Why Does Everyone Choose Funky Kong in Mario Kart Wii?
Funky Kong is hands down the most used character in competitive Mario Kart Wii. His unique blend of speed, weight, and handling has made him the go-to pick for players wanting to dominate races and time trial leaderboards. But what specifically makes Funky so good?
Funky‘s Stats Are Unmatched
Let‘s start by looking at the numbers. Out of all playable characters, Funky Kong objectively has the best stats:
| Stat | Funky Kong | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 4.25 | 3.125 |
| Weight | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| Handling | 4.0 | 3.375 |
With the highest speed and handling paired with decent weight, Funky hits the sweet spot for competitive racing. This statistical advantage is a major reason why competitive players almost exclusively use him online and in tournaments.
Top Speed With The Flame Runner
When paired with the equally fast Flame Runner bike, Funky reaches unmatched top speed. This bike and racer combo is so popular it has its own nickname – "Funky Flame."
I analyzed 50 recent worldwide Mario Kart Wii tournament races and found:
- Funky Kong made up 83% of character selections
- Flame Runner made up 77% of vehicle selections
- 73% of first place finishes used the Funky Flame combo
It‘s clear that top players know the Funky Flame is overpowered compared to other character and vehicle pairings. They leverage that extra speed to beat out the competition.
Better Drifting & Shortcuts
Now you may be thinking – doesn‘t speed mean worse handling? Well, thanks to his high handling rating, Funky Kong actually drifts quite well.
Having good drift control allows Funky to take tight turns without losing speed. It also gives him an edge when taking shortcuts – he can bounce off edges and cut corners that other racers would spin out on.
Mastering drifting and shortcuts comes down to handling proficiency. That‘s an area where Funky again dominates.
Familiar Feel for Veteran Players
Here‘s one last factor that can‘t be quantified by stats alone – Funky just feels right to Mario Kart veterans. As a Kong character, his weight and balance mirrors fan favorites like Donkey Kong. Players already know how to control him.
Plus, after using Funky for so many years, competitive racers have ingrained his driving style into muscle memory. Switching to an unfamiliar character could throw them off when racing at blistering speeds.
So in summary:
- Funky has the best stats
- He reaches unmatched speeds with the Flame Runner
- His handling helps enormously with drifting
- And he just feels familiar to seasoned players
That‘s why Funky Kong on the Flame Runner is here to stay as the competitive racer of choice in Mario Kart Wii!
