The best Racing game released for the Wii so far and quite possibly the best home-console Mario Kart created to date.
Gameplay ---------- ( 8 )
Graphics ----------- ( 8 )
Sound --------------- ( 7 )
Value ---------------- ( 9 )
-----------------------------------
THE GOOD:
>> Small changes and refinements make the gameplay more accessible for casual players while keeping it deep enough to satisfy hardcore gamers;
>> Playing with the Wii Wheel is fun and helps you get more immersed in the game, but only after you get pass the not very small learning curve;
>> The trick system and the bikes are both welcome additions that bring some much needed novelty to the game;
>> The A.I. is a bit more aggressive than it was in Double Dash;
>> Lighting is vastly improved;
>> Good and varied character animations;
>> The frame-rate never drops significantly, even when there are many things happening on screen at same time;
>> There are 32 different race courses: 16 new and 16 taken from older games;
>> There are 10 different battle courses: 5 new and 5 taken from older games;
>> Addictive online multiplayer, that can be played by two people on the same console, racing against gamers from the other side of the globe, will keep you coming back for more;
THE BAD:
>> The gameplay is fundamentally the same, although the small changes and refinements made and the additions of the trick system and the bikes, are enough to prevent it from being called "recycled";
>> Items are more unbalanced than ever before, particularly on the new courses where there are more jumps, increasing the influence of the luck factor and making the game less rewarding than it could've been;
>> Some of the courses taken from older games feel too simple after playing on some of the new more imaginative courses;
>> The graphics are only marginally improved from Double Dash;
>> Most of the sound effects seem to be same ones used in previous games, even though they remain effective enough;
>> The musics in the game aren't bad enough to make you want to turn them off, but you won't remember any of them after playing the game;
>> The mission mode introduced in the superb Mario Kart DS is oddly not present in this game;
>> Battle modes are now only team-based and timed, reducing the impact this modes could've made on the overall lasting appeal.
FINAL WORDS:
The single player mode is not exceptionally rewarding and can be somewhat frustrating in higher difficulties, due to the combination of lack of item balance with smarter opponents. You'll find yourself playing that mode mainly for the purpose of unlocking more vehicles.
But the multiplayer mode, in particular the online versus mode, is very enjoyable and can easily make you lose track of time. The online mode can be played with another friend on the same console, who can help you beat gamers from the other side of the globe. This mode will be the reason why you come back to play Mario Kart Wii many months after you bought it.
Except for maybe Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii is the best multiplayer game on the Wii. It's also the one that best uses the online capabilities of the system.