The king of kart racing games returns and is better than ever
For the few that don't know what Mario Kart is, let me explain. Mario Kart takes characters from Mario and Donkey Kong games, and puts them together in a Go-Kart racing competition. But what makes Mario Kart different from other racing games is the focus on combat. As you are racing you can pick up boxes that give one of many Mario themed weapons. This gives Mario Kart games(and all go-kart racing games) a complete different feeling from all other racing games.
The main focus of Mario Kart Wii is the Grand Prix mode. The Grand Prix mode can be played in three different difficulties, 50cc, 100cc, and 150. There is also one hidden difficulty which can be unlocked after doing what you need to do in the other difficulties. The Grand Prix mode has you racing against 11 other computer controlled opponents through a series of four races. You score points based on how high you place, and to complete each Grand Prix you have to land in first, second, or third with the amount of points you earn by the end. Unless you always race in the 50cc difficulty, you'll notice how cheap your computer controlled opponents are. Its very likely you'll be in first place for doing nothing but putting in a great effort, then you'll find yourself simply getting punished for nothing but putting up a good performance. Over thirty tracks can be unlocked by playing through the Grand Prix mode. Half of them new, the other half are returns from past Mario Kart games deemed in this game, "classics".
The thing that makes a lot of the new Mario Kart tracks fun is that they are made to take advantage of the new trick system. You can now perform tricks in mid air to give yourself a speed boost. for the most part this works pretty well. Most tracks seem to have great designs that let you pull off tricks. But the classic tracks aren't so lucky. These tracks don't have a whole lot of places for you to pull off tricks. Even though you find a few places in quite a few of the classics to pull off tricks, its easy to see that these tracks weren't made to take advantage of this new feature. There is one big new feature that can be used in any level, classic or new.
Probably the biggest new feature in Mario Kart Wii is the inclusion of dirt bikes. Even though it seems like dirt bikes wouldn't go well in a series which has focused on go-kart racing through out every installment, but dirt bikes seem to fit very nicely. Dirt bikes also take advantage of the new trick system, along with trick of it's own, the wheelie, which also gives you a speed boost. Choosing whether you want to drive with a go-kart or bike isn't the only choice you'll have that will effect the way you drive.
Much like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii doesn't make you stick to only using one type of controller. You can use the classic controller, the Gamecube controller, the Wii remote and nunchuk, or the newest way, the Wii wheel. The Wii wheel is a wheel shaped controller which you insert the Wii remote into, and controls much like driving an actual car. This takes some getting used to, but it works very smoothly. But if you don't want to use the new wheel, you can use any of the other control schemes.
Grand Prix maybe the main focus of the game, but that is not all you'll be doing in Mario Kart Wii. There is also the Time Trial mode. This mode has you racing to create the best time possible on any track you select. You can also race ghost, which are pre-recorded times. Think of it as a one on one race, where the only weapon you get is three speed-boost mushrooms. You can ether race in game ghost, or downloaded ones. The other returning modes are from the Battle Mode, which includes the Balloon Battle, where all players and opponents have three balloons. The goal is to knock out as many of the other teams balloons by attack them with the weapons. The team who pops the most balloons at the end of the game wins. The other game mode in Battle Mode is Coin Runners. This mode has you driving around collecting, as you expected, coins. You can make the other team drop their coins by attacking them with the weapons, whoever has the most coins by the end of the game wins.
But where you'll probably be spending most of your time is in the new online modes. You can race up to eleven other people, from ether around the your region, or around the world. All tracks unlocked in Grand Prix mode are used in online. You vote on which track you want, and it selects one of the chosen tracks at random. Once you start racing, it runs very smoothly. This is probably the best online game for the Wii. You'll very rarely experience any lag, or any other frustration that comes along with many of Wii's online games. And without the cheap tactics of the AI controlled opponents of Grand Prix, makes the online addicting. Its to bad that, unlike Super Smash Bros. Brawl, when playing locally with friends, you can't turn unwanted weapons off, which would of been a welcome addition. The online also includes both of Battle Mode's game types. So if anything will have you coming back to Mario Kart Wii again, and again, it will be the online modes.
Mario Kart Wii is a great package, with the famous games modes all returning. The inclusion of new dirt bikes, and trick system. Over thirty tracks to race on, and an online mode to keep coming back for more. Mario Kart Wii is an excellent game for fans of the series, and newcomers alike. If you enjoy chaotic fast paced racing, then you will enjoy Mario Kart Wii.