There’s a new Nintendo console, so of course there’s yet another update to the Mario Kart franchise. Like all the previous titles in the series, it’s a pretty solid all around… Bikes are great additions beside the karts, drifting has been greatly improved, and there’s several fun new courses. Unfortunately, it’s not everything it could have been. For one thing, the graphics have been given a mere moderate upgrade at best. The best improvement is simply the widescreen aspect ratio. Otherwise, nothing much has changed.
Compared to other series updates this year like Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart Wii feels a little like a phoned in effort. The same problems as before still apply… blue shells are as cheap as ever, bullet bills can take you from last place to near first, and frustration with the CPU kicks in fairly quickly in Mirror Mode. There’s not many new power-ups — but the midair trick boosts and bike wheelies add a bit more depth to the experience.
Perhaps what many will consider the best addition is the online racing, something Nintendo has been way behind the curve on. It’s horribly lacking in options, but that’s Nintendo for you. The worst part is that the lack of options extends to the single player and local multiplayer. There’s almost no options or customization of the races to be had at all. Perhaps the biggest shame is that battle mode has been reduced to a team-brawl without elimination. Despite these problems, Mario Kart Wii is what it’s always been: a solid and fun racer / party game.
