Mario Kart Wii

 Wii
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1245 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,039 out of 1245
  2. Mixed: 155 out of 1245
  3. Negative: 51 out of 1245
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  1. MentalVortex
    Jan 25, 2013
    7
    This is definitely the pinnacle of the Mario Kart series and the best game for Wii, thanks to the highly satisfying online mode which CAN provide countless hours of replay value. HOWEVER, this enjoyment is hampered considerably due to the ever increasing amount of cheaters using hacked consoles to give themselves constant invincibility, infinite blue shells and other unfair advantages.This is definitely the pinnacle of the Mario Kart series and the best game for Wii, thanks to the highly satisfying online mode which CAN provide countless hours of replay value. HOWEVER, this enjoyment is hampered considerably due to the ever increasing amount of cheaters using hacked consoles to give themselves constant invincibility, infinite blue shells and other unfair advantages. For every 10 games played online, I would estimate you will encounter at LEAST 3 or 4 games with such cheaters. This was not a frequent occurrence when the game was initially released, but over time, and with Nintendo's proven unwillingness to address the issue, it has become a common annoyance which ruins the experience.

    Aside from the online play, the addition of motorbikes is the most visible addition to the series, and have become quite popular since, more often than not, they are faster than the karts the game is named for. Regardless, the choice between the two vehicle types adds nice variety and good challenge for the underdogs using the classic go karts.

    Lastly I should mention that while there are about 20 tracks, several of these are from previous games in the series making things seem not so original. A couple extra new courses would have gone a long way to keep things from getting stale over time.

    Apart from these issues, the game offers an exciting racing experience which everyone can enjoy. The question however is "for how long?"    … Expand
  2. HellBugsie
    Jul 9, 2014
    7
    Yes, this is a fantastic game. BUT, also a very rigged game at the same time. I can't help but notice that all the computer characters are stronger than my own player. Example: if they barley hit me from behind I seem to fling off the track and loose control, if I were to hit a computer player side on hard they would barley move!!! I do love this game but it does need a lot of improvements :)
  3. ChaceS
    Jan 31, 2010
    7
    This game is very enjoyable, but I don't think it's 10/10 material. I hate the battle mode. Why on earth do they make you play with CPUs on teams? They should have included the option to do battle mode like in MK:DD and MK64. The new levels are fun. However, I think some are too cluttered. Many levels from Double Dash I would consider to be better than some from MKwii. It's This game is very enjoyable, but I don't think it's 10/10 material. I hate the battle mode. Why on earth do they make you play with CPUs on teams? They should have included the option to do battle mode like in MK:DD and MK64. The new levels are fun. However, I think some are too cluttered. Many levels from Double Dash I would consider to be better than some from MKwii. It's still a good game, though.… Expand
  4. RamKikura
    Feb 29, 2012
    5
    This is a weird game.
    Very good in some respects, and very bad in others.
    The good points: -The time trial mode is AWESOME. Every aspect of this mode is near perfect. This is by far one of the best features of the game. -On VS mode in two player, when you turn off the items and the AI players, it is a very enjoyable racing game. -On VS mode in two player, with balanced items and no    This is a weird game.
    Very good in some respects, and very bad in others.
    The good points:
    -The time trial mode is AWESOME. Every aspect of this mode is near perfect. This is by far one of the best features of the game.
    -On VS mode in two player, when you turn off the items and the AI players, it is a very enjoyable racing game.
    -On VS mode in two player, with balanced items and no AI, it is very like the N64 version for game play, which is great.
    -The characters are awesome, and the addition of the bikes takes it a step forward. (Although after playing for a while you start to realize that it should be called Mario Bike, because there isn't much point to using the karts after realizing how much better the bikes are.)
    -Some of the new levels are really fun to play.

    Now for the negatives
    -Grand Prix is a huge let down. After realizing that the wheel contoller syley is a hinderance instead of a help, and switching to the controller/numchuck configuration, 50cc is way too easy. The rubber band AI in 150cc is so over the top that it's not really worth playing 150cc cups unless you want to unlock characters/carts/bikes/mirror mode. 100cc came close to being fun, but didn't quite balance out right.
    -The reliance of over-powered items (espically in 150cc) rather than making the AI better racers.
    -The wheel controller style is very inaccurate and annoying to use.
    -Battle mode isn't worth playing
    -No 2 player Grand Prix
    -This is way too much of a luck game. I could understand having multiplayer purely casual (or as I would like to have seen, a way to change the setting between casual and hardcore style gaming) but making the solo player grand prix mode the way it is makes no sense to me. The overpowered items, the terrible rubber band AI, the addition of 4 more racers to throw things at you, the fact that 9 times out of 10 all 12 racers finish the race within 3-5 seconds of each other so when you get hit with 3 red shells, 2 blue shells, and a pow block right at the end, you go from 1st to 11th, and just the simple fact that you can't go a tenth of a lap without getting hit with something make it very unenjoyable to play.
    -Overall the game felt lazy too me. It seems as though they relied on the gimick of the wheel controller and the new items to sell the game, and in the process got very sloppy with the actual gameplay.

    So overall, I feel that this game had tons of potential, but unfortunatly a lot of it was wasted. While there were definatly some very strong points (mainly the time trial mode as I mentioned) overall it was a very underwhelming game given what we have come to expect in the Mario Kart franchise.    … Expand
  5. Silverzapper
    Mar 9, 2016
    7
    I think that this is a good game. However I think it would be really nostalgia blind to give it a ten. I played it and I didn't enjoy it as much after the release of Mario Kart 8. There are some great tracks and I loved the battle mode. I played that mode so much. Battle mode is the reason why I come back to this game. Unfortunately online play has been discontinued so you wont be havingI think that this is a good game. However I think it would be really nostalgia blind to give it a ten. I played it and I didn't enjoy it as much after the release of Mario Kart 8. There are some great tracks and I loved the battle mode. I played that mode so much. Battle mode is the reason why I come back to this game. Unfortunately online play has been discontinued so you wont be having as much fun with battle mode as I did. However if you are a Mario Kart fan and you haven't you need to buy this. That's all I have to say.… Expand
  6. DukeJon
    Jan 29, 2012
    6
    The wii wheel and the strong multiplayer presence make this game a good purchase. There's lots to unlock and many courses (although many are quite basic looking). The mario kart channel is also very good.

    However the reason I gave this game a low-ish score is because racing games should reward you for being a good racer. The problem with Mario Kart is that there are far too many random    The wii wheel and the strong multiplayer presence make this game a good purchase. There's lots to unlock and many courses (although many are quite basic looking). The mario kart channel is also very good.

    However the reason I gave this game a low-ish score is because racing games should reward you for being a good racer. The problem with Mario Kart is that there are far too many random events that can determine the outcome of a race. Items are very unbalanced - the rocket can put you from last place to first place in half a lap and of course there's the dreaded "blue shell". In so many races I can built up a strong lead only to be hit by a blue shell, followed by a "pow", that both end up knocking me off the course. The recovery times are also very long as well. It's rather frustrating to lose a race for no other reason that you were unlucky. There should be a mode where you can disable items entirely or reduce the recovery time. Then the best racer would win, rather than the luckiest.    … Expand
  7. cbeers2513
    Dec 28, 2013
    6
    Those blue shells...
    Mario Kart Wii is a fun game that uses the Wii's motion control well to a certain extent. The race tracks are varied and colorful and offer plenty of death-defying jumps and game-changing turns. But, beneath the vibrant environments that Mario Kart has to offer, the experience as a whole is both short and shallow. Each track loses its spark after a race or two and    Those blue shells...
    Mario Kart Wii is a fun game that uses the Wii's motion control well to a certain extent. The race tracks are varied and colorful and offer plenty of death-defying jumps and game-changing turns. But, beneath the vibrant environments that Mario Kart has to offer, the experience as a whole is both short and shallow. Each track loses its spark after a race or two and there is just no reason to keep playing the campaign unless you are a completionist who needs to have every trophy in his possession. There is no clear advantage or disadvantage to any one racer, feeling like a wasted opportunity. In addition, no customization or skill points for one's Miis is a considerable letdown. But Mario Kart's worst offense is its perpetual frustration in regards to enemy AI. This game is one of those few titles that a player can deem "cruelly unfair." Once you go deeper into the game, the competitions no longer depend on skill or driving ability but how lucky you are in regards to the number of blue shells blowing up in your face. The last race I played before discarding Mario Kart for a long time had me in first place mere feet from the finish line. A string of three shells fired at me in rapid succession dropped me from a first place victory to a 10th place embarrassment, and serves as a lasting reminder of my experience with the game. Mario Kart Wii is hit or miss, but is guaranteed to frustrate even the most skilled of drivers. There are genuinely enjoyable co-op moments and a few incredible tracks, but the difficulty spike is just too infuriating to overcome.

    6/10

    Follow me on twitter. @cbeers2513    … Expand
  8. GamerOfGames
    Jul 5, 2011
    7
    Mario Kart Wii is one of the best racing games around. That said, I feel it is overrated. It's awesome, but Mario Kart Wii just relies too much on pure LUCK. The items are pure luck, and are not even balanced. A person in last place could go straight up into the Top 3 with a Bullet Bill. And don't even get me started on that SPINY SHELL! My sister plays this game a lot, and, more thanMario Kart Wii is one of the best racing games around. That said, I feel it is overrated. It's awesome, but Mario Kart Wii just relies too much on pure LUCK. The items are pure luck, and are not even balanced. A person in last place could go straight up into the Top 3 with a Bullet Bill. And don't even get me started on that SPINY SHELL! My sister plays this game a lot, and, more than once, she was hit by 5+ items in a row just as she was about to win. Once, she was hit by a Spiny Shell, then a Red Shell, then another Spiny, then another Red Shell, then a Green Shell. So ridiculously ANNOYING! Luckily, Time Trials exist. In this mode, you can play on your own with no opponents, no item boxes, and 3 Mushrooms at the start. Multiplayer mode was nice, but it needed far more modes. Wi-Fi, too. The only thing that I still play Mario Kart Wii to do is race Time Trial ghosts. That was fun. So, in conclusion, this is a great game to get if you have friends who would be willing to play with you, because multiplayer is the reason to buy this game, and Time Trials is also great, but don't expect much more than that other than loads of frustration.… Expand
  9. OwenM
    May 6, 2008
    6
    This game feels like it has no soul anymore. Winning races against CPU feels like luck. Online is kinda shoddy. It only works sometimes and can be fun but framerate suffers often.The feeling of speed is nowhere near Double Dash and the game overall feels like it was made to cater to new players, which is fine, but it won't be impressing any Mario Kart veterans.
  10. Mauriced.
    May 5, 2008
    6
    If you're looking for a comment that is without unfair bias and unnecessary hatred toward the game for no reason, look no further. First of all, let me say I've been playing Mario Kart since it came out for SNES, although I admit the only other one I played was Mario Kart 64 (which to me, remains the best). The most annoying thing about Mario Kart Wii, by far, are the If you're looking for a comment that is without unfair bias and unnecessary hatred toward the game for no reason, look no further. First of all, let me say I've been playing Mario Kart since it came out for SNES, although I admit the only other one I played was Mario Kart 64 (which to me, remains the best). The most annoying thing about Mario Kart Wii, by far, are the babyish/childish voices. Good lord, they are annoying. Not only are they excessive, high-pitched, and embarrassing, they are not natural in the least bit. Just about the only characters who have remained true to what they're supposed to sound like are Mario, Luigi, and Koopa Troopa, with Peach and Bowser being "acceptable". All the other characters, including Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Toad, etc sound odd and very childish. Why couldn't Nintendo included an option to turn off voice SFX and/or music like the previous Mario Karts? As for control, it can be somewhat difficult at times, as others have stated, but I believe with enough time spent in front of the TV, you'll eventually figure it out. The graphics are not as bad as many make it out to be - this is, after all, Nintendo. The items are fairly fun to use but can become very excessive - which leads me to my next point... The A.I., as others have stated before me, can be very unfair in the sense that you will be punished whether you are winning or not. This can happen via a blue shell as you're approaching the finish line in lap 3, or the fact that if ou lag behind far enough, pretty much no power-up (or series of power-ups) will save you. Couple this, with the fact that you can no longer "retry" races, and you've got yourself a hell of a hard time in getting gold cups in 100 and 150cc. Overall, a fun game, crippled with many, in my opinion, stupid oversights by Nintendo's part, with overzealousness in areas that should have stayed timid.… Expand
  11. JacobR
    Nov 30, 2009
    6
    Easily one of the most overrated games in recent memory- and I'm not a fanboy. I loved pretty much every first party title on the wii except for this. I guess I was spoiled by the amazing Mario Kart DS.
  12. grandpajoe6191
    Nov 15, 2011
    5
    "Mario Kart Wii" is entertaining, but, as the DS version also suffered, it's not gonna last long. The wii handler is annoying as hell as well as the limited number of players that can play the game (seriously, only 2?). Get it for the kids.
  13. RicB.
    Apr 18, 2008
    7
    Someone must explain me one thing: How could they fucking think that having grand prix mode taked out of multiplayer wouldn't hurt the game? I can not think of any logical reason for this to happen. On top of that, local multiplayer fills the roster with AI players for up to 12 racers, with no possibly to just play with your friends. It's just unbelievable and very much stupid.
  14. Jan
    May 3, 2008
    6
    Everyone goes nuts about online racing, giving the game 9 or even 10 out of 10 for a feature that is simple standard on other platforms. Than again even this people who use to like this game that much anger about bad balance, items and luck usage. For me who prefers offline gameing with friends and coop single player like in Double Dash, MK: Wii is a bit of a disappointment. Major Everyone goes nuts about online racing, giving the game 9 or even 10 out of 10 for a feature that is simple standard on other platforms. Than again even this people who use to like this game that much anger about bad balance, items and luck usage. For me who prefers offline gameing with friends and coop single player like in Double Dash, MK: Wii is a bit of a disappointment. Major features, items and options that just had to be ported from previous Mario Karts are totally missing. Where are the old items? Why are fun maps like Babypark missing? Why only one driver per car/bike and not haveing an option to allow 2 at least for offline gameing? Why is there no coop mode for singleplayer? The DVD isnt even dual layer, there was more than enough space to satisfy everyones wishes but Nintendo simply choosed not to. 6 out of 10 from me.… Expand
  15. joecracker
    Jul 30, 2008
    6
    This game is pretty good,but i have to admit that 150cc in waay too hard! one time i had stayed in 1'st place during a cup for a while,but then made one mistake and all the computers trampled me! this game is barely about skill anymore it's all plain luck to win.
  16. [Anonymous]
    May 4, 2008
    5
    Same....old.....game.... It's nice that 4 people can play without the GameCube dynamic where one person drives and the other person uses the weapons/power ups. However, I can't count the number of times I'd squeak into 1st place only to be instantly barraged with shells, POWs and lightning bolts that send me instantly back to 10th place. I'm also not impressed that Same....old.....game.... It's nice that 4 people can play without the GameCube dynamic where one person drives and the other person uses the weapons/power ups. However, I can't count the number of times I'd squeak into 1st place only to be instantly barraged with shells, POWs and lightning bolts that send me instantly back to 10th place. I'm also not impressed that every new version of Mario Kart concentrates on rehashing the same old tracks from previous versions. Still fun, but it's definately not fresh anymore.… Expand
  17. NeilF.
    Apr 13, 2008
    5
    I liked all the previous Mario Kart games. But this iteration is just terrible. They dumbed it down to a level where a hardcore pro gamer could easily be beat by a 3 year old with no skill. It really has just become a game of pure luck based on what item you get. My biggest fuss with this game though, is the audio. It has devolved from having a quality soundtrack in the older versions, to I liked all the previous Mario Kart games. But this iteration is just terrible. They dumbed it down to a level where a hardcore pro gamer could easily be beat by a 3 year old with no skill. It really has just become a game of pure luck based on what item you get. My biggest fuss with this game though, is the audio. It has devolved from having a quality soundtrack in the older versions, to a CONSTANT stream of "woohoo!, yeah! wahahah!" that can not be turned down. Thats right, there are no audio options that let you turn down the SFX, Music, or Voice volumes. Playing this game for more than an hour will make you want to just mute the TV because of the constant stream of the "woohoo!"s and "yaaha!"s. Just skip this purchase and play some Double Dash or something.… Expand
  18. LynnB.
    Apr 22, 2008
    5
    Not very challenging - got to credits within 2.5 hours
  19. Anonymous
    May 21, 2008
    7
    This is certainly a strange one. Despite a fantastic online multiplayer and a wealth of modes, this is perhaps the least satisfying entry in the beloved Mario Kart series, because (in order to fit in with Nintendo
  20. ManoelQ
    Jun 11, 2008
    5
    A game at the edge of horrible. It entertains you for quite a time: the tracks are really well done (New and old), the characters are incredible and the Mario Kart Channel and the Wi-Fi Connection options are great. However... "Mario Kart Wii" gets a bad score due the cheating: the CPUs always get items before you (Even if they are in a better position), those are better items, they A game at the edge of horrible. It entertains you for quite a time: the tracks are really well done (New and old), the characters are incredible and the Mario Kart Channel and the Wi-Fi Connection options are great. However... "Mario Kart Wii" gets a bad score due the cheating: the CPUs always get items before you (Even if they are in a better position), those are better items, they become really fast if you're far away from them on the Second Lap and the "Spiny Shell" is always haunting you on every Final Lap.… Expand
  21. ArkonBlade
    Mar 22, 2011
    7
    the only other mario kart game ive played is the one on the DS which my neice had and i fiddled with it abit to see what it was like and thought it was ok and decided to see if the wii one was any good . actaully it is pretty fun but the randomness and lack of skill it takes to win gets frustrating when you are riding high in first place and next thing you know you get hit 6X in a row withthe only other mario kart game ive played is the one on the DS which my neice had and i fiddled with it abit to see what it was like and thought it was ok and decided to see if the wii one was any good . actaully it is pretty fun but the randomness and lack of skill it takes to win gets frustrating when you are riding high in first place and next thing you know you get hit 6X in a row with lightning , pows, green shells , red shells , ink and a bunch of other crap and pushes you all the way to near last . its not a skill based game one more of luck but it is fun and that being the most important thing . just dont think there is any type of balance to this game because balance and mario kart dont wana mix for some reason.… Expand
  22. stillnumber1
    Jan 17, 2011
    7
    I do like Mario Kart but to be honest, bikes do not add enough to the franchise to warrant this new release. Bikes allow you to have a mini-turbo but not a massive corner based turbo which is just a detail of a kart really.

    I do like the retro cups and I realise it is a mainstay of the series but its a bit cheap rolling out the same tracks each iteration of the game too - though I liked    I do like Mario Kart but to be honest, bikes do not add enough to the franchise to warrant this new release. Bikes allow you to have a mini-turbo but not a massive corner based turbo which is just a detail of a kart really.

    I do like the retro cups and I realise it is a mainstay of the series but its a bit cheap rolling out the same tracks each iteration of the game too - though I liked Delfino Square so what are you gonna say?    … Expand
  23. LaytonMario3
    Aug 28, 2011
    7
    First of all, this is not a bad game, but not a classic either. The online play, while generally lag-free and varied, is far too mixed considering bikes are a lot better than karts and it just felt un-balanced. It's called Mario Kart for a reason. The game can be fun so long as you are playing fairly with 4 players around one screen, and for that it wins back a few points. Plus it sounds,First of all, this is not a bad game, but not a classic either. The online play, while generally lag-free and varied, is far too mixed considering bikes are a lot better than karts and it just felt un-balanced. It's called Mario Kart for a reason. The game can be fun so long as you are playing fairly with 4 players around one screen, and for that it wins back a few points. Plus it sounds, looks and feels lovely to play. Still falls short of classic status.… Expand
  24. Yankeee007
    Oct 18, 2013
    7
    Mario kart wii is another installment in the mariokart series This entry is a mixed game The downsides are that this game it's a luck game the CPU are cheap and skill no longer matters it's skill which it's a terrible thing The items/weapons are overused in a cheating way and this game just has unbalanced difficulty The good aspect is that the online is great and the controls are aMario kart wii is another installment in the mariokart series This entry is a mixed game The downsides are that this game it's a luck game the CPU are cheap and skill no longer matters it's skill which it's a terrible thing The items/weapons are overused in a cheating way and this game just has unbalanced difficulty The good aspect is that the online is great and the controls are a great way to play this game… Expand
  25. masterlinkace
    Jul 7, 2014
    7
    This game is fun, but when compared to the other console Mario Kart games, it feels dumbed down and annoying. The motion controls are horrific, but if you just want some simple, chaotic Mario Kart then you can't really go wrong.
  26. KevinR.
    Apr 29, 2008
    7
    An average entry in the series. Despite its expanded roster of racers, it still feels like a distraction rather than a full game.
  27. JustinS
    May 4, 2008
    6
    I really wish that i could rate this higher, but I would be lying to everyone who reads this. It honestly let me down it multiple ways. The game itself is fantastic but the biggest disappointment for me is taking out everyones one of a kind special move from double-dash. I know that it might not be a big deal but, it's what gave mario kart it's own unique style and I miss it.
  28. Sambo
    Apr 25, 2008
    7
    It's an okay title that was never likely to live up to the hype. I didn't believe the hype, having disliked Double Dash. And my expectations for this game were low, including the online multiplayer. First up, the single player mode is same old same old. But to compound that problem the cups feature the same tracks, making it three times as dull to complete. The addition of bikes It's an okay title that was never likely to live up to the hype. I didn't believe the hype, having disliked Double Dash. And my expectations for this game were low, including the online multiplayer. First up, the single player mode is same old same old. But to compound that problem the cups feature the same tracks, making it three times as dull to complete. The addition of bikes is stupid and the 100cc bikes seem slower than their 50cc kart counterparts. After completing the 50cc cups you get a lengthy and unskippable credits sequence which seems odd when you're only one third the way through. As for multiplayer, in battle mode it's two teams of up to 6 versus each other in balloon mode or coin collecting. It's fun for the most part, but would be SO much better if it were free for all or four teams of three. Also, the lack of an ability to communicate properly with the people you are playing against means there is really little point to it all. The fun of mariokart was always about having a laugh with those you play with. Not being able to chat with your team mates means it's a very lonely existence still. Then there is the Wii wheel. It takes only one word to sum this up. GARBAGE. Okay, some might like it, but it's largely pointless. It over complicates the controls and can be flaky to use. When on a bike it also is unnatural. Stick to the nunchuk and wii-mote. Ultimately, it's an okay game that is nowhere near worth the money some have paid for it. I'm glad mine was only £20 on pre-order.… Expand
  29. KateT
    May 11, 2008
    5
    Being a huge fan of the Mario Kart series, I was definitely excited when I first bought this game. However, after playing it for awhile now, I realize that this game is definitely the weakest in the series. I had quite a few problems with the game, some of them being: -The items: It seems this time around, the items are used all too frequently, and it's very annoying when you're Being a huge fan of the Mario Kart series, I was definitely excited when I first bought this game. However, after playing it for awhile now, I realize that this game is definitely the weakest in the series. I had quite a few problems with the game, some of them being: -The items: It seems this time around, the items are used all too frequently, and it's very annoying when you're playing. For instance, getting hit by red shells non-stop, and those damn flying shells that hit you when you're in first place. Also, the favouritsm with the items is appaulling, if you're doing well (ie. the top three..) then you get horrible items like bananas and green shells. When you're in last, you get awesome items. It just isn't fair. -The Music: I remember when each Mario Kart level used to have distinct music that I would love to hear when I was playing the game. (Rainbow Road, anyone?) But it all seems a bit lost in translation here. Instead, we get o hear characters make annoying noises, such as "WHOO HOO!" and "Yeahhhhhh!" It's just plain irritating, and makes gameplay all the more difficult. And last, but not least, my last complaint is that the game seems to rely too much on a gimmick (the steering with the Wiimote) and, in turn the levels are just not that fun. Some levels are loaded with things that can hit you, you can fall off of, while others are just so boring you'll want to fall asleep while playing them. I also wanted to enjoy the Retro levels, but it seems like they just haaaaaad to update those too. Overall, I find myself not really wanting to go back and play this game, but rather whip out my Gamecube or Nintendo 64 to play some real Mario Kart. So, if you're a fan of the series check this game out, if not, just don't bother with it.… Expand
  30. JamesO.
    May 9, 2008
    7
    The new characters and updated retro levels make this a great addition to the Mario Kart lineup. However, the somewhat watered down battle mode and over dependence of items keeps it from being at the top of the best of 2008.
  31. MattB
    May 13, 2008
    7
    Call me a 360 fanboy, although I loved Twilight Princess, Smash Bros, and Mario Galaxy.....I have to say Wii's Mario Kart is a new low for Nintendo. First off, the wheel is not very responsive (I used it for about an hour before giving up and using the gamecube remote). There are plenty of options and a few additions, but this might as well have been extra content for the gamecube Call me a 360 fanboy, although I loved Twilight Princess, Smash Bros, and Mario Galaxy.....I have to say Wii's Mario Kart is a new low for Nintendo. First off, the wheel is not very responsive (I used it for about an hour before giving up and using the gamecube remote). There are plenty of options and a few additions, but this might as well have been extra content for the gamecube mario kart. With such a great franchise, it's a shame this is only an "update" instead of a whole new experience.… Expand
  32. DPX08
    May 15, 2008
    6
    Good game for kids not for core gamers whatsoever.Ai is after the best racer and the power ups do not favor the player in the lead. Ever get any good power ups in first place? All i got where bananas single green shells and single mushrooms. Lame game for people who know how to play good game for 5yo nuf said Mediocre aggravating game.
  33. ChrisC
    May 4, 2008
    7
    Overall, another solid Mario Kart game, but a lot of little things that make it inferior to previous entries. First, no All Cup mode, so you're stuck just always doing four tracks in the same order. Also, the karts wind up a lot closer together and they increased the frequency of more powerful items, so there's way too much luck involved in winning. Also, for some stupid reason Overall, another solid Mario Kart game, but a lot of little things that make it inferior to previous entries. First, no All Cup mode, so you're stuck just always doing four tracks in the same order. Also, the karts wind up a lot closer together and they increased the frequency of more powerful items, so there's way too much luck involved in winning. Also, for some stupid reason you have to do time trials to unlock all the characters, which is boring as hell.… Expand
  34. paulm
    Jun 11, 2008
    7
    Mario kart is a good fun game a very good fun family oriented game game but it is not a good racing anyone that likes serious racing should stay a mile away from this as although the powers are fun they can be infurating when in first place you can easily lose your place by being shot and in the end actual racing skills dont matter.
  35. ShaneS
    Jun 6, 2008
    5
    I agree with Wayne... Playing against the CPU is a frustrating and not very fun experience. Am pretty much fed up with being knocked from first to fifth at the end of every other 150cc race. I do feel very lucky when I manage to finish in first place. Online play can be a lot of fun. Only complaint is that some people like to pick the same races over and over.
  36. ElJ
    May 19, 2008
    7
    Mario Kart Wii is a collection of every Mario Kart ever made all packed into one and ready to go for online game play. This instalment boasts more then ever before, with plenty of challenges, unlockable characters, karts and new features, along with 32 tracks, half of which are taken from all its predecessors. The only short coming of this game is that regardless of how skilled you may Mario Kart Wii is a collection of every Mario Kart ever made all packed into one and ready to go for online game play. This instalment boasts more then ever before, with plenty of challenges, unlockable characters, karts and new features, along with 32 tracks, half of which are taken from all its predecessors. The only short coming of this game is that regardless of how skilled you may be, victory is often dominated by luck, due to an excessive amount of unstoppable weapons that tend to annihilate whoever is in first place, and all too often, the game has a nasty habit of bringing it all down on you at once right before the end of a race, however, in the online gaming world, this gives less skilled players a bit more of an advantage, making it more difficult for someone to endlessly dominate and dishearten new players. I… Expand
  37. SwoopTrust
    Nov 5, 2011
    5
    Even tough where it really shines is multiplayer, it still feels slow, boring, and generally half-assed. The graphics are very primitive even for Wii standars, and it also has rubberband AI. I wouldn't recommend it if you aren't a Mario/Mario Kart fan.
  38. anonreview
    Mar 14, 2011
    7
    My expectations of this game were high for two reasons- the impeccable standard of previous Mario games, and the Nintendo DS version of this game. This game, unfortunately, did not live up to these expectations. Without a doubt, this game was entertaining and enjoyable, but it was not as epic or classic as the DS version, and fails to raise is to games such as Super Smash Bros. and SuperMy expectations of this game were high for two reasons- the impeccable standard of previous Mario games, and the Nintendo DS version of this game. This game, unfortunately, did not live up to these expectations. Without a doubt, this game was entertaining and enjoyable, but it was not as epic or classic as the DS version, and fails to raise is to games such as Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros Brawl. The graphics and animation were a major let-down, the visuals were not as neat, yet intricate, as the DS version.

    However, perhaps one should not compare this game to the DS version. They are different games, after all. This game was pleasing. Worth the money? Possibly.    … Expand
  39. Ztride
    Jan 21, 2012
    5
    Nothing new except for the adding of the mediocre controls. The game is also very ugly when you play it in split-screen (each mini-screen is really low-res), and below average for singleplayer. There isn't much emphasize on actual driving, and the last player always gets the best items, meaning that if you lead the race for the first lap you'll eventually be hit by an automaticNothing new except for the adding of the mediocre controls. The game is also very ugly when you play it in split-screen (each mini-screen is really low-res), and below average for singleplayer. There isn't much emphasize on actual driving, and the last player always gets the best items, meaning that if you lead the race for the first lap you'll eventually be hit by an automatic homing-shell and the rest will catch up. As with most nintendo games it is to dumb down.… Expand
  40. Sephet
    Apr 12, 2017
    6
    Fun game to play with family and friends, has the best host of maps in a Mario Kart title, but it's pretty unbalanced. Bikes are way superior to karts and the online matches are just too brutally competitive for a casual game.
  41. TexasRez
    Mar 24, 2012
    7
    With so much more to offer than its predecessor, Mario Kart Wii offers more fun for both, single player, and multiplayer modes.

    What's great: The ability to race a friend through your friend roster, addition of bikes and allowing them to wheelie, bringing back the classic retro courses, of course! What's not so great: The game offers an unbalanced selection of characters and vehicles.    With so much more to offer than its predecessor, Mario Kart Wii offers more fun for both, single player, and multiplayer modes.

    What's great: The ability to race a friend through your friend roster, addition of bikes and allowing them to wheelie, bringing back the classic retro courses, of course!

    What's not so great: The game offers an unbalanced selection of characters and vehicles. Also, when you complete and unlock everything offline, what is left to do for those who cannot play online? Would I recommend this game to a friend?
    Eh... sure.    … Expand
  42. knifeandfork
    Aug 1, 2013
    6
    What a disappointment. The latest mario kart should be a 8 or even a 9, but instead it's an example of how one problem can ruin everything. It's a shame because Mario Kart Wii's control system is flawless- the wiimote is the wheel. This is the best addition to the mario kart series to date. Also it contains online, which is another good addition, albeit not as good as it would be on xboxWhat a disappointment. The latest mario kart should be a 8 or even a 9, but instead it's an example of how one problem can ruin everything. It's a shame because Mario Kart Wii's control system is flawless- the wiimote is the wheel. This is the best addition to the mario kart series to date. Also it contains online, which is another good addition, albeit not as good as it would be on xbox 360 or ps3. All these additions combine to make a very enjoyable new mario kart game. Or should I say they would, if not for the fact you may as well be playing a board game. The amount of items being chucked about and madness happening is enough to put off all but the most casual gamers. Once I was first, just about to finish a gruelling 150cc race, then I got hit by a spiny shell. Now this is infamous in mario kart games, but previously, if you had enough of a lead, you could easily still make it first. Bu tin mario kart wii, when this happens, it is immediately followed by a red shell, and, before you can recover, a green shell. Then a banana lands on your head, then a bob-omb blows you up before you can react, and finally, to finish things off, Bowser barges your still recovering kart off the course. By that time, everyone except you has reached the end, and you are 12th. Not your fault. But tough luck- cos that's all it is: luck. But it's made yet worse in the ferocious rubber-banding. I repeat that it's a real goddamned shame because Mario Kart Wii features excellent use of the wiimote with the wii wheel accessory, and has awesome multiplayer and online options. Which brings me to higlight those. Multiplayer is great. This is partly because one thing that contributes to the unfairness of single-player is the ferocious rubber-banding. But with it gonr in multiplayer, it's a blast. The problem is you have to play through the courses in grand prix to unlock them in multi-player, so you'll need to endure those single-player torture sessions to unlock the fun in this game. A good feature is time trials- where you race on your own against 'ghosts', trying to achieve the high score in that track. This is a great feature as it removes both the rubber banding AND the inclusion of complete chance. Unfortunately, just like in the multi-player, you must win the courses in grand prix to unlock them in time trials. The graphics in Mario Kart Wii, though nothing astounding, are good. Additionally to the main game, there are also balloon battle modes, but they suffer from the same problem that the rest of the game has, unless played multiplayer. But the various soundtracks are lacklustre and the voices of the characters are enough to drive a person crazy. I'm disappointed to have to rate this game a six, but I felt that any initial enjoyment gave way to frustration. Sometimes a wii remote is just not enough.… Expand
  43. TheDude101
    Aug 8, 2013
    7
    Good selection of characters and courses, but I simply can't appreciate it. It's unsatisfying and you don't get that feeling of accomplishment that you usually do when you've completed a course. Needs more unlockables.
  44. cwepahguy225
    Jul 5, 2014
    7
    This is a pretty good game. I like the diversity of the character roster. However, things were too hard to unlock, and should be easier. The items are imbalanced, once I got hit by all three red shells from triple reds. The multiplayer was fun, but Nintendo had to DISCONTINUE IT. The battle mode was good, I just wish you could do a vehicle besides the standard kart and bike. What made meThis is a pretty good game. I like the diversity of the character roster. However, things were too hard to unlock, and should be easier. The items are imbalanced, once I got hit by all three red shells from triple reds. The multiplayer was fun, but Nintendo had to DISCONTINUE IT. The battle mode was good, I just wish you could do a vehicle besides the standard kart and bike. What made me come back though, was the vs. The team vs was great, I'm mad that they didn't bring the team vs into mk7 and mk8. The real donwside is the lack of vehicle parts. Customization was introduced in mk7 and brought into mk8, but you have to use just a body in mario kart wii. It didn't feel very personal, and the vehicles felt underpowered. I also didlike how vechicles are limited to weight, and not for all characters. The biggest downside is that this game has no creative element. It's pretty straightforward, there's no anti-gravity, underwater racing, hang gliding, etc, because of this the tracks felt boring.… Expand
  45. Rubinglass
    Sep 11, 2014
    5
    This is my least favorite Mario Kart game. I like parts of it, but those parts are scattered all over the place and don't really add up to my experience enough to make this a positive review. I liked the graphics, and the tracks had amazing design for the most part.
    The motion controls felt difficult to adapt to, they were a bit too unpolished for me to enjoy. I won't way this with 100 %    This is my least favorite Mario Kart game. I like parts of it, but those parts are scattered all over the place and don't really add up to my experience enough to make this a positive review. I liked the graphics, and the tracks had amazing design for the most part.
    The motion controls felt difficult to adapt to, they were a bit too unpolished for me to enjoy. I won't way this with 100 % certainty, though, since it could be that the Wiimote fell out of sync, but even when recently synced it still felt kind of unresponsive. The wii wheel was placed in a dark corner never to be used again (that's not really true, I tried it out some more times asking myself "was it really that bad?", but each time it returned to that dark corner of the room). Playing with the Gamecube-controller worked fine, however. A bit slippery, but drifting nullified the slipperiness.
    I don't get why they went back to one-character-per-kart. Double-Dash felt fun and fresh in that sense, you could combine characters that gave you a tactical advantage. Replacing this feature with bikes felt like a weird choice to me, but I can also understand that the developers would want to experiment and bring in new features. It would have been fun to have as an option though.
    I think my major problem with it was the items. They feel unbalanced and since you don't recover fast you can get whacked by combos and go from a big lead to last place in mere seconds. It isn't skill-based either, just random. It's frustrating to say the least. If this was single player only, I'd give it a 2/10.
    However, there is multiplayer, which is this game's redeeming quality. While I still prefer Double-Dash's multiplayer options of either cooperating (on the same cart, mind you) or competing with your friends and play entire cups together, Wii didn't disappoint. I had some fun time with this game (as well as times of face-palming), but when a friend suggests a go of Mario Kart, this is not the version we turn to firsthand.    … Expand
  46. zachary1000
    Jan 5, 2016
    7
    I have put a WHOLE lot of time into Mario Kart Wii, but it has some major problems that bring it back considerably. The track design is superb, the battle mode is frantic, the controls are fluid, and the multiplayer is as fun as it ever was before! However, the balancing between characters and vehicles is poorly done, as the bikes are much better than the cars. The online inter-phase wasI have put a WHOLE lot of time into Mario Kart Wii, but it has some major problems that bring it back considerably. The track design is superb, the battle mode is frantic, the controls are fluid, and the multiplayer is as fun as it ever was before! However, the balancing between characters and vehicles is poorly done, as the bikes are much better than the cars. The online inter-phase was pretty bad too, as you could only have 30 friends, there were an over-abundance of connection issues, and there were too many hackers. Even so, I had quite a bit of fun with the game, but it certainly isn't perfect.… Expand
  47. PlayNeth
    Apr 2, 2017
    7
    Mario Kart WII is a good game, but the main problem is the multiplayer. Daisy and Funky Kong are too overpowered. Everyone uses them, its simply unplayable.
  48. daManne
    Apr 6, 2017
    7
    I never really warmed up to this game. I finished all the cups, but after that I never again felt the urge to play it again.
    It's a good game, but still the least of all the Mario Kart games in my opinion.
  49. thealexmott
    Mar 26, 2017
    6
    The worst console Mario Kart game. Whether you're steering with motion controls or with a nunchuk, the controls are floaty and leave a lot to chance. There is NO co-op Grand Prix mode, something MK8 thankfully fixed, which is a huge problem. Mario Kart games are fun for multiplayer, but the most fun for me was always playing through the game with a friend and unlocking everything.

    The    The worst console Mario Kart game. Whether you're steering with motion controls or with a nunchuk, the controls are floaty and leave a lot to chance. There is NO co-op Grand Prix mode, something MK8 thankfully fixed, which is a huge problem. Mario Kart games are fun for multiplayer, but the most fun for me was always playing through the game with a friend and unlocking everything.

    The biggest shame is how much there is to unlock. There's a ton of it! It's fantastic! And you have to unlock characters like Funky Kong by doing genuinely difficult things! MK8 and Smash 4 have gone to the opposite end of the unlocking spectrum and practically give you everything, which I really don't like. So it's a shame that there's so much cool stuff to unlock in such a crappy Mario Kart game!!    … Expand
  50. Anxo
    Jul 18, 2017
    7
    Este es un juego obligatorio de la wii, y es muy bueno, pero sin duda si lo comparas con los otros juegos de la saga es uno de los peores. No tiene mucho que destacar, aunque el modo batalla es bastante bueno y el grand prix era muy dificil.
  51. aditya1101
    Jan 27, 2018
    5
    Pretty decent mario kart game - definitely not one of my favorites, and probably the game where I felt the most frustrated by getting screwed over by items. I swear, the RNG in this game was terrible, and it felt so much nicer in Mario Kart 8 compared to this.
  52. Sausage22
    Nov 7, 2017
    7
    Worst modern era Mario Kart game. Not the best controls out ther if playing on wii controllers, I would recommend Gamecube controller for better experience. MK7 improved in every way and MK8 just destroys it. But its still a good kart game.
  53. reetaplays
    Feb 21, 2018
    6
    Pretty good game. It gets kind of repetitive, but the game is solid. #ChaseMccain4life
  54. BenDavies
    Dec 17, 2018
    6
    The game is alright, but it's so bloody annoying. The grand prix races are pretty null and void when it comes to CPU getting good items and end up smashing you with crap-tons of shells and slamming you with a Star. It really does my head in, but the games alright, just isn't the best out of the Mario franchise.
  55. glitchboi
    Aug 27, 2020
    7
    One of the best Mario Kart games out there. Most tracks are good, such as Mushroom Gorge, Maple Treeway, DK Summit, Toad's Factory, Moonview Highway, and Grumble Volcano, though these are held back by mediocre tracks such as Moo Moo Meadows and Dry Dry Ruins. It has a decent retro track selection, including SNES Ghost Valley 2, DS Desert Hills, GCN Waluigi Stadium, N64 Bowser's Castle,One of the best Mario Kart games out there. Most tracks are good, such as Mushroom Gorge, Maple Treeway, DK Summit, Toad's Factory, Moonview Highway, and Grumble Volcano, though these are held back by mediocre tracks such as Moo Moo Meadows and Dry Dry Ruins. It has a decent retro track selection, including SNES Ghost Valley 2, DS Desert Hills, GCN Waluigi Stadium, N64 Bowser's Castle, etc. It also has great shortcut design, and is a very skill-based game. So why not an 8 or 9? Some tracks are boring, and most of the time items don't even work, such as red shells and fake item boxes. Red shells hit walls most of the time, and fake item boxes are too easy to see unless you use them efficiently, simple as that. It's very fun though.… Expand
  56. Ruhtra
    Apr 13, 2019
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nintendo Mario Kart 8 global is the worst game I have ever played when it comes to cheat players, bad scoring system and to be designed to infuriate players. a real shame as it could be rated as one of the worlds best!!!… Expand
  57. NintendoPlayer0
    Aug 7, 2019
    7
    This game is overrated.
    And no, imma not a hater, this was my first wii game, i didnt get Wii Sports.
    While is fun, the lack of content really hurts this game, the online is decent, but man, go play Mario Kart 8, its better.
  58. Shimmeywill
    Mar 11, 2020
    7
    Good music and some fantastic new tracks. A fair bit of fun for the time. A strong title.
  59. RedXTL
    Nov 3, 2019
    7
    The motion controls worked fine for me, i barely had problems when playing. Getting every character is fun. It shows a unique experience for the time that it released
  60. Virus_Driggy
    Oct 31, 2019
    7
    This is a great game but not perfect. Example the items are broken i has multiple times i gotten blue shelled 4 times in 1 race. The motion controles arent that good. Tho ignore that then its pretty good
  61. UltimateAlex
    Mar 7, 2020
    7
    It's a nice Game for Multiplayer but it's more slow than the other Mario Karts
  62. jcher42
    Sep 1, 2020
    7
    Whilst Mario kart wii is not my favourite Mario kart game, but it's the one i grew up with. It's a nostalgia trip every time i play this game. It ain't perfect, but if your looking for a insanely hectic multiplayer experience, i would reccomend this game.
  63. BeeSting1
    Jan 1, 2021
    7
    The most RNG heavy Mario Kart.

    RNG ruined this game. Even if you drive perfectly, you have virtually no chance of winning if you get hit by a blue shell near the end of the final lap. The game includes no way to prevent a blue shell, further removing skill required to come first. You can also get combo'd by a string of items afterwards, further securing your loss. It's a frustrating    The most RNG heavy Mario Kart.

    RNG ruined this game. Even if you drive perfectly, you have virtually no chance of winning if you get hit by a blue shell near the end of the final lap. The game includes no way to prevent a blue shell, further removing skill required to come first. You can also get combo'd by a string of items afterwards, further securing your loss. It's a frustrating waste of time trying to get Gold Cups in Grand Prix. If you enjoy playing slot machines in casinos, you'll like Mario Kart Wii. Some luck is fun, but too much luck is not. It becomes mindless and stupid. That's what Mario Kart Wii is to me. I rather flip a coin and guess the outcome than play this game.

    Bikes were a good addition. Although they were unbalanced and obsoleted karts, which mattered more in multiplayer. The wheelie ability added depth to the game. You can speed boost, but can be risky since there's a deceleration punishment if you get hit during the wheelie.    … Expand
  64. Frost_Cube
    Jan 30, 2021
    7
    This is the best Mario Kart Yet, from amazing tracks to amazing gameplay, to the bullet bills that can help you when youre doing bad, to the blue shells that knock me out of first a lot where it provides a challenge for me to get back into first, to the ma
  65. DinisourDoom
    Mar 22, 2022
    7
    This game is chaos. Its so much fun yet so hard, used to play it with my sisters all the time. Plus the music is really good.
  66. DanielGG91
    Nov 15, 2022
    6
    Juego divertido para echar unas partidas con colegas pero tiene un gran fallo para mí: los choques contra paredes u obstáculos frenan demasiado al coche, y además en las carreras hay demasiado caos de golpes, haciendo que apenas puedas conducir 2 metros sin frenarte en seco. Aun así, las risas están garantizadas.

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best Wii Game of 2008
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2008
5
#5 Most Shared Wii Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 73 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 73
  3. Negative: 1 out of 73
  1. Nintendo Power
    90
    With more features, modes and multiplayer options than ever before, fans should be revved up to get behind the wheel. [May 2008, p.86]
  2. Edge Magazine
    60
    Having sacrificed racing integrity in "Double Dash" to side with social silliness, Nintendo has turned 180 degrees into an awkward halfway house. [May 2008, p.86]
  3. DarkZero
    80
    Then there is the Wii Wheel peripheral itself, which if you did not already know is just a plastic housing for the Wiimote. I have to admit though it is a well made bit of plastic, and is not only smarter looking than the uninspired Wii Zapper, but also more ergonomic to hold. Unexpectedly it is very easy to use.
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