Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii (MK Wii) needs a name change. And not just because its current title is a dull juxtaposition of the game franchise (Mario Kart) and the platform this instalment is for (Wii). This latest mascot racing game from Nintendo is still about zipping and drifting around 32 tracks set in locales featured in other Mario games. Sixteen are new while the other 16 are re-mastered from previous instalments. But now, in addition to the go-karts, you also have access to motorbikes which you might think are second-class vehicles, given the same title. Think again. Bikes are really the alpha mode of transport here. Returning MK players might initally find the bikes to be just an alternative - with lower top speeds, tighter handling and some trial-and-error time before getting used to it. But once, the proverbial training wheels are off, many players will unlikely want to go back to karts. Not only can the bikes turn on a dime, they also perform wheelies that let them exceed their top speeds and go faster than karts on a straight road. The sole drawback with thw bikes is that they have weaker mini-turbos - temporary speed boosts you earn by drifting around corners. But you can easily compensate for that by drifting many times consecutively during a wide turn. Bikes are clearly better. But don't take my word for it. Take a look at the worldwide time trials: With the exception of seven tracks, all the best times were recorded by bikers. It's a discerning truth, but not a deal-breaking one. Make no mistake, MK Wii is the most feature complete entry in the series yet. Once again, there is no compulsive single-player career mode. Instead, Grand Prix mode has you racing against computer opponents under various settings to unlock a host of hidden vehicles and characters, including your custom Wii avatar. But multi-player is what MK has always been about. And in that respect, the 12-player, usually lag-free online multi-player support is a godsend. You can also trade recordings of your race performances (called ghost data) with your friends, or download from random strangers so you pit yourself against them. Casual players who play for fun and not to win will also be pleasantly surprised at how intuitive and spot-on the motion controls are. Hold the Wii remote controller sideways or mount it into the Wii Wheel accessory that comes bundled with this game, and you'll be able to steer your vehicle with great precision. On the flipside, jaded MK players who have long been disgruntled with the happy-go-lucky nature of the game will not be appeased. For instance, you could have been hogging the pole position only to lose it at the last moment to some lucky punk possessing a super power-up. They will have to wait till the developers finally get around to balancing the finer subtleties of the game in Mario Kart Wii 2. Or should I say Mario Motorcross Wii 2: Also Featuring Go-Karts?

gets boring very fast
And again a Wii game everyone seems to hype as much as possible which is in my opinion totaly boring in no time.

Only thing that could rescue this game is Online mode if there is interest in this.

Fun, but frustrating
This game is fun, it's a Mairo Kart game after all, but the 'rubber-band AI' is some of the worst I have ever seen and definitely makes the game frustrating.

The online gameplay is a great addition to the series though.

the best wii game!!
if you haven't already done so, hurry up and order this title!

at first, i thought it was a little strange to use the steering wheel -- after so many previous mario karts, it wasn't natural to control the characters that way. but soon after completing some of the cups, you become very accustomed to it! it fits very well

there are a lot (tons!) of things to unlock in this game, and the replay value is high. it is actually quite difficult! there are 4 hidden cups ... wait until you see the new rainbow road ... wow, it's very cool looking

the new special items are interesting in this game too, they seem to help anyone go from last place to first place sometimes.

i think the main point of this game is speed. you can do tricks (while jumping) to gain speed boosts, follow close to an opponent, find a mushroom on a road, hit the special arrows, etc etc. everything moves so quickly ... it's addictive to always want to go faster and faster

the online mode is also really cool, but very difficult i find. already players across europe are becoming very good and competitive, and it may seem daunting for some new players perhaps. but overall it is a great experience. even with 12 online players from around the world, i never experienced any lag or slow down, it's really amazing

this is a great game and nintendo has done a wonderful job of keeping the franchise fun and interesting to all players! 5 stars definitely!