Mario Kart Wii 25 April 2008

Mario Kart Wii has been top of my game-playing time since the UK release just over a week ago. US players still have to wait until the 27th April so I’ve taken the opportunity to brush up on my skills. Apparently the game has become the fastest selling Nintendo game in the UK ever, and had the eighth biggest opening sales week in UK software history.

I’ve previously played Mario Kart Super Circuit for the Game Boy Advance, and briefly Mario Kart 64, so I knew what to expect. Mario Kart Wii is the sixth instalment in the series, and basically the same as all the other games. This isn’t a bad thing, don’t get me wrong, Mario Kart is a classic game. Two modes, Solo and Multiplayer provide plenty of fun if you are on your own, have a competitive girlfriend by your side, or have internet access for online play.

Utterly chaotic, frantic good-natured fun

In addition to the variety of cars, you now have a choice of motorbikes to pound round the tracks. The tracks themselfs are superbly designed, packed with ramps, jumps, holes, power-boosts, conveyor belts, collapsing tracks, white water rapids and a range of distractions from the sensible snowdrifts, to inexplicable giant roaming cows which slow you down or knock you off your course.

Solo Mode is great, giving you plenty of tracks, characters, vehicles and a, (for me), perfectly pitched AI. Playing Solo also has the benefit of unlocking more features, which you can then carry with you into the online gameplay.

Multiplayer Mode, (Offline), has allowed me and my girlfriend hours of indulging in our competitive natures. The screen-splits hold two of the downsides of the game- namely the lower graphics when playing in multiplayer mode, and that the ‘floating camera’ angle during the splits tend to obscure more of the horizon than Solo Mode- this means less time to prepare for what is coming up next.

Multiplayer Mode, (Online), The true triumph of the game is the online gameplay mode. Nintendo’s servers seem to be able to conjure up full 11-player line-ups worldwide in seconds. The new ‘point’ system, tries to match you up to players on the same level as you, the points are determined by whether you win or lose, and how many players there are. The more people you beat, the better your points, whilst seriously poor gameplay will slash your points. I’m yet to play online with friends, mostly because the people I know who have Wii’s live in the US, and thus haven?t got their mitts on Mario Kart Wii yet.

A slight irritation is that when you are player online with a guest, (a second player attached to your console), the Guest will not receive any points for a win. The new ‘Wii Wheel’ is a real joy to use, and works how you would expect. You can also hook up the Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller, and GameCube Controller.

In summary, Mario Kart Wii is a great game, infuriatingly addictive and thoroughly daft, it is certainly worth the money. UK players, I suggest you head out to Game and pickup an extra wheel to avoid arguments.