NGamer UK -- 88%: NGamer UK claimed that not enough effort had been expended on the local multiplayer mode, that balloon battle "still stinks," but that the online modes were well-executed, and that overall Mario Kart Wii is "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%: Meanwhile, it looks like yours truly may have spoken too soon when it comes to the Wii Wheel -- according to Eurogamer, the peripheral is "ergonomically brilliant, satisfyingly solid and adorably chunky." Which is good news, considering the gimped Classic Controller and GameCube pad controls. They seemed to like the rest of the game as well: "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."
Nintendo Power -- 90%: Nintendo Power was more effusive in its praise, claiming that: "With more features, modes and multiplayer options than ever before, fans should be revved up to get behind the wheel." [May 2008, p.86 -- excerpt found at Metacritic]
* Also worth noting is Famitsu's 37/40 score, a combination of one ten, and three nines.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-03-2008 @ 3:30PM
Onomah said...
Wow, nintendo power gave a complimentary review to a nintendo game. Shocker.
I do recall though Nintendo Official Magazine UK had the stones to say how mediocre kirby's air ride was...
Gotta say, what with brawl this almost slipped past me, which is astonishing really, considering how super stoked I was for double dash.
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4-03-2008 @ 3:34PM
Tom said...
Yeah, Nintendo Powert tends to give nintendo games high ratings....Cuz they're GREAT! I am deeply afraid though, since they gave Okami a 7.5 for the controls being bad. HOW could they mess up the controls? All they had to do was port that game!!!
Anyways, I'll be picking up MKWii sometime in the near future. Prolly no on launch though, just cuz I'm still Brawlin!
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4-03-2008 @ 4:35PM
SirSloppyMoose said...
I was listening to the IGN Nintendo podcast and they commented on the NP review of Okami. The guy playing it over there was confused about what they meant. He said that overall the controls are great. The only negative thing he said was that the dodge hardly ever worked (I'm guessing there's some motion to trigger it as opposed to a button) but he hasn't had any problem going through the game without it. He said they'll be giving it a high score. Makes me wonder if Nintendo didn't want to give a Zelda-like game a high score...
On topic, MK Wii is definately a first day purchase for me.
4-04-2008 @ 4:42PM
Tom said...
Wow. Thanks for telling me that. Good to know. I don't get it though. Nintendo Power acted happy about having a game take a few notes form LoZ. Maybe the reviewer is just too critical...
4-03-2008 @ 3:35PM
Kizzle said...
No local multiplayer? Wha? Is this for real?
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4-03-2008 @ 3:47PM
Chris Greenhough said...
No, there IS local multiplayer, but NGamer reckons it isn't as good as in previous versions.
4-03-2008 @ 3:48PM
crazyyellowguy said...
There is still local multiplayer, the review just said that they haven't really expanded it from previous installments.
4-03-2008 @ 4:02PM
Kizzle said...
My bad, I read "disappointment of local multiplayer" as "disappointment of NO local multiplayer". Figured that was too outlandish to be true, thank god :)
4-03-2008 @ 3:41PM
Zachary Hinchliffe said...
You're kidding me! I LOVED Kirby Air Ride! Sure it was a mediocre 1P experience, but just like Smash, it's a multiplayer BLAST!
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4-03-2008 @ 5:12PM
WhatIsThatThing said...
There should totally be, like, a Kirby Air Ride defense force or something.
4-03-2008 @ 11:25PM
Jhongerkong said...
So true. Kirby Air Ride is just too awesome. Especially City Trial.
4-03-2008 @ 3:52PM
Orion said...
So my bday is april 20th... do i ask for this game and get it late, or do I ask for Wii Fit and get it realllly late?
None of the games that are out right now I want... either because I already own them or I'm passing them up.
Any ideas? :)
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4-03-2008 @ 4:08PM
MBJ said...
Ask for both and be happy with whatever you get, even if it's Drill Dozer for GBA. Nintendo Fanboys FTW!!!
4-03-2008 @ 4:12PM
TheCoats said...
I would say Kart but theres 2 things you need to think about
1-do you have WiFi?...if so kart goes up alot
2-are you Obese?....if so Wii Fit goes up alot
if yes to both then back to square one
I say KART FTW!!
But if Wii Fit cost more you might want to ask for that for your birthday.......because lets be honest here you sound like you are getting both either way so why not cut the expense a little.
anyway good luck with decision making and HAPPY early BIRTHDAY!!
4-03-2008 @ 5:21PM
Orion said...
i like your thinkin... if im going to get both, ask for the pricey one lol. yes i have wifi btw, and im not obese, just trying to maintain my current weight. finally got a nice weight a year after graduating college and i want to keep it lol.
4-03-2008 @ 5:58PM
TheCoats said...
I lost 30 ponds after high school because of DDR!!!......that was in a 5 month span......i still play(Heavy) but have just been maintaining my weight of 165
4-03-2008 @ 4:45PM
samfish said...
I still can't believe there are only team battles in Battle Mode.
...that might actually be a deal breaker, to be honest, since the main draw of Mario Kart to me is Battle Mode.
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4-03-2008 @ 5:24PM
Mr Khan said...
The lack of hundreds is perhaps indicative of the fact that this game went from unveiling to release in nine months again?
That's unheard of amongst current dev times
It'll still rock though, they'd have to work hard to dick up MKWii, and the tilt-controls can only make it better
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4-03-2008 @ 11:27PM
Jhongerkong said...
I stopped regarding Nintendo Power's reviews since they gave Nanostray 2 a 6.5 for being a shmup.
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4-04-2008 @ 12:54AM
Joe Cart said...
I'm glad to see that this game is doing so well. I'm mostly excited about using the wii wheel and online play... definitly gonna get another 3 wheels to get some major 4 player parties going at my casa... sweetness.
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4-04-2008 @ 4:13AM
MC=MII said...
Everytime I read about this game I get more thrilled about. I totally see myself buying this one day, although I'll have to chose if this goes on top of the pile of games still to play or somewhere in the middle.
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