Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii is going to be a system seller. As if Nintendo needed to give consumers any more reason to want a Wii. Mario Kart Wii is the kind of a video game that gets gamers, non-gamers, grandma, grandpa, and little kids excited. Nintendo included something for just about everybody in Mario Kart Wii. Hardcore competitive gamers want to go online and get smoked by staffers of FFG - check. Casual gamers want a little fun here and there - check. New race tracks mix it up with past race tracks. In fact tracks from the Gameboy Color, Nintendo DS, Gamecube, Super NES, and Gamecube are all present. Shaming them all (in this reviewers opinion) are the newest Wii created tracks.

The shine and polish in the graphical details are very apparent in Mario Kart Wii. The light hearted look keeps it bright and colorful in most of the race tracks. King Boo is present, which reminds me of Casper the ghost. There is some cartoon violence as players throw shells, bombs, banana peels, etc. at one another.

Nintendo knows what they are doing with the sounds. Mario Kart Wii has some great Nintendo based music that always fits the theme. I liked how the pace of the music picks it up for the final lap (of three). The music even tempers the agony of defeat, and the game is encouraging to the player when they fall short at the end of a race circuit.

The two words most gamers have wanted to hear in relation to Mario Kart are - “online play.” Mario Kart Wii has online play, plus local play. There is plenty to unearth, unlock, and play with to keep most families content for a few months. The addition of the driving wheel at no additional cost makes this an attractive purchase.

I was more than a little skeptical about the wheel Nintendo planned on using for Mario Kart Wii. This game can be played a variety of ways, and that wheel works way better than I could have ever imagined. Mario Kart Wii feels natural when driving through these diverse race tracks. The balance in Mario Kart Wii is very evident to me. I had a lot of fun with this game, and think you will as well.

It is important to note that online play can expose children to things parents may not want. The main lesson in Mario Kart Wii is to win. This can play out in a lot of different ways based upon the players. I personally like to do that with all integrity. The cartoon weapons in Mario Kart Wii can be avoided, blocked, or neutralized (editor: most not all). Pattern recognition, looking for secret paths, and sticking with it are also lessons. Nintendo has another fun hit.
- Paul