This year has been great for the Nintendo Wii. We’ve already seen the release of “Super Smash Brothers Brawl”, which most hardcore gamers have yet to put down. Even though I’m a fan of “Smash”, I was eagerly awaiting the release of “Mario Kart Wii”. Being the big “Mario Kart” fan that I am, I woke up early to pick up the game. As I drove to the mall to pick up “Mario Kart”, I was fortunate in that I didn’t have to use any banana peels or mega mushrooms to clear the empty streets of . After nabbing a copy of “Mario Kart”, I quickly drove home and popped the game in my Wii. What awaited me was the best console version of “Mario Kart” I’ve experienced in years.
“Mario Kart” has always been a game that is about providing a fun multiplayer experience. This version is more accessible than ever with four different control options. I put all the control methods through their paces. The wheel is an excellent option for casual gamers. I had my parents, who rarely play games, try it and they performed better, and had an exhilarating experience using the wheel. The wheel has its shortcomings—it isn’t as responsive as the other control options in hairpin turns, and it doesn’t always work when you shake it to perform a speed boost, but it should be a fun option when playing with friends and family. Competitive gamers probably should stick with the other three options: the Classic Controller, the Gamecube Controller, and the Wii Remote/Nunchuk Combo. I prefer the Classic Controller because I like the button layout and the smooth joystick. Some gamers may prefer the other options, but they are all equally responsive.
The new iteration of “Mario Kart” features 32 courses: 16 new, and 16 from previous “Mario Kart” games. The old courses are fan favorites from the SNES, N64, DS, GBA, and Gamecube iterations of “Mario Kart”. Most of them are highly enjoyable, and have been given a 3D makeover. New ramps have been added for tricks, and the courses have been expanded to accommodate twelve racers. If you’ve played most of the old “Mario Kart” games, you’ll probably spend most of your time playing the excellent new courses. A couple of the initial Mushroom cup tracks, such as Luigi’s Raceway are standard “Mario Kart” fare, but most of the new courses are well done. These new courses feature half-pipes, crumbling terrain, underwater tunnels, and an excellent “Mario Galaxy” themed . Racing on these courses with new power-ups, motorcycles, four additional racers, and the ability to do stunts is a blast. The new power-ups are creative additions to “Mario Kart’s” already massive arsenal--there is a mega mushroom that allows you to plow through enemies, a lightning cloud that gives you a speed boost, but can shrink you if you don’t hand it off to someone at the right time, and a POW block that makes your opponents spin out. The motorcycles also add to the experience, because they can perform wheelies and tighter turns, but they are also more vulnerable. I’m also glad that Nintendo upped the player count. Unfortunately, these new additions also have a downside. When racing in 150cc, your AI opponents will pelt you mercilessly with a barrage of overpowered items, which makes it extremely difficult to win. The four additional opponents on the track only add to the chaos when playing AI opponents. The game is best played on 50cc and 100cc when combating the AI.
Another classic mode that “Mario Kart” fans are well aware of is Battle Mode. This edition of “Mario Kart” features five new courses, that are well-designed, as well as five fan favorites from previous games in the series. The new Battle Mode divides you into two teams of six players. This mode is fun when playing solely with human opponents, but it is fairly chaotic when playing the AI. There are only two modes: Balloon Battle and Coin Battle, so fans of modes from previous games, such as Capture the Shine, are out of luck. What hurts Battle Mode the most though, is that you can only play in teams, so winning is basically a matter of luck.
My favorite aspect of “Mario Kart Wii” is the online play. For the first time, Nintendo has got online play right. Unlike Smash, Mario Kart has no lag issues, even when playing with 12 players from across the world. I played with gamers from the , , , and the , and experienced smooth, lag-free gameplay when playing solo and splitscreen. This game has excellent replay value, because of the wealth of online modes. The only downside is that Nintendo failed yet again to include voice chat. So if you like to trash talk, you’ll have to stick to real life friends.
“Mario Kart” is a series where there is no clear favorite. Everyone has a version they enjoy the most, whether it is the original SNES installment, or the portable DS game. Regardless of what game is your favorite, I recommend picking up “Mario Kart Wii” for the innovative new courses, excellent online play, and the highly accessible gameplay.