Joystiq

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

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving, Metareviews

Yes, Europe. It's shocking, but Mario Kart Wii comes out in North America tomorrow. But, y'all are probably over the latest real kart simulator and have moved on to enjoying Wii Fit. The continent where the history comes from already reviewed Mario Kart Wii many moons ago and rated it a perfectly competent experience. What do the American outlets think? Pretty much the same thing.

IGN (85/100): "Every player is going to have their own love/hate relationship with Mario Kart Wii, but in the end the game does so many things right that it'd be foolish not to give credit where due. Online seriously raises the bar for Nintendo, trumping even Smash in a big, big way. ... It isn't the best Mario Kart in the series, but it's a must-play experience on Wii, and standard-setting offering as far as online, channel support, and connectivity are concerned. Now if you'll excuse us, we've got some online stats to obsess over. "
GameTrailers (84/100): "Generally, video game franchises move forward with each successive release. In this case, Mario Kart for the Wii has taken a few steps forward, and one huge step back. This is the first case of Nintendo not finding a happy medium between accessibility and servicing hardcore players. Yet if you get a group of people together on a Saturday night to play you'll be the only one complaining. While the competitive spirit may be quelled, there's no denying that the foundation here is solid, and the addition of bikes, tricks, and online play are all positives that no one can deny."
GameTap (80/100): "Mario Kart makes a good case for connecting the Wii online, too. Via the Mario Kart Channel, you race other gamers from around the world in an eight-driver contest; you can even see which countries they represent. This is the way to go for multiplayer karting. ... But online or off, you can't go wrong with Mario Kart. If this is your first experience or you've been absent for a while you're in for a treat. If you're a grizzled MK vet at least you can pit your skills with racers around the world--and still have something to grumble about. "

Gallery: Mario Kart Wii

Need a Kart fix? Check out all our coverage of Mario Kart Wii!

Metareview (US Edition) -- Mario Kart Wii (Wii) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving

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

Metareview (Euro Edition) -- Mario Kart Wii (Wii) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Mario Kart Wii may also be plagued by disc read errors

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii

Did your nearly two years of anticipation come to an anticlimactic conclusion last month when your stubborn, soiled Nintendo Wii refused to play the pristine copy of Smash Bros. Brawl you'd just purchased? If you were one of the unlucky owners of an unkempt Wii whose dust-covered laser couldn't read the dual-layer Brawl disc, we've got bad news -- there's a chance your bedraggled home console will refuse to read Mario Kart Wii as well.

GoNintendo cited German gaming news site GameFront with reporting numerous complaints from owners of the Japanese version of the game, saying it often refuses to load and is plagued by frequent crashes -- likely due to the same dual-layered woes suffered by Brawl. Thing is, we can't find any reports of Mario Kart Wii being a dual-layered game -- on the contrary, some early purchasers (and those who obtained the game through more ... dubious channels) are certain it's single-layered. We doubt it's cause for widespread panic -- but keep a wary eye out for further complaints.

Rumor: Mario Kart Wii may also be plagued by disc read errors originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese Mario Kart Wii video smorgasbord

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving

If you weren't turned off from Mario Kart Wii after the announcement that it would be sans-serpentile-steering, the gaggle of (somewhat poor quality) gameplay videos recently posted by GameTrailers might just tickle your fancy. Featuring the above intro for the Japanese version of the game as well as a number of features on some of the series' returning maps, it certainly fired a nostalgic red shell into our heart of hearts. We'll be bringing those blue sparks when the game hits U.S. store shelves on April 27 -- who wants to be first for a five-course meal consisting solely of banana peels and our dust?

Japanese Mario Kart Wii video smorgasbord originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo details Mario Kart Wii channel, online play

Kyle Orland — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:40:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving, Online

We've known for a while that Mario Kart Wii would support twelve-player online races, but given Nintendo's less-than-stellar online record, we were a little worried about how smooth the online experience would be. Well, we're a little less worried now that the Nintendo UK web site has revealed some details of how online racing on the Wii will work. Among the details discussed:

Spectator mode - When you join a room in progress, you can watch the race unfold while waiting for a new one to start.
Global friend view - Lets you view your friends' locations and online status.
Room structure - Host chooses race type, but player votes determine course selection.

The site also revealed a dedicated Mario Kart Wii channel, which can be run independently of the disc-version of the game. The channel lets players view global rankings, share and download ghost data, and download daily missions (similar to those found in Mario Kart DS). Can we suggest a mission dedicated to arranging dropped banana peels into jaunty patterns? That would be awesome.

[Via WiiFanboy]

Nintendo details Mario Kart Wii channel, online play originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mario Kart Wii supports 8-player battle mode

Scott Jon Siegel — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving, Online

Twelve players might be a nice round number for straight-out races, but we've still been waiting patiently to see how many online opponents Nintendo will allow us in Mario Kart Wii's version of the classic battle modes. Jeux France reports that eight players will be able to duke it out in the game's battle modes.

To arrive at the magic number yourself, check out the radar in the lower-right of the above picture. Eight icons are clearly visible, making for ample amounts of balloons to burst, and stars to steal. We're sad that twelve-player support isn't possible in the battle mode, but we'll definitely take what we can get.

[Via Wii Fanboy]

Gallery: Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii supports 8-player battle mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mario Kart Wii features text chat; still no voice support

Scott Jon Siegel — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:55:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving, Online

The Wii is woefully behind the curve in terms of online features, a problem that Nintendo is slowly trying to fix with upcoming AAA titles like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Wii. While the former won't offer much by way of in-game communication, the latter will in fact feature chat room options, allowing users to text it up with anyone on their Wii Friends list.

IGN reports that the texting option in Mario Kart Wii is limited to people you've swapped friends codes with (of course), and text-chatting is only possible before, and presumably after, racing matches. Text entry via Wii Remote is assumed, and IGN wagers that USB keyboards may be supported as well, as keyboard support has been included in most Wii software.

It's no voice chat, to be sure, but at least we'll be able to argue with friends over the fairness of blue shells.

[Thanks, Bigfoot]

Mario Kart Wii features text chat; still no voice support originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mario Kart megaton: Mii integration, online menu navigation, and tracks exposed

David Hinkle — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Screens

Hot on the heels of yesterday's news (and today's, for that matter) on everyone's favorite upcoming racer, Mario kart Wii, comes fresh screens depicting a variety of the game's selling points. We get to see Mii integration (above), as well as a taste for some of the tracks making their way into the game, new and old alike. Not only that, but we get some screens for navigating the online arena and setting up a race.

For all of the eye candy, check out our gallery below.

Mario Kart megaton: Mii integration, online menu navigation, and tracks exposed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mario Kart Wii preview discusses new control methods

Kyle Orland — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving

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.

Mario Kart Wii preview discusses new control methods originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC08: Nintendo sheds more light on Mario Kart Wii

David Hinkle — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: News, Nintendo Wi-Fi, Peripherals

IGN got their lucky, lucky hands on the latest build of Mario Kart Wii recently, taking the time to carefully analyze the differences between this game and the installments of old. Following this, they wrote a five-page preview on the game. We've read the whole thing (omg no wai?!). We're excited.

First of all, each racer now has a plethora of rides to choose from: three karts and three bikes each. These are available from the start of the game. Also, the CC classes return, but with a small twist. The 50CC bracket is for karts only, the 100CC bracket is for bikes only and the 150CC is a mixture of both. IGN notes the difference between the two as the bikes having a tougher time with turns, but being easier to boost with (tip the wheel back to do a wheelie, hold it then zoom off). As for karts, they'll get boosts from powerslides, providing more boost depending on how long the player holds it, eliminating the need to slam on the d-pad to generate these anymore (we're not sure if this means no more snaking or not). Stunts will also provide boosts, allowing a player to perform a mid-air stunt off of a jump and shoot off once they land on the track.

Continue reading GDC08: Nintendo sheds more light on Mario Kart Wii

GDC08: Nintendo sheds more light on Mario Kart Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mario Kart screens reveal playable Koopa Troopa, stunt track

Chris Greenhough — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screens

The folks at Nintencast have posted a clutch of new Mario Kart Wii screens, and even taken the time to extract fresh factoids about the game from said shots. While one or two of their findings are less than earth-shattering ("Luigi's circuit is still a simple track"), the odd nugget will prove interesting to those following the game's progress.

For instance, we now know that Koopa Troopa will be making only his third appearance in a Mario Kart game (having previously appeared in Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!), that race spectators will comprise entirely of Miis, and that the game will feature a kind of "half-pipe" track, presumably to encourage players to pull off stunts, a new addition to the series. We're still not totally convinced by the sight of Donkey Kong performing a handstand while riding a motorbike, but Nintendo doesn't often drop the ball on this series, so we'll remain quietly confident for now.

Admittedly, a handful of these screens did already appear in the Famitsu scans we posted a couple of weeks back, but the majority are new to us. Accelerate past the break for more, or race over the "Read" link at the bottom of this post to access the full set.

Continue reading Mario Kart screens reveal playable Koopa Troopa, stunt track

Mario Kart screens reveal playable Koopa Troopa, stunt track originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: On Mario Kart Wii

Chris Greenhough — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Wii Warm Up

We've been hearing new details about Mario Kart Wii recently, and it's pretty clear that there's going to be some notable tweaks made to the tried-and-trusted formula. Firstly, we should make one thing clear: we are genuinely thrilled about many of these modifications. Online leagues, global rankings, and online multiplayer for up to twelve people is the stuff dreams were made of back in 1991, when Super Mario Kart (above) was soaking up our afternoons like a particularly fun, addictive sponge (and on a tangential note, how well has that game aged?).

But look at some of the other changes being made: we already know about the bikes, but it looks like the game will also include aerial tricks and bike wheelies, introducing some sort of stunt element to the experience. Is this a case of Nintendo over-egging Mario Kart, in the same way that it over-egged Mario Kart: Double Dash!!? There's an awful lot to be excited about when it comes to Mario Kart Wii, but are you Mario Kart traditionalists concerned by some of these new developments, or is it simply too soon to tell?

Wii Warm Up: On Mario Kart Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Animal Crossing and Kirby coming to Japanese Wii in '08

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii

According to Nintendo financial documents, "social networking MMO" Animal Crossing and a new Kirby title will hit the Japanese Wii this year, along with some other notable titles. ShackNews posted the Nintendo financial docs showing that beyond Animal Crossing and Kirby, there is also Wii Music, Disaster: Day of Crisis, Super Mario Stadium Family Baseball, and Everyone's Common Knowledge Television -- that last one sounds like it might stay in Japan.

The document also shows that Mario Kart Wii is still expected for the spring in North America and Q2 for Europe, but there isn't much more beyond that at this time. That doesn't mean Nintendo doesn't have something up its sleeve, just that it isn't on this financial document from Nintendo Japan.

Animal Crossing and Kirby coming to Japanese Wii in '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ONM: Mario Kart Wii supports 16 online, includes DS maps [Updated]

Justin McElroy — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:35:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving

We haven't heard much about Mario Kart Wii since it was unveiled at E3. Thanks to one intrepid forum goer with just a scanner and a dream, we now have a little more info on the game from the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine.

Apparently MKW will support up to 16 players in a game (does that translate to 16 different characters?) and will be the first in the series to offer Battle Mode online. Oh, and you can now perform stunts in the air. We're not yet sure if we should be troubled by the fact that in addition to some Wii-exclusive maps, "classic DS tracks will be recreated with Wii graphics." We're going to hold off on getting worried until we see how many new tracks are being included. But let's hope for at least half-and-half, eh?

Update: According to CVG, Official Nintendo Magazine has released a statement saying, "The details printed in Official Nintendo Magazine 21 regarding Mario Kart Wii were healthy speculation on our part and are in no way an official announcement from Nintendo. We are sorry if we have mislead anyone. We do not set out to mislead our readers. ONM apologizes profusely for any misunderstandings that this has caused."

So, did ONM spill a few beans too early, or were they just making stuff up?

[Thanks, Ian]

ONM: Mario Kart Wii supports 16 online, includes DS maps [Updated] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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