ith so many successful franchises to Nintendo’s credit, it’s easy to wonder how the gaming giant balances innovation with the classic elements that keep fans panting for the next installment of a series. The struggle seems even more difficult when developing for the Wii, a system whose unique control method seems to be hit or miss when it comes to intuitive play. A careful balance of fully utilizing the capabilities of the Wii remote without sacrificing solid gameplay must be reached for a title to be successful.
This razor-thin line often leaves avid Nintendo fans wary of how the changes will affect their favorite games. For myself, Mario Kart: Double Dash is one of those titles I never seem to grow tired of. As a result, when I picked up Mario Kart Wii for the first time I had both high hopes and some very specific fears for the title. After playing it for several days at Game Informer headquarters, my reservations about the game were put to rest. While there is most definitely a learning curve with several of the gameplay options, the high-speed karting game proved to be everything I would expect from the next installment of this venerable series. Not only does the game boast online play, it brings new karts, new characters, innovative racetracks and the introduction of bikes to the Mario Kart universe.
Some of these changes are apparent immediately. As with other Nintendo franchises taking the first leap into the Wii world, Mii characters are integrated into the user interface in addition to the Mario Kart universe. Profile selection is replaced with the choosing of a driver’s license customized with a photo of an individual Mii. The license features a grid showcasing the driver’s racing statistics as well as any content they have unlocked up to that point.
Four options present themselves after selecting the player profile. Two new additions to the Mario Kart experience manifest in the form of the Nintendo Wi-Fi channel and the Mario Kart Channel. The Nintendo Wi-Fi channel will allow users to play online against other kart fanatics, and the Mario Kart Channel is intended to showcase rankings and facilitate tournaments. Being that there are very few copies of Mario Kart Wii being played at the moment, we weren’t able to try out the online play, but as of now it still looks promising. The additional two channels, (single player and multiplayer), are standard to the Mario Kart franchise. Though I spent most of my time with the game driving solo, I did manage to get several guys together to try out both multiplayer racing and battle modes. As one would expect, with brand new tracks and some new gameplay elements, it was a ton of fun.
Single-player mode is similar to that of its GameCube predecessor. Options for play include grand prix, time trials, vs. mode and battle mode – nothing new to the seasoned veteran. However, new gameplay options become immediately apparent with the roster of new vehicles. The most obvious change is the introduction of bikes into the vehicle selection. Instead of only upping the difficulty with each higher cc level, the speeds now correspond to vehicle types. The 50cc races feature only karts, 100cc races showcase the bikes, and it’s player’s choice for the 150cc races. As expected, the cc levels correspond to difficulty: beginning, average and expert.
After choosing a preferred mode, the character panel appears. Right off the bat you have 12 characters – a slightly smaller number than originally available in Mario Kart: Double Dash. The reason for the smaller list of characters may be that, unlike in Double Dash, Mario Kart Wii centers on a single-driver style of gameplay. The last GameCube installment was unique in that it allowed two characters on any given kart at a time. The benefit of this style of gameplay was that you could gain the special attacks of your fellow kart rider as well as play cooperatively with a friend. The reason for the absence of this style of play is unclear at the moment, but as a fan of Double Dash I would love to see it integrated somewhere into the Wii title.
Many of the staple Mario characters are available from the beginning of the game. Returning cast members include Mario, Baby Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Koopa Troopa, Wario, Waluigi and Bowser. A new member to the team is a pint-sized princess – Baby Peach.
Mario Kart Wii is different from previous titles in that now vehicles are character specific. In previous titles Yoshi had his kart (the Turbo Yoshi) along with other karts in his weight class at his disposal. Mario Kart Wii alters the equation by giving each driver three special karts for them to choose from. After selecting a cc mode and driver, you are prompted to choose from the three custom kart or bike options – each tailored to the selected iconic character. The 150cc race allows the player to choose from six options – karts and bikes combined. Additional vehicles will become available as the player progresses through the game and unlocks new content.
Avid Mario Kart fans most likely have power slides and mini-turbo boosts down to an art, but the skill sometimes comes less than easy for beginners. Nintendo has made that feature accessible to all players this time around. After choosing your kart or bike, you have the option of automatically or manually controlling drifting. While the automatic selection may be best for beginners, I am sure many Mario Kart fans would agree that the strategy involved in manually controlling how well your kart corners ultimately leads to a much more satisfying victory.
The final option screen yields the cup selection. Both new and nostalgic Mario Kart fans will be happy with the huge track selection available in the title. Immediately playable are four cups in the form of eight new tracks and eight revamped tracks from previous Mario Kart games. New tracks include Moo Moo Meadows, the Mushroom Gorge and my new personal favorite – Wario’s Goldmine. Levels ported from other Mario Kart tiles include Peach Beach from Double Dash and Sherbet Land from Mario Kart 64. A total of 32 courses will be available for those who hone their skills enough to unlock all the extra playable content. The above unlockable content should be obtainable even to the newest of Mario Kart players.