I suppose, but even MKWii was kind of BS with the items at times. Maybe MK8 steps it up a bit but it's part of the challenge of playing the game. Granted, the really ace players are usually far enough ahead that a bout of item spamming doesn't deter them too much or they're good enough at item management and course navigation to make up the difference provided there's enough left in the race to do so. But ultimately, not everyone wins every race all of the time even when we have tourney conclusions that have certain players consistently take top honors. It just feels like he only gives the tourney a chance if there's an opportunity for him to be #1 and only #1. Too many sub rank placements and he gives up even though there's a chance he could pull things together throughout the rest of the tourney or at the very least still place in the Top 3. There are tourneys where I've gotten top 3 at the end of it all and tourneys where I've been in the bottom 3. On average I tend to place between 3rd-5th if I had to guess; good nights or bad nights the journey throughout is still fun just playing the game with others. I guess I just don't get #1 or nothing mentality that I'm assuming is the issue. Just my two cents, I suppose.