Mario Kart Wii A racing/battle game for the nintendo Wii. Up to 4 players local, also playable online.
A nintendo staple series, Mario kart has been around since the snes. Little has changed since the first game, after all its still a racging game where you compete against your opponents, using different characters from throughout the mario universe, in a test of skill, all the while battleing them with a myriad of items. Utilizing three CC classes, which is basically determines the skill of the AI opponents and the speed of the vehicles, Mario kart provides a a challenge to all levels of players. Add on to this the fact that mario kart has allowed up to four players since the days of the n64, which makes it a popular party game, and you can see why mario kart has retained its popularity.
Now, let us see how Mario kart Wii stands up to the fame generated by its predecessors.
The control scheme of this game differs for which controller type you use, wiimote, game cube controller, wii retro controller, but for my review, I used the wiimote.
Players conrol the kart by tilting the wiimote, which is held sideways, left or right, just like a steering wheel. In fact the game comes with a steering wheel frame you can fit the wiimote into. Accelleration is controlled by the 2 button, and drifting by either the B or 1 buttons. I use B, as I fint it easier then switching from 2 to 1 with the same hand. B is also used for reversing. Items are used with the arrow keys, Up to throw items in front, and down to throw behind.
The steering is extremely fluid, yet not overly sensative, allowing players to almost feel the movement of the kart as they turn the wiimote.
With a selection of characters rivaled only by mario kart double dash, and then only because double dash required 2 characters per kart, players will be hard pressed to find a character they dont like. All the usuals are here, Mario, luigi, peach, yoshi, Bowser, Toad, Baby Mario, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey kong, Diddy kong, and koopa troopa. However there are some newcomers to the scene. baby princess peach is one, the others are unlockables so stop reading if you dont want a spoiler: King Boo, Rosalina (from super mario galaxy), and Princess Daisy (not a new comer but an unlockable nonetheless)
Keeping with a theme started by the DS version, Maio kart Wii has 8 sets of courses, four of them are new, and four of them are revisits to courses from mario karts gone by. Some of the revisits are peach beach from double dash, ghost house 2 from the original mario kart, and mario circuit from Mario kart 64.
This game makes use of the Mii feature of the Wii quite ingeniously. First of all, you must select one of your mii's to be the symbol for your save file. Also, you will see the Mii's you have created through out the games tracks, such as on posters, as drivers in cars, as spectators, or even on a couple of huge monuments. SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT The mii you select as your save icon is also used as an unlockable character that you can use throughout the game.
Another new feature of this game is the trick jumping ability. Every control scheme allows for this but I will use the Wiimote as my example. When you take to the air off a jump platform or a curved wall, if you shake the wiimote just as you leave the ground, your character will perform a stunt, then hit the ground powered by a boost of speed. This is essential for victory in the higher CC classes.
This game Allows the player a choice of karts before each race or set of races. A standard, a high speed, and a high acceleration, as well there are bonus karts you can unlock. Each characters line of karts differs slightly from the others, so play around to find which one suits you best.
The game adds somehting new to the series that has never been seen before, a new vehicle type.: Bikes. Mario and company get their own set of 3 bikes each as well. Initially only useable in 100 and 150 cc modes, bikes add a whole new level to the game, allowing you to do wheelies to boost your speed, while reducing your handling.
Bikes differ from karts in the following ways:
Bikes drift better, but they are slower then karts.
Bikes can pop wheelies to increase their speed, karts can do nothing.
Both bikes and karts can get a speed boost when they drift, you will know by the blue sparks that fly from the back of the vehicle. However karts can keep drifting and charge their boost, changing their sparks to orange and getting a more powerful boost.
Finally, for those not intersted in the standard Grand Prix racing style, there is a vs mode, where you can challenge a single other racer to a racing duel on any course, time trial where you can practice courses to improve your skills, and the famous battle mode, where racing is forgone for a combat game.
There are two types of battle games. Coin collection and ballon battle. In coin collection you fight you opponents for coins, and each hit you inflict on your opponents vehicle causes them to lose coins which can then be gathered.
The other battle mode involves battling opposing teams with items to destroy ballons tied to each kart. Each time a kart is hit, it loses one of its 3 balloons, and the opposing team is awarded a point. When a vehicle loses its balloons, it is taken out of the game for a short time, then put back with 3 balloons again. the team that destroys the most balloons within the time limit wins the battle.
That isnt to say the game is not without its faults. The Ai's access to items is unmatched, so its painfully often that you will be a mere meter from the finish line when a blue shell will come out of nowhere and take out you and your chance at first place. I'm guessing its their way of making up for rather lack luster AI racers. The problem with this is that wether you finish first or third is often up to luck, instead of just skill.
To sum up, Mario Kart Wii is an excellent successor to a great series. Its changes keep the gameplay fresh, and yet it keeps the core of the game, which made it so popular, untouched. All in all, an excellent title, and a ust have for any wii owner.
A nintendo staple series, Mario kart has been around since the snes. Little has changed since the first game, after all its still a racging game where you compete against your opponents, using different characters from throughout the mario universe, in a test of skill, all the while battleing them with a myriad of items. Utilizing three CC classes, which is basically determines the skill of the AI opponents and the speed of the vehicles, Mario kart provides a a challenge to all levels of players. Add on to this the fact that mario kart has allowed up to four players since the days of the n64, which makes it a popular party game, and you can see why mario kart has retained its popularity.
Now, let us see how Mario kart Wii stands up to the fame generated by its predecessors.
The control scheme of this game differs for which controller type you use, wiimote, game cube controller, wii retro controller, but for my review, I used the wiimote.
Players conrol the kart by tilting the wiimote, which is held sideways, left or right, just like a steering wheel. In fact the game comes with a steering wheel frame you can fit the wiimote into. Accelleration is controlled by the 2 button, and drifting by either the B or 1 buttons. I use B, as I fint it easier then switching from 2 to 1 with the same hand. B is also used for reversing. Items are used with the arrow keys, Up to throw items in front, and down to throw behind.
The steering is extremely fluid, yet not overly sensative, allowing players to almost feel the movement of the kart as they turn the wiimote.
With a selection of characters rivaled only by mario kart double dash, and then only because double dash required 2 characters per kart, players will be hard pressed to find a character they dont like. All the usuals are here, Mario, luigi, peach, yoshi, Bowser, Toad, Baby Mario, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey kong, Diddy kong, and koopa troopa. However there are some newcomers to the scene. baby princess peach is one, the others are unlockables so stop reading if you dont want a spoiler: King Boo, Rosalina (from super mario galaxy), and Princess Daisy (not a new comer but an unlockable nonetheless)
Keeping with a theme started by the DS version, Maio kart Wii has 8 sets of courses, four of them are new, and four of them are revisits to courses from mario karts gone by. Some of the revisits are peach beach from double dash, ghost house 2 from the original mario kart, and mario circuit from Mario kart 64.
This game makes use of the Mii feature of the Wii quite ingeniously. First of all, you must select one of your mii's to be the symbol for your save file. Also, you will see the Mii's you have created through out the games tracks, such as on posters, as drivers in cars, as spectators, or even on a couple of huge monuments. SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT The mii you select as your save icon is also used as an unlockable character that you can use throughout the game.
Another new feature of this game is the trick jumping ability. Every control scheme allows for this but I will use the Wiimote as my example. When you take to the air off a jump platform or a curved wall, if you shake the wiimote just as you leave the ground, your character will perform a stunt, then hit the ground powered by a boost of speed. This is essential for victory in the higher CC classes.
This game Allows the player a choice of karts before each race or set of races. A standard, a high speed, and a high acceleration, as well there are bonus karts you can unlock. Each characters line of karts differs slightly from the others, so play around to find which one suits you best.
The game adds somehting new to the series that has never been seen before, a new vehicle type.: Bikes. Mario and company get their own set of 3 bikes each as well. Initially only useable in 100 and 150 cc modes, bikes add a whole new level to the game, allowing you to do wheelies to boost your speed, while reducing your handling.
Bikes differ from karts in the following ways:
Bikes drift better, but they are slower then karts.
Bikes can pop wheelies to increase their speed, karts can do nothing.
Both bikes and karts can get a speed boost when they drift, you will know by the blue sparks that fly from the back of the vehicle. However karts can keep drifting and charge their boost, changing their sparks to orange and getting a more powerful boost.
Finally, for those not intersted in the standard Grand Prix racing style, there is a vs mode, where you can challenge a single other racer to a racing duel on any course, time trial where you can practice courses to improve your skills, and the famous battle mode, where racing is forgone for a combat game.
There are two types of battle games. Coin collection and ballon battle. In coin collection you fight you opponents for coins, and each hit you inflict on your opponents vehicle causes them to lose coins which can then be gathered.
The other battle mode involves battling opposing teams with items to destroy ballons tied to each kart. Each time a kart is hit, it loses one of its 3 balloons, and the opposing team is awarded a point. When a vehicle loses its balloons, it is taken out of the game for a short time, then put back with 3 balloons again. the team that destroys the most balloons within the time limit wins the battle.
That isnt to say the game is not without its faults. The Ai's access to items is unmatched, so its painfully often that you will be a mere meter from the finish line when a blue shell will come out of nowhere and take out you and your chance at first place. I'm guessing its their way of making up for rather lack luster AI racers. The problem with this is that wether you finish first or third is often up to luck, instead of just skill.
To sum up, Mario Kart Wii is an excellent successor to a great series. Its changes keep the gameplay fresh, and yet it keeps the core of the game, which made it so popular, untouched. All in all, an excellent title, and a ust have for any wii owner.
