Metareview (Euro Edition) -- Mario Kart Wii (Wii)

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 16th 2008 at 4:00AM }

As we continue to cope with the fact that Europe got a Nintendo game before North America (instead of six months later), we've had the surreal experience of perusing European reviews for Mario Kart Wii a couple weeks before its NA debut. The European outlets have given the game solid marks, but don't expect this iteration to rethink the Mario Kart experience for those who aren't fans.

IGN UK (89/100): "Despite a few minor flaws - most notably the failure that is offline Battle mode - the sheer quality of this latest Mario Kart installment pretty much sits it right alongside the near-faultless SNES original. Despite initial fears, this is proper Mario Kart, and it's Mario Kart done right. It's fast, it's fun and still one of the best party games ever created. Thanks to some seriously well-implemented online options though, it brings so much more to the table than its forebears, most notably in terms of longevity."
CVG (88/100): "A really solid Mario Kart with a terrific online setup. There's plenty here to make up for the disappointment of local multiplayer, but it does stop short of magnificence."
EuroGamer (80/100): "Ultimately, the sheer sensory pleasure of playing Mario Kart Wii - from the charming animations, to the bopping tunes, to the sugar-rush boosting, to the exquisite steering - far overcomes the few concerns we have about it. It still has to be docked a mark for the awkward structure and compromised battle modes - but it's still unreservedly recommended to anyone for whom Mario Kart is a gaming cornerstone. And really, that should be everyone."

Gallery: Mario Kart Wii

Tags: mario-kart-wii, mariokartwii, metareview, metareviews

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Laggy @ Apr 16th 2008 4:10AM

Australia's going to get this game soon as well. What is happening with the world? Alas, it will still proudly wear the rrp of $99.95.

Baby steps, baby steps.

V1L3 @ Apr 16th 2008 5:02AM

You think that's bad?

The Herald Sun reported that the Wii Wheel was going to retail for AU$40.

V1L3 @ Apr 16th 2008 5:34AM

Now that I actually think to check, it looks as though it's going to be a slightly-more-palatable AU$20.

Which, I take it, means the US version is going to be US$10 after all. Since we generally pay double.

Kayel @ Apr 16th 2008 4:18AM

Surprise! A major Mario title getting solid reviews.

BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186] @ Apr 16th 2008 4:28AM

Surprise! Mario haters still hating.

Kye - Joystiq Greybeard @ Apr 16th 2008 4:50AM

People don't say Mario games are good because they like Mario.

People like Mario is good because he has good games.

Kayel @ Apr 16th 2008 8:14AM

Who said anything about hating Mario? All I'm saying is just what I said, did anyone expect anything other than this? Nintendo has been extremely solid with these titles.

Schmobu @ Apr 16th 2008 4:34PM

You's did hate on this guy a bit early, but mario games do generally get good reviews cause they are good, why even Yahtzee gave paper mario and galaxy good reviews, and he generally hates most of the games he reviews.

BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186] @ Apr 16th 2008 10:03PM

Didn't Mario & Sonic get reviewed poorly?

Of course, that was developed by Sega, so.....

mail @ Apr 16th 2008 4:41AM

snes battlemode map 4 on this, so good! been enjoying that. It's also been fun racing germans, spaniards, japanese and british all in the same race! Though it did reduce the framerate.

Mattb90 @ Apr 16th 2008 5:06AM

Might be worth a look at the review from Edge (highly respected UK mag). They gave it 6/10 and it's available to view online at http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9932&Itemid=51

However, I'm finding the game a lot of fun with the Wiimote + Nunchuck combination, and it's certainly making up for some of the failings of Double Dash.

MasterInsan0 @ Apr 16th 2008 5:58AM

It sounds to me like the reviewer was pissy that they took away some of his exploits.

t_m @ Apr 16th 2008 7:36AM

Well, EDGE do actually rate on a 1-10 scale, rather than a 6-10 scale like most other sites/mags. So a 6/10 from them is still above average. More like a 7.5-8 on most other sites.

Ian @ Apr 16th 2008 4:55AM

I've been playing this pretty solidly for about 6 days now and I am very impressed. The online mode is smooth and without lag. In around 100 online races, I am yet to receive lag. If it does exist, the game hides it wonderfully. Also, very rarely does it disconnect. Maybe one in 25 games. Well done Nintendo. Online is awesome. If you are looking for a Mario Kart Wii, then look no further than:

http://www.MarioKartWii.com

Kye - Joystiq Greybeard @ Apr 16th 2008 5:01AM

"People like Mario is good because he has good games."

Allow me to explain myself.
The original sentence started to say "mario is good.." but then I decided to say "people like mario..."
But obviously I forgot to correct the rest of the sentence.

It should read:

People like Mario because his games are good.

anthony @ Apr 16th 2008 5:39AM

Ignore that review from Edge magazine, who ever wrote it was obviously having a very bad day. I have been enjoying Mario Kart for the last 4 days and its 8.5 or 9/10 game.

Jamie @ Apr 16th 2008 6:10AM

Also, GamesTM gave it 6/10

t_m @ Apr 16th 2008 7:33AM

Hm. I always thought that GamesTM and EDGE were suspiciously similar.

Cutty @ Apr 16th 2008 11:42AM

GamesTM's review was for the single-player mode only and they made this fact very clear. The online review will come at a later date.

Godmil @ Apr 16th 2008 6:30AM

So it *is* out in the UK? I saw it in the shop but thought it was mislabeled preorder boxes. I wonder why we got it before the US?

Poisoned Al @ Apr 16th 2008 6:39AM

Simple. The US dollar ain't worth shit! Even the pound that isn't doing great, is still worth a lot more then the dollar. So instead of selling their first units were they all get the least ammout of money for them, they sold it in Europe where the euro and the pound give them the biggest turn around.

Until their economy stops sucking, American's need to learn how to suck it up like we used to.

Mattb90 @ Apr 16th 2008 6:45AM

It's out in the UK, but can be hard to get hold of. I picked it up at lunchtime on release day (Friday), but a housemate of mine couldn't get it three hours later, and hasn't been able to do so since either.

NATO_Duke @ Apr 16th 2008 10:20AM

Al, our economy isn't why the game is released there first. How much our dollar is worth does not effect whether the game is received well. People would buy it in the same numbers in Europe no matter what american's were able to spend, as long as the game was reviewed well.

(Average Joe does not go online to see units sold in any place to decide if a game is worth buying.)

Do you feel better that you got your anti-American comment out?

Godmil @ Apr 16th 2008 11:19AM

Al, that makes a lot of sense. If you have limited stock, probably best to send it to the place where you'll get the highest profits. Thanks.

NATO_Duke @ Apr 16th 2008 12:22PM

...you assume there is limited stock. Why the heck would there be?

Jamie @ Apr 16th 2008 6:38AM

They like to throw us the odd scrap from the table every now and then.

Poisoned Al @ Apr 16th 2008 6:42AM

Yes, that's sound business practice for a large, multinational corporation isn't it?

Stu L Tissimus @ Apr 16th 2008 6:39AM

I have mixed feelings about MKWii. I'm no graphics whore, but quite frankly, the models are worse than the GCN version. And you KNOW they could do better - so why didn't they?

In any case, the online is great (and makes me question Sakurai's "oh we didn't want to track your wins/losses" argument).

Fatass of Kickassness @ Apr 16th 2008 12:31PM

I've played the game (don't ask how), and though the models are very slightly worse than the ones in the Gamecube version, the karts/bikes themselves look pretty good (better than DDs) and the tracks look much better than DD's tracks did.

Mr Khan @ Apr 16th 2008 5:19PM

While i would agree that the models borderline on unacceptable, there is a level of polish in the animations and special effects that DD certainly didn't have

Definitely could have done better, though. GC did F-Zero GX with 30 on-screen great-looking vehicles at 60 fps, what's their excuse

Jago @ Apr 16th 2008 6:45AM

I've had this game for about a week now, I was very very skeptical of this MK seeing how much it looked like Double Dash(which I hated) but I must say it's probably now my favorite MK to date. 12 player online racing with NO lag is way too much fun. It's got the best online component Nintendo has done so far, it's almost perfect.(still can't add random people you race against) but you can join your friends, have split screen online madness etc. The only thing that sucks is the new battlemode, everything else is better than the previous Mariokarts.

FOXHOUND @ Apr 16th 2008 7:04AM

Wait... what's wrong with the offline multiplayer? >_o?

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 16th 2008 8:01AM

I was going to ask the same thing. Does it not have four player split or something?

Mike @ Apr 16th 2008 8:10AM

The oversized courses feel empty with four players, and battle mode doesn't offer a free-for-all mode anymore. Basically they ruined the two best aspects of Mario Kart 64.

FOXHOUND @ Apr 16th 2008 8:58AM

That's not... too bad... I guess...? I thought they had nixed offline multiplayer or limited the game modes themselves; not the features(or coursemap in this case).

*cue sigh of relief*

Tim The Enchanter @ Apr 16th 2008 12:50PM

You mean if you play two player offline, you won't have any other characters in a race except each other? That does/would suck...

ggoofer @ Apr 16th 2008 8:23AM

I read an IGN preview that said the game was slow and especially easy... I guess this isn't actually the case?

knowthyself @ Apr 16th 2008 8:33AM

Its nice to see it improves on Double Dash. I wish they'd get rid of those baby characters though. Whats the point of having TWO mario's?

riggs @ Apr 16th 2008 8:52AM

ones cuter

ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 16th 2008 8:49AM

Let the haters hate...

samfish @ Apr 16th 2008 9:05AM

I'm so mad about the gimped battle mode that I'm not sure I'll buy it.
Kinda sucks.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 16th 2008 9:12AM

Well, the best Battle Mode is coming.... *cues Twisted Metal logo*

SillyShiggy WSN (if it had one): lovsatan @ Apr 16th 2008 9:22AM

You make me a sad Shiggy.

samfish @ Apr 16th 2008 9:41AM

Well maybe next time you'll think twice before implementing team-only battle modes!

I HOPE YOU LOSE TO COLBERT!

SillyShiggy WSN (if it had one): lovsatan @ Apr 16th 2008 9:52AM

Well, if I must lose, I too hope it would be to the best.

Jfk Aok @ Apr 16th 2008 10:30AM

I love how people praise a game cause it fixes some of the issues with the last game of the series (that stunk btw) and totally effs up about 3 other things.

So Nintendo can continue that trend and for the next "iteration." Fix 1 of those 3 things and get praise for that...then create 2 new issues for absolutely no reason (usually something they already had right years ago) so they have something to "improve on."
If they did this for the next Blizzard, Valve or Bungie game, people would be rightfully pissed and give the game a dump review like the occasional 6's you see, but no...it's nintendo. This is what they do.