Anyone with a child knows that when they get their hands on a game they love they play it constantly. That is the case with Mario Kart for the Wii and my son. As it's a multiplayer game he was always asking my husband and I to race against him. Those races lead to a lot of laughter and a few thrown Wii controllers. Let's see why...
Positives:
+ 28 playable characters plus 32 race courses plus 10 battle maps equals a ton of gameplay variety not to mention replayability.
+ I like that classic Mario Kart courses were integrated into the game.
+ Drifting mechanics have been updated. It's now easier for beginners to do and it counters snaking.
+ Multiplayer is limited to two teams only.
+ Up to three friends can join a side in a multiplayer battle.
Negatives:
- The classic Mario Kart courses could have used more polish. It seems like they were added simply to bulk out the course choices.
- There is very little ability to communicate between players in the online multi-player mode.
- When the screen is split four ways it gets can get difficult to follow which box is which.
- The new POW block causes your vehicle to spin out of control while you can do nothing to stop it.
- The game will not let you get too far ahead of the rest of the racers. If you are an unspecified distance from the other racers one of them will throw a blue shell at you to slow you down.
Thoughts:
~ The updated drifting mechanics effects which vehicle you choose. Go-karts are able to get a speed boost by using a super mini-turbo boost after drifting a bit longer than usual through a turn. On the other hand, motorcycles are completely unable to do this. To get the speed boost a motorcycle would have to pop wheelies on a straightaway.
~ While the game does cater to a lot of different controller types I played it using the Wii controller inserted into the Wii Wheel. There is a learning curve if you're not used to the Wii Wheel. It makes steering easier but it makes pushing the various buttons difficult. It also makes flicking the controller as the vehicle leaves the ground so I can perform stunts a bit more difficult.
~ The online multiplayer is clunky. Why should I have to watch others race until it's my turn? Why are we all selecting different courses? Why weren't we all put on a randomly chosen course and left to battle it out? That's what we were expecting, after all.
~ While there are 28 playable characters and 32 different vehicles most have to be unlocked by completing various game goals. This is a bit frustrating to a child who wants to race as a certain character but finds that they've got to complete a goal to unlock them. Especially if that goal seems unattainable to them.
Would Likes:
* I'd like to see the classic Mario Kart course choices reworked so they are at the same level as the new courses made for the game.
* I'd like to see motorcycles be able to use a super mini-turbo boost after drifting through a turn like go-karts can.
* I'd like to see other, classic Nintendo characters added to the line-up instead of creating new ones like Funky Kong. Seamus and Link are two that would be a nice addition.
* I'd like the Grand Prix mode to be enabled for multiplayer.
* More characters available to use upon starting the game. Especially the favorite ones that most are eager to use.
Credit where credit is due:
Williams, Bryn. (2008, April 28). Mario kart wii. Retrieved from http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/mario-kart-wii/870096p1.html
Casamassina, Matt. (2008, April 20). Mario kart wii review. Retrieved from http://wii.ign.com/articles/868/868012p1.html
No comments:
Post a Comment