Customer Reviews

Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel

5 star:		(829)
4 star:		(212)
3 star:		(45)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

I have never owned a Mario Kart before so can't compare to the other versions but this one for the Wii is a fun game. I was worried before I bought that the Wii wheel would not work very well. I was way wrong, I think it works very well.

The tracks and game play are a lot of fun for someone of any age. The game is easy to learn for beginners and is fun for the more experienced gammer. The game reminds me of something you would play at an arcade with all kinds of things going on as you drive through the course. Playing against friends is a lot of fun a well.

I tried out the on line play and it was a blast. I just had fun compared to some of the xbox/ps3 on line racing games where it can be stressful trying to compete and listening to angry 13 year olds.

If you are looking for a game that is fun for the family, especailly the kids, I would pick this one up. Its easy to learn and a lot of fun to play.

Undoubtingly, Nintendo has really showed more muscle within their games for the Wii this past year. With games that really stretched beyond the imagination for fans like Super Mario Galaxy, which re-defined Mario alone in adventures, and the battle smashing action of Super Smash Brothers Brawl that dominated fans hearts all around the worls, Nintendo really shows what it takes to make great video games. But, that also can be said with the Mario Kart series, which finally makes it debut on the Wii. But, following the innovation that Mario Kart DS had from the Nintendo DS wasn't so easy, largely because it was the first DS handheld title to use the Wi-Fi online gaming to an outrageous excitement for gamers all around the world. Now, it is time for the Wii to take that on and race to the checkered flag.

Mario Kart Wii for the Nintendo Wii, brings in all that fast-paced excitement racers have wanted and even more. The game adds a whole lot of new and exciting features to use. You can now race as many as 12 racers online through the online gaming, and bring the action over the top, and use that skill and excitement on over 40 different tracks: 10 battle tracks and 32 exciting race tracks that are both new and featured from the earlier Mario Kart games like D.K. Jungle Highway and Sherbet Land from Mario Kart 64. The new tracks are also exciting that will have you racing and bouncing on top of mushrooms from the all-new Mushroom Gorge, and have you crusing the shopping malls and racing down fligts of escaltors with the brand new Coconut Mall course, or racing across the tree trunks of the new Maple Leaf Highway. Every single track is great for beginners and die hard Mario Kart fans of all ages.

The gameplay also has a few new surprises, as you not just rave in karts, you also get to race on motorbikes too, bringing more action and variety to each of the players delight. There are also a few new power-ups here too including the Mega Mushroom, from the DS game New Super Mario Brothers, which makes your racer giant-sized, so you can squash your opponents on your way to the checkered flag, and the lightning cloud which shrinks you down to a tiny racer, so you squeeze underneath your opponents and take them by surprise. There also are a few new characters here to unlock in the game as well. You can choose to race with the classics like Mario, Yoshi, Bowser and Luigi, and 6 hidden characters to unlock and master like Rosalina from Super Mario Galaxy, Funky Kong and Diddy Kong from Donkey Kong Barrel Blast and even Bowser Bones (the skeleton Bowser boss from New Super Mario Brothers.)

The control is also a bit new here, with the use of the Wii Wheel. The wheel is easy to setup and hooks right onto the Wii remote. You can steer your racers easily through each and every race by turning your wheel left and right, and performing nifty stunts like a wheelie or a 360 on a jump. While the control with the Wii Wheel takes a lot to get used to for veterans, there are others ways to control the game. Like Super Smash Brothers Brawl, gamers can also use the Wii & nunchuck controls, or the classic controller and even the Nintendo Gamecube controller, so veterans can feel more comfortable in anyway they want to race. The graphics here are also well-designed, by bringing new excitement in restoring the classic courses, and a lot of great surprising new features that are the delight to anyone who loves the Mario Kart games.

All in all, Mario Kart Wii is definitely one of the best games I've ever enjoyed for the Nintendo Wii. I absolutely loved the need for plumber speed, and it shows in each and every race. This is definitely a must buy for your Wii video game library, that is sure to be a thrilling race and not even close to wiping out anytime soon. So start your Wii-motes, because the race is not ever going to stop.

Graphics: A

Sound: A-

Control: B for the Wii Wheel; B+ for the Wii & nunchuck controllers, A for the Classic and Gamecube Controllers

Fun & Enjoyment: A- for solo gamers; A for multiplayer action

Overall: A-

I feel really torn about this review, because there are elements of this game that are really, really fun and elements that are the bland, boring results of some horrifically awful game design decisions.

Let's start with PROS:

The maps are well-thought and nicely implemented, and there's a reasonable amount of variety, especially when Mirror Mode becomes available.

Controls aren't terrible, even though the wheel can be a bit annoying at times, and the vehicles are all pretty nicely balanced. I can see the merits of using any one of them, really.

It's pretty addicting. My fiancé and I play this all the time, and haven't really gotten tired of it yet. Though the Battle modes aren't the same as in earlier games, they're still quite a lot of fun.

In fact, multiplayer in general in this game is a lot of fun (though more than two players requires a TV of at LEAST 50 inches, and sometimes the network can be a little spotty if you're playing online, especially when playing with someone on the other side of the continent). It's a great game to play with other people.

Which leads me to the CONS:

As with the offerings of most developers these days, the game is designed such that over half the playable content is locked, and you have to spend hours or days of your time unlocking it all to actually be able to play it. The concept in itself isn't really that terrible, and if implemented intelligently can add hours or days of fun and enjoyable gameplay. Unlike with, say, Super Smash Bros Brawl, however, Nintendo seemed to be in a frantic gallop to implement unlockables in Kart in the most annoying fashion imaginable.

See, in Brawl, there are multiple options for unlocking characters and content. That is, you don't have to sit there grinding for hours and hours by yourself -- you can play with one or more friends and all have a good time with the game while incidentally unlocking various things in the process. Not so with Mario Kart Wii: Unlockables are an exclusively single-player experience. Of course, since Kart seems to have always been oriented toward multiplayer -- and the Wii seems no different in this respect -- it just gets boring and annoying and frustrating to have to SIT THERE FOR HOURS BY YOURSELF UNLOCKING THINGS.

And this is my biggest gripe with the game. I adore playing it with other people, and like I said, it's a great multiplayer game. But whenever I sit down for a lengthy grind session to unlock the last few bikes and karts and characters, I can feel my interest in the game drain away and my frustration and rage explode like some kind of nuclear doomsday device.

It's not that I suck at video games, but the random chance that makes multiplayer races fun (like getting hit with FIVE BLUE SHELLS IN A SINGLE RACE) can result in your having to play the same sets of courses ten times apiece to unlock some bike. And when you're playing on your own, the whole "SKILL DOESN'T MATTER - RANDOM LUCK WILL EVEN THE SCORE" element of the game just becomes infuriating. It's fun when your friend does it, but when some computer does it, all they're doing is forcing you to ceaselessly replay the same courses by screwing you up and keeping you from placing first or whatever else it is you need to do to unlock whatever random object.

It quickly stops being fun when it's just AIs being jerks and needlessly robbing you of your time -- time that could otherwise be spent playing with a friend instead of marrying yourself to unlocking over half the game's content and in the process becoming so skilled a player that your friends don't even want to really play with you anymore because you always win.

In summary, good game, but really, really a step in the wrong direction with the unlockables. Next time, Nintendo should really consider throwing in some multiplayer alternatives.

Mario Kart is one of those franchises that instills great memories whether you first played on the SNES like a lot of us old school gamers did, or the N64, or even on the hand helds. It is a franchise that demands more than cookie-cutter remakes that many game developers have been putting out as of late. It is easy to create a lot of hype over a game and then have that hype kill the game when it doesn't meet the insane expectations.

That said, Mario Kart Wii meets all expectations and even goes a little beyond.

One of the first things I was looking forward to was the unique interface that the Wii puts on just about everything. The steering wheel was what I was looking forward to the most since I thought I would get complete control of the character. I must admit, the wheel is VERY responsive... almost too responsive. It is very easy to any beginner or even a veteran to overcompensate and steer into a wall, especially if they're not used to a free-floating steering wheel.

However, we did find that the wheels were critical if one wanted to use the Wii remotes accurately. It is a real pain to steer without a wheel attachment. We literally had to go out and purchase three more wheels because the remotes felt so awkward without one. We later just threw down the remotes and ended up using the gamecube controllers (which you can use) since we're not only used to it but it seems to have much better control.

The next thing I was looking forward to were the new menus, characters, vehicles etc. I was really pleased with the motor bikes included in the game and their exclusive features. I personally found the Flame Cycle with Waluigi to be my personal favorite. It was great they brought back all the old characters and, more importantly, they took out all the unfair advantages some had over others. Now, everyone is not scrounging to play as King Boo or the Plant thingy. I thought it was awesome that I was able to unlock my own Mii to play.

One of the things that really impressed me was the reinvention of retro courses from classic systems including the gamecube, the SNES, Gameboy Advance etc. It was nice to see old courses that I was familiar with. I kinda wish they would've brought back Baby Park from the Gamecube since that was one of our favorite places to do battle.

The items were kinda iffy. We were really annoyed at the Bloopers, that shower your screen with dark ink so you can't see temporarily. It was cute at first but then it got really annoying. The "hot potato" lighting cloud is probably the most annoying; it would tag you and after a certain time, detonate. You could pass it off to another opponent by bumping them but if you're in first, alone or otherwise far behind you are screwed. This item, they could've done without.

The menus were the next iffy part. It took me a while to figure out how to switch the 1st player mode from the Wii remote to the Gamecube controller. You are also seemingly limited to how you team up with friends. Granted the team battle and team races are one of the best changes Nintendo made, but I wish they would allow two-players to partake in the Grand Prix. The menus just don't seem all that user-friendly.

The internet feature is interesting. I'm not accustomed to playing any Mario Kart online (save for the DS) but it was a very nice setup. No more are we limited to annihilating our friends in the privacy of our own home; now we can do that but annihilate world-wide opponents in the privacy of our own home. Not a real fan of online play but loved it anyway, way more than Smash Bros. Brawl.

Lastly is the graphics; the Wii doesn't go beyond 480 resolution so one shouldn't really expect anything grand. The Wii is made for innovative gameplay, not graphics. If you want graphics, get an XBox360 or a PS3.

Overall, despite some small issues, the game is superb all around. A 96% to be certain. Buy it if you find one!

I have two small sons and have trouble finding games that (1) they don't get overly frustrated by and (2) pass the "mom" standard. This game is a winner!

We already had a wheel from the sports package we purchased but the second wheel is necessary for the two player mode. You can play this game by yourself or with two players (in a spilt screen) against all the other racers. There are a few characters to chose from and different types of racing vehicles. My sons love the dirt bike option. There are several racing tracks to choose from with the ice track being the most difficult. Save yourself some tears and steer the little ones away from this option until they get used to the game. Our favorite was racing through the streets.

I will admit that I could not wait to get my own hands on a wheel to try a track when I saw my kids playing. It is a lot of fun and they have not gotten tired of it yet. It still remains a favorite in a rotation that includes Boom Blox - another great option. I also love that this game works for my kids (4-6) as well as their older cousins (7-10). Heck, even adults enjoy it!

It is no fun forking over money for a video game that becomes a flavor of the week (or even month). You will not have to worry about that with this game.

1ST Thing Buyer's need 2 know
Mariokart Wii is like any other drug once you have a Taste you can't get enough (GTA IV isn't the only major Title that will take over your life!)

This game does something very few games tend to do in these crazy times of HD-Games, Super over Priced hardware, and one 2 many
First Person Shooter's,
And what does this game do quit simply It makes you feel like a kid on X-Mas day w/ your imagination soring! You actually feel Young,Care free and have fun!!!!

The Wii Wheel surprised me (It works better then i ever would've thought! It also brings a new twist on how to Play a game like this!)

The online play also is Close to Flawless ***** (Maybe one day XBox Live with be Free like Nintendo Wi-Fi is!)

Anyone with a Wii must own this Masterpiece of Gaming Fun!

Sound/Audio -9.5/10
Graphics -10/10 (It's a Nintendo 1st Party title,the colors-Graphics are full rich and colorful like being at a rave party within a hours time you will hear the colors talk to you lol) Jerry Garcia would be Proud!!!!!!!!!
Game Play 10/10 FLAWLESS Anyone can pick it up and play 6-60yrs old. **Fun,Crazy, Fun,Crazy, Fun!!!!!!
Overall the game is Wii's **Must own Game** 10/10

So at first I was a little skeptical about this game because I have played every other version of Mario Kart and the Wii Wheel worried me because it seemed like it would be hard to control and gimmicky. After having played it, I actually find it to be the most fun out of all the mario karts. This version is very similar to Mario Kart 64 only with additional features such as

*12 racers in the grand prix
*Online racing (This morning I raced 12 people from around the world and there was no lag and hardly any wait time)
*Tricks (that can be done with the flick of the wii wheel, although I noticed occasionally the tricks are unresponsive if you don't shake it hard enough)
*16 new courses and 16 retro courses.
*You can play as your mii

I love the courses, they are very colorful with great music and range from piece of cake to challenging
There's a ton of items you can use to "attack" opponents with such as that horrible blue shell that attacks the racer in first place. It's also great from any age range. In my opinion someone as young as 5 and as old as 50 could enjoy this game. All in all its a great game!!!

9.5/10

Any fan growing up with a Super Nintendo or Nintendo 64 system should be more than familiar with the Mario Kart series. A fun go kart series of games using popular Mario universe based characters and puts them into the drivers seats of various karts. Each driver having pros and cons due to his size and weight and other differing characteristics.

This popular series has been on almost every system made by Nintendo, and it was only a matter of time before it would find its way to the Wii as well. Would it live up to the standards that the series has come to be known for over the years? That's a matter of opinion but I would have to say 100 times yes.

The biggest addition to the series of course is the fact that it being on the Wii it is going to use the Wii Remote as a main controller to drive. And it was a perfect way for Nintendo to get in a new gimic type of holder to put the remote into. That being the Wii Wheel. A plastic mold shaped like a steering wheel that your remote snaps into easily. Sure its just a piece of plastic holding the remote in place but I must admit it is fun to play the game using a steering wheel. Adds a new something to it that just pushing a button on a controller doesn't provide. But rest assured , if you don't like the gimicy device, you can play the game with the remote and nunchuck or even the game cube and classic controllers. So that really is another plus to the game how you aren't limited in how you want to control the karts. And no matter which method you use, the game controls are smooth and easy to get used to.

Like all Mario Kart games you are given a choice of various Mario themed characters to choose and then its off to the races. You can unlock even more characters as you progress through the game and choose not just one vehicle but various vehicles. This go around there are karts of all sizes and shapes, motor bikes and super karts too. So you will be able to have so many different experiences playing this game through the differnet characters and vehicles you can use.

Kept true to the series they still have the various items you pick up while driving and using as ways of catching up to those in front of keeping those behind you where they belong, eating your dust.

The biggest and maybe most appealing addition to this version of the game is the online play features that are now available. You can play on line against anyone in the whole world who happens to be online at the time. Or against your own friends who own the game. So that too will add a long replayability to the game. You can either play people from across the world or your own friends across the country at any time. There are battle modes and team based modes and even classic stages from previous versions of Mario Kart now updated and ready to play on in a Wii graphically updated way.

This game is really all that and more. Ever since I got it I haven't been able to put it down. And I think you won't be putting it down any time soon either. Once you get hold of that wheel there is no telling where you will be driving to as you try and beat the competition to be top kart driver. If you have a Wii and are a fan of the Mario Kart series this is must have. And if you never played a Mario Kart before, no better version to start with. This is well worth it, especially with the online capabilities. The fun factor is high and those who can't get this are truly missing out.

Thanks Nintendo. You have done it again.

Mario Kart has just about always been a safe bet in terms of video game fun, and the eagerly anticipated Mario Kart Wii is certainly no exception. Mario Kart Wii features a large selection of tracks, of which are brand new and remastered tracks from previous games in the series to boot; all of which are well designed and fun to race, albeit the classic tracks aren't nearly as stylisticly designed as the new ones. The addition of motorcycles surprisingly works well, and despite a change in some of the game's old mechanics (drifting has never been easier to perform), the game works and races very well. Most notably is the use of the included Wii Wheel, which surprisingly responds quite well and feels very good as well. Though it may take some getting used to at first, Mario Kart Wii also supports just about every controler available for the Wii, which in itself is a big plus. The game as a whole is easy to get into, the online play is well done, the items (while more unbalanced than ever) are imaginitive, and of course, the multiplayer is spectacular fun. All in all, you really can't go wrong with Mario Kart Wii, which is yet another spectacular triple-A title to come from Nintendo, and another essential pick up for your Wii.

To anybody who has reservations about Mario Kart Wii being a disappointment, let me ease your worries.

Nintendo has hit another home run here. I have yet to play one bad game for the Wii, and this game here just kept me up until 1:30am, which I have to say hasn't happened yet with any Wii title since buying the system back in 2006, which includes Metroid Prime 3 and Super Mario Galaxy.

I didn't really care for the last console Kart, Mario Kart Double Dash!! for the GameCube. While a visually pleasing game, I felt it lacked the heart of the original series, and ended up disliking the "two-person-per-Kart" concept, sappy levels, the feeling that the Karts were only going 10mph and the immense cheating by the AI were a real disappointment. The list goes on.

That being said, I was a bit apprehensive to buy (not rent) the new Mario Kart, until I saw someone playing it the night before it went on the shelves. No question I had to buy it. While Mario Kart Wii is basically the GameCube version with stepped-up graphics, a lot of what made MKDD stink (in my opinion) was removed. It feels more like a true sequel to Mario Kart 64, much like Super Mario Galaxy is considered to be a true sequel to Super Mario 64.

What Works: The biggest feature of course here is the Wii Wheel, which your Wii remote fits in. You can go without the wheel, and use the remote and Nunchuck, or a GameCube controller, but the Wheel really adds to the game. The cars and characters are a blast to see and hear. When you pick up a Turbo Mushroom, or transform into a massive Bullet Bill to catch up from behind, or blast through a cannon, you can feel the speed. This was something I felt lacking in Double Dash. Motorcycles are now available, and you can now choose either Manual or Automatic controls with whichever vehicle you choose. Manual allows you to "jump" your Kart, which was an omission from Double Dash which I sorely missed. When jumping before hitting a curve, you can drift and release to gain a small burst of speed. While easier, automatic doesn't do this for you. If you hang behind an opponent, you can gain speed by drafting. This is a cool little feature which works well. When in midair, you can do little stunts, I haven't figured that out just yet. The boards are terrific, colorful, and addicting. There are even a bunch of throwback boards to each Cup, with some of the best of the best in the series, including the music which you're sure to remember. By far though, the best feature is the online play. You can play with opponents from all points on Earth, which is an absolute blast. You can even use your Mii character to play, which I think has to be unlocked. Again, I just bought the game, I haven't gotten that far. Too many pluses to go on.

What Doesn't Work: One thing I wish they'd get back to is the Coins. After all, it is "Mario" Kart, and the coins were a nice touch. The more coins you got, the faster your Kart. The original SNES and Mario Kart Super Circuit for the GBA were the only Kart games (I think) which had coins. I kind of wished they'd return here, but oh well. Another downside is what plagued Double Dash, which was the AI rubber banding. If you're way out in front, you are sure to get nailed by a POW block, red or blue shell, or some other obstacle which will leave you in 4th place. I haven't run into it much so far in the 50 or 100 Cups, but the 150 I heard is insane. Anyway, I'm too happy with the game to complain, and the online gaming, to me, more than makes up for what the AI does.

Folks, if you're a Mario Kart fan, and have a Wii (or if you don't have one yet, get one and this game) you won't be disappointed with this game. I had my reservations, but they are a thing of the past.