Chapter 5 - Unlockables and Extras

Mario Kart Wii features an array of unlockables, from simply unlocking the next cup in a Grand Prix game to unlocking new characters, karts, and bikes. There are also fast ghost replays in time trial mode and a couple multiplayer additions depending on your predominant control method or success as a solo racer. This section compiles Mario Kart Wii’s unlockables and how to get them! If you have trouble getting something unlocked even after completing the requirements, back out to the main menu and start the game again-your item should be unlocked.

Cups and Races

When you first begin a 50cc, 100cc, or 150cc set, four of the cups are locked. You must complete other cups to unlock these races and continue with the Grand Prix.

• Star Cup: Achieve third place or better in the Mushroom and Flower Cups.
• Leaf Cup: Come in third place or better in the Shell and Banana Cups.
• Special Cup: Complete Star Cup in third place or better.
• Lightning Cup: Finish Leaf Cup in third place or better.

Characters

Although Mario Kart Wii characters can be unlocked from simply playing games-a lot, a lot, a lot of games-most have specific completion requirements, such as completing a specific cup, retro cups (cups that contain tracks from previous games), unlocking fast ghost replays, or achieving star ranks.

Light

• Baby Daisy: Achieve 1 star or higher in all 50cc Wii cups.
• Baby Luigi: Unlock 8 fast ghost replays in time trial mode.
• Dry Bones: Complete the 100cc Leaf Cup in first place.
• Toadette: Run time trials on all 32 courses. Can also beat 1,000 players in online matches.

Medium

• Birdo: Run time trials on 16 different courses. Can also beat 250 players in online matches.
• Bowser Jr.: Achieve 1 star or higher in all 100cc retro cups.
• Daisy: Complete the 150cc special cup in first place.
• Diddy Kong: Finish the 50cc retro cups in first place.

Heavy

• Dry Bowser: Achieve 1 star or higher in all 150cc Wii cups.
• Funky Kong: Unlock 4 fast ghost replays in time trial mode.
• King Boo: Complete the 50cc Star Cup in first place.
• Rosalina: Achieve 1 star or higher in all mirror mode cups. Alternatively, Rosalina will unlock after 50 games if you have a Super Mario Galaxy save file.

Mii Characters

• Outfit A: Finish the 100cc Special Cup in first place.
• Outfit B: Unlock all 32 fast ghost replays in time trial mode.

Karts and Bikes

There are a bunch of karts and bikes to unlock in Mario Kart Wii. Like with characters, you’ll unlock using various methods, including star ranks, cup completion, fast ghost replays, or just playing a bunch of games.

Light - Karts

• Blue Falcon: Finish the Lightning Cup mirror mode in first place.
• Cheep Charger: Achieve 1 star or higher in 50cc retro cups.
• Tiny Titan: Unlock 1 fast ghost replay or beat 50 players in online matches.

Light - Bikes

• Jet Bubble: Finish the Leaf Cup mirror mode in first place.
• Magikruiser: Run time trials on 8 different courses.
• Quacker: Finish the 150cc Star Cup in first place.

Medium - Karts

• Daytripper: Finish the 150cc Leaf Cup in first place.
• Sprinter: Unlock 24 fast ghost replays in time trial mode.
• Super Blooper: Complete the 50cc Leaf Cup in first place.

Medium - Bikes

• Dolphin Dasher: Finish the Star Cup mirror mode in first place.
• Sneakster: Achieve 1 star or higher in all 100cc cups.
• Zip Zip: Complete the 100cc Lightning Cup in first place.

Heavy - Karts

• Honeycoupe: Complete the 150cc Lightning Cup in first place.
• Jetsetter: Achieve 1 star or higher in 150cc retro cups.
• Piranha Prowler: Finish the 50cc Special Cup in first place.

Heavy - Bikes

• Phantom: Complete the Special Cup mirror mode in first place.
• Shooting Star: Finish the 100cc Star Cup in first place.
• Spear: Unlock 12 fast ghost replays in time trial mode.

Fast Ghost Replays

Select time trial mode and race against the ghost. You must beat the ghost’s time by a certain number of seconds in order to unlock an even harder ghost-the fast ghost (essentially an expert Nintendo staff replay). Unlocking these fast ghost replays not only provide progress toward unlocking certain characters, karts, and bikes, but also provide an invaluable track replay revealing shortcuts and optimum ways to tackle certain turns and sections.

Beat the ghost in time travel mode by several seconds and you unlock the fast ghost! It’s a great way to learn the tracks.

As stated, beating the original ghost time isn’t enough to unlock the fast ghost replay. For example, the ghost time on the Luigi Circuit is approximately 1:29. If you beat this ghost with a time of 1:27 or 1:28, the fast ghost replay won’t unlock. However, if you beat the ghost with a time of around 1:24, the fast ghost replay should unlock. Basically you must beat the original ghost time by around five to ten seconds to be sure.

Mirror Mode

Unlock the mirror Grand Prix mode by completing all 150cc cups in first place. These are simply mirrored versions of all the tracks. Note that unlocking certain characters, karts, and bikes require completing mirror mode cups.

Karts and Bikes, Bikes and Karts

Originally the 50cc can only be karts and the 100cc can only be bikes, but if you finish all 50cc and 100cc races and score a trophy, you can now race both karts and bikes in these cups.

Stars and Wheels

Your solo skills pay off when you go online…well, at least next to your racer. If you have achieved at least a 1 star rank in all cups, there will be a single star next to your racer online. If you have achieved at least a 2 star rank in all cups, there will be two stars next to your racer online. And finally, achieve the masterful 3 star rank in all cups and there will be three stars next to your racer online.

Your proficiency with, or at least dedication to, the Wii Wheel also reveals itself in online play. If you have played most of your games using the Wii Wheel controller, then a gold Wii Wheel appears next to your online name.