The Mario Kart series has successfully left skid marks on almost every Nintendo console, including the Game Boy Advance, the SNES, the GameCube, the Nintendo 64 and more recently, the Nintendo DS. So, it was no surprise when Nintendo announced that the popular racing game starring Mario and his posse would make a sharp left turn onto the Nintendo Wii. Mario Kart Wii fits right in with the other entries in the series, and brings with it some fine additions that make it worth your time and money, despite the return of a few all-too-familiar problems.

Like the rest of the games, you choose a racer from the lineup of 24 Nintendo mascots, from Mario to Wario and Waluigi, each with their own skill set based on weight. The heavier the character, the slower and sturdier the ride and vice versa. The rides vary from the traditional kart racers to luxury sports cars.
The sports car can maintain high speeds, but fail to drift as effectively as the karts do.

Mario Kart Wii also adds motorcycles to the mix. These two-wheeled wonders are available in the higher-end 150 cc class, as well as for online match-ups. They handle differently than the four-wheel vehicles, allowing players to pop wheelies for quick turbo boosts. The big drawback with these new rides is that they come to a near-sudden halt when colliding with another vehicle – a small price to pay for driving like Evel Knievel.

Along with your vehicle and driver, you'll also have several advantages on the track. Pull off in-air tricks by flicking your Wii controller at the top of a ramp. This maneuver can do a number of things, from making Mario spin around in his car to giving Luigi a freestyle kick flip on a motorcycle. Reap the rewards once you land, as pulling off a trick gives you a quick turbo boost. Power-ups are also strewn across each course, ranging from quick mushroom speed boosts to devastating turtle shells. New power-ups also make an appearance, including the invincible Bullet Bill speed run and the wide-reaching POW block.

Computer-controlled drivers use these power-ups with reckless abandon, which makes the game feel slightly unbalanced. Take the lead during a race and you might find your ride bombarded with attacks and knocked back to last place almost instantly. Case in point – as we were nearing the finish line on Wario's mine track, we got hit with a homing purple turtle shell. Then, while getting back up, we got hit with a devastating Bob-omb, followed by a POW block and an ink bomb, getting knocked off track and falling into last place. Nintendo should've implemented temporary invincibility to give players some advantage in getting back into the race. Even pro-racers may find difficulty recovering the lead after such a big setback.

While frustrating, it's a small distraction. We suggest combating that by honing your driving skills and playing through the different classes of tracks, from the amateur 50 cc tracks to the "get ready for war" 150 cc class and above. You can also choose from different control options. The Wii Wheel, a small plastic steering wheel that holds the Wii remote (and comes packaged with the game), handles well, even though it feels awkward turning using a wheel that isn't attached to a secure base. The Wii remote by itself, however, doesn't really work as well. Our favorite control setups are the Wii remote and Nunchuk or the classic GameCube controller. Both give you precision analog handling, which is perfect for those long boost-earning power drifts.

Presentation-wise, Mario Kart Wii goes the extra mile. Several new courses in the game look fantastic, particularly the roller coaster-like mine shaft track and the romp through the local mall, in which you run into your Miis in the parking lot. The rest of the courses aren't really anything new – they're mostly taken from Mario's universe and lack innovation. They're still lots of fun, however, and the inclusion of several old-school favorites from previous Mario games will excite fans of the series.

In addition, Mario Kart Wii features a variety of tropical, upbeat tunes that are pleasant, but not necessarily memorable. It's doesn't come close to Super Smash Bros. Brawl's outstanding soundtrack. The sound effects run the usual route, with roaring engines, over-repetitive character voiceovers (we're sick of hearing Toad) and popping explosions. It still serves its purpose but, again, doesn't set the standard.

Mario's ride is schmooth!

Off-line, Mario Kart Wii has a lot to offer. You can race against others locally in a variety of classes and courses, along with challenging others in car-based Battle modes. Where the game really goes beyond expectations, however, is with the Wi-Fi Connection. Here, you'll find the equivalent of Kart racing heaven, between abundant opportunities to show random players whose boss and downloading near-endless content.

Let's start with the actual online racing. Mario Kart Wii is even more user friendly than Smash Bros., with its quick connectivity (it takes one to two minutes at best for each race) and smooth transition. We didn't find a single problem with the races we took part in, even when someone tried to drop out because they couldn't cheat their way to victory. Nintendo has mercifully taken out the ability to "snake" other drivers, as well as race in reverse to screw up a first place lead. (Racers who try this are automatically booted.) Up to twelve players can take part in each race, so there's plenty of room for competition. Even if you aren't up to the task of entering endless Friend Codes to race against your buddies, take heart – you can randomly connect with 11 other drivers in a matter of seconds. Your skills are also kept track of with a virtual ranking, which changes depending on your wins and losses.

But wait, there's more. Players can download and compete against "ghost racers," in case you want to prove your mettle with individual Time Trials. These aren't just random schleps off the Internet, they're expert players straight from Nintendo's camp. You can also upload your best times, in case you think you've got the right stuff. The Mario Kart Channel also lets you proclaim allegiances with fellow riders, see who else in the world is competing and even gain access to new riders from other Wii games. It's remarkable, and we can only hope Nintendo gets even more expansive with these options in future games.

Mario Kart Wii's not perfect, but is still a must-buy game, if only for the online component. The Mario Kart Channel and smooth-running online play will have you hooked for hours, days and even weeks at a time. The addition of a trick system and motorbikes should keep you glued to your system as well. Sure, the design could've been more inspired, and the game might have steered into "9" territory with less use of power-ups. Nevertheless, this Kart is still a mean machine that gamers of all ages will enjoy. See you on the racetrack.

Related Links

Mario Kart Wii Game Guide

Nintendo

Our Final ScoreGood

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