Everything in this kart-racing legend is pure. Pure fantasy, pure fictional, pure fun.
Four modes are available. They include Grand Prix, V.S., Time Trials, and Battle. Grand Prix and V.S. have the standard MarioKart formula and are very similiar. You choose a driver, speed (Like 100cc), a vehicle, and a control option. There are four options including the then-new Wii Wheel. This is the best choice, letting you drive as if you were in the Kart. Others involve the normal Wii Remote/Nunchuck combo, Classic Controller, and Gamecube controller. These options are simplier, but they're not as fun as the Wii Wheel.
Like Double Dash, each kart and bike (a new addition to the MarioKart series) has their own stats and the weight of each driver will determine the type of the vehicle. For example, I usually choose Wario, and he's in the heavyweight class. I use the Wario Bike, which has a decent speed, a good acceleration, and an impressive design. The other two classes (Light and Middle weight) also have different kinds of vehicles. If you prefer something with speed, go for Lightweight. If you prefer your favorite characters, like Mario and Luigi, Middleweight is the best choice. After you've made your decision, it's time to race.
In Grand Prix, you choose which cup you're willing to do, and do all four courses in that cup. Each course (like the kart and bikes) has their own speciality. There are 16 new courses created, and 16 retro courses from the other MarioKart entries recreated for this game. When the race starts, you begin in 12th. How ironic would it be if you came in first? Expect it, it'll frequently happen. After the timer reaches 0, the race is on. The goal, obviouslu, is to stay at least in the top 5 while avoiding hazards from both characters and the stages. Hazards include items from those colorful question mark boxes oh so many other racing games like those have copied such as banana peels, green/red/blue shells, mushrooms, star, and lightning. There are new items involved, like the Mega Mushroom (From New Super Mario Bros. DS), Bullet Bill, and the Lightning Cloud. These new items will help you through the course, or theu'll be a nuisance. Most of the stages are fun because of is well-thought of hazards, creative design, and plenty of trick opprutunities. However, some of the stages tend to be pretty boring, and it seems the new stages were ment to be created espicially for the tricks, even though there are oppurtunities to pull flips and spins in the retro stages.
After you complete the Grand Prix for the cup, you get a ranking based on how well you drove. You may even unlock new characters or stages. V.S. mode is exactly like Grand Prix, but you can choose any four courses you wish to in. Both modes are great, overall. The animation is spot-on spectactular, there's a large amount of stages/courses to try, and the Al is challenging. Maybe too challenging. It'll be difficult to complete 150cc mode. Also, the visuals of the characters are a little too smooth, and can be dark. But, you'll get used to these. It just keep you coming back for more.
Time Trial mode is another excellent feature. Again, you choose your character and kart/bike, and then a stage but the race plays different than Grand Prix and V.S. You are racing against a ghost of a Nintendo employee, and you compete for the greatest time. You are given three mushrooms, use them wisely. Your time will then be displayed on the Wi-fi leaderboard. It's easy to beat the ghost, but may be even harder to beat your own. It's also next to impossible to get into the Top 10. Still, it's fun, and you'll want to beat your time again and again.
Battle mode is completely different from the other modes. Again, you choose your character, but for some reason you're limited to driving a regular kart or bike. You're also seperated into groups, and there are 12 stages. 6 new, 6 retro. Like the stages in V.S. and Grand Prix, the new stages were meant ot be created for stunts and what-not, and some of the retro stages are very boring. There are two different types of battles, balloon or coin. Coin Battle is where you collect the most coins within the time limit. Balloon battle is where you try to get the most points by popping your opponents' balloons. Both of the battles involve items. Lots and lots of items. Everything thrown is a hazard (unless you get hit by your team's item). Red shells, green shells, fake item boxes and even banana peels will cause one of your balloons to pop. The team with the most points when time runs out wins the battle. Overall, this mode mode is pretty good.
But this game would be a huge disappointment without Wi-fi. And honestly you won't find a better way to race and battle your friends. You can easily find anyone in the world to play, because everybody is playing it. And who wouldn't? MarioKart Wii is one of the greatest racing games on the Wii. Everything in this kart-racing legend is pure. Pure fantasy, pure fictional, pure fun. It should be better, but it's great where it is at.
Gameplay: 9.5/10
Graphics: 7.5/10
Story: NA/10
Sound and Music: 8.5/10
Replay Value: 9.5/10
Fun: 9.5/10
Overall: 8.9/10
+ Fun multiplayer
+ Possible the best Wi-fi available
+ Massive amount of courses/stages
+ Plenty of great ways to drive
+ Challenging Al
+ Awesome new additions such as bikes and stunts
- Not the best graphics from the Wii
- Some courses are a lot of fun, some are really boring
- Al can be a little too difficult
FINAL WORD: Be aware of the stages' special routes. They'll get you ahead of the grade.