Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel
by Nintendo
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Video Game Reviews of Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel
Customer Review: A Good Entry to the Series
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Customer Review: Even Better Than Expected!
Summary: 5 Stars
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! Customer Review: Mario Kart Review
Summary: 5 Stars
This game is really awesome. It's very easy to control the kart especially with steering wheel. This is a great party game with friends and family. The game features has been upgraded since the original Mario Kart. Customer Review: Can we say A bit frustrating!
Summary: 3 Stars
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.
Customer Review: Mario Kart does not disappoint!
Summary: 5 Stars
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.