Mario Kart Wii

**frogbeastegg** · 04-22-2008, 13:15

I can't be the only one playing this here, surely?! I haven't played a Mario Kart since the N64 game.

I've been playing the split screen multiplayer with my boyfriend, and it's brilliant. There's nothing like Mario Kart MP to bring out the evil in a person. The cursing, the accusations of cheating, the judicious use of items to scupper your human opponent at the worst possible moment, the gentle nudge of an elbow to throw out their steering as they hit a nasty turn ...

I'm really not sure about some of the new items, they are a bit too powerful. The POW block doesn't really need to steal your item as well as making you spin out. Bullet Bill has for me so far been a one way ticket into first place. Doesn't matter how badly I have been hammered, I can recover and win so long as I have this. The new blue shell feels cheap because it only hits the leader instead of flattening everyone ahead of the one using it.

The wider selection of drivers is ... ok. I don't much care one way or another yet. Plenty to unlock.

The inclusion of bikes is a bigger change, the ones I have tried are much more nimble than the karts. Popping a wheelie gives a good, repeatable speed boost.

It's nice to see old tracks included. Racing in Mario Stadium and realising it still had the same music as on the N64 was very nostalgic.

The motion controls are sadly mixed. I don't get on with them at all, despite finding Excite Truck's similar set up to be perect. My boyfriend has taken to the wii wheel set up. As the game allows players to select from a wide range of control types (wheel, plain wiimote, wiimote and nunchuk, classic controller, gamecube controller) there should be something to suit everyone.

I have not tried SP yet. From what I hear the AI isn't quite so bad for cheapness and rubber-banding itself to the player in 50cc and 100cc modes, but in 150cc it is worse than ever.

**Proletariat** · 04-22-2008, 17:12

It sounds great. I preordered it this last weekend, but it's not released in the US until this Sunday. Maybe there will be more forum interest by then

The last MK I played was for the DS, and that edition had some of the newer items you mention. I found them pretty well balanced, mainly because no matter what position I'm in, I'm always hoping for three red shells and dreading getting that stupid banana or phony item box. The blue shell and bobomb seem pretty cool tho.

I'd be interested in hearing more about what's wrong with the wiil or whatever the wheel is called. I had high hopes for it, but maybe like Smash Brawl this will be another wii title I use the GC remote for. Which controller do you use, Froggy?

Anyway, more to add this weekend when my thumbs get sore enough from playing and I come take a Wii break on the Org.

**Xiahou** · 04-22-2008, 17:30

The motion controls are sadly mixed. I don't get on with them at all, despite finding Excite Truck's similar set up to be perect.

It's shocking that they'd get that wrong, with Excite Truck's controls working so well. Here's hoping I take to the controls better.

I'll definitely be getting this game(it's obviously a Wii 'must-have' game), maybe sometime next week...

**frogbeastegg** · 04-22-2008, 20:11

Using the wiimote (minus the wheel; my BF had that) I found that one problem arose again and again. I turned to go around a corner. The kart didn't. Didn't matter how slight or exaggerated the gesture was, or whether I held the wiimote flat or tilted. I gave up after 2 races of failing every bend. My BF has had no problems at all using the wheel; he's managed to place first in more than a few races. A similar love/hate split can be seen across reviews and forums.

I'm now using the classic controller. Works a treat, as does the gamecube controller. I'm sticking with the classic controller because I have always found the gamecube shoulder buttons a bit hard on my fingers due to the force needed to press them to click position.

Smash brothers. I can't see myself playing that with anything other than traditional controls when it finally arrives in to Europe.

**Ferret** · 04-22-2008, 23:03

Excite Truck! The name says it all, what a game

I should be getting mario kart soon

**Xiahou** · 05-01-2008, 03:06

I finally picked up MarioKart. I've only played one circuit so far, but compared to the hate I've heard for the wheel from various sources, I've found that the wheel works surprisingly well- far better than I expected. On the 50cc Mushroom circuit, I placed 1st in every race but the last one.

I was really expecting the game to be worse than it turned out to be. It's great when games exceed your expectations- far too often it's the opposite anymore.

**Fragony** · 05-02-2008, 09:11

No problem with the wheel here, works like a charm, in frenzied matches you just have to remember to sit still, with a normal controller you can bounce all over the place.