Game Modes and Online Multiplayer
Aside from regular racing, Mario Kart Wii also offers two other main game modes. There are the time trials to see if you can beat your best time (you get three mushrooms to use over the course of three laps). This isn’t all that exciting. The other major game mode is battle. Under battle conditions, you can either choose to have a balloon battle like before or you can see who can collect the most coins. The crappy part is that there is no more free-for-all balloon battle mode. You are forced into the red team and the blue team.
This is nowhere near as fun as the free for all. You can’t even slip on bananas left by your teammates. Lame.
Mario Kart Wii is best enjoyed with other people, either in person or online. The local multiplayer supports up to four racers in a split-screen format. You can be accompanied by computer-controlled racers as well, bringing the maximum number of characters on the track to 12. When it comes to online multiplayer, you can also race with up to 11 other people from around the world. This, unlike the crappy battle mode, is a lot of fun.
The implementation of the online multiplayer is much better than in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. You can choose to race against regional rivals or people who you have exchanged friend codes with, but even the worldwide online multiplayer works seamlessly. Up to two people from the same console can compete. The system looks for an available race and then you join it. Simple. You can even join a group that has a race in progress; you just hop into the action when they have concluded their current race.
Conclusion
Mario Kart Wii may have a couple of new additions that try to spice things up, but it’s pretty much the same Mario Kart that you have been playing all along. The tracks have been widened to accommodate a maximum of 12 racers at a time and the introduction of mid-air tricks is actually kind of fun. I particularly enjoy doing the tricks in the “half pipe” sections of races.
If you’re looking for something fresh and new, Mario Kart Wii is not the game for you. If you enjoyed previous versions in this franchise and want to take your races online (again), Mario Kart Wii can be a heck of a lot of fun. It really is best enjoyed with other people and the online component is very well implemented. Some people may lament the loss of snaking, but I was never very good at that anyways. So, um, bring it on!
Pros
- Mario Kart is back and it’s exactly what you expect
- Jump tricks add an interesting dynamic
- Graphics are crisp and colorful
- Online multiplayer is way too much fun
- Variety of characters and karts/bikes keep it interesting
Cons
- No more free-for-all balloon battles
- Local multiplayer noticeably reduces frame rate
- Wii Wheel is not as intuitive as you’d hope
- Brings very little that is new to the franchise
Overall Rating: 9.0/10
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