Mario Kart Wii Review

By Oli Welsh Published 20 March, 2008

Booster gold.

Version tested: Wii

Mario Kart Wii sets out its stall in the last corner of the first track in the Mushroom Cup, Luigi Circuit. There's a chicane, followed by a huge, wide, banked curve, which leads onto the finishing straight. Inside the chicane, off the track, is a ramp. The top of the banked curve is lined with a series of ten or so on-track zip pads.

So, if you have a mushroom item in store, the quickest route around the corner is this. You use the mushroom for a speed boost, short-cutting across the chicane. You hit the ramp and jerk back on the wheel, executing a stunt. This gives you a speed boost when you hit the track again. Then you hit the first zip pad, and get a speed boost. You hop and slide, counter-steering with the wheel, sparks flying, first blue, then yellow. You hold the slide as the zip pads give you speed boost after speed boost after speed boost. You hit the straight and come out of the slide - which gives you a speed boost.

If you're really lucky, you'll have been doing all this in line behind another racer, slipstreaming granting a speed boost. If you're on a motorbike, you can then pull a wheelie down the straight. This gives you... you get the idea.

With Mario Kart Wii, Nintendo seems to be making a world record attempt for the greatest number of boost mechanics in a single racing game. We haven't even mentioned the half-pipe track designs, where there's a strip of vertical boost along the lip of the track that sends your kart up in the air in a soaring, Tony Hawk-style parabola. Pulling these moves gives you a particularly huge speed boost when you land. And then there are the tracks that feature conveyor belts and water rapids that nearly double your basic speed. Not to mention the other speed boost pick-ups: triple mushrooms, golden mushrooms, New Super Mario Bros-style giant mushrooms, bullet bills, invincibility stars...

'Mario Kart Wii' Screenshot 1

Never trust a monkey to know which way is forward. Or up

Mario Kart Wii has an obsession with ever-escalating speed that rivals the Burnout series, or even WipEout. You're constantly searching every inch of track for opportunities to go faster amid the classic confusion and slapstick chaos for which Mario Kart is known - albeit ramped up by the expansion of the field from eight to twelve racers. It's intense, addictive and powerfully exhilarating. It blends cartoon foolishness with a viciously random cruel streak. But beneath both is a deep, precise, and technically rewarding racing game that you can sink hours into in time trial alone. In other words, it's classic Mario Kart.

Well - mostly. Mario Kart Wii is very similar to its immediate predecessor, Mario Kart DS, considered by most to be the strongest Mario Kart since N64 days at least. But it has made a couple of controversial additions to the fifteen-year-old formula: stunts and motorbikes. In an odd coincidence, these were also the additions made by a very different racing game - Project Gotham Racing 4 - last year, and they were initially met with scepticism in both cases. In both cases, the scepticism turns out to be unfounded. If anything, Mario Kart Wii's stunts and bikes are better integrated with the game than PGR4's were.

There is no stunt system to speak of. Just a jerk of the remote prompts your character into random move when timed with a jump, or a wheelie when riding a motorbike. Seeing Peach or Yoshi pulling rad somersaults off a half-pipe is a faintly uncomfortable kind of silly - like watching Master Chief dance a tango, or Tony Hawk jumping on mushrooms. But Mario Kart can weather a bit of silliness, and the stunts themselves are irrelevant; like everything else in this game, stunts are actually about speed, since they grant a boost when you land. In that sense, they work superbly, more so on the new tracks which have been designed with them in mind.

The bikes are a little bit more of a departure. In theory they make no major changes to the controls or mechanics of Mario Kart, apart from losing one level of powerslide boost - the yellow sparks - to balance out the addition of wheelies, which neuter steering but can add some speed on the straights. Even the heaviest bikes are markedly twitchier than the karts, however, and although their manoeuvrability can be a blessing when it comes to threading through littered banana-skins and tightly-packed racers, they take some getting used to. The lightest bikes have powerslides that turn so incredibly sharply that they emerge from the other side of 'effective' into a world of 'almost useless'. Ultimately, they're rewarding and exciting to ride, but the learning curve is not inconsequential.

Bearing that in mind, it's odd that Nintendo has structured Mario Kart Wii the way that it has. The entry-level 50cc Grands Prix are for karts only, and the 100cc medium-difficulty races are exclusive to bikes, while 150cc allows both types of vehicle. As with Mario Kart DS, there eight championships, with sixteen new tracks and sixteen reprisals from former versions of Mario Kart, all the way back to the SNES original. Only once you've fully completed all eight will you unlock the chance to race 50cc and 150cc with both bikes and karts.

'Mario Kart Wii' Screenshot 2

I'm a gonna drive off the edge and end up in last. Again. Hate this track

Combined with the bikes' unfamiliarity, this makes for a steep difficulty hike after 50cc, which many will find off-putting. That said, 50cc isn't such a pushover that it's not rewarding to work through in itself. The Special Cup tracks - including renditions of Rainbow Road and Bowser's Castle that must rank alongside the all-time best, and the frantic traffic-weaving of Moomview Highway - are superbly dramatic and challenging. Meanwhile, even the first of the retro cups features the fiendish Ghost Valley 2 from Super Mario Kart, hardly the most straightforward of rides.

By and large, the new track design is very close in style to Mario Kart DS: a good number of technically interesting corners slipped into hyperactive barrage of spectacle, hazard, incident, dynamically changing racing lines and opportunities for accident and mischief. There are too many memorable sections to list, though special mention must be made of the treacherous conveyors of Toad's factory and the ridiculous, icy slaloms of DK's Snowboard Cross.

The similarities with Mario Kart DS don't stop there. Mario Kart Wii has the same superlative music - comically squeaky play-room funk, warp-speed folk fiddling and heartbreakingly nostalgic chip-music originals. It has the same plethora of unlockables: you can win access to more characters and six more vehicles. Characters and vehicles are grouped in three rough groups of three, with light, medium and heavy for each. This means you can choose to either exaggerate or balance out the characteristics of your favourite member of Mario's crew: a nice touch. Vehicles are now rated for off-road ability, drift and speed boosts alongside speed, weight, acceleration and handling.

Multiplayer is Mario Kart's lifeblood, and as you'd expect, the Wii version offers a very solid set of options: two- to four-player split-screen, online racing with up to two players per machine, team racing, battle modes, and the excellent Mario Kart Channel for keeping track of your friends, ghost data, online rankings and Nintendo-created competitions. The Channel goes some way to making up for the Wii's lack of voice chat or proper social features, such as a centralised friends list.

However, Nintendo has made a couple of strange and quite damaging decisions in multiplayer. Battle Mode features some great new dynamic arenas for both classic Balloon Battle and a clever and entertaining variant called Coin Runners, where coins you pick up count as health. But it's only possible to play in red vs. blue team games; there's no free-for-all, which to our mind runs contrary to the true spirit of Battle Mode, that of the gleefully ruthless fracas. We were also bitterly disappointed to discover that you can't race through whole GP championships in multiplayer. Only one-off races are available. Hard-fought leaderboard battles with friends over four races have been our favourite way to play Mario Kart since 1993, and that loss will be keenly felt.

(Correction: Since this review was published, Nintendo has informed Eurogamer that it is possible to play sequences of four races with friends both offline and online. Offline, you can choose to select a race each time, randomise, or play in order - effectively allowing you to play through a regular GP if you select the usual first track. Online, racing with Friends, each player can select a track from those available on their save file. This clearly contradicts our observations of the review code and we apologise for the error. After discussion we feel the score below still fits the game.)

But if you're starting to think you might be able to resist Mario Kart Wii, you need to think again. Because as soon as you see the Wii Wheel it comes packed with, you'll fall head over heels in love with it.

In theory, the Wii Wheel is pointless: it's just a plastic housing for the remote, and you can play the game just as well by holding the ends of the remote and steering, unless you want to circumvent that entirely and just use a Classic or GameCube pad. Indeed, the very same steering wheel accessory has already been tried with no discernible success by third parties, including Ubisoft with its dreadful Wii launch games, Monster 4x4 and GT Pro Series.

'Mario Kart Wii' Screenshot 4

Moo Moo Meadows' cows are among the best ever seen in gaming. Top 5, easy.

But that doesn't take into account Nintendo's incredible ability to mould plastic in such a way that it inspires feelings of happiness as soon as you pick it up. The Wii Wheel is ergonomically brilliant, satisfyingly solid and adorably chunky. There's a big fat B button extension underneath for hopping into a slide (or using an item if you opted for the mum-friendly auto-slide control scheme) which is much nicer than using the naked controller. You have a firmer grip, too. It doesn't actually do anything - and yet, using it changes everything.

Powersliding has been at the absolute core of the Mario Kart experience ever since the SNES game. Now that the d-pad-friendly wiggling of the DS game has been removed, sliding in Mario Kart Wii is all about controlling the perfect line with gentle, progressively applied counter-steer. That is far easier and more satisfying with the Wii remote than it is with a stick, and the gorgeous Wii Wheel makes it more enjoyable still.

Ultimately, the sheer sensory pleasure of playing Mario Kart Wii - from the charming animations, to the bopping tunes, to the sugar-rush boosting, to the exquisite steering - far overcomes the few concerns we have about it. It still has to be docked a mark for the awkward structure and compromised battle modes - but it's still unreservedly recommended to anyone for whom Mario Kart is a gaming cornerstone. And really, that should be everyone.

8 / 10

26th March: Review updated with correction about multiplayer GPs.

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (216) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • myiagros #1 4 years ago

    unexpected review today!

  • mad_caddy #2 4 years ago

    /pre-orders

  • Nova5lag #3 4 years ago

    Didnt see that coming at all...

  • LeD #4 4 years ago

    8/10. That's gotta sting a bit. POS confirmed.

  • Darren #5 4 years ago

    Didn't expect this review so early... I haven't even got round to pre-ordering it yet!

    Does anyone know if you can buy the game WITHOUT the stupid steering wheel accessory?

  • GitSomE_UK #6 4 years ago

    8/10 hmmmm expected higher for this.

  • PuffyPipe #7 4 years ago

    Im liking the way the Wii is slowly going back to the original gamecube pad or the classic pad to play games because i think Nintendo now know the Wiimote control scheme has always been hit and miss with the more hardcore of gamers.

    Try playing Super Smash Bros with the dam Wiimote! Bring back the traditional way of playing games.

  • Agent_Llama #8 4 years ago

    Pre-ordered last week. Disappointed about no online championship, surely a glaring misjudgement? BOO!
    (And Birdo had better be in it!)

  • Tomnd #9 4 years ago

    seriously bring back coins, proper super mario kart skidding and thinner tracks. There is just no skill involved any more.

  • Dezm0nd #10 4 years ago

    No free for all in battle mode? ummm.... Thats shit

  • thebuzzard #11 4 years ago

    "8/10. That's gotta sting a bit. POS confirmed." since when did 8/10 mean a game was crap???

  • Darren #12 4 years ago

    Am I right in assuming that this game can also be played with the Classic and GameCube controllers?

  • Tiger_Walts #13 4 years ago

    Absolutely no mention of weapon (im)balance in the review.

    Do you still get horribly punished for being in the lead, dropping from first to forth on the last corner due to a blue shell?

  • MBar #14 4 years ago

    Reads like a 9/10. Even the conclusion says so.

  • El_MUERkO #15 4 years ago

    meh! i don't be liken anything after super mario kart and nobody but nobody can change meh mind!

  • jonsaan #16 4 years ago

    Sounds great. Can you play online without poxy friend codes though? If you can't, no sale.
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 16:45

  • AcidSnake #17 4 years ago

    No online championship?!....Damn!

    Still, can't wait to get it!

  • ChrisS #18 4 years ago

    Im liking the way the Wii is slowly going back to the original gamecube pad or the classic pad to play games because i think Nintendo now know the Wiimote control scheme has always been hit and miss with the more hardcore of gamers.

    Yep, because the review slates the wheel as a valid control method. OH WAIT.

  • Baronen #19 4 years ago

    Not a big fan of Mario Karts myself, but 8/10 sounds great considering how disappointing Double Dash was. Wii owners should be pleased I think.

  • jonsaan #20 4 years ago

    Double Dash is the greatest Mario Kart of all. All you haters need to go back and play it some more.

  • Lexx87 #21 4 years ago

    DID ANYONE READ THE FUCKING REVIEW? 8/10 blah blah blah it explained why it got 8 of 10...fucking hate you people who do this. He said it's awesome so just leave it at that!

  • Tweakmonkey #22 4 years ago

    What does no online championship mean? You can't do a series of 4 races like DS??? That is rubbish Ninty :-(

  • Lexx87 #23 4 years ago

    Darren, it said in the review that you can.

  • Killerbee #24 4 years ago

    Unexpected - but welcome! - review. To be honest, I was expecting a 9 almost all the way through that because the review is very positive in tone, but I guess I have to agree:

    It still has to be docked a mark for the awkward structure and compromised multiplayer modes

    I can live with having to play through with Karts on 50cc and Bikes on 100cc to unlock access to either for both engine sizes (and I'll only ever play 150cc anyway once I've beaten them a couple of times), but the loss of the 4-race cups in multi-player is absolutely criminal. I completely agree - this has been the only way to play Mario Kart since... well, ever and there's no way single races are going to be as much fun. I really am surprised Nintendo did this because there's just no logic to it at all.

    Anyway, i've pre-ordered it already, so I'm still very much looking forward to this. I'm sure it's still a 9 at heart. :)

  • LeD #25 4 years ago

    I haven't read the review but it clearly states that it's a bit on the rubbish side. OMG will someone think of the fanbois?

  • Tiger_Walts #26 4 years ago

    Sounds better than Double Dash, at least. So it isn't the worst MK.

  • Machiavel #27 4 years ago

    Stuff the tricks and stunts (only just got the hang of the wiggle boost) but to me, Double Dash reached that Nirvana of cartoon-looking racing and I'm sure this one will entertain just the same.

  • peterfll #28 4 years ago

    I hated the "d-pad-friendly wiggling of the DS game" personally.

  • Horse #29 4 years ago

    I'd have started at ten then docked one for the lack of four-race multiplayer, leaving a nine.

  • Kyle #30 4 years ago

    "I haven't read the review but it clearly states that it's a bit on the rubbish side."

    Clearly, eh? I think you'd better have a read mate. Because you're clearly wrong.

    And I too cannot believe there is no multiplayer GP mode. Insane I tell thee.

  • smelly #31 4 years ago

    No decent games on the wii..

    >8/10 hmmmm expected higher for this.

    Did you actually read the WORDS of the 3 page review?

    >8/10. That's gotta sting a bit. POS confirmed.

    You too.. before trolling maybe you should read the words.. then go back to whatever shitty machine you have.

  • peteb #32 4 years ago

    nice review! looking forward to this and I'm quite shocked that the Wiil (see what i did there? anybody?) actually works so well! i'm not buying four of em though...
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 17:13

  • macmurphy #33 4 years ago

    No multiplayer championship mode. Absolute spaffbags. I've been waiting for that since the N64 version, they missed it again on the Cube, and now on the Wii. It absolutely amazes me how every generation they miss the most obvious trick going.

    How hard would it be to have a championship editor? You pick the number of races, you pick the tracks, then four of you race with an awards ceremony at the end. Shigs is a cock. Can Wii games get patches too? Anyone?

    Will still be buying this and loving every sweet red shelled moment though.

  • Killerbee #34 4 years ago

    Eurogamer in arbitrary mark compared to review text non-shocker.

    It's not. I think it's been very carefully thought through and I actually agree with EG.

    It sounds like a solid 9/10 game all the way through, but Nintendo have made a couple of very poor design decisions, the main one of which is losing the 4-race cups in multi-player. That is definitely deserving of a point off imho. Hence the 8.

  • TheDudesRug #35 4 years ago

    The Nintendo IP's were great on the SNES. Very enjoyable.

  • BradlayLaw #36 4 years ago

    Sounds Excitetruck-ish which can only be a good thing.

  • macmurphy #37 4 years ago

    Correct me if I'm wrong but they're not losing anything. Never had 4 player cups, just a board that listed your wins/losses which sounds as if it has also gone. They have dropped a bollock by not creating one though.

  • Killerbee #38 4 years ago

    Correct me if I'm wrong but they're not losing anything. Never had 4 player cups, just a board that listed your wins/losses which sounds as if it has also gone. They have dropped a bollock by not creating one though.

    Yes you did - multi-player, pick a cup, 4 races, points awarded after each race, person with the most points at the top of the leaderboard at the end wins. It's been there since... always.

    Edit: Sorry, you've just made me think... maybe it was limited to 2-player split screen, not 4-player???
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 17:23

  • peteb #39 4 years ago

    i always find it funny that developers don't look at what people want when deciding on features... especially when they can be so easily implemented like in this case. it almost sounds like "la la la la we can't hear you la la la la". its like sega when we say we don't want sonics annoying friends in a game... still i'm gonna buy this of course
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 17:23

  • IronCladChicken #40 4 years ago

    Dezm0nd
    No free for all in battle mode? ummm.... Thats shit

    Damn right

  • MGG #41 4 years ago

    I may have to fork out for a classic controller for this, as the wiimote hates my tv. The tv stand appears to reflect the signal all over the shop unless I cover it up everytime I want to play (as the missus wont let it stay covered!).

    Still, anything for a good Mario Kart game!

  • Wobbler #42 4 years ago

    MGG, it sounds like that Mario Kart just uses the Wiimote in "tilt" mode, rather than "point" mode, so any kind of reflected signal won't be a problem :)

  • smelly #43 4 years ago

    Who gives a flying fuck whether it gets a 8 or a 9 or a even a 10?

    Read the words..

    Q. Is it good?
    A. Yes

    Q. Is it worth buying?
    A. Yes

    Surely that's ALL that matters?
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 17:52

  • Futaba #44 4 years ago

    I'll buy this to keep me going til SSBB.

  • Stupid_Fat_Hobbit #45 4 years ago

    Edit: Sorry, you've just made me think... maybe it was limited to 2-player split screen, not 4-player???

    There were definitely 4-player cups in Double Dash. Can't be sure about the others, though.

  • Stupid_Fat_Hobbit #46 4 years ago

    They why give a score at all?

    So people can come into the comments and bitch about the review without having to read all those tedious words.

  • smelly #47 4 years ago

    >They why give a score at all?

    Come on, are you that retarded you need me to answer that?

    1. To give a quick summary that "it is worth getting" before reading the words. i.e. if it got 1/10 then you might not bother taking time out to read the words to see if it's your thing
    2. To give geeks something to whinge/celebrate in forums.


    "I promised my missus if this game was a masterpiece I would buy a Wii much against my better judgment; this score of 8 has saved me a a lot of wasted money."


    uh? Okay.. I guess video game really are causing people to dumb down...

  • GitSomE_UK #48 4 years ago

    @Smelly

    Chill out you cock, yes I did read the review and yes I expected it to score higher, big deal! It doesn't mean I'm negative about it, A Wii hater (I own one FFS), conducting a puerile Troll nor does it mean I'm slating the game. It just means your an over sensitive fanboi cock knocker who needs to grow up.

  • stampax #49 4 years ago

    Well i'm buying it. Though I would have done regardless of any reviews - its a game with mario in innit.

  • quantumsheep #50 4 years ago

    "Well i'm buying it. Though I would have done regardless of any reviews - its a game with mario in it, innit."

    Fixed ;)

  • schachmatt #51 4 years ago

    I'm missing how the classic controller fares in relation to the wii-controls in the review.
    Maybe he had to to put it online too fast.

  • smelly #52 4 years ago

    >Chill out you cock

    I am chilled out. You're the one getting upset and offensive over a number which means bugger all.

    >yes I did read the review and yes I expected it to score higher

    Well the words explain mark. it's like when your teacher (presume you're in the 3rd grade?) marks your work, gives you a long paragraph explaining whats wrong with it - then gives you an A-.

    >It just means your an over sensitive fanboi cock knocker who needs to grow up.

    er? Um.. Er.. um.. The irony here is killing me

  • thomasbeff #53 4 years ago

    @LeD
    Nice work!

  • Ryze #54 4 years ago

    Excellent - but GTA IV is going to hog the next few months, so my US Wii purchase has been delayed...

  • smelly #55 4 years ago

    "show yourself to be someone without the vocabulary or mental ability to make their point properly."

    I thought i'd made it quite well.

    But the intelligence quota on this forum seems to be quite low, so i have to stoop down to everyone else's level occasionally to make my point.

    And i obviously make it well, as it seems to hit a lot of raw nerves.

    But this obsession geeks have over a number at the end of a long piece of text describing if a game is good or not - is something i've ever understood.

    To me, i just use the following system :

    1. Look at score
    2. is it 7 or above? Then the review is worth reading the words of to decide whether or not i want to buy the game.
    3. less than 7, i might read to see why the reviewer didnt think it was so great.

    But either way i use the THREE PAGES of words to make the decision not the score at the end.

    Someone said earlier:

    >Then why give a score at all?

    Sometimes i wonder why reviewers bother writing the actual words of the review at all. Why not save themselves 3 pages of text and just give a score?
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 18:34

  • Gastrian #56 4 years ago

    I would've gone with the Flash personally.

  • Pooley #57 4 years ago

    Can't wait for this game, pure fun on a disk.

  • Muddtallica #58 4 years ago

    Yeah, I kind of expected a nine more than an eight after reading the text... still, pointless splitting hairs over a number. The game sounds pretty solid, all things considered; interesting to see EG so enamoured with the Wii Wheel control, after some other previews (notably IGN's) seemed fairly unenthused. The choice is always there, anyway...

    On the other hand, the removal of free-for-all Battle Mode and mulitplayer GP is a ridiculous, incomprehensible and unforgivable decision; not a game-killer, certainly, but a baffling, pointlessly harmful omission. Ah well, still sounds more than good enough to be worth picking up.

    BTW, northy: what exactly does SSMB:B stand for? :p

  • tap #59 4 years ago

    Hi LeD.

    Dick status confirmed.

    Welcome to my ignore list.

  • FooAtari #60 4 years ago

    "They why give a score at all?"

    They shouldn't. All thats needed is buy/rent/skip.

    Hmmm, since getting my Wii a few months ago it's been played about 5 times. I was considering selling it but might give this a go first... Sounds like the GBA version is still the best though.

  • George-Roper #61 4 years ago

    @Mudtallica

    "On the other hand, the removal of free-for-all Battle Mode and mulitplayer GP is a ridiculous, incomprehensible and unforgivable decision; not a game-killer, certainly, but a baffling, pointlessly harmful omission . Ah well, still sounds more than good enough to be worth picking up"

    It's been a while since ive dipped my toe into Mario Kart. Probably the N64 version that cost me £130 on Jap import. And, tbh, I dont recall if these options were in that title (although I think they were) but they certainly, from the SNES era, were the top and bottom of Mario Kart multiplayer. It was all about falling behind in one GP race, only to feel the pressure to pull it back on the subsequent. It added to the game no end.

    For me, these omissions absolutely are a game killer. It's not good enough to play one-off races and absolutely detracts from the flow of the multiplayer.

    Oh well, one more nail in the 'shall I buy a Wii?' decision making process. I just knew there was going to be something that would knock it from greatness.
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 19:37

  • wobbly_Bob #62 4 years ago

    I really wish that Nintendo would create some new IP this stuff is OLD. Give it a rest. Colour me totally uninterested.

  • LeD #63 4 years ago

    @thomasbeff

    Thanks. This was oh so very easy though.

    And lol @ tap. Poor little thing.
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 19:57

  • LazyDan #64 4 years ago

    RIGHT, I'm confused.

    So in Double Dash you could 2-player (not 3 or 4 player) co-op through the GP Championships.

    In Mario Kart DS you couldn't co-op through the championships, either through local Wi-Fi or WFC. However in local Wifi you could set the conditions to win - so free mode, x races or x wins. In WFC it was fixed to 4 races. This was FINE.

    So now because of the review I'm confused on these points:

    Can you play the Championship GPs co-operatively at all?
    Can you not set the win conditions on normal VS races? So you can't choose to play to 10 races, or to 5 wins, or just play forever? Because if you can, this is actually no different to them letting you play the GPs - just set it to 4 races, pick the 4 tracks and you're away.

    If you can do the above in local, can you not do it on Nintendo WFC? So you're stuck playing to 4 races or whatever in friend matches?

    Can you have CPU players in local VS matches? Can you have them online?

    Can you play against randoms like you could on the DS version?

    ALL THESE THINGS I MUST KNOW. Normally Eurogamer reviews being light on the facts and features is fine, because it's exceptionally rare that they're way first to big name game like this - and this just happens to be a big name game where details have been scarce too.

    I will absolutely get this game, but I will be sorely disappointed if the multiplayer options are worse than the DS version, and I don't think that'll be the case.

    Mucho thanks though, I totally wasn't expecting this review for a long time - it was a pleasant evening surprise :D

  • macmurphy #65 4 years ago

    Right, that's it, I've had enough.

    There was never the chance to play four player championships. I'm 99% sure because it pissed me off so much. You could do it two player, but never four. You started each race individually. Definitely on the cube, all you had was board of wins and losses. Again I'm pretty sure it was the same on the n64 though it's a long time ago now. Any chance someone can load theirs up to finish this debate off. People saying how they've changed it and cocked it up are really starting to grip my shit.

    I stand ready to eat a huge pile of humble pie if I'm wrong.

    Also any news on patches. Can Nintendo add patches to their games or is there more chance of me pissing in the Queen's handbag?

    While we're at it since when does one 8 grade stop you buying it? So one more grade, a nine, and you're sold? It's got 94,91 and 80 so far on metacritic leading to an average of around 87, which is what double dash got. If you like mariokart, you'll like this. More to the point will you buy a Wii just to play this and never buy another game? To say one mark (which is an 8, which to my mind means a very good game - 9 is stunning, 10s are rarer than rocking horse shit) changes your mind makes you a muppet.
    Edited by 3 at 20/03/08 @ 20:28

  • Lawlost #66 4 years ago

    8 out of 10! I was counting on this to be a 9/10. This game was going to be my justification for buying a new wii (my daughter broke the last one my pushing a hairclip into it, she was only 2). I am afraid that an 8/10 may not be enough for me to shell out £180 on the console and a further £40 on the game.

    Sorry if it offends anyone but I am dissappointed

  • Ace_McCloud #67 4 years ago

    @Macmurphy.

    Yep. Board of wins and loses on the Cube for vs games, and 2 player GP for those that wanted it (although once you got particularly good these became a waste of time so I don't think this omission is a total loss). It was the same on the N64.

  • Sid-Nice #68 4 years ago

    8/10 yet another shit Wii game; I was looking forward to this, now I don't think I'll bother.

  • Sid-Nice #69 4 years ago

    Where is the Smash Bros Brawl review?

  • smelly #70 4 years ago

    My intelligence is melting...

    360 owning Trolls must be out in force again.

    How long before we get the age old "nintendo keep re-making mario/zelda" quote?

  • smelly #71 4 years ago

    Personally give me an 8/10 mario kart, over a 10/10 pile of mediocrity which is halo 3 any day of the week (cue all the 360 trolls who have been posting on this forum getting all upset at me now for "trolling" for daring to say their beloved game they got bored of within a few days is mediocre)

  • Sid-Nice #72 4 years ago

    Why the hell can't Nintendo make a racing kart game with new IP's?

  • LeD #73 4 years ago

    Why are you guys disappointed it got a low score? I don't get it. It's still the same old re-hashed Mario game, served with each new generation of Nintendo consoles.
    Complain all you want about Halo 3, at least it's executed superbly and they put a couple of nice new features in it, hence the resounding 10/10.
    Not all games can be awarded 10/10. You'll have to accept that Mario Kart Wii is a nice little game deserving of an 8, no more, no less.

  • smelly #74 4 years ago

    >I really wish that Nintendo would create some new IP this stuff is OLD


    Also love that people fail to notice that nintendo are great at bringing out new ips. Look at the brilliant pikmin/animal crossing last gen. Or the very popular wii sports/wii fit this gen. "Endless ocean" now that WASNT a new nintendo IP was it? Or how about "Excite Truck", no that wasnt either.. Or how about "Day of Disaster" coming soon?

    They have to keep their existing ip supported dont they? be stupid not to.. but yet they STILL come up with new ip quite regularly.

    In fact, as far as i can see, only EA seem to produce as many games as nintendo do..

    But as people keep going on about "re-using ips".

    Lets see:

    There has been THREE full console releases of mario kart since 1996. That's one every 4 years. If you count in the first one in 1992, that's still one every four years.

    Mario.. there's been THREE 3d versions of mario since 1996. Again that's one every 4 years. Even if you take into acount the 2d ones on home console.. that's 8 super mario games in 23 years.. Nearly one every 3 years (on average).

    Now ther has been THREE halo's been released since 2001. That's around one every 2 years.

    Yeah.. so nintendo keep rehashing old ip's ALL the time dont they? Lets not mention that every 3d mario has been significantly different while halo has remained pretty much exactly the same for each iteration.. Lets just notice that microsoft seem to re-use their IP more often than nintendo do.

    (and if you dont think they'd have just as many if not more if the xbox had been around long enough.. then you're naieve)


    EDIT: Just found out that halo wars and halo chronicles are both due out this year. So that's 5 halo games in 7 years.. And people bash nintendo for reusing ip.




    Edited by 2 at 20/03/08 @ 21:20

  • smelly #75 4 years ago

    "Complain all you want about Halo 3, at least it's executed superbly and they put a couple of nice new features in it, hence the resounding 10/10. "

    No.. it got billions in marketing money spent on it.. thus the resounding 10/10. Anyone who's played it can easily see, it's more of the same, fairly short, and very average experience.

  • LeD #76 4 years ago

    Tell me more smelly

  • smelly #77 4 years ago

    Dont need to.. Go and play it - see for yourself.

  • LeD #78 4 years ago

    I played it, still play it. EG gave it 10/10, and so did Edge. Mario Fart got a lousy 8/10.
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 21:20

  • smelly #79 4 years ago

    Im sure the 8/10 score will make me enjoy mario kart so much less.

    Just as im sure the 10/10 score made me not think halo 3 was an overrated pile of skank that i totally wasted my money on, and havent felt that cheated since playing f.e.a.r.


    You go back to wanking over your scores.. we'll be busy playing the thing (well i will once it comes out in america)

  • LeD #80 4 years ago

    Have a glass of milk

  • smelly #81 4 years ago

    Thanks for the suggestion. I think i'll have a pint of water instead though.

  • Bea #82 4 years ago

    @macmurphy

    Thank you for putting your honor on the line to clarify.

    Why are we getting upset about having to pick your courses yourself? You're going to be doing the same set of 4 courses dozens of times, maybe this will encourage more variety and spontaneity in the multiplayer. Kind of like Street Fighter, where each bout is self contained, and each session is always different. If you want to recreate a cup, it doesn't sound like anything will stand in your way.

  • smelly #83 4 years ago

    Do "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games" and "donkey kong barrel blast" count as other original ips?

    They're new games franchines.. but featuring old characters.. Or should i just stick to: wii sports, wii fit, Endless ocean, Excite Truck, Day of Disaster (and lesser extent pikmin/animal crossing). When proving my point that they do actually make new ip's?

  • smelly #84 4 years ago

    "If you want to recreate a cup, it doesn't sound like anything will stand in your way. "

    Yeah.. and thinking about it.. The realities of actually doing a "cup" would be pointless anyhow.

    Imagine doing a 20 race cup and having some tit drop out on the last game.. etc etc.

    Mind you.. I dont play games online, I stick to single player only games only - so it's of no concern to me.

  • macmurphy #85 4 years ago

    @Bea.

    Yeah fair one, having a championship is just surface sheen but that's what makes a game. You can just pick game after game, but imagine if you could structure your own championships where you could have eight races, be 8 ahead on the last track only to have a shocker and not place and watch your mate romp home in first to take the title. I'm talking about local, not online.

    To my mind there's always a better pay-off if you can commit to a series of races then see who's winning at the end of it. It's like playing 9 holes of mario-golf and winning on the last hole, pure videogame gold.

    Your point's fair enough, but I figure a little touch like this would require minimal programming and it's always seemed a careless omission to my mind. Just having a leaderboard of wins and losses seemed soulless. If they've taken that away, we're down to writing it down on a bit of paper if we want to keep score. I'm all for the Nintendo laid back approach, but denying people an easy way to compete is poor.

    I know it's all about taking part and that shite, and that's fine if I'm playing my gran, but if I've got mates round then it's just nice to be able to keep tabs for bragging rights, not have to write it on a piece of paper.

    It's a definite oversight. Just to say these are quibbles, I'll still keep a picture of Mario in my wallet and look forward to this massively.

  • russraine #86 4 years ago

    I've just read through 91 comments, most of which were totally stupid and underserving of being anywhere near a topic concerning a Nintendo product.

    I ordered Mario Kart on amazon earlier this week, I'm going to wait for the dispatch email to arrive, then throw a sickie at work and play it all day. I am going to find that highly enjoyable. I don't care what score EG or anybody else gives it. You can all go and jump in the firery pits of Bowsers Castle for all I care. Just keep away from me, my house, my girlfriend my four cats, my rabbit and my online MK Wii races.

  • mkreku #87 4 years ago

    Seriously, I always see these Nintendo games get super high (or, in this case, high) grades. I read the review and they sound wonderful. Until I play them..

    I don't understand why Nintendo games always gets these grades. They haven't been great since the nineties or something. They're all milking Mario, they're all shallow, they all look the same, they all sound the same and they all last about five minutes before you're tired of them.

    I just don't get it.

  • david78 #88 4 years ago

    This thread is fucking crazy.
    Is 8/10 the new 1/10? It certainly seems that way.

  • WillTheSecond #89 4 years ago

    The important thing for me with this game is simply that it will be great fun - just like BWii which only got 7 here, I believe.

  • Gastrian #90 4 years ago

    You should see some of the flak I got for on a website I did reviews for purely because I insisted that 5/10 was THE average score and ended marking a lot of games 7/10 when everyone else was giving them 8+/10.

    For ages if its been less than 7/10 people won't touch it so the score for a decent game became 7/10, 6 and 5 were less than okay, 3 and 4 were awful and 2 was worse than having your gran pin you down and shit in your mouth.

    I personally hate scoring games, its just there for the lazy who can't be bothered reading a review.

  • George-Roper #91 4 years ago

    @russraine

    "I've just read through 91 comments, most of which were totally stupid and underserving of being anywhere near a topic concerning a Nintendo product"

    Wow, ive heard and seen some fanboi shit on these boards but ive never seen someone just come straight out and say that. Nintendo = Fantastic, automatically, eh? All those reams of discounted Wii shit in HMV must be my imagination...

    Congrats! You call a spade a spade, or you'd probably call it a big tool. Prob like what you see in the mirror every morning.
    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 23:10

  • smelly #92 4 years ago

    @George Roper: *Shock!* Who'd have fucking thought it, a fan of a NINTENDO game in a NINTENDO thread!

    I'll come out and say it too.. Nintendo is fantastic (at making games)...

    They seem to release more games a year than any other studio. They rarely put out a bad 1st party game. Their games are always rated highly (and are genuinely good). I've yet to play a bad miyamato (or however u spell it) game. The games they release are always varied and different (i.e. not just endless shooters), and suitable for the whole family. And they take risks with new ip (see previous post if you want a list) regularly while keeping old ip alive.

    In the last year alone, we've had (from nintendo 1st party) an fps action adventure (metroid) which was fantastic, a platformer, kart racing, beat em up, etc etc. I'd like to see another studio put out that much variety and quality (all rated highly).

    However, nintendo hardware.. not so fantastic. If the wii didnt have nintendo games on it, i wouldnt be interested.



    I've seen some blatent trolling in my time but your post takes the biscuit.. run away and play with your 360 love..


    Edited by 1 at 20/03/08 @ 23:56

  • sewers #93 4 years ago

    I didn't really understand one thing in this review. Question: Will you be able to go online with the game and play a gp consisting of four races that you pick yourself, one after another, leading up to a screen declaring the winner, handing out medals, etc?

    Perhaps the person who wrote the review is reading the comments and can clear things out himself? I noticed there were a few others wondering the same thing ...

  • Nige #94 4 years ago

    Jeeeeez - it starts off with irony, Smelly, and then it just descends into the kind of dross you're synonymous with. If you like it, enjoy it... you don't have to (and aren't able to) convert the whole world.

    I know Mario Kart SNES was 9/10, and without playing it, I know this won't be as good. Meanwhile, life goes on.

    By the way, you lost the right to 'out' people as trolls and fanboys LONG before little Mario was a glint in the milkman's eye. Turn it in.

  • Katsumoto #95 4 years ago

    you can tell you're dealing with the worst end of the 360 trolls this site attracts when they start flaming over an 8/10. For Fuck's Sake Number One

  • xagarath #96 4 years ago

    Oh, the hell with the score and the mutliplayer changes. Could we maybe possibly have a list of returning tracks?

  • Carrybagma #97 4 years ago

    Mario Fart!
    :oD @LeD

    This is Double-Dash with bikes and a plastic gimmick, right?
    Should have got 6/10 really. Halo is so much better.
    Can't wait for Gears of War 2!

  • coach_mcguirk #98 4 years ago

    Mucho nerd points for the obscure DC Universe reference in the review tagline!

  • cheekyjay #99 4 years ago

    I was hoping that my favourite new feature from the DS version, "Mission" mode, would be added. That really beefed up the single player experience for me, and would have been great with leaderboards. It would have acted almost as an achievement system and seems like a missed opportunity to me.

    Also, bring back the 'lives' system from SNES Grand Prix mode, where you had a limited number of 'retry' lives...

  • George-Roper #100 4 years ago

    @Smelly

    "@George Roper: *Shock!* Who'd have fucking thought it, a fan of a NINTENDO game in a NINTENDO thread!

    I'll come out and say it too.. Nintendo is fantastic (at making games)...

    They seem to release more games a year than any other studio. They rarely put out a bad 1st party game. Their games are always rated highly (and are genuinely good). I've yet to play a bad miyamato (or however u spell it) game. The games they release are always varied and different (i.e. not just endless shooters), and suitable for the whole family. And they take risks with new ip (see previous post if you want a list) regularly while keeping old ip alive.

    In the last year alone, we've had (from nintendo 1st party) an fps action adventure (metroid) which was fantastic, a platformer, kart racing, beat em up, etc etc. I'd like to see another studio put out that much variety and quality (all rated highly).

    However, nintendo hardware.. not so fantastic. If the wii didnt have nintendo games on it, i wouldnt be interested.

    I've seen some blatent trolling in my time but your post takes the biscuit.. run away and play with your 360 love.."

    You pretty clearly ignored the intent of my post. Well done.

    Keep the blinkers on and hunker down, you've got a bumpy ride if you expect many more '1st party' games, this side of 2009. Now run along and play Ninjabread Man, ok?

    Plus, for the record, thats 'run away and play with your 360 and PS3 love...'. And i'll absolutely be doing that. Enjoy your SD, cameintheboxlol, games. I'm sure they'll keep you very entertained from now until eternity. I mean, Wii Sports just doesnt get old, does it?

    GLOL!

  • Charlie_Miso #101 4 years ago

    sweet!
    Mario Kart!

  • figaro7 #102 4 years ago

    Sounds bloody fantastic really! Just confirmed my preorder.

  • dk_rare #103 4 years ago

    Who would have thought that Mario Kart would be the racing game to rival Wipeout for speed :S

  • GrandpaUlrira #104 4 years ago

    Can you turn blue shells off? Can you?! CAN YOU?!?!

    In this day and age of Smash Bros being customisable to almost every degree (except, alas, trips), Mario Kart seems more and more like the poor brother.

  • Krelle #105 4 years ago

    big fat rofl at all the cocks in this comment section.

    Please read the actual TEXT and not just the number at the end if you feel the need to comment.
    You all act like stupid americans..oh wait, maybe your are. *facepalm*

  • ~j~ #106 4 years ago

    Not a great review tbh. why do the reviewers stay silent, when it comes to the graphics and performance for wii games?
    We all know, and have accepted, its really just a cube in a different shell. but that doesn't mean i dont want to know
    how the game runs and how it look's.

  • figaro7 #107 4 years ago

    Matt Cassamina from ign confirms the game works very well with the cube pad and was his personal choice over the wii-mote. He even goes further to say that the controls were tighter with the cube and classic pads, but i thought this could almost be a given since the wii-mote isnt restricted in its movement?

  • Sneti_Joker #108 4 years ago

    I really disapprove of reviews being published so far in advance of the actual game. The review code may be incomplete and the experience is detached from what it will be when actual people play the game. It used to be so with 'EXCLUSIVE!!!' reviews when gaming mags were at the top - but the situation is getting worse now with the rampant Internet.

  • AOFanboi #109 4 years ago

    <em>Eurogamer in arbitrary mark compared to review text non-shocker.</em>

    Eurogamer reader in complaining about the number at the end because it does not compute from the reader's super-secret formula for assigning scores based on the text non-shocker.

    But what do you think about the game? Oh, sorry, you only have an opinion about scores out of ten...
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/08 @ 10:08

  • Eighthours #110 4 years ago

    Can someone clarify: is there a board of wins and losses while playing multiplayer?

  • hybridial #111 4 years ago

    "but it's still unreservedly recommended to anyone for whom Mario Kart is a gaming cornerstone. And really, that should be everyone."

    Well, clearly not people with taste since every Mario Kart besides the ones with "Super" in the title have been absolutely shit.

  • Joar #112 4 years ago

    People do not trust this review!
    It’s more of a preview I must say.

    Nothing in the review points out if there was any kind of online play when they had the game. Don’t you think that’s a little bit strange if the could review the howl game.

    Besides that, mission mode is already confirmed,
    [link url=http:// www.wiiz.fr/medias/soft/1/1181/147.jpg
    ]http://ww w.wiiz.fr/medias/soft/1/1181/14...[/link]
    [link url=http:// www.wiiz.fr/medias/soft/1/1181/146.jpg
    ]http://ww w.wiiz.fr/medias/soft/1/1181/14...[/link]

    Nothing about that either,
    It al points out that this is based on the same time, ign, mtv and others had with the game,

    So the conclusion is, wait for the “famitsu” review before we al judge the game, ( I think that they will be the first because of the early japan release date)

  • Vin #113 4 years ago

    Smelly, I swear, you are the most irrational, easily-manipulated motherfucker this side of the atlantic.

  • Mike83 #114 4 years ago

    After reading this, I have pre ordered it.

    Can't wait.

  • Ace_McCloud #115 4 years ago

    Turn off blue shells? Don't be silly. Can you dodge them is the big question? Not being able to dodge blue shells is one of MK:DS's biggest flaws... and one of DD's biggest strengths.

  • FaceOmeter #116 4 years ago

    @ace_mccloud:
    you can dodge the blue shells in MK:DS in the unlikely event that you have a Boo to hand and activate it at the right moment... but you're right, most of the "skill" in DS blue shells is taking out as many other people as possible with them

    I haven't bought a game on release day for a very long time, but this may simply have to be done. For the dudes who think 8/10 is a bad score - words fail me, but I'm confident this game will be worth the investment - the last Mario Wii game which got an 8 was Strikers Charged. That was outsourced to Next Level and I still play it more than pretty much any other game. However one feels about the Wii's lineup in general, few would deny that when Nintendo make software themselves they know what's going on.

  • Ace_McCloud #117 4 years ago

    Yeah but actually dodge them dodge them; without weapons, only your nimble fingers to get you by. On that note, can you dodge red shells in this one? (and I mean with out shooting a green shell backwards or whatever). Dodging things in DD was the most exciting bit...

  • tardo #118 4 years ago

    Smelly: 'You go back to wanking over your scores..'

    Ahhh, there you go again with your masturbation fixation. I knew it wouldn't last long. You should be blind by now.


    I was initially disappointed with the 8 score, but still, it sounds great. And as just mentioned above, it seems like maybe some bits weren't even mentioned in this review. Am very eagerly looking forward to getting this game- if it gives me as many hours of entertainment and fun as MKDS (and with no fecking snaking) then I'll be very pleased. I wonder if there's any scoring system like the DS version, of trying to get 3 stars on everything. Now that was a challenge!

  • Tomo #119 4 years ago

    Some very smelly trolling going on from LeD which you've all bitten on hard.

    Anyway, the decision to drop the multiplayer leaderboard is absolutely criminal. We used to waste days playing Double Dash 4-player, fighting for the points on the leaderboard. I'll probably still buy this, but I can't help but feel I'm not going to like it that much :/

  • Goban #120 4 years ago

    Sounds great, count me in.

  • bitesize #121 4 years ago


    woo, game sounds fantastic, can't wait!

    usual eurogamer comments thread full of negativity, once again. makes me wonder if some of you actually like games at all...

  • smelly #122 4 years ago

    If you said this about any other console you'd be mocked

    "I've just read through 91 comments, most of which were totally stupid and underserving of being anywhere near a topic concerning a Nintendo product. "



    Another CONSOLE yes..

    Another software developer.. probably not.

    See that's what fanboys of other consoles dont seem to get. Most nintendo fans (like myself) are fans of their GAMES - not the hardware. It's like saying "i'm a major fan of all capcom games". There's NOTHING WRONG with someone saying "i'm a MAJOR fan of bungie".. saying you're a fan of xbox though and you're a bit sad (in my book).

    So yeah.. Lets imagine that phrase said:

    "I've just read through 91 comments, most of which were totally stupid and underserving of being anywhere near a topic concerning a Bungie (or insert favourite software developer here) game. "

    Is it still sad in your book?

    Like it or lump it, nintendo do have a nack of producing good high quality games, especially Miyamoto developed ones.

    And it doesnt bother me in the slightest that now all the 360 fanboys trolling this thread will now go "haha, smelly admits it.. he's a fanboy! I'm putting him on ignore now! Have fun playing your new nintendo games this year"

    (.. like smash bros, mario kart, day of disaster, and mario galaxy which I still havent gotten bored of yet, and probably will be still playing at the end of this year.)

    I think that's the other thing 360 owners who troll these threads dont understand. They keep going on about "what else new is coming out on the wii.. etc etc". Unlike your average fps game, something like mario galaxy takes a long to complete (without needing a dull story to stop you getting bored of playing.. but fun gameplay to keep you playing)



  • TheNinkyNonk #123 4 years ago

    Not quite the polished gem I'd been hoping for then :( It's all been a bit off target since the SNES version. Shame.

  • Agent_Llama #124 4 years ago

    I believe this is the passage causing most furore:

    "We were also bitterly disappointed to discover that you can't race through whole GP championships in multiplayer. Only one-off races are available. Hard-fought leaderboard battles with friends over four races have been our favourite way to play Mario Kart since 1993, and that loss will be keenly felt."

    If I recall rightly, on MK from the SNES to Double Dash, you could play the normal GP championships with up to 2 players. On the 64 and GC you had a board of wins, 2nds and 3rds for when you were playing with 3 and 4 players. The DS multiplayer allowed you to set a number of races, or a number of wins for your championships, ie. with the kids at school we do an 8 race championship set on random, giving you placings from 1st to 8th at the end.

    So the question is - does the Wii do things the same as the GC/64, or as the DS, or neither of these? Personally I'm hoping for the same as the DS version. Where's Oli to clarify things?!

  • sewers #125 4 years ago

    I'm asking myself the same thing.

    "Question: Will you be able to go online with the game and play a gp consisting of four races that you pick yourself, one after another, leading up to a screen declaring the winner, handing out medals, etc? "

    I can't believe the person behind the review hasn't commented on this yet. I write for a website as well, and if I have people asking questions in relevance to a review of mine there's nothing to keep me from writing a few words about it clearing things out. There's no barrier between the readers and the staff of the publication.
    Edited by 1 at 21/03/08 @ 21:11

  • Killerbee #126 4 years ago

    +1 to the two posts above.

    I'd be really grateful if someone could actually confirm whether GP cups are playable with 2 players in this, even if they're not with 3, 4 or online. At least that wouldn't be a feature lost, although I still think it'd be an opportunity missed.

  • ph101 #127 4 years ago

    Sold.
    I would like to know the above also. But perhaps the writer is away for easter? He isn't chained to his PC to answer anything that pops into our minds! I assume, although I dunno what it's like at the EG office :p

  • miiiguel #128 4 years ago

    "I think that's the other thing 360 owners who troll these threads dont understand. They keep going on about "what else new is coming out on the wii.. etc etc". Unlike your average fps game, something like mario galaxy takes a long to complete (without needing a dull story to stop you getting bored of playing.. but fun gameplay to keep you playing) "
    "...aying you're a fan of xbox though and you're a bit sad (in my book)."



    mate..., what's your fixation with Xbox, 360 and alikes, like the ones who play it are from some obnoxious race or part of an evil cult..., I mean, isn't that ridiculously xenophobic ?, and sadly offensive ?
    I would never say "if you like this, you're sad, because it's a shooter and me likes brain stuff 'cos I'm so brainy and shit...", but that's me...
    That said, I really like Halo, then again I'm having a lot of fun with Elite Beat Agents, I kinda enjoyed The Simpsons, I have a great time going berserk in Army of Two with my Live friends..., see what I mean? You should leave that tiny sandbox, imho.


    Looks very nice the game, by the way..., and the review reads like a 9.

    Edited by 1 at 22/03/08 @ 00:11

  • Kryon #129 4 years ago

    LOL @ smelly trying to turn another (totally unrelated) conversation into "Halo VS Mario". Do get a life mate...Try to take the bad with the good, not everyone has to love the same games as you. Gay men, children and women do seem to enjoy the same gaming criteria as yourself so you do have the majority of people on your side, try to look at it from that perspective and be happy, and as you seem to keep reminding us all, the Wii sells amazingly well so it must be good, right!

    Also smelly, you have mentioned that you sold your 360 but now you claim to own one again, either you're lying or you actually thought the console was worth buying twice over! Just think of all that! You must have spent a good few months of dole cheques on that, very odd... 0_o

  • Nikanoru #130 4 years ago

    LOL OH NOES MARIO KART GOT AN 8 IM SELLING MY WII/NOT BUYING A WII NOW WTF






    (disclaimer: I haven't read the thread ;p)

    I remember some backwater game mag over here that gave the original SNES MK a 6, back in the day.

  • smelly #131 4 years ago

    >mate..., what's your fixation with Xbox, 360 and alike

    Nope. Not a fixation. An observation.

    I've stated numerous times i own a 360. But im embarrased to admit that seeing how 360 owners behave on these forums. My favourite games are skate and dead rising if yer asking.

    i've yet to see a ps3 owner troll a wii thread. But i see all the 360 trolls in threads for 360 games going on about how great it is.

    I guess ps3 owners are more mature.. Or maybe 360 owners less secure?

    Wish i could justify buying a ps3 to myself so i no longer have to be labelled alongside 360 fanboys :-)
    Edited by 1 at 22/03/08 @ 03:11

  • smelly #132 4 years ago

    Reet.. ignoring the trolls (i'll try to anyhows)

    Can i ask a question to people who actually own a wii?

    Has anyone actually played anything online on the wii yet? I havent bothered (not even smash bros). Just wondering if people REALLY see it as being important?

  • Kryon #133 4 years ago

    @rdexter

    How exactly was my post 'xenophobic'? I don't recall mentioning an extreme dislike/fear of foreigners, their customs, their religions, etc. Remember, the dictionary is your friend.
    If you're trying to imply that my last post was homophobic (notice homo/xeno = not the same) then I honestly don't see why? Simply mentioning the word 'gay' does not = homophobia and gay relationships do not offend me in the slightest but it is a fact that gay gamers seem to like Mario hence the SMG review linking straight on to the 'gay gamers group' here on EG. I'm not quite sure why you seem to take any chance to get a dig in at me but I'd guess it's because you're still upset about me drawing peoples attention to the fact that you seem to be having a 'cry wank' in your profile pic...

    @smelly

    "Reet.. ignoring the trolls (i'll try to anyhows) "

    GLOL, irony at its best!

  • Sid-Nice #134 4 years ago

    Reet? Are you a smelly Geordie bastard?

  • 1Dgaf #135 4 years ago

    "Has anyone actually played anything online on the wii yet? I havent bothered (not even smash bros). Just wondering if people REALLY see it as being important?"

    I rented Mario Strikers Charged and played a few games online. It was a bit laggy and the competition was tough, so didn't really enjoy it.

    In answer to your general question, online play is very important for me. It's the easiest way for me to play with friends. My biggest complaint about the Wii is its lack of voice chat, followed by friend codes. I understand Nintendo's desire to appeal to parents but these 'features' are unwanted.

  • smelly #136 4 years ago

    >Reet? Are you a smelly Geordie bastard?

    Are you a troll?

  • AmySamey #137 4 years ago

    smelly, I know you think you're the shining saviour of all things Nintendo but you're misguided, in trying to rebuff the so called 'trolls' you actually become worse than them. I love the best of what Nintendo have to offer, Zelda and Mario etc have always been great but I also like Halo (and many other 360 titles). I've only skimmed the comments in this thread but tbh you seem to be the only one 'trolling', I mean, what relevance does Halo have in a Mario Kart thread? You're the only one who seems to want to bring such an invalid comparison into the conversation, why?

    I'm sure you will now label me a 'troll' and ignore me but I really hope you realise how childish you sound sometimes.

  • miiiguel #138 4 years ago

    "You know, miiiguel, next time you troll a PS3 discussion (which'll be, like, tomorrow) I am gonna cite you."
    Please do, but please note, that there's a huge difference between making comments on a platform, and commenting on who who play it, like they're less something.

  • TheNinkyNonk #139 4 years ago

    Come on guys, can't we all just accept that it's a very good but just not quite classic game on a very commercialy succesful console?

  • DjWhizzkidd #140 4 years ago

    Mario Kart was good....on the SNES. Its been irrelevant for about 10 years now. Come on Ninetendo.

  • PazJohnMitch #141 4 years ago

    Never did play the cube Mario Kart much. What I did play was a disappointment to be honest and I was therefore not looking forward to the Wii iteration despite really enjoying the DS one. This review however seems to suggest a return to form for the home market. Therefore I might pick it up at some point but I have quite a backlog of games already. 8/10 is a very good score. (Slightly more than I was expecting).

  • keep #142 4 years ago

    WE NEED THE LIST OF RETRO TRACKS FOR YESTERDAY!!

  • Ace_McCloud #143 4 years ago

    *sigh* Double Dash (or 'cube mario kart') is the most underated game in history ...... of mario karts. The fact that you had to invest time in it to discover just how deep the game was has meant people just abuse it without knowing what they're on about.

    Shame on all of you for forcing nintendo to dumb mario kart down again.
    Edited by 1 at 24/03/08 @ 09:47

  • KreyAtiv #144 4 years ago

    For me being able to do multiplayer for the whole length of a GP Championship was the main draw of the game.
    Having limited it to a few races to me has taken quite a big chunk of fun out of it. I'll pass on this incarnation of the game.

  • stampax #145 4 years ago

    "Mario Kart was good....on the SNES. Its been irrelevant for about 10 years now. Come on Ninetendo."

    Bit of a silly thing to say as millions have really enjoyed the more recent version. It's taken hours of my life.

  • smelly #146 4 years ago

    @TheNinkyNonk

    "Come on guys, can't we all just accept that it's a very good but just not quite classic game"

    Played it have we?


    "Mario Kart was good....on the SNES. Its been irrelevant for about 10 years now. Come on Nintendo"

    FPS games were good.. on the PC around the Quake era. They've been irrelevant for about 10 years now as they're all the same with prettier pixels and longer more boring stories.. I dont need to carry on with this as you all know where it's going :-)

  • J.C #147 4 years ago

    *sigh* Double Dash (or 'cube mario kart') is the most underated game in history ...... of mario karts. The fact that you had to invest time in it to discover just how deep the game was has meant people just abuse it without knowing what they're on about.

    Shame on all of you for forcing nintendo to dumb mario kart down again.

    Oh get over yourself. its no secret, double dash was utter bollocks. and it was slow.

  • YourMessageHere #148 4 years ago

    I'm confident that I've already gotten more fun out of Smelly in this thread than I probably would from anything with mario in. I think the best is "FPS games were good.. on the PC around the Quake era. They've been irrelevant for about 10 years now as they're all the same with prettier pixels and longer more boring stories.. ". I lol'd.

  • smelly #149 4 years ago

    why thank you.

    Dont know why you find it funny though. I find the lack of progression on fps games more depressing than your trolling

  • Kryon #150 4 years ago

    smelly's a fucking cunt with a 14inch Alba CRT television (and a 14mm cock), that's why he doesn't like HD games. End of.

  • Ginger #151 4 years ago

    glowing review then 8/10?

  • Sid-Nice #152 4 years ago

    smelly's a fucking cunt with a 14inch Alba CRT television (and a 14mm cock), that's why he doesn't like HD games. End of.

    I've seen pictures of those so called genuine she-males who have a small penis where their clitoris should be; I've never seen a cunt with a 14" television, though it might be worth looking into.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #153 4 years ago

    The DS version is pretty much the definitive version in my eyes, and that's coming from someone who fell in love with gaming playing SNES MK.

    This sounds brilliant fun although I have some reservations that I hope are addressed once the full package has been reviewed (i.e. the online component fully road-tested).

  • Ace_McCloud #154 4 years ago

    Re: Double Dash was slow.

    Regardez vous: [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=-tbP-BVeT9M
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=-tbP-BVeT9M
    [/link]

    Compared to the cramp inducing but loved by all MKDS: [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=_pkyTqOh95I
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=_pkyTqOh95I
    [/link]

    I bite my thumb at thee J.C

  • Ace_McCloud #155 4 years ago

    Can't remember where I slandered MKDS for not being able to dodge blue shells but anyway:

    After some youtube research just discovered you can dodge blue shells (without an item) in MKDS. So I stand corrected, apologies MKDS:

    [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=kvfhIiCXFaY
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=kvfhIiCXFaY
    [/link]

    Still think it looks better on the GC though... although I am a gay Double Dash fanboy:
    http://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v=hkhMp9-Ot...

  • Kaparen #156 4 years ago

    I'll pick this up just for the multiplayer

  • Agent_Llama #157 4 years ago

    Double Dash!! on the Cube was *not* slow, IIRC it was faster than the DS version. I really don't get the hatred poured onto the GC version - it was ace, and is the best multiplayer MK other than the DS. Save the MK hate for Super Circuit and 64 - both terrible.

  • miiiguel #158 4 years ago

    "FPS games were good.. on the PC around the Quake era. They've been irrelevant for about 10 years now as they're all the same with prettier pixels and longer more boring stories.. I dont need to carry on with this as you all know where it's going :-) "
    Unless they're on a Nintendo platform, when it's the case we call it "Action Adventure FPS", and everything's fine...

  • smelly #159 4 years ago

    "Unless they're on a Nintendo platform, when it's the case we call it "Action Adventure FPS", and everything's fine..."


    Ah you see.. that's called "doing something original with the genre" (albeit by re-using gameplay from old)... That's what stops it from becoming dull and repetitive like every other game. Obviously apart from when it's done very very well (such as in COD4 & half life 2) at which point you can forgive the genericness "seen it all before" nature of said game and just sit back and have fun.

    See.. If it wasnt for all the grey and brown fps games blighting the games market - I wouldn't be interested in Mario Kart (or smash bros for that matter). Seen it, played it.. bought the t-shirt. But when you've not had anything like smash bros for something like four years. And there hasnt been any really decent kart games for approx 4 years either.. And all you've had is endless brown and grey games.. it's hard not to get excited.

    That said. I'm not too bothered about online play - so i'm not sure what this offers me over double dash.. So i'm still not convinced i'll buy this yet.


    Edited by 1 at 25/03/08 @ 17:14

  • smelly #160 4 years ago

    >smelly's a fucking c***

    dunno who said that as they're obviously on my ignore.

    But it's obviously good to see well reasoned arguments by trolls who obviously (from that comment) are coming into here for no other reason than to troll.. then get fairly upset (judging by the vulgar insults in the above post) when someone points out that they're being a bit sad.

    >Re: Double Dash was slow.

    You only played the 50cc races didnt you?
    Edited by 1 at 25/03/08 @ 17:15

  • Cloudane #161 4 years ago

    The one thing that bothers me is how the tracks seems to be getting wider and wider with each (console) version and I am still not that keen on the motorbikes and the tricks implementation in all the videos on EGTV.

    Apart from that, I'm pleased with the review and I shall be buying the game when it is released.

  • smelly #162 4 years ago

    My guess is they were forced to make tracks wider thanks to the new steering wheel...

  • smelly #163 4 years ago

    You know what? I havent actually ever owned a copy of mario kart..

    And im not convinced i really can be bothered to purchase this.

    I might get double dash if i see it cheap though

  • Tiny_Tim #164 4 years ago

    "...or is there more chance of me pissing in the Queen's handbag?"

    That depends - are you a member of fathers for justice?

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #165 4 years ago

    Guys,

    We've been talking to Nintendo today and it's come to light that we made a mistake in the original text regarding multiplayer GPs. We've added a correction to page three and a note at the end of the review to draw people's attention to it, and I'm publicising it here and in the forum. Here's the wording of the correction:

    "Since this review was published, Nintendo has informed Eurogamer that it is possible to play sequences of four races with friends both offline and online. Offline, you can choose to select a race each time, randomise, or play in order - effectively allowing you to play through a regular GP if you select the usual first track. Online, racing with Friends, each player can select a track from those available on their save file. This clearly contradicts our observations of the review code and we apologise for the error. After discussion we feel the score below still fits the game."

    Further to that, I wanted to make it clear here that Nintendo's been extremely helpful with this and hasn't thrown its toys out of the pram or anything like that. We talked about the score at length and ultimately decided not to change it. We still think Mario Kart Wii is terrific and 8/10 should not be construed as a bad mark!

    Tom.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #166 4 years ago

    YAY!!

  • Eighthours #167 4 years ago

    Of course it's still "trustworthy". A mistake was made - but this was very likely due to the way that the multiplayer modes' UI is designed, rather than it being something obvious that was glossed over.

  • Agent_Llama #168 4 years ago

    /breathes sigh of relief.

  • smelly #169 4 years ago

    "1) You don't want to be seen upwardly revising your review score after one of your spurious reasons for "knocking off a point" was proven to be inaccurate.

    2) It was always only ever worth an 8, in which case you shouldn't have said it was worth a 9 but for a couple of "game breaking" design decisions which in the grand scheme of things are complete irrelevancies. "



    That is of course presuming that whether it's an 8 or a 9 really does influence your decision as to whether or not to buy it - And if it did.. then maybe you should get out more?

  • Oli Verified Reviews Editor, Eurogamer.net #170 4 years ago

    Guys, this is my bad. I can only apologise for the confusion. I feel terrible about it (although as a Mario Kart fan I'm also really happy the multiplayer GP option is in there after all).

    To clarify, I was playing a finished version of the game, but I was restricted to playing it offline and on my own, so the best I could do was look around in the menus to gauge the options available. Clearly I just didn't look hard enough.

    I thought long and hard with Tom over whether this should change the score, but we decided against it. I'm still disappointed by the lack of free-for-all in Battle Mode, and the structure of the singleplayer game - and I just felt the game was an 8 right from the start.

    But I also want to make it absolutely clear that I really, really enjoyed it and 8/10 should in no way be considered an insult. It's a great score for a great game.

    By way of further apology - and because someone asked for it up there - here, exclusively for you, is the list of classic tracks in the game:

    SHELL CUP
    GCN Peach Beach
    DS Yoshi Fall
    SNES Ghost Valley 2 (yay!)
    N64 Mario Raceway

    BANANA CUP
    N64 Sherbet Land
    GBA Shy Guy Beach
    DS Delfino Square
    GCN Waluigi Stadium

    LEAF CUP
    DS Desert Hills
    GBA Bowser Castle 3
    N64 DK's Jungle Parkway
    GCN Mario Circuit

    LIGHTNING CUP
    SNES Mario Circuit 3
    DS Peach Gardens
    GCN DK Mountain
    N64 Bowser's Castle

    They're all beautifully done, too.

  • WinterSnowblind #171 4 years ago

    I really liked Double Dash. It wasn't as good as N64, but still a fun game. Besides, the DS game is easily the best version, the fact this is very similar is definitely a good thing. And for those calling Double Dash slow, did you try not playing the game on 50cc?

    I've been looking forward to this, but I have to call into question the decision to remove multiplayer grand prix. The most fun thing I found to do in Double Dash was replaying the grand prix over and over with a friend. Every so often, we'd just wipe the data and start clean, unlocking everything as we go. It was a lot of fun, and even if we can still create our own matches in versus it's really just not the same. This has to be one of the worst decisions Nintendo have ever made. It's the equivelant of removing co-op play from Halo, "because there's multiplayer modes anyway".

    I'll still get the game, and probably still enjoy it a lot, but this is just a very stupid move.

  • smelly #172 4 years ago

    (edit : pressed submit before finished post)

    @WinterSnowblind (or anyone really): I didnt like the ds version. Found it too easy/short/lack of tracks/etc.

    In fact the only mario kart i've played apart from the ds version was the original snes version.

    How different is this (or double dash) from the ds game?

    Edited by 1 at 26/03/08 @ 20:52

  • smelly #173 4 years ago

    Geesus.

    Talk about getting your knickers in a twist.. it's only a number.

  • debaserA #174 4 years ago

    "To clarify, I was playing a finished version of the game, but I was restricted to playing it offline and on my own, so the best I could do was look around in the menus to gauge the options available."

    Hold on. You wrote a review of Mario Kart without having played the multiplayer? How could you have given it a fair mark without having extensively tested the mode that the game is most famous for?
    Edited by 2 at 27/03/08 @ 04:04

  • Agrippah #175 4 years ago

    I had to sign up just to comment on this review.

    The review seemed glowing, but then I read about not having 4 player multiplayer offline tournaments. Well, they HAD NOT 4 player multiplayer in the earlier versions, and on SNES and N64 that was because the system didn't have enough power to provide championship for 4 players. So it was not a removal, and I read the text as it was a removal from the earlier games, which is not true. So basically, if they did not have 4 player offline multi, it would just be as good the old games, and N64 4 player action is still one of my fondest gaming memories of all time. But then it turns out Nintendo has actually improved over the old ones and DO have 4 player cups!

    Do you guys not realize this improvement is a rather splendid one, and the review sounded almost like this was removed from the older games, which now when Nintendo pointed it out to Eurogamer, turned out to be the exact opposite. Just that sheer addition of FUN, should be pointed out in the review as one of the greatest additions to the game. Now it was written as the opposite.

    I realized more when reading the review. The reviewer in not an avid Mario Kart player it seems, since I found out one error. Maybe I am wrong but did the reviewer not say that the powerslide have been along since SNES? Well, that is not correct, since the slide came with N64, so not so much research seem have been put into the review.

    Also, another thing struck me, which could be the strangest yet. This is my most important point so please read:

    The most lovely and awe inspiring part of the Mario Kart series have to me been the 2 or 4 player multiplayer madness. I am not sure anything could top the 4 player battles on Wario stadium, with minute lightnings, shortcut mishaps, and the last 100 metres before the end when (if the players are equal) when the battle for first place could turn everything over due to a correctly guided green shell on the leader metres before the finish line. That is pure adrenaline. Single player have for me never been that exciting, and NOW I READ in the comments the reviewer not even having played and tried out the part of the series that actually mattered, so I can not even see how one could rate a game which one have not yet tried. Believe me, you can not play single player and visualize how 4 player action fest with your friends a friday evening will turn out, without actually trying the multiplayer. What about online play, is that reviewed? I am not sure myself, since then the championship option ought to be spotted I think.

    So is this a review of single player Mario Kart? That is a great point then, when the most beloved part has been omitted.

    Atleast kudos for having admitted the error, I know man is a proud being, so it is hard for people admitting errors. I can though imagine the havoc this caused the head quarters over in Japan, knowing the fact that all the errors and incorrect facts in this review will make Nintendo lose many many millions euros in lost income.

    Well, I must point out though, that almost always eurogamer do have high quality reviews, so I guess this was just a slip to be able to be the first to write a review and score high on the visit-rating, and that in turn leading to higher incomes for the ads. But this just proves greed is a sin that will be punished in due time ;-) Maybe they learn a lesson, and stick the high quality reviews they are known for.

    Any comments on this? And I can take negative feedback =)

  • Ace_McCloud #176 4 years ago

    "How different is this (or double dash) from the ds game?"

    Double Dash is very different. The biggest (and most controversial) difference is the removal of the hop, which in turn places an emphasis squarely on snaking. (And the snaking is a lot more versatile in DD as a result, allowing you to dodge things a lot quicker, eg bananas on the road, or shells coming in behind you). But it's very different to every other MK game that's been before. Much more about racing (battle sucks), I think it's easily the fastest MK when everyone is snaking properly, and also the most fun 4 player races.

    But I'm a MKDD fanboy, as is well known... check out the video that I posted above of the Blue Shell dodging to see what makes it so fun... (but turn the volume down, the rapping is all kinds of wrong):p

  • macmurphy #177 4 years ago

    I don't want to jump on the angry bandwagon but I also think only reviewing the one player game is rather schoolboy. I never had time to play the one player cube game much, I'd much rather play an FPS to be honest, that's just the way I work.

    Multiplayer it was the stuff of legend and I spent many happy hours on there with my family/missus/friends. To submit a review without having played what for many (I'm pretty sure the vast majority) of people is the reason to buy it in the first place seems a bit daft.

    I'm not arguing the score, I seem to remember ever since the SNES version the critical acclaim has been a touch muted and I wasn't surprised at the 8 which may turn out to be in line with everyone else (which just to recap is a very fine score), but you need to tell us if the multiplayer game is as good as it's always been, as to most of us the multiplayer is Mariokart.

    Surely for all you know they could have turned it into a horrible random mess (I remember Reggie saying how first timers could win instantly which worried me a bit. It's always been a bit random that's what's made it good, but I don't want it totally random.)

    Good effort on the quick review but surely you've been caught with your pants down a bit. If someone reviewed Halo 'offline and on my own' and gave it a mark based on the single player there'd be chaos, and what you've done doesn't seem much different.

  • Carrybagma #178 4 years ago

    ^
    |

    Fair comment. Hard to justify reviewing any game on your own/offline these days, especially a game on a party/social console like the Wii. Bad Oli.

    How does EG punish errant reviewers these days anyway?

  • tardo #179 4 years ago

    Yeah, just agreeing with the above. It does seem a bit silly that the game was reviewed without a lot of multiplayer games having been played. Heck, most of the comments in this article have been about people complaining about the options available for the multiplayer games- just showing how much of an important part it is for mario kart. It seems as bad (I assume, having played neither) as if Halo 3 or SMSB had been reviewed without any multiplayer testing.

    Ah well. I'm even more keen to get this game now. Although I'm a bit shocked at nintendo-nut smelly never having owned a mario kart game- and to dismiss mario kart ds as 'easy', just sounds like the talk of someone who hasn't played it much, and would never be able to complete the challenges/races to the highest level. & it had 32 tracks (I think?), which as far as I can recall is maybe the most that mario kart has had- and so how it could be described as 'short'? Makes no sense!

  • Oli Verified Reviews Editor, Eurogamer.net #180 4 years ago

    Re: single player reviewing. Sometimes there is no option. It is often the case these days that the only access we have to a game before release is under controlled circumstances and solo. Multiplayer modes - especially online ones - are often impossible to test before the game is out. Of course we would prefer to, and do so when at all possible. And we wish it wasn't how things are.

    In certain cases we will recognise this makes a proper review impossible and do a separate, later review for the multiplayer mode. In the case of Mario Kart - while of course we know the huge importance of multiplayer - it's possible for a reviewer to work out a judgement of it based on the single player game, a good understanding of multiplayer game design, and a good knowledge of the series. Where the tracks and gameplay design are identical between single player and multiplayer, as they are in Mario Kart, you can do this. I'm totally confident that, in terms of the on-track experience, everything in my review goes for playing Mario Kart Wii in multiplayer too.

    The one thing that can go wrong with this approach is a full understanding of the options available, based as it is on simply going through the menus. That's what happened in this case, and as I've said, I can only apologise. We all make mistakes. It wasn't that I didn't check, it's that I did, but I messed up somehow.

    Agrippah - the speed boost from the powerslide was introduced in the N64 version, yes, but powersliding (hop and slide) as the main cornering mechanic has been a central part of Mario Kart ever since the SNES.

  • smelly #181 4 years ago

    >Maybe they learn a lesson, and stick the high quality reviews they are known for.

    *cough*

    sensible soccer/halo 3..

  • Lemming81 #182 4 years ago

    Oli, I understand perfectly regarding online multiplayer, but I assume the multiplayer was tested offline? Otherwise I have disagree that a sensible decision regarding the review/score reached. Same goes for Smash Bros. Unless you played a game designed primarily for multiplayer with another person offline or online, then I don't really see the point.

    Whether it's online or not is irrelevant for whether the multiplayer is any good, IMO - Unless that is the only multiplayer method available.

  • smelly #183 4 years ago

    @Zero_Cool: As previously stated.. This is the 4th console mario kart in 16 years.

    Thats 1 mario kart every 4 years.

    Now do the same math to your beloved halo, and fuck off and stop trolling.

    Ta.

  • Lutherian #184 4 years ago

    I cant see what all the fuss here is about. This is not a game that will have its sales affected by reviews. It will sell every copy that Nintendo can make. The review was well written and contained a small mistake that was clearly corrected.

  • smelly #185 4 years ago

    @Lutherian:

    Because gamer kids dont use reviews to decide whether to buy a game or not.

    They use review scores to go "hahaha.. my game console has got more 10/10 games than your game console"

  • WinterSnowblind #186 4 years ago

    @smelly

    Halo isn't a good example to use here, there have only been three main games in the series and no more are planned in the near future, besides the two spin-offs which are currently being worked on, one of which will never see the light of day. Bungie have been very careful to make sure the series doesn't become a joke by being milked for all it's worth.

    It's true there haven't been that many Mario Kart games, but considering they themselves are a spin-off from Mario? But I still agree that it's very silly for those complaining about Nintendo making more of these, who doesn't love Mario Kart? And the DS game has easily been the best in the series so far, making more is in no way a bad thing. My only complaint is with how quickly this has clearly been rushed out. More content would have been nice, having less than a DS game is slightly embarrassing.. and thus far I see no reason to buy this over DS, I would have expected far more from a console version.

  • Darren #187 4 years ago

    I got an email yesterday from GAME saying my pre-order for Mario Kart Wii was being processed and today I received another saying it had been sent!!! Wow, I didn't think this game was out while the 11th? :o

  • Heitzu #188 4 years ago

    Me too Darren.

  • mariorules #189 4 years ago

    replacing excite truck on my shelves for overall insanity i hope...

  • Trikk #190 4 years ago

    Halo isn't a good example to use here

    Actually it's a great example. They're working on spinoffs now and as soon as those are out they will most likely start on the next game in the main series, while working on sequels to the spinoff series.

  • smelly #191 4 years ago

    "Look buddy, if you don't like some else's opinion and they don't share your ideology on gaming as YOU, it doesn't mean to say their a troll. "

    I'm not your buddy, guy.

    You're Right.. Of COURSE you're not a troll.. That's why you go into the threads of EVERY wii game and tell us all how crap said game is/said console is.

    Lets see recent posts from you shall we?


    "Man, this is why i hate the fucking Wii."
    "Mario Kart Wii...give me a fucking break, man. When are Nintendo going to stop milking the shit out they're IP and start creating new content/IP."


    I only use swear words as i feel i have to bring myself down to your level of intellect (as all your posts seem to contain the word "fucking".

    So now, i suggest you do actually FUCK OFF and go read the definition of "sad lonely fat gormless friendless geeky fucking troll" in the dictionary.. i'm sure you'll find a picture of yourself next to it.


  • Ryze #192 4 years ago

    This is on the PS3 homepage.

  • Eighthours #193 4 years ago

    Apparently the offline multiplayer is pretty weak because the tracks have been made so wide and the AI cheats like a bastard, but the online multiplayer is amazing.

  • macmurphy #194 4 years ago

    6/10 on Edge. Whilst this seems uncannily low there's quite a few rumblings of discontent that they've butchered the local multiplayer.

    As I was buying it almost purely for thisto play with my family, if they've buggered it this I'd be tempted to give it a miss. I realise everyone will be playing tomorrow so it would be nice to see what people think. In my head, even though the new tracks are pony surely all the old classics are still as playable as ever. Where's that update you promised us Eurogamer about the online and local multiplayer?

  • stallion185 #195 4 years ago

    Wow... a lot of anger here.

    I honestly don't think that a review score is really going to worry nintendo about the amount of copies of this game they will sell. It is Mario Kart for god's sake.

    If people want to let someone else's opinion to control their actions then that is their choice. I guess its all a matter of dont dis til you try it.

  • iago71 #196 4 years ago

    Hmmm not too sure about this.... It feels wierd - the power sliding doesnt feel right boostwise - Well thats with the wheel anyway, maybe Im just too used to the old games but I guess well have to see. Its still early days. Im thinking I may end up going back to the GC controller. Looks very pretty though and havent had any multiplayer yet. I still dont think the original has been beaten to be honest. Though the DS is great as was GBA. Bring back the coins I say!
    Edited by 1 at 11/04/08 @ 17:01

  • iago71 #197 4 years ago

    Having played a good few hours since last post Im actually really enjoying it I have to say. I prefer the pad to the wheel. The new tracks are fun and theres more to the power slide than I originally felt. I have to say though the older tracks are still the best as far proper racing goes it seems that from 64 onwards they have got wider and wider and busier with , although fun, obstacles rather than finely tuned racing lines. Still, I think this is a Mariokart for this era and really like it. Its a shame we couldnt have all the SNES tracks as unlockable ala GBA Super Circuit but hey theres no point moaning as they aint there so thats that. Im not keen on the bikes though but online a lot of people seem to be using them that Ive played so must be ok for some. Shame online has no voice chat and the friend code malarkey is a little painful having been an XBL user since day one on the old XBox. But hey its 12 player online MK - I for one could have only dreamt of that back in 92. No doubt therell be moaning about it all for ages though. Oh well.

  • bad09 #198 4 years ago

    My girlfriend picked this up yesterday and said it is great so I am gonna enjoy some online wii racing action later. Yay!! :)

    Edit - played it, great fun! Wii owners HAVE to get this :)
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/08 @ 14:11

  • bitesize #199 4 years ago


    hmmm, 6/10 in games tm this month as well. got to say, having played a bit this morning, agree with a lot of the negative points... later courses have just got too much shit on the course to avoid, and too many powerups so you're always being hammered from all sides by other people. and cos there's 12 in each race, more people using those powerups on you all the time. becomes more about constantly avoiding things rather than actually racing. they seem to have lost some of the purity that made the older ones (and the fantastic DS version) so great...

    still great fun tho!

  • Cactuar #200 4 years ago

    Macmurphy, Edge magazine gave Double Dash 5/10, so the fact that this scored 6/10 there isn't really that bad since I quite enjoyed Double Dash. Anyway, I find it hard to trust Edge, their scores are all over the place. (Final Fantasy X 6/10, Dark Chronicles 6/10, Metroid Prime Corruption 7/10 etc).

  • viper_h #201 4 years ago

    I played this on Friday night with my mate after a night at the pub.

    After I lost 1st place 4 times in a row just before I was about to cross the finish line to fucking blue shells, I turned it off and gave it to my mate.

    Piece of shit.

  • budd #202 4 years ago

    This game is sooo good it should be illegal, all the people that gave up cos they got hit by a shell on the line..... what do you expect? this is mariokart, I too was fekked off with it until i gave it a second chance, now i can't put it down

  • viper_h #203 4 years ago

    Well I never liked racing games anyway. Cars that don't steer when you use the stick aren't realistic.

  • Rogan #204 4 years ago

    It's a good game, leave it at that.

  • justMe #205 4 years ago

    It's a great game. My first impressions are very positive, great in single player, great online. I'm even enjoying controlling it with the wheel. 9/10 so far.

  • Camilitus #206 4 years ago

    Basically mario kart is a fun, well made game. However there are three main problems with it. The lack of free for all battle mode, its anarchic backstabbing mayhem is the essence of batle mode. Another issues is the fact that there are 50% tracks from other systems. I have played mario kart b4 and didn't want to play the same tracks again. The third issues is that online multiplayer does allow more than one race in series, leaving a kind of temporary feel to it. Three major flaws and a lack of major innovation =7 or 8/10.

  • Rogan #207 4 years ago

    Camilitus I think you are looking TOO hard for something bad to say about it.
    If they were 100% new tracks, you would probably hate the fact that you couldn't play the older tracks.

  • secombe #208 4 years ago

    Not too much was made of the online element in this review, but I think it's THE game to really bring it to the masses (and I don't mean LIVE masses, I mean casual gamers everywhere). It's incredibly simple to set-up, and once you are going you can just compete in race after race with no lag or waiting periods between races. I got into a race at 8pm last night and was still going at 11pm.

    A couple of the women at work have 9/10 year old kids and they can safely and easily play this online no differently to playing an offline game. Superb.

    One question though, what does the gold steering wheel signify?

  • iago71 #209 4 years ago

    Its interesting peoples difference in opinions - I think one of the things with Mariokart is that the players that have loved it from the beginning (me being one) would request as many of the old tracks as poss. Yet it seems some people arent happy with that idea. I like the new tracks but I have to say that if thats all that was there I would be a little disappointed. I think the game's really great as I have already said but I think its a shame that there seems to be a little of the refinement of earlier titles taken out. Its a shame theres no DLC for the Wii like we get on XBLIVE as then we could be getting new content packs and oldskool classic packs every couple of months or so. That way people who dont seem happy with the oldskool MK wouldnt have to bother if they didnt want. Well Im off to enjoy what IS included and bugger thinking about what wasnt. Its refreshing to just have sheer unadulterated fun as opposed to the hardcore weaponfest of Halo and COD that Ive been involved with of late. Thankyou Nintendo.

    Yeah I was wondering the same abt the Gold Steering wheel - is it perhaps people that have gold on all cups across the board? I still dont have gold on some of the 100CC yet though I guess I can go back and mop up with Karts now?
    Edited by 2 at 15/04/08 @ 12:55

  • secombe #210 4 years ago

    I assume the gold wheel is something to do with using the wheel online, maybe number of races won with the wheel? I always have a white wheel next to my name online as I always use the wheel, I've won races with it and it's still white, so it certainly doesn't change after a couple of wins.

    On that note, I'm strangely compelled to keep up my 100% wheel use stat, it's just so much fun (but admittedly not the most refined way of racing)

  • djed #211 4 years ago

    more shovelware for the wii, then!

    /useless troll leaves the internet.

  • Rizzle #212 4 years ago

    I suspect that you're confusing a Mario Kart game with an actual driving game, frod. The series (and genre) has always contained random elements to ensure that the most skilled driver does not always win. The most skilled player, on the other hand, might stand a chance. As long as this game allows some way of dodging blue shells, that is.
    If you can get some friends together, try out a cup comprising of the Mario tracks (particularly SNES Mario Circuit 3) with all the items off/low. Clearly, it's still no Gran Turismo, or even Colin McRae, but that was never the point.
    Obviously, I would have preferred a review that gave a better idea of how multiplayer has been handled and the balance of weapons, mind, 'correction' notwithstanding.

    Incidentally I'm really warming to this game. Some of the new tracks do feel a bit poor, but I feel the same with every new MK; I learned to love the contours of Peach Beach, so I'll give them a proper go.

  • secombe #213 4 years ago

    Having spent a bit more time on this I do feel they've got the balance with the bikes pretty wrong. Bikes hold all the online records and comfortably win many of the online races.

    With the records it would be good if you could compare like for like (Karts or Bikes) and it would be good online if you could choose if you just want to race bikes, karts or a mix.

  • robg #214 4 years ago

    Oh man I loved Mario Kart on the N64, and so I got this game hoping it'd be brilliant, and man. Please, do not buy this game. At all costs*, don't buy it.

    First evening, three of us spent about 5 hours laughing and shouting at the television. Second evening, same. Third evening I had to go out, and instead of properly enjoying myself I wanted to go home and play Mario Kart. Seriously, the incredible fun is not worth your life.

    * £0.00

  • Adam64 #215 4 years ago

    While this game is good, there's several critical flaws which stop it from being great. Amazing how they can just leave out so many features.

    - No co-op grand prix. (main reason I play MK is to play through and complete the game with a friend)
    - No free-for-all in battle mode.
    - Where's the display of race times? (Oh don't worry, race times aren't that important in a racing game...?)

    I've also found the AI on the hardest setting to be quite easy, despite their tactics. I think they've probably toned down the difficulty to appeal to the 'casual gamer'.

    It's amazing how Nintendo create the Wii Wheel, and because they realise it's poor and difficult to use - they reward people for putting up with it (on the online systems)

    I thought Nintendo were saying that they weren't going to isolate the core gamer, but that's the path they're heading down. This game is just more proof of that. It's disappointing.

    Edge's review of 6/10 is about right, IMO.

  • zErOb_cOOl #216 4 years ago

    Been playing this a lot. Great addictive gameplay and progression structure. Great online play. But one thing has really been bugging me. Why doesn't it run at 60FPS? The graphics are good, but I wouldn't have thought they would push the Wii. I believe all other Mario Kart games ran at 60FPS (bar possibly the N64 version) so why doesn't this version? Its just really bugged me since I first started playing this game.