Mario Kart Wii showcases what makes Wii motion controls so fun. The versatility in available controllers to use alongside its responsiveness is what makes it memorable, and not just nostalgic.
The progression of the game encourages you to unlock more and more, revealing quirky modes and karts, to peel back the game’s true nature, which is bullshit. But, it’s the best kind of bullshit, the fun kind of bullshit.
While Mario Kart, mostly, is indeed skill based, learn the game and succeed, it’s also a testament to your patience. 1st place? No. So many times when you’re in first place in the middle of a race, you get fucked. It’s not just you, it’s the entire lineup, every CPU. Constant bullets, red and blue shells, lightning, ink, you name it. If something can screw you over when you’re succeeding in this game, it’ll happen. Fortunately, it seems like this dies down in the last third of the third lap, so it’s up to you to play catch-up if you’ve fallen behind.
Things like mirror mode and time trials make for a challenging pastime if the Grand Prix or multiplayer isn’t all you want to do. It’s a game that entices you to play more and more, unknowingly losing time discovering the ins and outs of its paths. The characters, the expansive courses, the karts, it’s… fun… and that’s what games should strive to be.
Mario Kart Wii, in its time, was the pinnacle of the franchise. Even today, it remains my personal go-to. 9/10.
The progression of the game encourages you to unlock more and more, revealing quirky modes and karts, to peel back the game’s true nature, which is bullshit. But, it’s the best kind of bullshit, the fun kind of bullshit.
While Mario Kart, mostly, is indeed skill based, learn the game and succeed, it’s also a testament to your patience. 1st place? No. So many times when you’re in first place in the middle of a race, you get fucked. It’s not just you, it’s the entire lineup, every CPU. Constant bullets, red and blue shells, lightning, ink, you name it. If something can screw you over when you’re succeeding in this game, it’ll happen. Fortunately, it seems like this dies down in the last third of the third lap, so it’s up to you to play catch-up if you’ve fallen behind.
Things like mirror mode and time trials make for a challenging pastime if the Grand Prix or multiplayer isn’t all you want to do. It’s a game that entices you to play more and more, unknowingly losing time discovering the ins and outs of its paths. The characters, the expansive courses, the karts, it’s… fun… and that’s what games should strive to be.
Mario Kart Wii, in its time, was the pinnacle of the franchise. Even today, it remains my personal go-to. 9/10.