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Mario Kart Wii; Maybe not the friendliest review
Topic Started: Apr 30 2008, 04:30 PM (578 Views)
eomund

Well, I know it's already been done, but I'm taking my own shot at it.
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Let's get right into it shall we.
The game play is pretty much like every Mario Kart to run past our systems. Not a whole lot of innovation save for the tilt control. I can't say that's a terrible thing because it's been a working formula for the past 15 years.

The addition of motorcycles adds some uniqueness to the game, but it still plays out almost exactly the same. And when it comes to the tilt controls, I'm already used to them, so I had no problems with them. To say it simply they work, they're not spectacular or anything, but they work.

But there is one major flaw in this games game play. It's cheap. No I'm not saying the physics feel clunky or it's glitchy, but they make the game base on 80% luck with the odd majorly against you. I can't begin to explain how frustrating it is to be leading 95% of the race, and get nailed by 2 lightning bolts, a blue shell, a red shell and get nailed by a NPC with with a star 5 feet from the finish line. It's not the lack of a wrist strap that get's the remote thrown through the TV, it's crap like that. And it's not like you'll just lose 1 or 2 spots, I've gone from first to last in about 15 seconds.

Another dissapointment is what was done to the battle system. they've pretty much forced you into having teams, wether you like it or not. It's not the end of the world, but it is stupid to leave out a free for all mode in a game like this.

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Nothing like getting ganked for the position you worked so hard for.


The graphics for this game definately leave something to be desired. Nintendo proved you could have a decent looking game on the Wii, and yet the deliver a game that has graphics that are barely of the quality of it's console predecessor. Now it doesn't really detract from the game, but it really could have been done better.
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The textures for the characters is poor at best.


The sound track for the game is rather meh as well. You have the standard character phrases that get blisteringly annoying after about 4 races (Daisy, I mean you), but not much go in the music either.

Why is it that every Nintendo game that's always had a superb soundtrack since their debut looses everything it has going for it the second it touches the Wii. Are they trying to give us things to complain about?
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Can we get a gag on this one for now on?

The basic multiplayer is a joke too. 2 player isn't so bad, but when you get 3 or more players in the mix, the graphics, which are allready bad I might add, become much worse. To the point of me not being willing to play it.


Now this isn't to say that the game is horrible or not worth getting, but there are a lot of problems with with the single player. Primarily the frustration factor of a thumbless man trying to pick a penny off a flat table surface.


Online is another story however. Out of all the problems this game has, this is it's shining star. You can play with 1 or 2 players over the WiFi assuring the graphics won't be turned down to N64 mode, and you can play friends, across your country or across the world with no noticeable lag.

What's better is the plethora of cheapness seems to be left for the AI, so the desire to hurl you remote at the nearest living thing is reduced to almost nothing.

Online also has some cool and unique features that Nintendo hasn't done yet. For starters, there's a ranking system over the Nintendo WiFi network that you can also install and view from the Wii Menu. With this you can compare points, view peoples track ghosts and even download and race their ghosts.
And when playing with freinds, if they have a freind you don't happen to know, there's an option to send a request to add them as a friend without the need of a friend code. Now only if the regular online could do this.

Now with online, there is still 40% luck, but there's a definate difference if you have skill or not in how well you do.

If this game only had the online mode without the inclusion of the single player, I would still recommend checking it out. Not only because it would have left out the most frustrating bit of gaming you ming ever have, but also it's that good. And this is coming from someone who hates almost all games that are stricly about the online.


Now down to the scoring:
Gameplay: B- - It works, but it's increadible cheapness detracts so much it's not funny.
Graphics: C+ - I've seen worse, but it's still sup par, especially for a franchise. And the reduction for multiplayer is unforgiveable.
Sound: C- - The music has lost all of it's flair that it used to have and the characters are down right annoying.
Replay Value: B+ - The game has it's faults, but can still be fun.
Online: A+ - In a class of it's own. I still say the only thing holding it back is Nintendo's fears of us swearing at little children.

Overall:
Main Game: C - Not what i'd call a spectacular bit of gaming.
Online: A - Really the main reason to buy the game. It's solid and one od Nintendo's finest.

Ending thoughts:
I felt the need to give 2 different scores due to the drastic quality between the 2 modes of play. The main portion of the game itself fails pretty hard. If that's all that the game had, I'd definately be exchanging it for something else. But the online really holds it's own. It makes a game that is otherwise not that fun into a game that's actually pretty good.

Nintendo seems to be finally be getting good with online, hopefully they will learn to provide us with a voice chat feature.
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vgamefreak
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I agree 100% on how cheap it is, but I wouldn't have been so generous on the replay value, it's everything we've seen already with just a few little gimmicks.
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Unown Sage

I say you made a great reveiw about the games biggest drawbacks, but I still plan to get that game when I can, for I commit myself to being a Mario Kart fan.
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Messina

They did the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" policy on this game.

But oNline is the best online game yet..
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Dan
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Great review.

I agree with this review, as VGame does. The games graphics were indeed, very bad, when I played MKWii with my friend, Devon. It didn't seem like a Mario Kart game either, for some strange reason.
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vgamefreak
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Dan
May 1 2008, 03:52 PM
Great review.

I agree with this review, as VGame does. The games graphics were indeed, very bad, when I played MKWii with my friend, Devon. It didn't seem like a Mario Kart game either, for some strange reason.

Mushroom Gorge reminds me of racing Chaos in Sonic Adventure Battle 2. -_-'
Last Watched: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 2
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Kirbyhater
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I disaggre with every thing, would you rather have it very hard like Super Mario Kart?
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eomund

Kirbyhater
May 2 2008, 06:15 AM
I disaggre with every thing, would you rather have it very hard like Super Mario Kart?

Did you not read what I said? It's cheap, with very little skill involved in losing.

It's not the difficulty curve I was complaining about, but how convinient it is when characters get completely crippling items right before the finish line. And all the time too, it's not a once in a while thing, but all the time.

I had to quit playing last night because in 4 different races, I went from first with a commanding lead to as far back as 11th right before the end by being bombarded with items smashing me into the dirt. And a good portion of these items are 100% unnavoidable when you're in first place.
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The Teej

I have to say this game, with tilt controls, sucks. It's just too wierd for all the people that have been playing for a long time. (and maybe its just me, but the cover of the box looks better than the in-game graphics...) Not a fan, but my brother is obsessed. Ill give it a second try with the classic controller
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Sylver25

people need to stop complaining about graphics on the wii. nintendo has already stated that their focus is not on graphics. if you want graphics play another system. this game is an instant classic.
He who hesitates is lost.
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eomund

Sylver25
May 9 2008, 04:37 PM
people need to stop complaining about graphics on the wii. nintendo has already stated that their focus is not on graphics. if you want graphics play another system. this game is an instant classic.

I don't complain about the Wii's graphical capabilities, but there's a point when it's too bad. This games graphics are sub-par to Mario Kart Double Dash, and that was for a previous consol. That's when it's too far.
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vgamefreak
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eomund
May 9 2008, 05:41 PM
Sylver25
May 9 2008, 04:37 PM
people need to stop complaining about graphics on the wii.  nintendo has already stated that their focus is not on graphics.  if you want graphics play another system.  this game is an instant classic.

I don't complain about the Wii's graphical capabilities, but there's a point when it's too bad. This games graphics are sub-par to Mario Kart Double Dash, and that was for a previous consol. That's when it's too far.

DK's fists look like from the N64! There's a point when it goes too far. :|
Last Watched: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 2
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pollywolly94

I rented the game today and so far i have no complaints
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cloud_vs_sephiroth

Nice review dude. :)

I think MKwii is a great game not only for its graphics(i like them soo....) but for all the stuff you can do. All the characters make the game more interesting and u can do team racing. Team racing is probably my fav. feature of the game
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pollywolly94

I like it, but only a few of my friends are Mario geeks, and they live far away i couldnt just call them and tell them to come over to play some Mario Kart. Plus i dont have WI-FI, and my brothers and sisters arent in to video games much, and 1 player can get a bit boring, so i dont plan to buy it (untill i get wi-fi)
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