Banana Peels

In course of time, my brother and I have developed two distinct battle tactics. Matthew prefers a strategy that I call optimization. He attempts to win a battle employing the most useful weapons (red/green/large shells, bombs, stars) and almost immediately discards less useful weapons (small/large banana peels, red boxes, mushrooms). On the other hand, I have developed a certain proficiency with a more general tactic, in which I have attempted to master the use of each weapon, thus being able to attack quickly with whatever I'm given instead of being forced into evasion until an optimal weapon appears in my queue. I'll admit that my proficiency is graded; my skill with a red box is somewhat limited, and mushrooms are still hit-and-miss. However, banana peels have proven themselves to be as effective a weapon as shells, depending on circumstances. I'll outline here some of the possible maneuvers which I find particularly useful.

The Blind Trap

I assume that the practice of "trapping" pipes is fairly common. However, recent consideration revealed a new idea for a new trap. The blind trap requires simply placing a banana peel just beyond the lip of a ramp to the higher level. A player approaching from the top will not be able to see it until it is mortally too late.

The Forward Block

I make another assumption that it is a well-known fact that a carefully timed banana peel can stop the approach of a shell from behind. However, one can also throw a large or small peel forward to block a shell approaching from the front. The timing is a little tricky, because unlike the green shell forward block, one cannot throw it at any desired time. Instead, one must wait until the moment before impact and be travelling directly at the oncoming shell to successfully perform the forward block. With a little practice, you can quite easily premeditate an oncoming shot and prepare yourself adequately by predicting the direction that the shell will take.  Square yourself to that direction and attack the oncoming shell with a thrown banana peel.

I should note that a point blank frontal banana peel assault has been theorized and attempted, but no success has been made. This is due, perhaps, to an issue known as formation which requires its own post.

The Bounce Attack

If you are being chased into a wall, instead of turning sharply, you may choose to throw the banana peel at the wall immediately before colliding with it. The banana peel will bounce over and behind you. Of course, you could always just place it behind you, but your opponent may be tuned to react as a banana peel is placed in front of him. It is unlikely that he will be expecting an over-the-top approach. This is not often used, but can be useful as a mushroom evasion technique. Bait him by making him think that you are not going to attempt evasion, and then let loose with a bounce attack as he moves in for the kill.   

The High Attack

A severe limitation of the green and red shells is that both have a predominantly two-dimensional attack capability. At best, shells can be dropped from above onto an unsuspecting player beneath, but mostly they are limited to same-level attacks. Most notably, they can never be used to attack someone on a higher level. Enter banana peels. The trajectory of a thrown banana peel peaks at the precise height of a kart on the higher platforms in the pipe level. A player on the ground level can throw a peel such that 1) it lands in front of a player coming out of a pipe or driving along the platform or 2) it makes direct contact with a player on the higher level. Suddenly the higher level provides no escape from ordinance or protection from attack. A proficient player can make contact employing the high attack as often as he can with same-level green shells. A similar approach may be used with bombs (the most entertaining) and red boxes, although I believe that red boxes are thrown with a different trajectory than the other two.

The Sliding Attack

If you have an opponent cornered such that he is forced to go in only one direction, unless he wishes to stop and attempt a u-turn (not recommended), use the sliding attack. Change your direction so as to be almost exactly in front of him, use a drift turn to change the orientation of your kart so that you are bumper to bumper with your enemy and release the peel behind you. Ideally, the peel won't even land on the ground, but will appear directly on him, giving you your escape route.

Note: Do not attempt the sliding attack if your opponent has any sort of forward projectile in his queue. No matter your bravado, your skill at such a maneuver or your optimism, it won't work.

The Poop Attack

What? That's what we call it. Pooping is another two-level attack that requires the higher player to drift turn such that his back end is hanging over the rail (a technique known as grinding). Release a banana peel to drop it on your enemy beneath. Another version of this attack can be performed simply by driving off the top ledge and dropping the banana peel as you pass over the player underneath. You can also poop as you exit a pipe in the air.

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In short, with a little practice, banana peels can become an extremely volatile weapon in your arsenal. For me, I feel quite defenseless without one as I commence an attack on my brother.