Mario Kart Wii: a short Review
As I never really cared for what Nintendo did before the release of the SNES and then went on and promptly ignored both the N64 and the Gamecube, I never quite managed to grasp the fanboy mentality. Never understood why people liked Mario as a character to the unhealthy extent they usually did, or why they just kept buying Mario Kart games on every conceivable console. And then Mario Kart Wii came around for a play and, I’m afraid, I still don’t get it.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that Mario Kart Wii isn’t fun or a good game or anything like that; I’m just saying I can’t understand what’s so absolutely great about it. After all, it’s not much more than a polished cartoony racing game with Mario slapped on it, some imaginative levels, nice art, decent graphics and some meh online multiplayer options. Admittedly, it actually is a very polished game indeed, that can be quite addictive, extremely fun and something that really shines when played as a party game. Two-player same-room games are even better and do evoke that old feel of the Amiga-and-two-joysticks era, whereas the single player options are both numerous and entertaining. So, what’s not to love about it, then? Well, there’s definitely something missing.
Happily, I’m pretty sure I know what said something is, and it’s got absolutely nothing to do with the atrocious soundtrack or the vaguely amusing addition of motorbikes. Mario Kart Wii, you see, is too easy, too random and just doesn’t really let you show off your gaming skills. Power-ups are mostly unbalanced, luck plays a huge role and it’s a game really aiming hard for that elusive casual audience too… Hmmm, really. Fun, but hmm.
Oh, and if you are older than 12, well, I think you’d rather not touch that plastic steering wheel Nintendo is trying to sell.
Posted on April 26th, 2008 by konstantinos
I’m much the same as you when it comes to Nintendo, and I picked up Kart as well. Playing against the computer in single player is definitely easy, getting too overconfident for online multiplayer, which I think is a bit different animal in that it was much more difficult.
BUT . . . it still had that randomness feel to it. In one way, this could be good in that it levels out the field in some ways. I’ve played too many board games not to appreciate for how great randomness can make a game. The difference is that those board games throw random elements at you, but there is still a huge play for skill, strategy or both. I can’t see playing Kart for long myself, except that I have kids who *love* this game and it’s just right for them.
Already, my kids are getting into the Ninttendo characters in other games, like Mario Party and Smash Brothers Brawl. So, they might be today’s Nintendo fanboys/girls in 10 years [though I hope I’m a better gamer dad than that].
As usual, you’re spot on. To be honest, I can’t see a huge difference in the game from when I play a handful of races on the N64 several years back, although I confess I kinda like the wheel contraption.
Just turn off the sound.
April 27th, 2008 at 3:14 pmAh, spot on, am I? Why, thank you so very much dear Sir. I’m shockingly slightly happy too and might finally just migrate from blogs to books, which is totally irrelevant, but so very nice.
As for Mario Kart’s randomness, well, problem is it doesn’t have much to do with calculated risks but with sheer unavoidable chance. Oh, and unfortunately my nephews are to young to check it with them…
Now, you stay a better gamer dad and don’t let them turn into fanboys/girls. And do remind them that Mario is nothing when compared to Thundercats…
April 28th, 2008 at 2:42 am(btw, sound is off)
April 28th, 2008 at 2:59 amWell, I did introduce them to Xena a couple of weeks ago, which some on the far right would question.
April 28th, 2008 at 6:20 amWhy’s that? Do these people just hate everything? Tsk, tsk… Still, not much of a Xena fan myself…
April 28th, 2008 at 6:25 amHello Konstantinos:
So would you recommend this game over brawl? I want to buy one game this weekend, but I dunno what to get :(. I really like Mario Kart, and Smash Bros. is fun with friends. Then there is No More Heroes, and Bully and that Soccer Mario game. Aaah! Well your review made me take a step back from my confident Kart buy. What to do?
Laters.
April 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pmHello Jose,
and, yes, I’d definitely reccomend this one over Brawl, for I don’t really like Brawl. Never did actually. Now, as Mario Soccer is bordering on the attrocious and provided you don’t have to have a multiplayer game, No More Heroes is the best of the bunch with Bully a close second.
Uhm, hope that helps… Cheers!
May 1st, 2008 at 9:48 am