Mario Kart Wii - Review

The Mario Kart series has been around for a while now, and like any 15 year-old franchise, it has been argued that the games have continually grown stale. After the gameplay-filled Mario Kart DS helped shred that reputation with its online races and Mission Mode, it looked like the series would find ways of growing. Unfortunately, the latest edition of the series not only doesn’t advance the formula, it seems to put the series in reverse.

Some people may argue that the game’s new additions to the races do advance the series in a new direction. These people would be wrong. The main new addition to the series is the ability to race on motorcycles. These new vehicles are fun at first, but are ultimately little more than a gimmick, as the karts prove to offer the more rewarding race experience.

There are some refreshing additions to the series, however. The new trick system, which rewards a well-timed action when launching off jumps, is a great way to keep skill involved in the series after removing the controversial “snaking” tactic. Additionally, the Wii’s motion controls translate remarkably well to the arcade racer. Granted, tilting the Wii Remote alone is a broken system, but the inclusion of the Wii Wheel shell makes a world of difference. After a few races, this control method feels incredibly natural, and surprisingly, makes the other control option unnecessary. This is even true during the hectic and highly competitive online matches. These races are even more hectic and competitive than before thanks to the addition of four racers per race, bringing the total to 12 drivers per race.

However, while these additions help make the races more fun, the overall package is still hurt by the lack of the Mission Mode. After Super Smash Bros. Brawl brought a huge variety of gameplay types to its formula, it would have been nice to see Mario Kart follow suit. Unfortunately, this means there are no alternatives for players tired of racing. Once this happens, the only option is to turn the game off.

While this lack of depth hurts the game’s overall score, it is difficult to rate the game too low. The 12-player races and some great track designs make Mario Kart Wii the best racing experience on the system, especially with a group of friends.