NetJak reports:
''I remember playing the original Super Mario Kart for the first time. I remember thinking that Nintendo characters doing something other than their standard was a weird gimmick, but unlikely to have any legs. In my defense, I was only 12 at the time. I remember thinking that it was patently unfair that Mario and Luigi got unlimited invincibility, and that Toad and Princess got an unlimited supply of an item I couldn't even get. But even still, I soldiered on until I got gold cups in everything. Right from the beginning, Mario Kart grabbed a reputation for being simple to grasp, filled with all sorts of little things to find, and having a punishing opponent AI even compared to most racing games. It's hard to believe, but now the game's sixth iteration, Mario Kart Wii, is in our hands. How does it hold up to past efforts?
First, the basic premise, for those who haven't noticed the series before now – Mario and many of the crew from his various video games race each other on go-karts. They go through all sorts of courses thematically similar to levels in games and fitting the character – Mario and Luigi have fairly simple race tracks, while you have to dodge all sorts of traps in Bowser's levels. And you get various items to use to attack your opponents and boost your speed, all for the chance to grab the gold and become the best racer possible. Fairly straightforward.
The most notable shift that this game has going for it is that it's packaged with the Wii Wheel, a plastic shell you can stick the Wiimote inside so that you actually control similar to an actual go-kart. However, much like Super Smash Bros. Brawl before it, you can also have just a remote on its own, use the remote with the nunchuck, use a Classic Controller, or even a plugged-in Gamecube controller. And to be honest, thank heavens they offered that option. You'll quickly note that despite the gimmick holding up for casual play, actually becoming great at Mario Kart requires using either a Gamecube controller or something plugged into the bottom of the Wiimote. The wheel is fun for messing around. And if that's all you want, you can stick with that and maybe even buy a few more for when friends come over. But if you actually want to win, then you'll want something else, and the Wii Wheel shell will just gather dust.''
