Mario Kart Wii Review ( 8.0 out of 10 ) ...
June 15 , 2008 ... Review by Mike
In the past couple of months or so, my Nintendo Wii has been more worthless than usual. Chad and I haven’t been able to sustain a Smash Brothers match and I’ve been busy with my other systems. Luckily, there is a game that came out recently that has allowed me to dust off that cute little white box and actually slip a disc in it.
If you are fortunate enough to find a copy of Mario Kart Wii (it seriously took me a month to find it to rent) ... then you should get ready to have a G-Rated blast. Mario Kart is extremely fun for just about everyone. Oh yeah ... if you’re keeping track of the fun Wii Games tally list ... chalk another one up for Nintendo. I think it’s like 5 to 1; and at that pace the 3rd parties are about to fall subject to the mercy rule. But I digress...
Mario Kart Wii features some of the most unique controls on the system for those who want to use them. With the Wii Wheel ... this game allows your grandma to recapture the glory days of being able to drive well and combines it with the current days of her scaring the crap out of everyone else on the road. And believe me, every time someone else obtains a
power-up ... fear for your life because this game is almost TOO well balanced. You can slip from 1st to 12th in the blink of a well timed blue shell and go from 12th to 1st with the help of Mr. Bullet Bill.
Once you’re done screwing around with the Wii Wheel (you kids screw around too much) ... the optimus way to play this game is with the “Wiimote and Nunchuck.” After I obtained this cheat ... I flew through the single player game in a matter of hours, basically making the “AI” my little bitch along the way. The 150cc class gave me some trouble and I never technically beat the game (thanks blue shell during a rainbow road warp) ... but I had a blast running though it. That is mostly because they put the complex power-gliding on auto and thus made the game as simple and pure as it’s SNES and N64 counterparts.
I did have some issues with this game, and mostly have to do with the balancing in the game. No one likes it when they’re stuck in 12th place ... but there is no reason that in the 150 cc class that you need to avoid being in first place for most of the race in order to finish at a decent position. Give the guy in 1st place a little love guys! He’s 
there for a reason ... it shouldn’t be a punishment. Also, the stages, characters, and cart types aren’t all that unique. The characters don’t vary much from one another and contrary to what Chad said in his review, the bikes and carts don’t handle that differently from each other either. The unlockable characters are cool ... but some re-mixed music or other stages to unlock would be better.
Ok ... the technical stuff. Graphics are “Wii-appropriate” and the music and sound effects are very catchy, fun, and “Nintendo-y.” The online matches go relatively well ... but the lack of voice chat still makes it seem like BOTS rather than real people (save for the one jackass who races backwards on purpose trying to screw you up).
To wrap things up, this game is a rental if the single player is all you are interested in ... but a MUST RENT for all Wii owners. This game is nothing short of a giant shot of nostalgia in your face and you should swallow it up (in a totally G-Rated way of course). If you have other people to play this game with ... BUY IT and shell out the extra cash for more Wii Wheels (which is the only fun way to play with Mario Kart novices.) Wii controls taken into consideration, this is THE GAME to own for those wishing to use their Wii as their party console. Check it out guys.
Mario Kart Wii At A Glance |
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8.0 |
The Good |
Best Wii Controls yet for multiplayer, nostalgic, classic Mario Kart action. |
The Bad |
Characters and stages aren't unique, not much variation, AI cheats like a son of a bitch. |
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Great |
The Verdict |
Rent it for Single player, buy it for the Multiplayer |
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