 Great family arcade style game. |
| Review Date: May 2, 2008 |
| Reviewer: G. Ware, Colorado USA |
I have never owned a Mario Kart before so can't compare to the other versions but this one for the Wii is a fun game. I was worried before I bought that the Wii wheel would not work very well. I was way wrong, I think it works very well.
The tracks and game play are a lot of fun for someone of any age. The game is easy to learn for beginners and is fun for the more experienced gammer. The game reminds me of something you would play at an arcade with all kinds of things going on as you drive through the course. Playing against friends is a lot of fun a well.
I tried out the on line play and it was a blast. I just had fun compared to some of the xbox/ps3 on line racing games where it can be stressful trying to compete and listening to angry 13 year olds.
If you are looking for a game that is fun for the family, especailly the kids, I would pick this one up. Its easy to learn and a lot of fun to play. |
Racing To The Checkered Wii Flag
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| Review Date: April 27, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Michael Kerner, Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. |
Undoubtingly, Nintendo has really showed more muscle within their games for the Wii this past year. With games that really stretched beyond the imagination for fans like Super Mario Galaxy, which re-defined Mario alone in adventures, and the battle smashing action of Super Smash Brothers Brawl that dominated fans hearts all around the worls, Nintendo really shows what it takes to make great video games. But, that also can be said with the Mario Kart series, which finally makes it debut on the Wii. But, following the innovation that Mario Kart DS had from the Nintendo DS wasn't so easy, largely because it was the first DS handheld title to use the Wi-Fi online gaming to an outrageous excitement for gamers all around the world. Now, it is time for the Wii to take that on and race to the checkered flag.
Mario Kart Wii for the Nintendo Wii, brings in all that fast-paced excitement racers have wanted and even more. The game adds a whole lot of new and exciting features to use. You can now race as many as 12 racers online through the online gaming, and bring the action over the top, and use that skill and excitement on over 40 different tracks: 10 battle tracks and 32 exciting race tracks that are both new and featured from the earlier Mario Kart games like D.K. Jungle Highway and Sherbet Land from Mario Kart 64. The new tracks are also exciting that will have you racing and bouncing on top of mushrooms from the all-new Mushroom Gorge, and have you crusing the shopping malls and racing down fligts of escaltors with the brand new Coconut Mall course, or racing across the tree trunks of the new Maple Leaf Highway. Every single track is great for beginners and die hard Mario Kart fans of all ages.
The gameplay also has a few new surprises, as you not just rave in karts, you also get to race on motorbikes too, bringing more action and variety to each of the players delight. There are also a few new power-ups here too including the Mega Mushroom, from the DS game New Super Mario Brothers, which makes your racer giant-sized, so you can squash your opponents on your way to the checkered flag, and the lightning cloud which shrinks you down to a tiny racer, so you squeeze underneath your opponents and take them by surprise. There also are a few new characters here to unlock in the game as well. You can choose to race with the classics like Mario, Yoshi, Bowser and Luigi, and 6 hidden characters to unlock and master like Rosalina from Super Mario Galaxy, Funky Kong and Diddy Kong from Donkey Kong Barrel Blast and even Bowser Bones (the skeleton Bowser boss from New Super Mario Brothers.)
The control is also a bit new here, with the use of the Wii Wheel. The wheel is easy to setup and hooks right onto the Wii remote. You can steer your racers easily through each and every race by turning your wheel left and right, and performing nifty stunts like a wheelie or a 360 on a jump. While the control with the Wii Wheel takes a lot to get used to for veterans, there are others ways to control the game. Like Super Smash Brothers Brawl, gamers can also use the Wii & nunchuck controls, or the classic controller and even the Nintendo Gamecube controller, so veterans can feel more comfortable in anyway they want to race. The graphics here are also well-designed, by bringing new excitement in restoring the classic courses, and a lot of great surprising new features that are the delight to anyone who loves the Mario Kart games.
All in all, Mario Kart Wii is definitely one of the best games I've ever enjoyed for the Nintendo Wii. I absolutely loved the need for plumber speed, and it shows in each and every race. This is definitely a must buy for your Wii video game library, that is sure to be a thrilling race and not even close to wiping out anytime soon. So start your Wii-motes, because the race is not ever going to stop.
Graphics: A
Sound: A-
Control: B for the Wii Wheel; B+ for the Wii & nunchuck controllers, A for the Classic and Gamecube Controllers
Fun & Enjoyment: A- for solo gamers; A for multiplayer action
Overall: A- |
Good Franchise, Good Hype, Good Game, Minor Issues
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| Review Date: April 29, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Kyle Slayzar, Bismarck, ND |
Mario Kart is one of those franchises that instills great memories whether you first played on the SNES like a lot of us old school gamers did, or the N64, or even on the hand helds. It is a franchise that demands more than cookie-cutter remakes that many game developers have been putting out as of late. It is easy to create a lot of hype over a game and then have that hype kill the game when it doesn't meet the insane expectations.
That said, Mario Kart Wii meets all expectations and even goes a little beyond.
One of the first things I was looking forward to was the unique interface that the Wii puts on just about everything. The steering wheel was what I was looking forward to the most since I thought I would get complete control of the character. I must admit, the wheel is VERY responsive... almost too responsive. It is very easy to any beginner or even a veteran to overcompensate and steer into a wall, especially if they're not used to a free-floating steering wheel.
However, we did find that the wheels were critical if one wanted to use the Wii remotes accurately. It is a real pain to steer without a wheel attachment. We literally had to go out and purchase three more wheels because the remotes felt so awkward without one. We later just threw down the remotes and ended up using the gamecube controllers (which you can use) since we're not only used to it but it seems to have much better control.
The next thing I was looking forward to were the new menus, characters, vehicles etc. I was really pleased with the motor bikes included in the game and their exclusive features. I personally found the Flame Cycle with Waluigi to be my personal favorite. It was great they brought back all the old characters and, more importantly, they took out all the unfair advantages some had over others. Now, everyone is not scrounging to play as King Boo or the Plant thingy. I thought it was awesome that I was able to unlock my own Mii to play.
One of the things that really impressed me was the reinvention of retro courses from classic systems including the gamecube, the SNES, Gameboy Advance etc. It was nice to see old courses that I was familiar with. I kinda wish they would've brought back Baby Park from the Gamecube since that was one of our favorite places to do battle.
The items were kinda iffy. We were really annoyed at the Bloopers, that shower your screen with dark ink so you can't see temporarily. It was cute at first but then it got really annoying. The "hot potato" lighting cloud is probably the most annoying; it would tag you and after a certain time, detonate. You could pass it off to another opponent by bumping them but if you're in first, alone or otherwise far behind you are screwed. This item, they could've done without.
The menus were the next iffy part. It took me a while to figure out how to switch the 1st player mode from the Wii remote to the Gamecube controller. You are also seemingly limited to how you team up with friends. Granted the team battle and team races are one of the best changes Nintendo made, but I wish they would allow two-players to partake in the Grand Prix. The menus just don't seem all that user-friendly.
The internet feature is interesting. I'm not accustomed to playing any Mario Kart online (save for the DS) but it was a very nice setup. No more are we limited to annihilating our friends in the privacy of our own home; now we can do that but annihilate world-wide opponents in the privacy of our own home. Not a real fan of online play but loved it anyway, way more than Smash Bros. Brawl.
Lastly is the graphics; the Wii doesn't go beyond 480 resolution so one shouldn't really expect anything grand. The Wii is made for innovative gameplay, not graphics. If you want graphics, get an XBox360 or a PS3.
Overall, despite some small issues, the game is superb all around. A 96% to be certain. Buy it if you find one! |
AMAZING
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| Review Date: April 27, 2008 |
| Reviewer: D. Swanson, |
So at first I was a little skeptical about this game because I have played every other version of Mario Kart and the Wii Wheel worried me because it seemed like it would be hard to control and gimmicky. After having played it, I actually find it to be the most fun out of all the mario karts. This version is very similar to Mario Kart 64 only with additional features such as
*12 racers in the grand prix
*Online racing (This morning I raced 12 people from around the world and there was no lag and hardly any wait time)
*Tricks (that can be done with the flick of the wii wheel, although I noticed occasionally the tricks are unresponsive if you don't shake it hard enough)
*16 new courses and 16 retro courses.
*You can play as your mii
I love the courses, they are very colorful with great music and range from piece of cake to challenging
There's a ton of items you can use to "attack" opponents with such as that horrible blue shell that attacks the racer in first place. It's also great from any age range. In my opinion someone as young as 5 and as old as 50 could enjoy this game. All in all its a great game!!!
9.5/10 |
THANK YOU NINTENDO
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| Review Date: May 2, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Jason J. Sum, Carlyle, IL |
1ST Thing Buyer's need 2 know
Mariokart Wii is like any other drug once you have a Taste you can't get enough (GTA IV isn't the only major Title that will take over your life!)
This game does something very few games tend to do in these crazy times of HD-Games, Super over Priced hardware, and one 2 many
First Person Shooter's,
And what does this game do quit simply It makes you feel like a kid on X-Mas day w/ your imagination soring! You actually feel Young,Care free and have fun!!!!
The Wii Wheel surprised me (It works better then i ever would've thought! It also brings a new twist on how to Play a game like this!)
The online play also is Close to Flawless ***** (Maybe one day XBox Live with be Free like Nintendo Wi-Fi is!)
Anyone with a Wii must own this Masterpiece of Gaming Fun!
Sound/Audio -9.5/10
Graphics -10/10 (It's a Nintendo 1st Party title,the colors-Graphics are full rich and colorful like being at a rave party within a hours time you will hear the colors talk to you lol) Jerry Garcia would be Proud!!!!!!!!!
Game Play 10/10 FLAWLESS Anyone can pick it up and play 6-60yrs old. **Fun,Crazy, Fun,Crazy, Fun!!!!!!
Overall the game is Wii's **Must own Game** 10/10
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A n awesome update to a great long running series
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| Review Date: May 5, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Ramsis Lion, Long Island, NY USA |
Any fan growing up with a Super Nintendo or Nintendo 64 system should be more than familiar with the Mario Kart series. A fun go kart series of games using popular Mario universe based characters and puts them into the drivers seats of various karts. Each driver having pros and cons due to his size and weight and other differing characteristics.
This popular series has been on almost every system made by Nintendo, and it was only a matter of time before it would find its way to the Wii as well. Would it live up to the standards that the series has come to be known for over the years? That's a matter of opinion but I would have to say 100 times yes.
The biggest addition to the series of course is the fact that it being on the Wii it is going to use the Wii Remote as a main controller to drive. And it was a perfect way for Nintendo to get in a new gimic type of holder to put the remote into. That being the Wii Wheel. A plastic mold shaped like a steering wheel that your remote snaps into easily. Sure its just a piece of plastic holding the remote in place but I must admit it is fun to play the game using a steering wheel. Adds a new something to it that just pushing a button on a controller doesn't provide. But rest assured , if you don't like the gimicy device, you can play the game with the remote and nunchuck or even the game cube and classic controllers. So that really is another plus to the game how you aren't limited in how you want to control the karts. And no matter which method you use, the game controls are smooth and easy to get used to.
Like all Mario Kart games you are given a choice of various Mario themed characters to choose and then its off to the races. You can unlock even more characters as you progress through the game and choose not just one vehicle but various vehicles. This go around there are karts of all sizes and shapes, motor bikes and super karts too. So you will be able to have so many different experiences playing this game through the differnet characters and vehicles you can use.
Kept true to the series they still have the various items you pick up while driving and using as ways of catching up to those in front of keeping those behind you where they belong, eating your dust.
The biggest and maybe most appealing addition to this version of the game is the online play features that are now available. You can play on line against anyone in the whole world who happens to be online at the time. Or against your own friends who own the game. So that too will add a long replayability to the game. You can either play people from across the world or your own friends across the country at any time. There are battle modes and team based modes and even classic stages from previous versions of Mario Kart now updated and ready to play on in a Wii graphically updated way.
This game is really all that and more. Ever since I got it I haven't been able to put it down. And I think you won't be putting it down any time soon either. Once you get hold of that wheel there is no telling where you will be driving to as you try and beat the competition to be top kart driver. If you have a Wii and are a fan of the Mario Kart series this is must have. And if you never played a Mario Kart before, no better version to start with. This is well worth it, especially with the online capabilities. The fun factor is high and those who can't get this are truly missing out.
Thanks Nintendo. You have done it again. |
Just plain awesome
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| Review Date: April 28, 2008 |
| Reviewer: N. Durham, Philadelphia, PA |
| Mario Kart has just about always been a safe bet in terms of video game fun, and the eagerly anticipated Mario Kart Wii is certainly no exception. Mario Kart Wii features a large selection of tracks, of which are brand new and remastered tracks from previous games in the series to boot; all of which are well designed and fun to race, albeit the classic tracks aren't nearly as stylisticly designed as the new ones. The addition of motorcycles surprisingly works well, and despite a change in some of the game's old mechanics (drifting has never been easier to perform), the game works and races very well. Most notably is the use of the included Wii Wheel, which surprisingly responds quite well and feels very good as well. Though it may take some getting used to at first, Mario Kart Wii also supports just about every controler available for the Wii, which in itself is a big plus. The game as a whole is easy to get into, the online play is well done, the items (while more unbalanced than ever) are imaginitive, and of course, the multiplayer is spectacular fun. All in all, you really can't go wrong with Mario Kart Wii, which is yet another spectacular triple-A title to come from Nintendo, and another essential pick up for your Wii. |
Even Better Than Expected!
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| Review Date: April 28, 2008 |
| Reviewer: NatoNatoBooks, Macomb, IL United States |
| WOW - I Am Hooked! Let me just say that I've anticipated the release of this game since standing in line to get the Wii the first day it was released and I can truly say that it's even better than I expected! For what it's worth, I'm in my late 20's and was a HUGE fan of Kart for the 64 back in the day (I feel it's worth mentioning that since the only negative reviewer thus far said he did not care for the 64 version). It can be a bit frustrating at times, but that's part of the reason why it's so great! You can be in last place and come back to win it all (or get in the top 5 anyway). The wheel works great - feels very comfortable. You press the built-in trigger (or B button) to drift and build speed or if you race in automatic, then it doubles as a special button, but mostly that's the left button on the control pad. 2 is accelerate and 1 is brake/reverse, although I'm not sure the brake works quite as well as it did in the 64 version. Online play is AWESOME, but there are some pretty darn good racers out there (even though it just came out today!) It's difficult to write a elegant review since it's way past my bedtime, but I wanted to tell potential buyers how awesome this game is before I go to bed! I'm not a big fan of Smash Bros - I thought Mario Galaxy was very very good, but in my opinion, Mario Kart is the very best game out there for Wii! If you're going to play with friends at your place, I recommend spending $10 for extra wheels - it makes it much more fun! Race On! |
Great Family Game
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| Review Date: April 27, 2008 |
| Reviewer: A. John, Brooklyn, NY |
| I picked up this game on the 26th (yesterday) from my local game store and right away the entire family started playing. The game is very simple and not much different from the other Mario Karts of past except of course for the onlilne play which we haven't tried out as yet. There are a few characters to choose from, adult and baby alike and steering is pretty easy. You race against your chose characters and your Mii's are also included in the races. You just might see your Mii pass you by. We did it without the wheel (since we only had 1) and was surprised at how easy it was. The graphics are also pretty good. You go forward by using the 1 and 2 button to go forward or reverse and B to use your special. All in all a very good game and it was well worth the wait. |
A Fantastic Ride For The Wii...
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| Review Date: May 1, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Skippy the Skeptic, Louisville, KY USA |
Dating back to the SNES days, Mario Kart is one of Nintendo's longest running franchises, and every new generation of Nintendo's consoles brings with it a new Mario Kart. Coming after the absolute masterpiece that was Mario Kart Double Dash for the Gamecube and a solid portable showing for the Nintendo DS, the Wii incarnation of Mario Kart has some pretty big shoes to fill. In most ways, it fills them very well.
Mario Kart Wii is built around the use of the Wii Wheel, which is a small plastic shell that fits around the Wii Remote and acts as a steering wheel, allowing the player to control the action by tilting the controller back and forth, much like in the earlier Wii racing title Excite Truck. I have to admit that I was skeptical about the wheel at first - it just seemed very gimmicky. Much to my surprise, however, it offers such a tight control scheme that I've yet to put much time into any of the other control options that the game offers. (If you don't want to use the wheel you have numerous other configurations to choose from, including the classic Gamecube controller.) The sensitivity on the wheel is extremely high, however, with a 15 degree twist of the wheel being all it takes to turn your kart as far as it can turn without going into a slide. At first it's VERY easy to over-steer, but after a few races it becomes second nature. Far from being the gimmicky nightmare I'd feared, the wheel actually adds to the game experience and makes it all the more fun.
There are several new additions to the game, such as drafting (following closely behind another player to get a speed boost due to decreased wind resistance), pulling aerial tricks during jumps to net speed boosts, and, most obviously, the addition of motorcycles. The motorcycles integrate nicely into the game, and their superior maneuvering, acceleration, and the ability to get a brief speed boost at will by popping a wheelie are balanced well by reducing their ability to make use of "mini-turbo" boosts from drifting around turns and the ease with which they are physically muscled around by the actual karts. None of the new additions are earth-shattering in their scope, but all of the add just a little bit to the game without changing any of the essentials. In short, they're just enough to keep things fresh without making a marked departure from the previous installments. Also, in an attempt to make the game more accessible, drifting around corners is now accomplished with less effort than before - by merely holding down the B button and turning rather than holding the button and repeatedly jerking the nose of your kart into and out of your turn like in previous incarnations. If even that is too much effort, you can also set the game to simply put your kart into a drift automatically every time you make a sharp turn, but by doing so you lose the brief turbo boost you're otherwise afforded by navigating a drift manually.
Notably missing from the game, however, is the Double Dash gimmick of having another character riding shotgun with the driver to throw items. The cooperative 2-player options that this configuration offered will be missed by some players, myself included, but it's certainly not a deal-breaker. Also absent are the individual super-items from Double Dash, but this seems to be "balanced out" by the addition of a few powerful new items such as the Super Mushroom (which turns you into a giant and allows you to roll over other karts, squashing them flat), and the Bullet Bill (which changes your kart into a bullet and cause you to surge ahead past the other racers). The individualized karts are gone from the last game as well, though there's no paucity of vehicles to choose from. You begin the game with 3 karts and 3 bikes in each of the three weight classes and will unlock others as you progress. The character you choose will also modify the abilities of the vehicle they're driving, so it isn't as if everyone on the road is a carbon copy.
While Double Dash supported 8 vehicles per race, Mario Kart Wii ups the number to an impressive 12. This means, among other things, that there are more items flying around than before and that the "pack" is much tighter throughout the race. This can create a few frustrating moments when the player is bombarded with several items in a row and quickly loses position in the race, but it's honestly not as distracting as some reviewers have complained. One thing of note is that the character models seem somewhat smaller than before relative to their surroundings, so sometimes it feels as if you're a minuscule character driving through an enormous world.
Graphically the character models are only marginally better than they were in the Gamecube incarnation, but the actual tracks (There are 32 in all, 16 new and 16 returning from previous games.) have superior lighting and shading effects and the graphics have a pleasing, cartoony look to them. The game doesn't look as gorgeous as, say, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, but it certainly doesn't look bad either. The game zips along with no apparent slowdown and looks quite nice even on a large TV.
Much has been made about the WiFi connectivity of Mario Kart Wii, and I have to say that it surpasses expectations. You don't spend much time waiting around in lobbies looking for players, and the game itself has very little (if any) lag while playing online. A lot of folks are complaining that there's no voice chat, but this is (in part) a kid's game - 9 year-olds across the country don't need to hear me cussing like a sailor whenever I fall off the track. You can play with random people from around the world (A spinning globe shows you where each of your opponents is from before your first race together) or with your buddies by way of swapping "friend codes". I don't normally care much about playing games online, but Mario Kart Wii makes the experience very accessible and fun.
Overall, Mario Kart Wii is an extremely fun racing game for the Wii that makes excellent and intuitive use of the Wii's motion sensing capabilities and provides the absolute best online gameplay yet on the console. The game is all-age appropriate, even when playing online and is accessible enough that it can be played competently after just a few races. This is easily the Wii's best racing game thus far and is surely destined to become one of the console's must-own titles. |
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