Bagging seems like it should be a valid strategy, let yourself go to the back of the pack to get better items, but run the risk of not being able to catch up.
It seems counter-intuitive to make a racing game’s optimal strategy to lag behind the rest of the other racers
It does, but for a real world parallel see bike sprints.
Is it because of wind resistance? The one in front cuts through the wind for everyone else?
Yes. But it’s a duel, so they’re just trying to stay behind one person.
You’re not allowed to stop, so you try and creep forward really slowly by doing bike stands until the last lap.
I dunno exactly what sandbagging looks like in Mario Cart, but I kind of doubt it looks this silly.
How would you stop bagging? Detect if someone brakes when moving to a lower place vs getting hit with items? That’s a bold change.
How they implemented it it is you can’t get a strong item if you pick-up the item box while being stopped (like as it respawns with no forward speed), by going in reverse or picking up the same one multiple times.
