Mario Kart Wii: Is it worth it?
May 1st, 2008 Posted in Games, Reviews
The game needs no introduction. If you’re a gamer that’s worth their salt, then you know about this game because you’ve most likely played one of the many prior versions. If you’ve come here to read a review about the game, then it’s likely that you’ve read a few before you came here… So I don’t feel the need to explain what the game is all about.
So what can I do that’s different? Good question, actually… What I hoped to do was provide some sort of “Anti-review” providing reasons why you might NOT want to purchase the game; however, as a testament to its brilliance, I found this to be quite the difficult task indeed. Let’s trying!
First of all, I didn’t think that there were people living and breathing on this planet who had played Mario Kart and not loved it. But there are. A good friend of mine told me recently that he wasn’t that impressed by Mario Kart games in the past…Which shocked me and seemed sacriligeous, but what can you do? Sigh… Anyway, it naturally turns out that this is a good reason NOT to get Mario Kart Wii, as the main structure of the game has not been noticeably altered. The basic tenets of Mario Kart still ring true, which I believe is a good thing. But if you weren’t into it in the past, it’s not likely that this one will change you. But who’s to say for sure?
Following on from this idea, don’t buy Mario Kart if you are hoping for something new. Sure, you can now take your skills online, and there are some pretty kick-ass new tracks, but that’s about it. The tricks that you can do during jumps to gain a little boost and the launch pads that have been added to tracks (both old and new) do not significantly add to the gameplay experience (they are kick-ass additions, but the game’s the same at heart)- in fact, it could be argued that the difference between the previous console version (Double Dash) and this one indicates a step back for the series. But I disagree… I think the original mechanics are what makes the game so damned awesome. But hey, each to his own. Point is, it’s basically a prettier version of the same old game.
Next up… don’t get Mario Kart if you’re looking for a rich and deep online experience. It’s a welcome addition, sure, but it just isn’t enough… And what it all boils down to is Nintendo’s (failed?) take on online connectivity. Having to constantly use friend codes (not user-friendly) as well as the lack of voice communication does not a good online game make… That said, if you do have friends (hehe, sure you do), you can be clever and use– for example– your Xbox 360 voice connection, MSN messenger, or whatever other tool you may have at hand, and you can play with your friend and have a good time. BUT, you can only play with your friends in a specific room that one of you hosts (that said, you can play with a group of friends, not just one on one)– you can not play together against the teeming millions online… Which is probably the biggest let down, for me, at least. The point is, Mario Kart was made for multiplayer, but it also requires that extra level of communication in order for it to really shine… Sigh… But that’s not to say I haven’t ripped it up online, myself…
And that’s it, really… Not major problems– well, at least I don’t think they are– but if any of these points are important to you, then you might want to reconsider your purchase.. Notice I didn’t mention the wheel? That’s because I think it’s worthy… So… if you are a fan of Mario Kart and are content with a basic update to the regular game (which has proven to be enough in the past), get it, and get it now.
But you can keep your blue shell, and stick it up your @$$…
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