Today, I got Mario Kart Wii and played the hell out of it (Well, I got it at midnight). So far, I made significant progress especially with GTA IV around the corner. Basically, most of my six-to-eight-ish hours was in the Grand Prix mode beating all cups on 50 cc, 100 cc, and 150 cc. I realized it takes some work to get all the unlockables (kind of like SSB Brawl), but that can wait for a later time. Once I stuck with the Nunchuk/Wiimote control option, its more likely I'm staying with it, but I'll try the wheel out in a later day.As with Nintendo games with a multiplayer focus like this, the single player GP mode is grinding to unlock everything. 50 cc and 100 cc are breezes for veterans, but 150 cc and Mirror will need some luck to pass by especially when the rubberband A.I. is just simply overboard with spike shells and lightning bolts likely hitting you while in first place. Then again, the traditional Mario Kart formula is there in full force and if you're hoping for a significant overhaul like what Double Dash did, you're not going to find it there.
The difference between karts and bikes is not that much other than size and levels of drift since the karts have two levels rather than bikes with the blue only boost. Personally, I prefer bikes right now because of the wheelies for more speed. Surprisingly, there are more ways to gain speed in this Wii iteration to spice up the action with drafting when it works when you're directly behind an opposing racer and gaining boost after nailing tricks. Speaking of the trick system, it is simple to pull off shaking the Wiimote even though your wrist will start to feel it doing that many times. Actually, the sound effects were too loud and annoying on my Wiimote speaker (Well, I had it at max) making me turn it down a little bit because there's a lot of speaker usage. Mario Kart is also known for dirty comebacks and the agony of defeat getting the lucky item towards victory (Stars or Golden Mushrooms for example) or a Bullet Bill barely beating you at the finish line.
I'll mention the graphics on my review, but so far it is marginally improved over Double Dash. I haven't tried the online yet, but I downloaded the Mario Kart Channel for my Wii Menus just in case. I did give local multiplayer a shot and that's a totally different story and perhaps one of my biggest disappointments in the game. The framerate differences are way noticeable and splitscreen with 4 players is where it matters for that. For 2 players, it is not that bad framerate wise being similar to the single player action, and who knows online since u can have another player along for the ride. I haven't tried battle mode yet and that's also disappointing being team based with big maps.
I guess I better save what I still have left in my mind regarding Mario Kart Wii for my review soon.
