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Changes from the [[Mario Kart DS|predecessor]] include motorbikes and support for up to twelve racers online. Like other games in the ''Mario Kart'' series, it involves various characters from various ''Mario'' games racing each other on tracks themed from locations in the ''[[List of Mario games by year|Mario]]'' series. Support for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection allows racing against other players from around the world, and online competitions and results are available by installing the ''Mario Kart Channel'' to the [[Wii Menu]].<ref name="mariokartchannel" />
Changes from the [[Mario Kart DS|predecessor]] include motorbikes and support for up to twelve racers online. Like other games in the ''Mario Kart'' series, it involves various characters from various ''Mario'' games racing each other on tracks themed from locations in the ''[[List of Mario games by year|Mario]]'' series. Support for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection allows racing against other players from around the world, and online competitions and results are available by installing the ''Mario Kart Channel'' to the [[Wii Menu]].<ref name="mariokartchannel" />


''Mario Kart Wii'' was first shown at [[E3 2007]].<ref name="ignEThree" /> It has been received positively by many critics, with some exceptions. While not revolutionary, the online capability and the large number of tracks, characters and karts has been praised.<ref name="GameSpotReview" /><ref name="ignreview" /> It has had a very successful launch in every region, and sold over a million copies in both [[Japan]] and the [[United States]] in less than a month;<ref name="launchdayjapan" /><ref name="AprilNPD" /> however, it has been difficult to obtain due to perceived production quantities being outstripped by demand. Additionally, consumers buying the product at retail for the purposes of reselling at higher secondary market prices have made it difficult to obtain at retail outlets.<ref>http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18476</ref>
''Mario Kart Wii'' was first shown at [[E3 2007]].<ref name="ignEThree" /> It has been received positively by many critics, with some exceptions. While not revolutionary, the online capability and the large number of tracks, characters and karts has been praised.<ref name="GameSpotReview" /><ref name="ignreview" /> It has had a very successful launch in every region, and sold over a million copies in both [[Japan]] and the [[United States]] in less than a month;<ref name="launchdayjapan" /><ref name="AprilNPD" /> however, it has been difficult to obtain due to perceived production quantities being outstripped by demand. Additionally, consumers buying the product at retail for the purposes of reselling at higher secondary market prices have made it difficult to obtain at retail outlets.<ref>http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=39020</ref>


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==

Revision as of 00:19, 4 September 2008

Mario Kart Wii
File:MKWiiBoxart.jpg
North American box art
Developer(s)Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Designer(s)Shigeru Miyamoto (general producer)
Hideki Konno (producer)
Satoru Iwata (executive producer)
SeriesMario Kart
Platform(s)Wii
Genre(s)Kart racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer, online multiplayer

Template:Nihongo title is a kart racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Wii console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series (excluding the two arcade games) and the second Mario Kart to use Nintendo's free online service. The game was released worldwide throughout April 2008. Every copy of the game is packaged with the Wii Wheel accessory, which is designed to house the Wii Remote to allow more intuitive and conventional steering. Mario Kart Wii was the launch title for Club Nintendo Australia.

Changes from the predecessor include motorbikes and support for up to twelve racers online. Like other games in the Mario Kart series, it involves various characters from various Mario games racing each other on tracks themed from locations in the Mario series. Support for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection allows racing against other players from around the world, and online competitions and results are available by installing the Mario Kart Channel to the Wii Menu.[5]

Mario Kart Wii was first shown at E3 2007.[6] It has been received positively by many critics, with some exceptions. While not revolutionary, the online capability and the large number of tracks, characters and karts has been praised.[7][8] It has had a very successful launch in every region, and sold over a million copies in both Japan and the United States in less than a month;[9][10] however, it has been difficult to obtain due to perceived production quantities being outstripped by demand. Additionally, consumers buying the product at retail for the purposes of reselling at higher secondary market prices have made it difficult to obtain at retail outlets.[11]

Gameplay

Mario Kart Wii is a kart racing video game. The player(s) chooses a character from a roster consisting of up to 24 characters, separated into three different weight classes. A character's weight decides the available types of karts and/or motorbikes, as well as their performance on the tracks.[12] Each vehicle has seven different parameters which decides its characteristics: speed, weight, acceleration, handling, drift, off-road and mini-turbo.[12] While motorbikes can perform wheelies for a speed boost, they have a limited turning ability for the duration of a wheelie. Karts cannot do wheelies, but can get better boosts on drifting, giving both karts and motorbikes their own advantages and disadvantages.[13] The 50cc mode features karts, the 100cc mode features motorbikes, and the 150cc mode has a mix of both. However, all modes can eventually be made available by completing certain elements of the game, and be used with both karts and motorbikes

The players then race across various tracks. Each track has a unique shape, as well as different obstacles and hazards to avoid. The game includes 32 different tracks (16 new and 16 remakes of tracks from previous Mario Kart games), and up to 12 characters can participate in a race.[14] There are also ten battle courses, five new and five remakes of battle courses from previous games. The tracks are generally wider in Mario Kart Wii than other games in the series, as they are designed to have twelve racers on them instead of eight.[15] Players can obtain items by driving through item boxes, which can be used for either defense, offense or for powering up the engine. While most items have appeared in previous iterations, new ones have been introduced, such as the Mega Mushroom, which allows the character to grow to an enormous size and flatten opposing characters.[16] Also featured is the ability to slipstream.[7]

The primary control scheme is the Wii Wheel. In addition to the Wii Wheel, four other control schemes are present: the Wii Remote alone (tilted on its side), the Remote with the Nunchuk attachment, the Nintendo GameCube controller, or the Wii Classic Controller.[17] The ability to "snake" in previous Mario Kart games, which creates speed boosts by repeatedly drifting, has been greatly reduced in favor of a new speed boost system based on how long the player actually drifts and the angle at which they drift.[18]

Game modes

File:Mariokartwii sslg3.jpg
Mario driving a kart in one of the first pictures released of the game(Mario Circuit).

Unlike the previous installments of the Mario kart franchise, in Mario Kart Wii, Grand Prix is only available in Single Player mode. The player races in a series of Grand Prix Cups against 11 computer-controlled competitors. Each Cup consists of four three-lap races. Each Cup may be raced at 50cc, 100cc, or 150cc, which determines the speed of the race. At the end of the cup, the player is awarded a trophy based on their finishing position (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) and a rating based upon how well they raced (in ascending order: E, D, C, B, A, one star, two stars, three stars). Mirror Mode, which is all eight cups in a mirrored manner at 150cc, can be made available by completing certain elements of the game. In Time Trial, players try to finish a course in as short a time as possible. Like in previous games, the fastest time will be saved as a ghost, a copy of the player's performance which can be raced against. By beating staff ghosts, "expert staff ghosts" are made available. Beating them, in turn, makes certain vehicles and characters available. Versus mode entails one to four local players racing head-to-head in a single race on any course either with or without AI players.[7]

The game also features Battle mode, consisting of Balloon Battle and Coin Runner. The players are split into two teams randomly, and start on one of the ten battle courses. In Balloon Battle, each player has three balloons attached to their kart. Every time a player is hit by an opposing player, a balloon is lost, and the score for each team is altered accordingly. If a player loses all three balloons, they are given three new balloons and are restarted on the course. When the time limit is reached, the team that popped the most balloons wins. In Coin Runner, coins are scattered over the battle course. If a player drives over a coin he or she will pick it up, but being hit by an opposing player will cause him or her to lose coins. The winning team is the team that is holding the most coins when the time limit is reached. Both of these modes support one to twelve players; any slots unfilled by players may be filled by AI players, however this option can be disabled. Both battle modes are automatically set to three minutes and the time cannot be changed.[7]

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

File:Wiiwheel.gif
Every copy of the game is packaged with the Wii Wheel accessory.

Mario Kart Wii allows players to race against each other through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. This features online racing and battle modes, supporting up to twelve simultaneous competitors. There are three options: worldwide, regional and friends. The first two options match the player against those of a similar rank, either from around the world or their surrounding geographical region, and the third option lets the player race against listed friends and uses the friend code system. The courses are decided by a voting system where the course is randomly selected from the courses voted for by the players, where each vote increases the probability of the course being chosen. When playing online for the first time players are given a skill rating of '5000' and based on wins and losses, this increases or decreases to rank the player's skill level. The game features online text chat between players where users are able to select from a set of predetermined phrases when playing with friends.[19][20]

The game has the option of installing the Mario Kart Channel to the Wii Menu, which presents the current regional and worldwide rankings, as well as the option of sending or downloading saved time trials (ghosts) using WiiConnect24.[5][21][22] The Kart Channel also offers worldwide tournaments from Nintendo.[23] The channel, which can be run independently of the game, enables a user to see if any members of their Friend roster are currently online, and to participate in a race or battle with them.[24] When waiting for an online race to start, the player will watch the current race if there is one running.[25]

Playable characters

See also: Mario Kart Playable Characters

Mario Kart Wii features 24 (26 counting the two outfits available for the Mii, the digital avatar created by Nintendo) selectable characters, more than any of its predecessors. 12 characters are available from the beginning; the other 12 and the two Mii variants become available after finishing certain elements of the game. The cast of characters includes 19 returning characters from Mario Kart and six newcomers. This installment's newcomers are Baby Peach, Funky Kong, Miis, Rosalina, Dry Bowser, and making her first appearance in the Mario series, Baby Daisy. There are eight characters of each weight class. The Mii's weight class depends on its height and weight, and its creator's favorite color affects the color scheme of its clothing.

Development

At E3 2007 Media and Business Summit, Mario Kart Wii was officially announced for the first time along with its online-enabled features and the first footage of the title was shown.[6] During Reggie Fils-Aime's presentation, he unveiled the new entry via a trailer that showed off some gameplay, showing some of the new characters and tracks for the first time. The trailer also showed that the game would include up to 12 simultaneous racers, and also that the dual-character component of its predecessor was removed; each character was riding solo on his or her respective kart. Additional details of the game were later released in conjunction with the Nintendo Fall 2007 Conference held on October 2007, where it was revealed that it would include motorbikes and the Wii Wheel. New gameplay footage from the game was also shown, and the release date was revealed to be set for spring 2008.[26]

Hideki Konno, producer, had wanted to include online features like the ranking system and saved time trials (ghosts) sharing already for Mario Kart DS, but had not been able in order to get that game completed in time for the 2005 release. Now, for Mario Kart Wii, these features could be implemented. The developers also wanted to avoid races becoming more and more deserted as they progressed, as was the case in Mario Kart DS, thus altering the online matchmaking to allow players to join a race once it's finished for participation in the next one up.[27] Konno had been proposing ideas involving BMX ever since Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, but the ideas had so far been rejected. This time they were able to put the motorbikes in, "making the world of Mario a little more for boys" as Miyamoto, general producer, put it.[27] The game was called Mario Kart X internally for a while, before deciding on Mario Kart Wii.[27] Miyamoto's inputs were limited to new aspects of play such as the Wii Wheel and battles over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.[27] The designers tested roughly 30 different prototypes with different shapes, colors and weights, before deciding on the final Wii Wheel design.[27]

Audio

The music is composed by Asuka Ohta and Masato Mizuta, who used new interpretations of the familiar melodies from earlier games as well as entirely new material.[28] The music speeds up and becomes more dramatic as you enter the last lap of a race. The speaker on the Wii Remote is frequently used during gameplay, as sound effects like crashes and warning signals are emitting from it. It was during the extensive testings of the different Wii Wheel prototypes the developers decided that it would be good to have the voice actors playing the game during recording sessions.[27]

Reception

Sales

Mario Kart Wii had a successful launch and sold 300,000 copies on the launch day in Japan alone, compared to Mario Kart DS which sold 160,000 copies on its first day and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! which sold 180,000 on its first day.[9] In the week ending May 4, 2008, Mario Kart Wii had sold over a million copies in Japan alone, less than a month since its release in the region.[38] As of July 13, 2008, the game has sold 1,560,000 copies in Japan.[39] In the UK, Mario Kart Wii was the best-selling video game in the week ending April 12, 2008, having "the eighth biggest opening sales week in UK software history," according to Chart-Track/ELSPA.[40][41] The game dwarfed all other five Mario Wii games released up until then for the Wii combined when comparing first week sales.[40] In the United States, Mario Kart Wii sold 1.12 million copies in April 2008, according to the NPD Group. This puts Mario Kart Wii at #2 of the best selling video games of April in the US, behind the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV and ahead of the PlayStation 3 version, both released in the same week.[10] As of June 30, 2008, Nintendo has sold 6.42 million copies of Mario Kart Wii worldwide.[42] According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 2.409 million units in the United States, 687,000 in the United Kingdom, and 1.601 million in Japan, respectively, for a total of 4.697 million units as of August 1 2008.[43]

Critical response

Mario Kart Wii has been received positively, especially praising the online capability and the large number of tracks, characters and karts. Joe Sinicki of Blast Magazine comments: "While it still does suffer from some of the problems of the older games, Mario Kart Wii takes the simple and accessible formula set by its predecessors and tweaks it enough to make it feel fresh and fun, creating one of the most entertaining and rewarding gaming experiences in quite some time."[44] Official Nintendo Magazine UK claimed that the Wii Wheel worked very effectively and loved the different multiplayer modes.[25] GameSpot producer Lark Anderson complimented that the game is easy to jump into for players of any skill level and that motorcycles provide a great alternative to go-karts[7], and IGN commented that "Nintendo has delivered one of the best console Karts in years".[8] Plugged In stated that the racing is easy to do and that "the Grand Prix Cup events and several team battle modes keep things interesting".

NGamer, however, claimed that the tracks are too big for local multiplayer matches. Also, IGN criticized the rubber band AI in the 150cc races of the Grand Prix[8] and NGamer UK was disappointed that Battle mode can now only be played in teams; no free-for-all option is offered which removes the 'last man standing' element of previous Mario Kart Battle modes. Reviewers such as GameTrailers and IGN also commented that it is easy to fall from first place to last by being continuously attacked by several weapons, many of which are unavoidable, leading to a certain amount of luck in racing. This makes it more accessible for beginners, but can be extremely discouraging for skilled players.[33][8] GameSpot also noted that "nostalgia doesn't save most of the classic courses from being boring".[7]

References

  1. ^ "Mario Kart Wii - even more details (Cube controller support?, tracks, ghosts, online leagues, and more)- What are you waiting for?". GoNintendo. 2008-02-06.
  2. ^ Nintendo - Games - Mario Kart Wii
  3. ^ Mario Kart Wii at Nintendo Australia
  4. ^ "Nintendo speeds into spring with Mario Kart Wii". Nintendo of America. Nintendo. 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  5. ^ a b Mario Kart Wii Detailed news from 1UP.com
  6. ^ a b "E3 2007: Not Your Father's Mario Kart". IGN. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "GameSpot Mario Kart Wii Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Mario Kart Wii Review - wii.ign.com". IGN. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  9. ^ a b "Mario Kart Wii Sold 300,000 Copies?". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  10. ^ a b Brendan Sinclair (2008-05-15). "NPD: US game revs spike on 2.85M GTAIVs". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  11. ^ http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=39020
  12. ^ a b "Guides: Mario Kart Wii Guide p.6". IGN. Retrieved 2008-05-24. Cite error: The named reference "ignguidep19" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Guides: Mario Kart Wii Guide p.10". IGN. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  14. ^ "Mario Kart Wii Weapons Website". Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  15. ^ a b "Ngamer — Review: Mario Kart Wii". NGamer. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  16. ^ Nintendo. "Mario Kart Wii Courses Website". Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  17. ^ "Mario Kart Wii - UK Press Release from Nintendo". Nintendo. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  18. ^ "Snaking Removed From Mario Kart Wii". GoNintendo.com. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  19. ^ "Nintendo Announces Worldwide Mario Kart Tournaments". 1UP.com.
  20. ^ Matt Casamassina (2008-02-27). "Mario Kart Wii Text Chat Details". IGN.
  21. ^ Mario Kart Wii allows for 12-player online racing - Joystiq
  22. ^ Mario Kart Wii Detailed news from 1UP.com
  23. ^ "Nintendo Announces Worldwide Mario Kart Tournaments". 1UP.com.
  24. ^ Wii.com
  25. ^ a b "Mario Kart Wii - Nintendo UK product information page". Nintendo. Cite error: The named reference "Mario Kart Wii - Nintendo UK product information page" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  26. ^ "Nintendo Conference 2007 Fall". IGN. 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "Iwata asks: Mario Kart Wii". Wii.com. 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  28. ^ "Mario Kart Wii Info". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  29. ^ "Review: Mario Kart Wii - EDGE magazine". Future Publishing. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
  30. ^ "Mario Kart Wii Review". EuroGamer. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  31. ^ "Mario Kart Wii Review". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  32. ^ "Famitsu Mario Kart Wii Review". Famitsu. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  33. ^ a b "GameTrailers Mario Kart Wii Review". GameTrailers. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
  34. ^ "Mario Kart Wii review at GameSpy". GameSpy. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  35. ^ Nintendo Power, Future US, April 14, 2008 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ^ "Mario Kart Wii". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  37. ^ "Mario Kart Wii Reviews". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  38. ^ Michael McWhertor (2008-05-08). "Ain't No Stopping Mario Kart Wii In Japan". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  39. ^ http://www.gpara.com/ranking/mediacreatebn/ranking_20080717.php
  40. ^ a b UK CHARTS: Mario Kart Wii smashes records as it hits No.1
  41. ^ "British Sales Charts". Kotaku. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  42. ^ "Consolidated Financial Highlights" (PDF). Nintendo. 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  43. ^ "Leading Market Research Firms Join Forces to Provide First Multi-Continent View Of Video Game Software Sales" (Press release). NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, Enterbrain. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  44. ^ "Mario Kart Wii - Blast, The Online Magazine". B Media Ventures. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
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