Mario Kart Wii review (Wii)

Driving games come in all shapes and sizes, and everyone has their favourites, some go for the realism of games like Gran Turismo and Forza, some prefer the sheer unadulterated speed of games like Burnout or F Zero, hell even some like the tedious repetition of the Need for Speed games. But there’s no denying everyone has got their favourite, and it’s no surprise that the majority of people's favourites is Mario Kart in some form or another. So as we welcome the latest iteration of the classic racer into our homes and our lives the big question is, is it the same Mario Kart that we’ve all come to love over the years?

Room for a few more on top

Without a doubt it is still the same Mario Kart of old, but there’s been a few changes in play, most obvious of which is the number of players on the track. Never before having more than eight players per race is now a thing of the past with up to 12 characters in every race now. This may not seem like a major change, but it does make for a more crowded racecourse, and hence a bit of a redesign to cater for the larger racing line up. So, you get some slightly wider racetracks to play on, not a major change, but when you add it with some of the games other new mechanics it does make some difference. The addition of bikes to the franchise, much as was done with Project Gotham Racing 4, does make for more of a change though, especially on the new, wider, racetracks, their added maneuverability, combined with the added space does make for some more interesting races. There are a few new pick ups you’ll find in the boxes littered around the tracks, and a couple of new game mechanics too, enough has been added to make it feel fresh whilst retaining the traditional Mario Kart feel.

The game remains the same

Yes, despite the few changes in the gameplay it essentially still feels like the same old Mario Kart, the new power up, the mega mushroom, does pretty much the same as in New Super Mario Bros, makes you large and unstoppable. The half pipes on the track have been given boost pads so you get a boost when you land, but is it worth wasting the time to do them? Despite the additions it all feels like what we’re used too, it’s still the same old game of chance it has always been, it’s just as joyous to ride a bullet or a golden star from last to first place, and just as frustrating when you’re in sight of the finish line and you get overtaken by half the pack when you get hit by a blue shell. Yep, it’s the same old Mario Kart alright, as usual the single player is split between grand prix and time trials, with grand prix unlocking extra drivers and tracks, and the time trials really just for the hardcore. You can also sample the games battle modes in single player, but you may find these somewhat lacking playing alone in an arena designed for twelve. Still, the single player should provide you with plenty of hours of fun, but as always with Mario Kart where it’s at is really the multiplayer.

The good, and the bad

Unfortunately for Mario Kart Wii there was a choice when it came to multiplayer, make it the all rounded multiplayer great that its always been, or tailor the game for the online side of things. And sadly for those with no internet connection it’s the local multiplayer that has taken the hit, this is a real shame as multiplayer Mario Kart was always about sitting on the sofa having a laugh with your mates, but the gam'es newly designed courses just don’t work as well with only four players. Fortunately though the games online events do allow you to take a guest with you in split screen though, so that helps make up for it a little way. And the online multiplayer is just as much of a blast as the game has always been, no voice communication is a bit of a niggle when you’re playing with your friends, but really this is the best online multiplayer you could expect from Nintendo's free service. And it really does work surprisingly well, going from one race to the next, accumulating, or losing, points depending on your finishing position, your points level giving you a ranking on the leader boards. Battle mode as well is a disappointment, even online, because although the game is designed for twelve players, it’s also designed to be a team game, and with no online communications team play is severely hindered. One thing that does definitely not hinder the game though, and comes nicely packaged with the game is the ‘Wii Wheel’

Grab the wheel

As expected from this latest incarnation in the Mario Kart series, you get a whole new control method to play the game bundled with it, the Wii wheel, it’s nothing more than a piece of plastic you slot your Wiimote in to really, but it works so well. You just slot your controller in and hold it like a steering wheel, all the buttons necessary are well within your grip and you just steer as if it was a real wheel. Previous control schemes have always worked well with Mario Kart, and you can still use variations on these by adjusting your options, but the new wheel just feels so intuitive you’ll be wondering why they bothered including them. Admittedly it does take a little getting used to, but not much really, you should have gotten to grips with it within a couple of races, and driving like a pro in no time. Like all things new someone out there will probably find fault with the Wii wheel, but give it a try, it really does feel so right and it’s surprising they’ve taken this long to come up with such a peripheral, odds are Nintendo will be using it for other racing games in the future.

It is Mario Kart

Well, there’s no doubt about it, Nintendo have done exactly what they said they would, taken an old classic, and updated it without it losing its roots. Yes, this is Mario Kart, may be not at the top of its game, but it is most definitely Mario Kart, and that’s what you wanted to know wasn’t it? You just wanted to know if it had the necessary to deserve the name of such a venerable franchise, and trust me, if you like Mario Kart, you will not be disappointed, it may have it’s faults, but it more than makes up for them in other areas.