans as excited as other prospects might have, but Reeve and her coaching staff keep a close eye on the international game, so we could eventually see the selection of Kosu paying off in a Lynx uniform as she develops. Washington v Michigan Round 2, Pick 12: Dalayah Daniels 6-foot-4 Forward | Washington 29.3 mins | 12.8 points | 7.2 rebounds | 2.0 assists | 1.5 steals | 1.5 blocks 57.5 FG% | 25.0 3PT% | 60.6 FT% In the second pick of the second round, the Lynx once again went forward with the selection of a player who stepped up and had a career year in her senior season at Washington, Dalayah Daniels. Advertisement Daniels, a 6-foot-4 forward that can occasionally stretch the floor offensively, had her best season in 2024-25 with the Huskies, averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest, shooting an efficient 57.5% from the field over 33 games. 'Dalayah is a skilled big with good footwork who finishes around the rim,' Reeve said. 'She has ball skills away from the basket and is a good defender who possesses strong pursuit of the ball in rebounding situations.' To go along with her offensive abilities Daniels has also shown the ability to provide a spark on the defensive end, something that is valuable to Reeve and the Lynx, especially at the forward position in the paint. Her defense has some room to grow, but that will come with development as she makes the leap from college to the WNBA. The odds aren't looking great for Daniels to grab one of the final roster spots in Minnesota, but she will have the chance to try and carve out a spot and either prove to the Lynx that she deserves a spot on the roster or prove to another team to take a chance on her in 2025. 2025 WNBA Draft Round 3, Pick 12: Aubrey Griffin 6-foot-1 Forward | UConn 11.1 mins | 4.4 points | 3.4 rebounds | 0.9 assists | 0.5 steals | 0.4 blocks 59.5 FG% | 0.0 3PT% | 83.3 FT% To round out the trio of draft picks, Minnesota went with a feel-good story of picking one of the fan favorites from UConn's National Championship team, that being forward Aubrey Griffin. Advertisement Griffin played somewhat of a limited role off the Huskies bench during their title season, though she came in and stepped up in key moments off the bench for Geno Auriemma's squad. 'Aubrey is a versatile athlete who defends, rebounds, runs the floor, is a willing cutter and efficient scorer,' Reeve said. 'As a member of four Final Four teams, Aubrey understands what it takes to win.' Griffin shot the best mark of her career in 2024-25, shooting 59.5% from the field over 16 games. She also found success from the free throw line, shooting a career-best 83.3% from the line in her fifth and final season with UConn. As is the case with most of these third-round draft picks — which is not a knock on them and their abilities — Griffin will likely be more of a training camp body than a serious contender to make the final roster. Advertisement But regardless, the feel-good stories that are these picks towards the end of the draft never get old. And Reeve and the Lynx never miss an opportunity to create lasting memories like this for players, which is what it's all about. Draft Results First Round: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Dominique Malonga, Seattle Sonia Citron, Washington Kiki Iriafen, Washington Justé Jocyté, Golden State Georgia Amoore, Washington Aneesah Morrow, Connecticut Saniya Rivers, Connecticut Sarah Ashlee Barker, Los Angeles Ajša Sivka, Chicago Hailey Van Lith, Chicago Aziaha James, Dallas Las Vegas Aces forfeited 2025 first-round pick Second Round: Aaliyah Nye, Las Vegas Madison Scott, Dallas Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, Minnesota Maddy Westbeld, Chicago Shyanne Sellers, Golden State Te-Hina Paopao, Atlanta Makayla Timpson, Indiana Bree Hall, Indiana Sania Feagin, Los Angeles Aicha Coulibaly, Chicago Lucy Olsen, Washington Dalayah Daniels, Minnesota Rayah Marshall, Connecticut Third Round:
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lynx select 19-year-old wing Anastasiia Kosu in second round of WNBA draft
The Minnesota Lynx selected 19-year-old Russian wing Anastasiia Kosu with the No. 15 overall pick in the second round of the WNBA draft Monday night in New York. Kosu has played for Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg for the past three seasons and was Player of the Year in 2023-24 after averaging 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Last season, the 6-foot-1 forward averaged 9.5 points, 5.1 boards, 1.8 steals, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game for the club. In international competition, Kosu averaged 15.7 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for Russia in the FIBA U19 Women's World Basketball Cup in 2021. Later in the second round, the Lynx selected Washington's Dalayah Daniels with the No. 24 overall pick. Daniels is a 6-foot-4 forward who averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Huskies last season and shot 58% from the field. In the third round, Minnesota drafted Connecticut's Aubrey Griffin with the No. 37 overall pick. Griffin was limited due to injuries, but played in 16 games for the Huskies this season and averaged 4.4 points on 60% shooting and 3.4 rebounds per game.
