Mario Kart Wii snakes into stores April 27
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Mar 12th 2008 at 8:40AM }
Nintendo has announced that its frantic shell-flinging racer, Mario Kart Wii, will see its long-awaited US release on April 27th. The game will include the "intuitive" Wii Wheel, otherwise described as a large hunk of plastic capable of housing your Wii remote. We envision it being less useful for the actual game and better suited to the imaginary car we'll be driving everywhere, complete with lip-powered puttering and unexpected honking to annoy the coworkers at the office.
Once you stick Mario Kart Wii into your console, you'll be able to compete with up to 11 other drivers online across 32 courses (half of them recycled from previous games). You can also expect to encounter Mii integration, 10 battle arenas, alternate controller support and a festering hatred for blue shells.
Once you stick Mario Kart Wii into your console, you'll be able to compete with up to 11 other drivers online across 32 courses (half of them recycled from previous games). You can also expect to encounter Mii integration, 10 battle arenas, alternate controller support and a festering hatred for blue shells.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Antonio @ Mar 12th 2008 8:46AM
Damn this doesn't give us time to wear out Smash Bros. Nintendo must have a lot of stuff planned for the second half of the year.
ThePremierAssassin @ Mar 12th 2008 8:55AM
I highly doubt it...after Wii I'm kinda wondering what else there will be on the Wii that is a must have...
As much as I hate to say it Nintendo did expand themselves when it comes to the consumers but at the same time the Wii is a system that has a lot of limits IMO and therefore developers who are making big name games that require a lot of power, etc, are going to continue to release them on the 360 or the ps3.
While the Wii gets remakes and do overs time and again.
Instead of Resident Evil 5 Wii owners have to settle for Chronicles. Instead of Soul Calibur IV you got that retarded Soul Calibur "Legends" sh*t.
Yes Smash Bros and Mario Kart Wii will be big sellers but after that then what?
Even the ps3 has more hits than that...which is just sad.
Marry me Mario PSN: Killjebus @ Mar 12th 2008 11:10AM
Where have you been? Nintendo has NOT released alot of 1st party titles since the SNES. I wonder what's left for Nintendo fans 1st partywise for the rest of 2008. Can Nintendo fans enlighten me? I am just CURIOUS and NOT trying to start anything. No, really, I am.
samfish @ Mar 12th 2008 12:05PM
No one knows what's really coming for ANYONE in late 2008 at this point. Sony's release calendar is OK, but a little light (either RFoM2 or KZ2 isn't coming out, I'll bet)...and Nintendo and MS's schedules are completely unknown.
It's really not a big deal or something you should be concern trolling over. We'll hear plenty about what's coming up in about 2 or 3 months.
Mostly likely, though, Wii Fit is the summer game while Mario Kart is going to be the winter game for Nintendo.
xFenixKnightx @ Mar 12th 2008 12:57PM
"No one knows what's really coming for ANYONE in late 2008 at this point."
360 and PS3 have plenty left in the tank for this year. Not too sure about Wii though...
Dark Sector
Battlefield Bad Co.
GTA IV
Ninja Gaiden 2
Too Human
Starwars: Force Unleashed
Dead Space
Soul Calibur 4
Tekken 6
Prizefighter
Prototype
Gears of War 2
Far Cry 2
Lego Batman & Indy Jones
Resistance 2
MGS4
Metal Gear Online
Killzone 2
Wipeout HD
Resistance FoM2
Gran Turismo
Haze
Dark Void
Streetfighter 4
Banjo 3
Shall I go on?!! Its almost TOO much darnit. My wallet doesnt like this current-gen.
Charles @ Mar 12th 2008 2:44PM
agreed 100%...Seriously, my wallet ain't too happy either! I guess I'll buy this in May some time...Although, Brawl won't really get worn out just like Melee never really was worn out, right?
tmacairjordan87 @ Mar 12th 2008 3:59PM
"Mostly likely, though, Wii Fit is the summer game"
wow i would be extremely pissed off if the only "game" coming out in an entire season is that. I almost feel bad for wii-only owners.
Mr Khan @ Mar 12th 2008 5:15PM
3rd parties are stepping it up a bit more, as well. With Monster Hunter 3 and Fatal Frame IV, both of which will probably arrive at the end of the year
Factor 5 also has something in the works, although who they're working with is unknown.
baby sea tuna @ Mar 12th 2008 8:50AM
"Once you stick Mario Kart Wii into your console, you'll be able to compete with up to 11 other drivers online across 32 courses"
...yeah, providing that the disc actually works in your console...and the online servers don't overload and crash! But I'm sure Nintendo's got a plan in place, right? I mean, they'd never let that happen to one of their most popular franchises, would they?
/troll
Brian @ Mar 12th 2008 8:52AM
Mario Kart isn't a dual layered disc like brawl is so MK will work.
Go on and get out of here troll!
baby sea tuna @ Mar 12th 2008 8:54AM
Yeah, I'll be sure to get right on that.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 12th 2008 10:53AM
Make sure you enter all the new game specific friend codes too.
Nintendo online is epic failure.
Marry me Mario PSN: Killjebus @ Mar 12th 2008 11:07AM
What parallel universe did I step into? Nintendo criticism, from the Nintendo faithful?
I need to check my quantum signature ASAP. And calling BabySeaTuna a troll, that just confirms that I am no longer in the same universe.
What's next...North Korea becoming a democracy and the Dear Leader getting put on trial?
Brian @ Mar 12th 2008 8:55AM
Europe gets it at April the 11th :P
Oh happy days, 16 days before the US
Nigeria @ Mar 12th 2008 8:58AM
I hope Baby Park is still there, it was my favourite track from Mario Kart DS.
When I get my version, I'm going to use my Wii-wheel as a frisbee. I'll play extreme frisbee in my house, and possibly outside. Depends on the weather.
Co @ Mar 12th 2008 1:12PM
lol nice
samfish @ Mar 12th 2008 8:59AM
Yeah, and Hell is finally set to freeze over on Sunday, too.
There's no way it's coming out then. This is Nintendo. I'm expecting it to come out around September at the earliest, November being most likely.
baby sea tuna @ Mar 12th 2008 9:02AM
I'm inclined to agree actually. Given that they've only got like 3 more major first party titles that are supposed to come out this year (MK, Kirby, and Animal Crossing) it might not be the wisest thing to release this one so close to SSBB...not to mention GTA 4.
Nigeria @ Mar 12th 2008 9:11AM
Kirby was cancelled - forever.
baby sea tuna @ Mar 12th 2008 9:13AM
Really?!
That makes me a sad panda...er, tuna.
hoagie @ Mar 12th 2008 9:22AM
Gotta agree here too. Brawl will be occupying most of my time for the foreseeable future.
So we've got Brawl, Mario Kart, and Wii Fit all in a row. Probably nothing major in summer, and some key titles (Animal Crossing please!) in fall.
I'm so behind on games to finish (Lost Oddesy) there needs to be a dry spell somewhere. :D
flameofdoom666 @ Mar 12th 2008 10:19AM
Kirby was not cancled. Kirby was on the list to appear in 2008 in Japan atleast. A Kirby game would have to be awful to be cancled.
D_Average @ Mar 12th 2008 1:55PM
Mark my words...this game will NOT be delayed. Here's why...its sub par Mario Kart game...They are releasing it quietly the same week as GTA so nobody notices the downgrade...
A real pity too...the promise of a Wii Mario Kart was one of the selling points for me to pick up the Wii
Antonio @ Mar 12th 2008 4:15PM
Oh come on, Samfish, that's ridiculous. What you're asserting is that Nintendo will announce a 4-6 month delay between now and April 27th. Where's the logic in doing that? "Oh we were mistaken when we spoke three weeks ago, turns out we won't be able to release it for another couple of months. Oops, our bad y'all!"
b33eazy @ Mar 12th 2008 9:04AM
Why release two days b4 GTA4? That's not too smart or is it? It could detour some ppl from buying 360/ps3 smart Nintendo smart.
Me3 @ Mar 12th 2008 9:16AM
1. Luigi on the cover. Dig it.
2. Recommendation: please post Japan's release dates too, as there are readers of this site here as well.
Thanks.
xFenixKnightx @ Mar 12th 2008 9:17AM
Im all over this one. FO SHO =P
Dahk @ Mar 12th 2008 9:18AM
... I'd hate to drive using a wheel that I have to hold up in the air -_-.
Guess i can stick with the remote + nunchuk. Or maybe those GC controllers I ordered for brawl a couple days ago lol.
randomshagz @ Mar 12th 2008 9:24AM
I cant wait, the DS mario kart was great... it was my reason for getting a DS.
D_Average @ Mar 12th 2008 9:41AM
Nintendo has turned this game from Casual to Soccer Mom Casual in this iteration. Wider tracks, slower speeds, Mii Supper, Steering will....uggg
After the DS version of Kart it looked like the game had its edge back...I was really looking forward to what they'd do on this game.
Sadly, it must have been developed by the guys the didn't make the cut for the Smash dev team.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Mar 12th 2008 12:01PM
The wider tracks are to accomodate the fact that there are 12 racers instead of eight. I've read only a single hands on that says that the game is slower than Double Dash, and the 100cc vids up on IGN look faster than the 150cc in Double Dash. Lastly, according to several hands ons with the game, not only does the Wheel work, but it works pretty well.
D_Average @ Mar 12th 2008 1:06PM
Trust me, this game is gonna blow compared to Kart 64 and Kart for DS....This games only saving grace is the on-line mode
The Fuzz 53 @ Mar 12th 2008 9:54AM
Wow, releasing the same week as Grand Theft Auto 4. Now that is a ballsy move.
PojoMofo @ Mar 12th 2008 9:56AM
If this doesnt support the GC controller I will be PISSED!!
flameofdoom666 @ Mar 12th 2008 10:22AM
It supports all 4 like smash
Co @ Mar 12th 2008 1:16PM
More Wii games need to follow suit. How can offering control options be a bad thing?
jorg @ Mar 13th 2008 11:14PM
Is it Wifi like Smash Bros is Wifi?
Because I haven't been able to get the Wifi to work yet.
Jody Anthony (Good Eats Fanboy) @ Mar 12th 2008 9:59AM
I love smash bros and all but THIS is going to be my game of the forever.
s.mario @ Mar 12th 2008 10:14AM
what the heck is Nintendo going to sell us this holiday season? I mean, we've got Zelda, Metriod, Galaxy, Strikers, Smash Bros, Mario Kart....I wonder what they've got up their sleeve...
Currently playing Smash Bros, which is AMAZING!!! but the online so far blows...no names? no leader boards? no chat? WTF?
Mike D @ Mar 12th 2008 10:34AM
The only things I can think of:
Star Fox Wii
Another Zelda
Animal Crossing Wii
mattydread @ Mar 12th 2008 1:41PM
It'd be neat if they could come up with a new brand.
giantenemycrab @ Mar 12th 2008 1:51PM
Ahh, I hope Animal Crossing Wii comes out this year. I want that game so bad, I can't stand it.
D_Average @ Mar 12th 2008 2:16PM
I'll tell you whats coming out this holiday...Mario Tennis baby!!...Its always been a good game, and with Wii Tennis as one of the biggest main stream games Nintendo would be a fool not to follow it up with a more robust online experience!
And don't say we already have Sega Tennis...There is no online, and Sonic doesn't have the same charm as Mario with the Soccer Moms
ChooChooCharlie @ Mar 12th 2008 3:03PM
I'm still praying for Pikmin Wii.
tmacairjordan87 @ Mar 12th 2008 4:03PM
"It'd be neat if they could come up with a new brand"
lol that was pretty funny
Mr Khan @ Mar 12th 2008 5:10PM
They actually do have a new brand in store by their newly acquired developer. Disaster: Day of Crisis. Its on track for 08, but all we've seen so far is concept movies and art at E3 06, and some pre-alpha stuff at E3 07
Michael C. Sherrin @ Mar 12th 2008 10:15AM
Great, the day before GTA 4. Talk about bad scheduling. I'm gonna have to get a second TV so I can play both at the same time.
*****
Michael C. Sherrin
http://www.prodigeek.com/
THRILLHO @ Mar 12th 2008 10:19AM
this holiday will probably be animal crossing and superstar baseball wii, as long as kart doesnt get delayed.
flameofdoom666 @ Mar 12th 2008 10:23AM
I feel like either StarFox, F Zero, Animal Crossing, and Pikmin 3 (one of them)- will be out for the holiday season.
Mike D @ Mar 12th 2008 10:35AM
FZero is a good guess. Maybe that's why they wanted Kart in the spring to give a good buffer between racing games.
Maybe also Wii Sports 2?