Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel Reviews

• Racing To The Checkered Wii Flag

  
  By A3W4D8XOGLWUN5 on 2008-04-27
  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-
  
  

• A ruined classic

  
  By A1YP5OVRYFD4W9 on 2008-05-06
  I have owned every Mario Kart game, and consider myself to be a bit of an addict, spending embarrassing amounts of time practicing things such as power sliding on straight aways and downing suckaz with simple items such as banana peels. So needless to say, I was very excited for a mario kart game that would allow me to showcase my skills online, and relive memories with old multiplayer comrades who have since moved to other parts of the country.
  
  Imagine my surprise when I put the disc in and discovered that there was no multiplayer grand prix mode! Working in tandem to unlock new classes, tracks, carts, and racers had always been one of my favorite parts of Mario Kart, and it was something that Double Dash did to perfection, allowing up to four people to get in on the challenge.
  
  I had invited the friend whom I played through all of the double dash grand prixs with over to do it again on the Wii, so after we found this out it sort of killed the buzz... but whatever, we had always spent a lot more time on battles than grand prixs anyway.
  
  We found surprise again when we couldn't do a free for all battle! After messing around with some vs. races on motorcycles we decided to ditch this game, and spent the night on the SNES, and playing bob-omb blast on double dash.
  
  The bulk of my issues with this game can be condensed to three items:
  
  -Lack of options
  -Lack of skill
  -Lack of creativity
  
  Double Dash was filled with options, you could combine characters in various ways to get certain unique items or racer attributes. You could choose the number of laps in vs. races, and take your choice of three unique battle styles. In Mario Kart Wii the lack of options is mind numbing quite honestly. It makes the game feel as though it was rushed to production. Why can't I choose how many computer characters participate in a battle or vs. race? Why isn't multi-player GP available? Why are there only two battle modes, one of which is hell of lame? Perhaps most annoying of all... WHY CAN'T I CHOOSE TO TURN THE STUPID RACER NAME TAGS THAT SUBMERGE HALF THE SCREEN OFF WHEN I PLAY ONLINE!?!?!
  
  The lack of skill required in this game was evident from my first GP race. Every other Mario Kart game did a good job of making item boxes scarce, and the occurence of items such as blue shells and lightning very infrequent (although there was an OPTION in double dash to change this). There are several tracks on the Wii version that are nearly unplayable because of the volume of items. With 12 players, and the stupid items like the thwomp and lightning cloud that don't really help anyone... it just isn't racing anymore when there is absolutely no value to your place in the first 90% of the race. Coming back with items is one of the great joys of mario kart, I understand that (I still have fond memories of hitting the super ramp on Mario Circuit 2 with a mushroom to cut a corner and jump up two places to secure first over ten years ago), but there is something else going on entirely in tracks like the Luigi Circuit on the Wii (which might be one of the worst mario kart tracks ever), where every racer gets ripped to shreds on every lap because of the overwhelming volume of items.
  
  This gripe could easily branch into things like how the power slide boost, for the first time ever, is not controlled by the player (and I'm not talking about the manual vs. auto drift), but simply by the length of time you hold the slide, and how they reverted to the "hold and wait" technique of blocking items that existed in Mario Kart 64, as opposed to timing a reverse release to block such as in Double Dash, and how the "get a boost when you are right behind someone for awhile" time has been cut down to almost nothing... but I think I have said enough on this.
  
  The tracks and items in general though... where is the creativity? I'm not expecting the wildly refreshing array of tracks we were greeted with in Mario Kart for the GBA, or the slew of new items that required poise and tact to make decent use of that showed up in Double Dash, but there is nothing new on the Wii version. Let me re-phrase that; there are a couple of new things, but they are quickly beaten to death via recycling (soooooooooooo many figure 8's), or in cases such as the mega mushroom, little more than repeats of other items (in this case, the star). The half pipe thing is new... but I don't really see the purpose when it is faster to not go up the ramp? And the motorcycles... who cares/if the drift controls were the same as in double dash no one would choose them for the cheap wheelie boost?
  
  Then there are the lazy re-hashes of the classic tracks. Changing the placement of item boxes, and other key features of the tracks (such as making the walls solid in the ghost valley track, and removing the rock throwing natives on the N64 DK track)... I just don't see the point. I mean, I know that most people probably don't have every Nintendo console (sans Virtual Boy) within 5 feet of eachother in their entertainment room so playing Ghost Valley 2 on SNES isn't really an option... but seriously. Some of these re-hashed classic tracks aren't even worth playing in the form they are presented here.
  
  There are a few nice features. Toad's Factory, Grumble Volcano, and Koopa Cape are amazing tracks. There are a lot of karts to choose from (although the differences, as I can tell so far, seem to be negligible... unlike the kart selection in Double Dash where the differences were quite obvious). And it's not like the game is unplayable, quite the contrary, it can even be enjoyable for short periods of time. As part of the Mario Kart franchise though, I just expect more.
  
  I honestly don't know why though, as every big franchise title aside from Mario Galaxy and Twilight Princess has been like this. No options, dumbed down game play, terrible online game options and matching features, basically just leaving a ton of potential on the table and all of my expectations largely unfulfilled.
  
  This is easily the worst Mario Kart game, and definitely the last Wii game I pre-order.
  
  Oh, and the Wii Wheel... don't buy extras of these. They aren't worth the hassle. After struggling with getting my kart to power slide correctly through two grand prixs I dug out the cube controllers (ps - why is there no option to configure buttons how I want? Or... better question, why does the GCN controller layout not match that of GCN Mario Kart when the only new feature is wheelies, which could easily be added onto the unused c-stick or d-pad or... even better, onto the L trigger that items are incorrectly assigned to!?)
  
  

• Another hit for the Wii!

  
  By ATR72FW8LEZV1 on 2008-04-28
  To anybody who has reservations about Mario Kart Wii being a disappointment, let me ease your worries.
  
  Nintendo has hit another home run here. I have yet to play one bad game for the Wii, and this game here just kept me up until 1:30am, which I have to say hasn't happened yet with any Wii title since buying the system back in 2006, which includes Metroid Prime 3 and Super Mario Galaxy.
  
  I didn't really care for the last console Kart, Mario Kart Double Dash!! for the GameCube. While a visually pleasing game, I felt it lacked the heart of the original series, and ended up disliking the "two-person-per-Kart" concept, sappy levels, the feeling that the Karts were only going 10mph and the immense cheating by the AI were a real disappointment. The list goes on.
  
  That being said, I was a bit apprehensive to buy (not rent) the new Mario Kart, until I saw someone playing it the night before it went on the shelves. No question I had to buy it. While Mario Kart Wii is basically the GameCube version with stepped-up graphics, a lot of what made MKDD stink (in my opinion) was removed. It feels more like a true sequel to Mario Kart 64, much like Super Mario Galaxy is considered to be a true sequel to Super Mario 64.
  
  What Works: The biggest feature of course here is the Wii Wheel, which your Wii remote fits in. You can go without the wheel, and use the remote and Nunchuck, or a GameCube controller, but the Wheel really adds to the game. The cars and characters are a blast to see and hear. When you pick up a Turbo Mushroom, or transform into a massive Bullet Bill to catch up from behind, or blast through a cannon, you can feel the speed. This was something I felt lacking in Double Dash. Motorcycles are now available, and you can now choose either Manual or Automatic controls with whichever vehicle you choose. Manual allows you to "jump" your Kart, which was an omission from Double Dash which I sorely missed. When jumping before hitting a curve, you can drift and release to gain a small burst of speed. While easier, automatic doesn't do this for you. If you hang behind an opponent, you can gain speed by drafting. This is a cool little feature which works well. When in midair, you can do little stunts, I haven't figured that out just yet. The boards are terrific, colorful, and addicting. There are even a bunch of throwback boards to each Cup, with some of the best of the best in the series, including the music which you're sure to remember. By far though, the best feature is the online play. You can play with opponents from all points on Earth, which is an absolute blast. You can even use your Mii character to play, which I think has to be unlocked. Again, I just bought the game, I haven't gotten that far. Too many pluses to go on.
  
  What Doesn't Work: One thing I wish they'd get back to is the Coins. After all, it is "Mario" Kart, and the coins were a nice touch. The more coins you got, the faster your Kart. The original SNES and Mario Kart Super Circuit for the GBA were the only Kart games (I think) which had coins. I kind of wished they'd return here, but oh well. Another downside is what plagued Double Dash, which was the AI rubber banding. If you're way out in front, you are sure to get nailed by a POW block, red or blue shell, or some other obstacle which will leave you in 4th place. I haven't run into it much so far in the 50 or 100 Cups, but the 150 I heard is insane. Anyway, I'm too happy with the game to complain, and the online gaming, to me, more than makes up for what the AI does.
  
  Folks, if you're a Mario Kart fan, and have a Wii (or if you don't have one yet, get one and this game) you won't be disappointed with this game. I had my reservations, but they are a thing of the past.
  
  

• A disapointment to the Mario Kart Legacy

  
  By A2L86C0L0W2DXJ on 2008-04-28
  I have owned every Mario Kart that Nintendo has ever released, so I was very excited about the Wii release for this game. There is alot of fun to be had playing this game, but there are some changes made to the game which are the reason for my low score for this review.
  
  There are 32 tracks that are playable, and there are many tracks seasoned Mario Kart players will instantly recognize. It is a great joy to revisit these old tracks and play them on the Wii. The new tracks are exciting and full of new concepts and ideas that Nintendo has implemented expertly.
  
  There is a battle mode, and a multiplayer vs. mode, and a new online mode where you can race up to 12 players at the same time from all over the world.
  
  My biggest disapointment with this game is there is NO MULTIPLAYER GRAND PRIX mode!!! The funnest part about Mario Kart and its progeny was playing with your brother in arms, racing against the computer on the near impossible 150cc class or mirror class, and celebrating, when because of your dual efforts you won the coveted gold cup. Unlocking carts and tracks with a partner on grand prix working together in a campaign mode type effort was the joy of the previous Mario Karts. One person would fight kamikaze style and take out the other opponents while one person would race ahead to the finish. Alas, this concept is no more. In order to unlock other karts and tracks you must play grand prix in a single player mode.
  
  There is a multiplayer mode that is similar to the grand prix style where you can race with several players and choose which tracks you would like to race, but there is no unlocking of items and no thrill of defeating the computer for the first time with a friend. You must unlock and beat the tracks in the single player grand prix mode before you can play the tracks on multiplayer. What is the point of that if I have already played and completed those tracks on my own? It just isn't nearly as fun as it is playing the co-op grand prix mode.
  
  The Nintendo Wii was made to be a multiplayer platform, and that being said, there hasn't been co-op campaign style games as one would have expected. This game was suppose to be one of the biggest releases to date for the Wii, and the fact that a multiplayer co-op mode was left out has made this game a huge disapointment, and that is the reason I give the game the rating I have assigned. I would have given it one star, but it is Mario Kart after all.
  
  

• Great Family Game

  
  By A2K75QOCP9ZHSL on 2008-04-27
  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.
  
  
• Just plain awesome
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2008-04-28
  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.
  
  
• not so good
  By A35NFVV9QLIPOB on 2008-05-07
  Controls:
  
  I wouldn't recommend going out and buying a wii wheel for every controller. It's cumbersome. I felt I had better control of what I was doing without it. I tried to use my GC controller and was frustrated when I found out the button layout was rearranged (from CG DD layout) with no way to modify them to a players liking.
  
  Looks:
  
  I wasn't expecting Mario to be jumping out of the screen at me, but this game really doesn't look any better than Double Dash. I'm using a hd tv with component cables. The game could have been a bit more polished.
  
  Game Play:
  
  cheapness factor-
  The computer LOVES to time its Lighting, Spike Shell or POW to make sure you fall off a ledge or make it possible for you to lose your first place slot.
  
  Whats up with the rare weapons like Lighting and Spike Shell coming up multiple times in a race? In former games those were few and far between. Three lightnings in one race? WTH nintendo?
  
  I don't want to lose a race when I have done nothing wrong. That just seems to happen a lot in this game though. Multiple spike shells FTL!
  
  No coop on Grand Prix-
  My brother and I enjoyed this feature in past games. This is huge step back for the series.
  
  No free for all in Battle mode -
  You have to play on teams.
  
  Thumbs down:
  This game sure did have a lot of hype. But after I played it it turned out to be a recycled dud. Sadly most of the market for this game are people who have never played the old classic Mario Karts (snes, n64) so they will think it is awesome.
  
  
  
• AMAZING
  By ASVVP0GAALXLR on 2008-04-27
  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
  
  
• a solid title, but there are balance issues
  By A1F1S3QZL8PR85 on 2008-04-28
  Before i begin the review, a brief preface is necessary:
  
  I am not a fan of mario kart, nor am i a hater. I am writing this review as an objective review. If you are a die hard fan of the series, you probably will buy this game, and if you hate nintendo games you will most likely avoid it. This review is not for you people, it is for those who are interested but undecided. It is not particularly biased, but it is still an opinion. My only aim is to help, so treat my review as such.
  
  For anyone who has not played a mario kart game, here is the skinny: pick a Mario mascot, pick a wacky kart, and race across various themed tracks, and achieve victory or failure by utilizing the various "items" (power ups and weapons). The mario kart franchise popularized the item-based kart racer, and each previous version was successful at doing so by balancing items and racing that utilizing both driving and weapons was key to winning. Mario kart has always been a "party game" which means it is best played with friends, and is accessable for all ages and skill levels, while also appealing to vets. Mario kart Wii is the latest and arguably the best mario kart to date, but that does not mean that it is without problems.
  
  Mario Kart Wii sticks with the the old formula and should feel very familiar at first. This is a good thing because previous mario karts were very fun. The most drastic change is the inclusion of dirt bikes into the mix. They offer a alternative way to race, while also adding a new tricks system. The mechanics work quite well and go hand in hand with the other big change, the steering wheel included. The steering wheel includeded in the game's package encourages play with the wii-mote, allowing players to steer the controller to produce the desired effect in the game. It works well, but it is apparent that it is a novelty, luckily there are plenty of other control options for playing, including the gamecube controller.
  
  But back to the bikes. Thanks to the new tricks system, nintendo decided to design the tracks with the tricks in mind. The result is a lot of half pipes and jumps; the tracks look like a mixture between a skate park and a rollercoaster. It is a very fun, and it works well until items come into play. The items were designed for kart racing and not biking and tricks. biking becomes unenjoyable with items constantly hindering you. this leads into the games biggest problems.
  
  Items appear way too frequently and will hurt you more than they will help. There are too many items now that are impossible to defend against, many of which affect everyone playing. Items in previous mario kart games required more thought to execution and the target could defend himself, this coupled with the fact that items are more frequent and there are now 12 racers instead of 8, means a racer will be a victem much more often. While an element of luck has been a part of every mario kart game, players will go from first to last within a matter of seconds. A lot of skill has been drained from racing, making victory a matter of who happens to get the best items closest to the finish line.
  
  Another issue is that single player grand prix mode, (the meat of the single player experience), suffers from horrible "rubber band" AI. This means that the game is designed so that there will always be computers on your tail. even if you should be leaving them in the dust, the computers when falling too far behind will go faster than technically possible to catch up to keep close to you. It keeps the game chaotic to an unnecessary level and leaves you feeling cheated.
  
  Fortunately, most of the issues are alleviated in multiplayer mode. There are no computer issues in multiplayer, and items can be regulated in the settings menu to keep things a little more balanced. Multiplayer is the real draw of this game, it is fun and stimulating with friends, and is best enjoyed in a social manner. Online multiplayer is an even bigger feat. Online is seamless, offering great quality matches with almost no lag or hitches. Online comes complete with its own chanel, allowing you to track scores and tournaments for you and your friends. The ranking system, integration, and sheer depth of the online aspect is unheard of so far in a Wii game. It pushes the bar for Wii online content, doing it better than any game has in the past.
  
  Otherwise, Graphics and sound are kind of crappy and kiddy, but they are clean, and get the job done. To be honest, graphics do not play a huge role in this game, but nothing is to offensive, nor should anything be an issue.
  
  So what is the verdict? It is a tough choice. If you are hoping that you will be playing mostly single player and occasional multiplayer to get by, this is probably not the game for you. The single player is weak, and the system itself is plagued with imbalance issues, which can only be alleviated by the distraction of other people. If you plan on playing a lot of multiplayer or online, this game is much more valuable in terms of quality content.
  
  Over all it is a solid 4 out of 5 thanks to spectacular multiplayer, but imbalanced single player and game mechanics
  
  
• Absolutely Phenomenal
  By A3OHM5F4FTR6O0 on 2008-04-27
  This game is a nice step up from the GCN version. The playing is flawless and the fact you can play online against a ton of people at once is cool too! The maps are very smooth. The new wheel that comes with the game has worked perfectly and responds to your every move. This is worth the price, play it and see for yourself!
  
  
• Demolition Kart
  By A1UULJW6V2ERBP on 2008-04-29
  I should give this game a two star review, but since I am a nintendo (and especially Mario Kart) loyalist I gave it an extra star. I waited forever for this game to finally come to the Wii and now I have to say that it will probably end up being one of many games I have traded in almost immediately to salvage what little return I can get on the game. Here is why...
  
  I feel this is the first Mario Kart that has taken a step back. From each other release on the three other consoles, there has been improvement. Game Cube was by far the best in terms of play control and overall fun. The Wii has taken a step back in time or maybe a step towards making it a game that everyone can play because skill is no longer really allowed in this game. The driving has taken second seat to the demolition derby that is now Mario Kart. There isn't a single race that I haven't been blasted by at least three of the following: POW, blue shell, red shells, ink, and lightning. The extent of actual driving in Mario Kart shouldn't be called driving, it should be called recovering. I think the best bet is to get a car with rapid acceleration because you won't be at top speed for long and when you are wiped out, you come to a COMPLETE STOP. It makes me long for the game cube days where, with enough practice, we could dodge (yes I said dodge) red shells (and if with a little luck thrown in, blue shells) without the aid of dropping something behind you. Slide turns have been turned in to something completely ridiculous. It is no longer an expert set of motions on the analog stick that allows for a rapid boost of speed, it is whatever preset skills they have given to the kart your driving and the ability to pass time waiting for you kart to pick up speed. I also haven't decided if I am a fan of the boost that can be obtained while doing tricks while going off of jumps. I also play with the Game Cube controller. I found the play with the Wii wheel to be absolutely horrible. I will say that it is kind of cool to be able to turn the car like you are actually driving it, but if you want to win the races with any kind of regularity you should probably opt for the old school style of racing.
  
  I will say that there are some features of this game that I like. I do like all of the new courses. Nintendo has never been at a loss for making up new and interesting courses. However, when including old courses, am I the only one that thinks they really didn't pick the best of the bunch? And, why couldn't they have included all of the old courses?
  
  I also like that there are more ways to attack your opponents during the race. It was time that a couple of new things were added. However, I come back to the fact, that with twelve racers, it is impossible to really race. And, since most of these things are completely unavoidable, it seems like I am playing to recover most of the time.
  
  I am sure that I could go on complaining about how this game isn't all I had hoped for, but I think I will leave with just one more complaint. Does it make any sense not to drive with a character that isn't huge anymore? All the karts that the larger characters can drive come with comparable speeds and accelerations to all the little kart drivers but with the added benefit that you can completely drive through all of the little drivers. It makes no sense to be a small driver anymore. It's like watching a 500 lb. man wrestle a 50 lb. midget.
  
  But, my brother does like playing it. So, maybe I am the only one that feels this is a step back. Yet, I don't have the desire to invite all my friends over every weekend for round after round of mario kart where the races were decided by the best drivers and their abilities to use and avoid special items and not by the racer who happens to be lucky enough to recover or avoid or be hit with whatever at the exact right time to go limping across the finish line in front of everyone else.
  
  I think the bottom line I have learned from all of the video games I have eagerly anticipated and reserved in advance is this: rent, rent, rent, rent! Then I will avoid the catastrophes that were assassin's creed, mario kart, two worlds, etc.
  
  But I will probably be in the minority here, and maybe we will get lucky and see another (improved) mario kart for the Wii before the next system is released.
  
  
• Mario Kart does not disappoint!
  By A19RBZSUTSQJ7U on 2008-04-27
  Mario Kart lives up to all the hype it has had this year--and then some. It's a fun, age-friendly game that then entire family can enjoy. For Wii owners, this game is a must have. Mario Kart Wii is easily the best game to come out on Wii yet, and one of the best games of all time.
  
  
• Can we say A bit frustrating!
  By AMYV5KGJ4GDFE on 2008-04-27
  I don't want to deture anyone from this game cause I have a habit of not liking or having problems with games other tend to love, like Pikmin 2, sorry wasn't that great.
  
  This game Mario Kart, is frustrating, it has it's great momments indeed, but even when one finishes in first it isn't like "man, I really worked hard to get here" it's more like "whew, what luck that I made first". This game reminds me of N64 mario kart, I hated that version, but loved the one of snes and GC. I am sure this is the minority view, and I will still play it (payed 50 bucks for it) but when I first played Mario Galaxy man that was ACTUALLY fun to play even when you did die, this game is like a mad house and man, every race you get hit with lighnting at least twice holy crap can I even start driving! The scenes are beautiful but I am so busy trying to do a trick off each jump or drift long enough to get a boost just to stay in the race, is it me or does this remind anyone of Fzero for GC, holy crap that game was hard! This game looks and at times (when you aren't being blown up hit, squirted with ink or ran over even though you aren't small) feels Great, but it becomes frustrating when if you are hit you shoot back from 1st place all the way to 10th if you don't have a substantial lead. In a couple of weeks I will probably love it, but Galaxy I love the first day and at the same time was actually able to enjoy the beauty and challenge of it. This game is challenging but in a annoying frustrating (do it this way with this technique only!)way that only Luck could help you with till you've memorized each and every course like the back of your....ZAP ZAP ZAP, holy crap can I even write a review!
  
  Good:
  
  the look of the rounds
  the flow of the track (when you aren't easily knocked to a stand still)
  the online ability
  
  Bad:
  
  difficulty in starting once you've been hit
  excessive amounts of ways that stop you regardless how good you are moving
  and no more snaking
  
  Ok so I thought this would be a GC updated version I was wrong, should have rented it first.
  
  
• Even Better Than Expected!
  By A10G1SLQ96PS68 on 2008-04-28
  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!
  
  
• Good Franchise, Good Hype, Good Game, Minor Issues
  By A30IP5D5DLHRPA on 2008-04-29
  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!
  
  
• A Good Entry to the Series
  By A29BQ6B90Y1R5F on 2008-04-28
  Pros:
  
  +A lot of vareity in the races
  +Well designed tracks
  +A good mix of new material and old makes for good nostalgia
  +Tight controls, anyone can pick up and play
  +Lots of different racers
  +Online is fantastic
  
  Cons:
  
  -Racing against the computer can be hectic at times, particularly when you're getting hit with one item after another
  -Battle mode isn't as much fun as previous games
  -The character's voices are really annoying
  
  Since its inception in 1993, the Mario Kart Franchise has been a fun joyride for many a gamer. With 2005's Mario Kart DS being an incredible game, Mario Kart Wii has a lot to live up to. In many cases it does. There are a few setbacks, though, but it doesn't separate it from being a fun game nonetheless.
  
  As usual, the game consist of several drivers and like the DS version, they each have an array of karts to choose from. There are now 24 different racers. Lightweights, mediumweights and heavyweights. Some racers you'll have to unlock, and you can even race using your Mii. All characters also have a choice of 12 karts, and for the first time you can use bikes as you race.
  
  There are 32 courses to race on in Mario Kart Wii. Half of which are brand new courses while the other half are from previous outings. You can play with friends and race in vs. in direct competition or on teams. You can also do single player and race the Grand Prix. Either way, you'll have to race to unlock new cups and characters. The new courses are incredibly fun and very well designed. There are also twelve competitors in a race instead of eight Like in previous installments there are also a good deal of items you can collect when you go through the races. Classic items like Lightning, Boost Mushrooms and shells are back. But there are also new items thrown in there like the Pow Block, a Lightning Cloud and the Mega Mushroom from New Super Mario Bros. in there thrown in for good measure. As usual, you get more helpful items the further behind in a race you. They add a lot of variety to the game as a whole.
  
  There are also battle modes. The classic balloon battle where you'll diminish a player's balloons and there's a coin battle where you'll have to collect coins. In both battle setups you roam around grabbing item boxes to pummel your enemies. Up to four people can battle at a time and there are twelve in a match. The other players will be controlled by the computer However, of all the Mario Karts, the Wii version certainly has the weakest battle mode. You're forced into teams rather than having an all out battle and they're also timed. It's not as much fun. While they bring some classic battle courses, it would be nice to battle your friends in a free for all. The AI controlled characters also aren't all that smart. It makes the battle less fun, especially by yourself.
  
  Nintendo has incorporated many ways in which you can control Mario Kart. There is, of course, straight motion sensor controls. The game comes with a wheel to play with, but you don't need the wheel in order to use the Wii Remote as a wheel. This is perfect for Mario Kart Wii and is incredibly user friendly. If the wheel isn't working for you, you can also use the regular Wii Remote and Nunchuck setup or you can use the Classic Controller or the Gamecube Controller. Regardless of which control scheme you use, they're all pretty tight. While the wheel is nice, it takes a while to get used to, especially if you've been playing Mario Kart since the Super Nintendo days.
  
  Mario Kart for the Wii is fun but it suffers from one huge setback, especially in single player. There are times when the game can be a test in frustration. When racing, the amount of items you can be bombarded with at once is a little over the top. Especially if you go through the race in first place. There are many moments where you'll be hit by one item and find your footing only to be hit by another item instantly (and sometimes you won't even find your footing). This has always had the potential to happen in Mario Kart, but in the Wii version it happens regularly. In one race for example, I was pounded by a Red Shell, Pow Block and Lightning all at the same time, losing my lead and the race. This is even more frequent on higher CC levels. A little breathing room between being pummeled would've been nice. But the worst part about this element, is that getting first place in several races is based more so on luck rather than your actual racing skills. Whatever you do in one race to get 1st place, doesn't usually work on another. This is easily the biggest problem with Mario Kart Wii.
  
  On the other hand, the Wi-fi in Mario Kart Wii shows that Nintendo is beginning to take online gaming seriously. There's a lot of options and a lot of freedom. While you still have to deal with friend codes, that's hardly a problem when you finally start sharing records, racing and battling online. It all works really well. You might experience some lag, but if you've got a good connection it probably won't be heavy. The game also gives you the option of installing the Mario Kart Wii Channel on your Wii. You can get on that and check rankings any time you want. Installing the channel also makes it so you don't have to insert the game to take a look at the latest rankings.
  
  Mario Kart is a good looking game, but certainly not the best looking out there for the Wii. It's got some very well designed tracks and happens to be a good looking game. It's just hard not to expect it to look a little more detailed and fleshed out. The game never slows down, though and consistently runs smoothly. On the whole, though, Mario Kart Wii still looks better than many games out there on the Wii. Just not up to snub with other incredible looking games like Super Mario Galaxy. Luckily, Mario Kart Wii doesn't have to look groundbreaking and new. It just has to play well, and it does. Most of the music is quite forgettable, though. None of it sounds bad, just not catchy. However, in terms of sound, the voices will probably annoy you after a while. You can only hear characters cry after losing or scream and yell during jumps so much before it finally gets on your nerves. You might get used to it, but it will take some time.
  
  Mario Kart for the Wii is certainly fun. It's a great game that's been very well built up. The only major problem is that the Battle Modes aren't as worthwhile as previous installments and that racing against the computer can be a test in frustration from time to time. It's still a fun game and going online is also a lot of fun. Any Mario Kart fan will be glad to pick this up and newcomers will find comfort in the ease of picking it up.
  
  
• You have got to be kidding!!
  By AFDMUGU0MPKQR on 2008-05-02
  Mariokart Wii is nothing more than an enfeebled version of Super Smash Bros Brawl on a race track and it suffers accordingly. Super Smash Bros Brawl was outstanding, funny, enjoyable, and easy to pick up even if you were new to the series. I loved and continue to love playing Brawl, but now we come to Mariokart Wii and its numerous shortcomings ...
  
  Characters : Pointless
  All the usual faces are present from Mario on down to a Koopa Troopa - but so what?! Not one of them has any noticeable, distinguishable, or useful traits, skills, abilities etc. It doesn't matter who you pick to play as. Since everyone is same - why should I care to perform some outrageous/impossible feat to unlock another nobody to throw into the pool of drivers? They are just eye candy for the players' individual tastes. This brings up another issue ... since all the characters have the depth and substance of a shadow why not have more of them to pick from at the start? In truth there are only three characters ... Small, Medium and Large. This determines what they are able to drive.
  
  Vehicles : Almost Pointless
  The biggest feature of the Wii version is the introduction of motorcycles, which the Nintendo designers gave a big advantage - the wheelie speed boost. The vehicles are rated by seven attributes ...
  Top Speed ... don't worry about this. You will almost never reach it in a real race as the computer drivers will constantly hammer you (and only you) with a variety of items that will bring you to a dead stop.
  Acceleration ... this is the most important category. As I said you will be starting from a dead stop numerous (perhaps countless) times.
  Handling ... this is the only other important category. This is all about cornering on those hairpin turns that constitute a race track. It also affects your ability to hold on to curved, wet, and icy surfaces.
  Drift ... is only useful on a few courses. The speed boost you get coming out of the drift is not that great when you consider that a better cornering vehicle can run the same course in the same time.
  Weight ... this is joke. I have played the `big guys' in the `heavy' karts and been knocked off the track by the baby strollers (with no items in play). The bigger (as determined by the size of the driver and not its weight) vehicles have an advantage in frontal ramming but nothing in sideswipes or from being rear-ended.
  Off-Road ... this is a bigger joke. None of the vehicles do well off road, not even the one called the `Off-Roader.' If one wheel goes off-road, count on a huge reduction of speed regardless of any momentum that you `should have had'. Here again the cycles shine as they can cut corners much closer to the track edges before they go `off-road'.
  Mini-Boost ... `MINI' being the key word. Don't even consider this pathetic push forward as part of your `racing strategy'.
  
  License??
  I have to earn my license?! Are you kidding me? This is not Gran Turismo here. Why am I not privileged enough to race on their special tracks/battle grounds? It is not as if this is about skill or experience. You don't ever upgrade your vehicles nor earn money for bragging rights. This whole license record comes off as pretentious and should have been replaced a light and ENJOYABLE story mode like SSB Brawl did to find the extra characters and such.
  
  Racing?!
  As I said in the beginning this is an inferior version of SSB Brawl. Items/weapons are everywhere (except when you are in the lead) use them quickly because very soon (within seconds) they will be used on you and you will lose your items when hit (get used to that). It is not the `road-rage' that bothers me (I grew up on Road-Rash and similar titles). It is the planned distribution of items. In short, you will get speed boosts if you are losing and will get banana peels if you are winning. This is NOT random by any stretch of anyone's imagination. The distribution of items is designed to keep you out of the top four positions. Think I am imagining this? Challenge anyone to post on YouTube a clip of them in first place in a Grand Prix picking up mushrooms, golden mushrooms, bullet bill, lightning, star, mega mushroom, or the pow block. That is 7 out of 15 items you WILL NOT get while in the lead. Aside from the barrage of attacks that WILL strike you (you can NOT dodge/avoid the vast majority of them), you WIIL be starting from a dead stop or trying to recover control almost continuously. That makes this much more of a survival match determined by luck than an actual race determined by skill. As others have written here in the reviews you wind up feeling lucky that you won (those times that you do win) instead of any satisfaction that would come from your gaming skills as player. In a word - Frustrating.
  
  Cheating
  Everyone knows that video games cheat. They bend the rules. Some to add challenge, others to compensate for poor computer AI. This is a given in video gaming and always has been. The only question is where do you draw your own personal line of `that is too much'? Unfortunately Mariokart Wii crossed way over that line for me. I have been chased by a cpu kart that has threw six (yes SIX) green shells at me while I took the only item pick ups available on a straight away. Where did the extra three come from? How did he `reload'? Is my kart really a lightning rod with an engine? Why am I getting two blue shells on me at the same? Will the first one miss? Just how many speed boosts do the other guys have and why can't I find/get them? Yes it is that bad. My friends compared it to playing Counter Strike on an open server where all the other players are using hacks, but not you. Sure, you COULD still win. Yes, it is a DIFICULT challenge to overcome. But is it satisfying? Should you have to go through that just to unlock some character or vehicle that STILL WILL NOT even the odds let alone put them in your favor? In Grand Prix mode (4 races for a cup) the cpu will let you do better in the first two races, disappoint you in the third and utterly burn you in the last. It sort of builds your hopes up than dashes them suddenly at the finale. You better come to this game in the frame of mind that says I want some MINDLESS fun (like in SSB Brawl) and NOT I plan on winning this race.
  
  Options
  There are very few choices in the games set up. So I hope that you like it THEIR way. You can not race the Grand Prix with friends (you stand the trial alone). You can only turn the items/weapons off in one mode and actually race but this unlocks nothing - ever. Overall this game is designed for the internet and not so much for multiplayer at home - too bad.
  
  Graphics/Sound
  Both are very good but it still has some of that SSB Brawl fuzziness in the heat of battle. The characters could have used more work on their in game shouts and taunts. It gets repetitive quickly. For the sound I can't really say that I have heard the music for long over the sounds of my kart exploding, crashing, burning and falling.
  
  Ultimately this game is AVERAGE.
  It is not good - there are few options, vehicles are not customizable, characters are irrelevant, there is no story. It is NOT a race where skill and knowledge of the track means anything.
  It is not bad - it is funny/ridiculous, graphics and sound are good, the controls are adequate and smooth, it is fun to play but actually more fun to play with others.
  Mariokart Wii leaves you thinking that this could have been a great game with one or two changes depending on your personal tastes, but somehow wound up meeting no ones taste enough to become great.
  
  
• Great family arcade style game.
  By AYMD77ITD15PT on 2008-05-02
  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.
  
  
• Ok, but disappointing
  By AXKVMPDJWWCEK on 2008-05-05
  If you enjoy playing slot machines you'll like this game... the game play is mostly random. If you play with friends it's fun... but still not great. You might as well flip a coin and congratulate the winner. As for the Wii Wheel, it's total crap! Save your money. The game looks nice, but it's ultimately disappointing.
  
  
• THANK YOU NINTENDO
  By A3OW96YQE8ZRPB on 2008-05-02
  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
  
  
  
• The game that has everything, and yet nothing.
  By A3IWYK4N3WRUFM on 2008-05-10
  When I first heard that this game had been announced, I nearly cried for joy. "How can it be," I thought, "That two of the greatest games to hit Wii (Brawl and Mario Kart) will come out in less than two months apart!" Needless to say, I was ecstatic. While Brawl (mostly) lived up to my high expectations, Mario Kart Wii was an utter disappointment; and I regret ever selling Double Dash to help pay for this unworthy sequel.
  The game seemed to have it all. New Wii controlls, some fancy looking courses, miis and bikes, and especially the first amazing online experience to hit Wii. But it is a shame that two seemingly minor errors made the game almost unplayable to the hardcore crowd.
  
  The first problem I encountered was the fact that the battle mode was completely reorganized into a frantic, non-competitive excuse for a battle mode. I tried desperately to find an OPTION button, but all I could see is that Mario Kart's best feature was history. I decided to at least give it a try, and that's when the real disappointment hit me like a pile of bricks. Items.
  
  Items are a key feature in Mario Kart games, given that all modes besides Ghost use these underhanded trinkets to race or battle your way to victory. This Mario Kart's line-up of bad boys includes many trusty classics, such as bananas, green shells, mushrooms, fake items, and even red shells were a welcomed addition, since you can still block them with a banana and what not. And then there are the infamous weapons of death, including pows, bullet bills, wing shells, and of course, lightnings. But how bad could it be? These weapons have all been in previous Mario Karts. There's nothing there that we couldn't handle before! Right? Wrong! Sure all those elements were still in the others, but add 12 players, and remove item frequency switch, and you've got one heck of a chaotic game, that really takes one percent skill and nintey-nine percent luck. I find myself racing past players, being first place for two whole laps, and suddenly, 20 yards before the finish line, I get struck by lightning, which is immediately followed up by an ominous wing shell. The end result? Nineth place, and a game that doesn't stay in my Wii longer than ten minutes. Seriously, Nintendo, didn't you every think that maybe, just maybe, some players may actually want to COMPETE in a racing game? But, regardless of the tedious chore this game is to play, I'm starting to realize that Nintendo did know what it was doing. They know that us hardcore Mario Kart fans can't resist buying the game at launch date (even if we hate it later, we still end up handing over fifty bucks for the boring game), and the casual crowd, which probably doesn't know what Mario Kart is, will enjoy it since they don't feel they're getting schooled by their hardcore competition. My sister, who I can barely get to play Wii Sports, much less Brawl, LOVES this game! My little brother and she play this game constantly, while I'm on the computer writing about how monotonous this game is.
  
  So, maybe Nintendo did hit a home-run for the casual crowd, but couldn't they have just added two small options, and make a touchdown for the hardcore crowd, too?
  
  
• I love LOVE love this game
  By A18RBWW020909S on 2008-04-28
  Wow. I just got this in the mail yesterday, and I haven't stopped playing it since. It's so fun.
  I was really disappointed with Kart for the Game Cube. I probably only played it a handful of times.
  But MarioKart for the Wii reminds me a LOT of Kart for the N64. If you liked that version, then you will really like this.
  
  It can be quite chaotic at times, especially when you're playing 12 other people in the online modes, but it's also really fun.
  
  I can't say enough good things about this game. The races are great, the battle modes are great, the levels are wonderful! Maple Treeway anyone?
  
  Get this game. And then let me beat you when I play you online.
  
  
• The best game I've played in years and years
  By A2M1R62VDEI7QY on 2008-04-29
  I can't say it better than several of the other reviewers; so I won't even try. As my title states this is the most fun I've had with a computer/console game in years. Grab a 30 pack of beer and a friend and you're set to go! My only complaint is that it is so white-knuckle and so exciting that I tend to lean forward toward the TV and as a result my lower back hurts like heck from leaning forward all day =P
  
  
• Lame...
  By A27AF1489430BJ on 2008-05-02
  I pre-ordered this game because I consider(ed) myself a hardcore Mario Kart fan, and instantly broke it out of the box and started playing. There are several things that make this game fun, but almost every single time I play, I can't help getting upset and putting down the controller, swearing to never play again - and then picking up Grand Theft Auto IV. It seems like every race I'm leading from laps 1 - 3, and then on the third lap I get hit by three red shells AND a blue shell, and then I end up in 11th place. I must just have the worst luck, but I'm getting sick of this game - and fast. They've almost taken the skill out of the game, you only rely on annoying new items.
  
  Pros:
  -Online Multiplayer
  -New characters
  
  
  Cons:
  -New items that affect multiple players
  -New carts / motorcycles that are essentially pointless
  -VS battles with up to 6 computer players that cannot be changed
  -Problems with Nintendo multiplayer servers
  -Boring new race tracks and ruined classic tracks
  
  
  
• Fantastic Game, Well Worth It!
  By A37GZKNAFM7C3D on 2008-04-28
  I've been playing it since midnight on Sunday and it's an awesome title. It feels more like the traditional Mario Kart than the newer games, it's really a blast to play.
  
  The graphics are pretty standard Wii material, the sound is good.
  
  The best parts:
  
  - Online play, it's fantastic and free! You can do both grand prix and battle online, it's like a whole new game besides playing the computer.
  
  - The Wii wheel makes it fun as well, I haven't tried it using the nunchuck or classic because I haven't seen a need to, the wheel provides accurate control once you get used to it.
  
  - The tracks are a mixture of new and old, taken from SNES, N64, DS and GameCube versions of Mario Kart. They make it even better to get a blast from the past. The same goes for the battle mode, new maps and maps from the older versions.
  
  For me, it's worth for the money, I'd highly recommend it to any family or Mario Kart fan.
  
  
• A Fantastic Ride For The Wii...
  By A1HTO5COXAY1NQ on 2008-05-01
  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.
  
  
• Typical Mario Kart fun!
  By A1RC7VJWV8CST on 2008-04-28
  This game doesnt steer too far from previous titles. The new levels are a blast, (I especially like the one with the mushrooms that make you bounce)and the option to race in a car or bike makes for an interesting race. Plus, you have the option to race in some of the tracks from the older MK games. The graphics are no better than double dash, which is ok by me. The one thing I do not like is the new "steering wheel controller". I guess maybe it will take a while to get used to, but thankfully you can play with any contoller compatible with the Wii. Overall if you have played any Mario Kart before, you know what to expect. Definitely a fun new game for the Wii.
  
  
• Best Game In The Market!!!!!!!!!
  By A1XP430JG7E7MG on 2008-04-28
  Omg, you to have this wonderful game. It is fun in every way! The wheel is the best part bebe.So go out there and get yourself one. I will guarantee you this is the best game on earth.I played this and I got to addicted and cant stop bebe..
  
  
  
• Best Wii game so far!!
  By A226H3K2Q7FH4V on 2008-05-01
  Mario Kart Wii is a great sequel to the series. Everything about this game is a great step for the Mario Kart franchise.
  
  The characters are about the same as the other games with the addition of Baby Mario and Baby Peach as well as Waluigi.
  
  The tracks are great. They take old tracks from the previous games and revamp them as well as add some new tracks.
  
  The graphics in this game are some of the best on the Wii. The Wii is not known for graphics but this game looks stunning, although i would recommend the component cables to get the best look out of this game.
  
  The Nintendo WiFi connection allows for online racing. You can race your friends, or race regionally or worldwide. The addition of online play really adds to this game. You can import your Mii and the game keeps track of your stats, which i love.
  
  And finally the Wii wheel was a big surprise to me in the fact that it is WAY better than i imagined. The Wii wheel is very fun to use and while it takes some getting used to, it works very well. But if you don't like it you can use many other control schemes: the Wii remote by itself, the Wii remote with nunchuck, the classic controller, and the a gamecube controller so you are destined to find one you like.
  
  All in all this game is a great addition to the Wii, and frankly it is a needed one. With all of the medicore games out there for the Wii, this one stands out above them.
  
  
• A n awesome update to a great long running series
  By A2N84VEBTQFDSU on 2008-05-05
  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.
  
  

• Mario Kart (Wii): Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
• Official Nintendo Wii Wheel

• Official Nintendo Wii Wheel
• We Ski
• Wii Micro Wheel - White
• Wii Fit Rechargeable Battery Pack for Balance Board
• Boom Blox