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Wii | Driving | Mario Kart Wii

Boxart for Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii 128 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 4.00
  • SOUND: 3.75
  • CONTROL: 4.50
  • FUN FACTOR 4.75
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.9
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.8
Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

Preview: Mario Kart Wii (Page 3 of 3)

Preview by Chris Morell | 02/19/2008 | 13:46:51 PM PST

You can do some extra stuff with the wheel, like pulling up off of a jump to perform a random mid-air trick, but you'll have to get the timing down right. As I landed my first trick with Yoshi, I soon after grabbed a Mega Mushroom and turned into a giant Yoshi, squashing opponents like ants. Using up and down on the directional pad, I unleashed red-shell hell, and used left and right to store items.

There is a new item: the POW Block, a la the original Mario Bros. This item stuns opponents with a lightning cloud, allowing you to catch up to other racers, but you will get shrunken to even the score. Bullet Bill from Mario Kart DS is in this version, too, a helpful speedy bullet that controls your kart and propels you forward in a race. All the classic Mario Kart items are there, too.

As in the other games, there are 50cc, 100cc and 150cc races, though 50cc is confined to kart only, 100cc to bikes and 150cc to both. There are tons of courses, both new and retro, and the retro courses are pretty much untouched aside from the obvious graphical upgrading.

The Wii Wheel is easy to use, and should be an easy entry point for casual gamers.

The Wii Wheel is easy to use, and should be an easy entry point for casual gamers.

Mario Kart Channel and Stats

With Mario Kart Wii you get the Mario Kart Wii Channel that keeps track of a mega-load of stats, including the option to upload and download ghosts, track your records, track how much you've raced with the wheel, track character usage and much, much more. There are also challenges that provide you with specific goals and events. Plus, Nintendo is planning lots of downloadable content after release.

If that's not enough to get you craving some Kart, then you're either a zombie or have a pending Super Smash Bros. Brawl addiction.


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