A barrel of fun that keeps on rolling!
This game returns many successful ideas from previous installments in the Mario Kart series. For example, Mario Kart DS's idea of reintroducing nostalgic circuits from previous Mario Kart games. Another example, Double Dash's diversion from the traditional "Mario Kart" vehicle and introducing karts that encapsulate the character. But this game takes a daring move by switching some vehicles to two-wheelers. Motorcycles add a new dimension of fun to the mix, as does the Wii Wheel, included with every Mario Kart.
The Wii steering wheel puts the player in the driver's seat, allowing him or her to steer his or her kart or bike without needing the joystick that so limited the previous games in the series. You can also use it to for the first time ever perform mid-air tricks in a long jump. The controls for these tricks are somewhat unwieldy and take a lot of getting used to. The driver gets a small speed boost for each successful trick, but otherwise they are mainly just for show. Using the steering wheel occasionallly gets a little difficult, but it doesn't slow down the fun.
The game isn't without flaws, though. You will get dismayed when two seconds before crossing the finish line you get hit by a flying blue shell and end up in last place, or when in the middle of a jump you get struck by lightning and end up in a lava pit. The game strives to create constant upset in the race by punishing the driver in first place while rewarding the poor sapp in dead last with items. It's a little more extreme in the case of this game, but it's the same old Mario Kart story. Just don't take the game too seriously, and you won't be bothered too much by this.
The game isn't too difficult, though variable in many ways by what I described in the last paragraph. The courses are more brilliant and topsy-turvy than ever before. The character list contains the original 8 racers in addition to some recent additions like baby versions of mario, luigi, and peach, along with other unlockable characters like my personal favorite and the easiest to unlock, King Boo. All appear in beautiful color and graphics, and Boo even glows in the dark!
Single player modes include the traditional Mario GP 50, 100, and 150 cc, time trial, and single player versions of multiplayer modes vs (race) and battle (item brawl). I'm don't particularly utilize online multiplayer modes, but from what I hear they are better than ever for the Wii.
How does this game stack up to its predeccessors? It blew Double Dash out of the water (with half the characters on each vehicle!) and continued the greatness of the N64 and DS versions. To me, it's tied with Mario Kart 64 at the very top. But you will never get enough of this game!