Mario Kart Wii preview discusses new control methods

by Kyle Orland on Feb 19th 2008 4:45PM

Mario Kart fans worried that the Wii remote/Wii Wheel combination would lead to an uncomfortable lack of precision in the upcoming Mario Kart Wii (yes, that's the official name) can breath a sigh of relief. A new 1UP preview of the game reveals that, much like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the racer will also support more traditional controls via a GameCube pad, a remote/Nunchuk combo, or the Wii's Classic Controller.

While the preview notes somewhat predictably that the Wii Wheel controls "took a little while to get used to," the other play styles were reportedly "quite responsive and instantly familiar." There are some advantages to the motion-sensitive controllers though -- while a quick shake of the Wii Wheel and/or Nunchuk will perform the game's new mid-air tricks, the Gamecube and Classic controllers require players to "awkwardly [reach] for the directional pad," according to the preview.

The full article goes into more detail on the game's new items, new motorcycles, new power-sliding options and a new Mario Kart channel for online play. Check it out if, uh, you like hearing about new stuff.

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Tags: mario kart, mario kart wii, mario-kart, mario-kart-wii, MarioKart, MarioKartWii, MKWii, Super Mario Kart, SuperMarioKart, Wii

Reader Comments (83)

OK... before this game is released... I can beat anyone from Joystiq in Mario Kart =p

Are you implying that you're really good at Mario Kart or that the game is going to get delayed?

Oh you are so asking for trouble!

Well... Mario Kart Double Dash was and still is my most played game. I'm very good.

Specially because I can dodge blue shells.

Fernando - I want to see you play against that jackass "Tranando".

+1 for not hating on Double Dash. I think it's the best in the franchise by a longshot.

Tranando is busy at ER from his dick getting stuck in his ps3 again.

@Brello

In fact... Double Dash is my favorite Mario Kart. I love the controls, the sense of speed, the balance between the characters.

A lot of people love the DS version, but meh... it's not my favorite... plus, the snakers killed the game. But still, I'm not so bad in Mario Kart DS.

If anyone wants to play Mario DS online, just tell me. I have been playing MK with Raikages and ThorneVenom. =)

@deaftly

lol!

I can dodge blue shells as well, but I'm not sure that makes me the best player on Joystiq. Perhaps you should avoid making such declarations until you have more proof (like winning a tournament rather than beating some friends)?

But... Double Dash didn't have online... so how do you know how good you really are? Hmmmm?!

Why Fernando are you downtalking snakers when YOU were the biggest one out of us two? >_<

You were practically snaking past us, and then WAITING for us to reach your point!

Now if it was compatible with that tommy gun lookin' Wii Zapper(or even Nyko's "Cop Killer" XD), I'd be amazed.

Nintendo needs to start selling new Gamecube controllers again, along with the Wavebird. All these damn aftermarket knock-offs suck.

I hear you. I can still buy a new N64 controller from the nintendo store, but cannot buy a wavebird. It's ridiculous. I'd love a second wavebird, but I'm not paying some dirty bastard on amazon/ebay $80 for a used one that 'might' work. Bring back the Wavebird!

I always say this: Here in Laredo, Tx, theres a warehouse with a lot of old accesories and hardware. Brand new. They still sell N64 systems, Dreamcast, PS1... they even have original accesories for the NES, Gameboy brick...

They sell the platinum Wavebirds at $35 dlls, if anyone is interested, just tell me.

i wouldn't even mind if they where wired, i just hate 3rd party controllers, they are awkward sizes

Indeed, the classic controller isn't very good for a gamecube replacement because the Dpad and left analog are not swapped.

Yeah, I wish they'd bring back the wavebird.

A Wavebird with a Wii color scheme would be swell.
and rumble

"the Gamecube and Classic controllers require players to "awkwardly [reach] for the directional pad"

What? So I can't steer normally with the D-pad on the Classic Controller? They are used for stupid tricks instead? :(

Also what about that steering wheel thing? So you can still control it with motion and/or using the d-pad ?

No, you steer with motion and you aim the special items with the DPad.

Reminds me of trying to run SMW with the GameCube controller. Have to hold Y to run, and press A to jump... such a pain in the arse.

"uncomfortable lack of precision" WHAT?? I thought these controls, the ones that were the entire basis for this console existing, were supposed to allow for such precise control as we'd ever seen??

Wii = excuse to crank out nintendo games. Is anyone else going to support this thing well enough to prevent it from gamecubing?

Millions and millions people are supporting. So STFU.

are you retarded or something? Developers sure aren't supporting it, unless you mean cranking out shovelwear that does nothing but put a bad taste in peoples mouths for failing to deliver. Nintendo is the only developer that's really doing anything with it, just like the gamecube and we all know how that ended. The hype will die and then what will the Wii have? Great first party titles and nothing else, just like the gamecube. this console is destined to die sooner than it should. Then again, it probably never should have been made in the first place.

Got a more mature and more well thought out rebuttal Fernando? (if that's possible)
Perhaps a "Your Mom" or "That's what she said?"... =p
Oh but I forgot "STFU" is the comeback of all comebacks. I'll just crawl back into my hole now.

Is there ANY skin left on your knuckles at this point?

"Great first party titles and nothing else, just like the gamecube. this console is destined to die sooner than it should. Then again, it probably never should have been made in the first place."

Lol, you're a dolt. Never should've been made in the 1st place? Sure, how dare anyone stray from releasing something with anything other than traditional gamepad design, blasphemy!

Don't be such a toolbox. ExciteTruck has the best control of any racing game I've ever played, and cannot be duplicated unless you buy a big racing wheel peripheral. If MarioKart can get a similar feel, it'll be a fun game with that control method also.

haha excite truck was trash with maybe 1 hours worth of "fun" game play. After that it was chimp-simple and boring.

By the way... Chuck Norris can kick the shit out Steven Seagal anyday, noob.

"just like the gamecube and we all know how that ended"

If I remember correctly, it ended with Nintendo making a profit.

@ Fernando, true, but seagal can kick viewtiful joe's but any day.

@ martez, also true, but it also ended with gc gamers not having as much to play as they should have. but, if the nintendo's profits are more important to you than games, well, uh... congrats?

Yeah, game wise it is the gamecube all over again, the 1-2 great games and 5ish or so decent games a year. I pretty much only got the Wii just because I know the Nintendo games would be great, same with the Sony titles for the PS3. Got the 360 for everything else. (BTW Lost Odyssey is absolutely fantastic if you really enjoyed FF7-10, it might as well be a Final Fantasy game. Dont listen to the reviews.)

*offtopic* But what if you didn't enjoy FF7-FFX? What if you regard them as the low points of the series (save FF9)? Will it appeal to someone who prefers Chrono Cross or Final Fantasy 6? Because this game has definitely been on my radar, but I don't want to spend money on another FF-like RPG to learn that its trash.

*back on topic* Hey, jsn, hows about you actually read the article? Pay attention where it says that the motion controls are actually 'responsive and instantly familiar'. They're so that anyone who doesn't plan on using a button-based controller or is put off by supposed complexety can just jump right in, and I don't see that as a problem. In fact, I think the only people who would are the kind of person who look for any excuse to bash a console they don't like.

It's 2008 now. Each and every single one of the systems available has awesome games available for them - the Wii included. If you can't see this, I really don't care. I paused NMH to type this up, and I'm already regretting the lost time.

jsn, you say the same thing in every Nintendo post.. We get it already, its getting creepy..

Why would you even buy a Wii if you're so obsessed with hating it?.. You do own one right? Your not getting upset about something you dont own are you?

@Fatass, so far it seems like FF7/FFX more then anything, so if you didnt enjoy those i would pass on it.

What exactly makes it like FFX/FF7? Is it the mood of the game? (I adored the mood from FF7, the game's only redeeming feature IMO. FFX, not so much.) The battle system? Meh, no need to answer those, I'll just watch a few reviews and rent the game.

Yeah, damn Nintendo for making fun games! They should make shitty games so that other developers won't feel so intimidated! IT MAKES SO MUCH GODDAMN SENSE NOW.

"haha excite truck was trash with maybe 1 hours worth of "fun" game play. After that it was chimp-simple and boring."

Hahaha what? Oh god. I feel so sorry for you. That's like saying "oh sex, lol that's like 1 minute of fun and after that it's boring"... pathetic. Sucks to be you I guess.

JSN, I know you're on some holy crusade against the Wii, but you're not gonna influence anything or anyone. It's pretty sad to see you go apeshit like a retard all over this thread though, haha!

If the Wii remote and Nunchuck are so innovative, why do you even have the options for the Classic and Gamecube controllers? I mean, I know that it comes with the "Wii Wheel" (Great name by the way [notice the sarcasm]), but the Wii is supposed to be "innovative" and "change the way you play games". Yeah, you're changing the way I play games by giving me the same controller...

/end rant

I am really excited to get my hands on this game. I don't own or plan on buying a Wii, but my good friend does, and I imagine that I'll be spending a lot of time over his house playing this game. I loved Double Dash, and it's predecessors. I'll probably wind up using the Gamecube Controller.

you know why.. because nintendo knew that it could always cash in with his "classic character games" and the gamecube was dead and buried. They needed a way to reuse some parts and create a platform for their "classic character games" so they give you the Wii. The gamecube 2.0 with "unique controllers" that in the end will never really be used. Once they run out of excite go-cart and mario (insert whatever here) and all those rehash games that nintendo always makes the Wii will go the way of the gamecube.

"The gamecube 2.0 with "unique controllers"

Well... the Wii has the best FPS controls... a lot lot lot better tha double analogs.

Just ask Samus.

PS... I know I am annoying... but you... you need a whole different word.

What?

Double Sticks utterly bends the Wii controls over. Its a gimmick.

"Well... the Wii has the best FPS controls... "

The PC gamers are gonna jump you for that.

*Jesus jumps Fernando*

Fernando: You're the reason Nintendo knew they could perpetuate the scam that is the Wii on the public. They knew tools like you would lap up anything they slap Mario, Luigi or any of those old characters on. The fact that they managed to generate so much hype off of Wiisports, a title they never intended to follow up on with any serious development, was just a stroke of luck for them.

Me: I'm someone who bought the hype and refuses to pretend that it's anything other than what I've said it is. The Wii is nothing but a scam so they can release the same games they would have released if the gamecube hadn't bombed. The controls are hype. We're up to two A-list titles now (the most recent two at that) that are BETTER without using their "NEW and INNOVATIVE controls". YOu're a sucker my friend and the fact that you aren't aware of it makes it all the more sad.

Wii IR Pointer is the closest to a mouse pointer in a console. You need to try Metroid Prime 3. The controls are more faster and more accurate than double analogs.

This is called Nintendo not alienating their core userbase, something that they've been accused of all the time. This way those that loved the old system still have what they want, but the new options provide accessibility to those unfamiliar with the old system

They're damned if they do (lol so whats wrong with the motion controls?) and damned if they don't (fuck Waggle-kart), apparently

And how about the PS3 and his Sixaxis? Never used...

How about Bluray? The best games (CoD4, Devil May Cy, Burnout... heck, every multiplatformer game is in Bluray, using less than 9GB!), even first party titles.

"If the Wii remote and Nunchuck are so innovative, why do you even have the options for the Classic and Gamecube controllers?"

Um, maybe it's because Mario Kart, just like Smash Bros, has a loyal following of fans that are used to playing a certain way and have perfected their own styles.

Nintendo IS giving you new controls, but at the time allowing fans of the previous titles other options so as not to alienate their most loyal followers. If you want to use the new controls, fine. If you prefer the old method, that's fine too. Everybody wins.

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Mario Kart Wii preview discusses new control methods

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