Mario Kart Wii
Due for Release: April 10 2008
Mario Kart Wii is a kart racing video game by Nintendo for the Wii console. The game is currently projected for a worldwide release in spring of 2008. The game will be released on April 10, 2008 in Japan, and April 11, 2008 in Europe, April 15, 2008 in North America; the release date for the game in Australia has not yet been announced. The game will be packaged with the Wii Wheel accessory, which is designed to house the Wii Remote to allow more intuitive and conventional steering.
Gameplay
Like its predecessor, Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart Wii is based around single driver gameplay, unlike the approach by Mario Kart: Double Dash!! on the Nintendo GameCube, which featured two players on one kart.
A total of five different control choices have been confirmed. Players can choose to play the game using the Wii Wheel peripheral that comes packaged with the game, with the Wii Remote tilted on its side, the remote and nunchuk, a Nintendo GameCube controller, or a Wii Classic Controller.
This game has been announced as supporting the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. It will support an online racing mode where players will be able to go against each other in a single race racing simultaneously and an online battle mode. It has been confirmed that it will also feature 12-player online races. It has also been confirmed that there will be online leagues and rankings along with local rankings. Famitsu reports that most of the online ranking would be done from a whole separate channel. You will also be able to download and send ghost data using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
Nintendo's UK site confirms that the European release of game will feature online text chat between players. It will also feature an online spectator option which allows you to view your friends races and join in at the start of the next course. There will also special worldwide online events organized by Nintendo.
The text chat feature was also confirmed by IGN, but adds that users will only be able to select from a series of predetermined phrases. There is already apprehension among IGN's users towards a feature they see as being too "safe".
It was revealed by NGamer magazine that the game would feature many of the old weapons and items that have been used in past Mario Kart games, and that a number of new items are also being added.
In addition to expanded gameplay, motorcycles were added. Players can either choose to use a motorcycle or a kart. But, as shown in videos and screenshots, different players can use karts or motorcycles simultaneously during gameplay.
In addition, "Famitsu" magazine revealed that you can now perform tricks in the air by moving the steering wheel, or Wii Remote, respectively. The game will also have 16 brand new tracks, and 16 remakes of older tracks, which was also incorporated into Mario Kart DS. 10 battle stages are also being added. Miis will be usable during the game, and a separate channel, Mario Kart Channel, will be created to download other players' ghost times for the game.
Karts
A feature returning from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart DS is the use of multiple karts for each character. Each weight class appears to have their own vehicles, from a muscle car-like hot rod for Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, and Bowser to a baby stroller/pushchair for Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, and Toad. Also, there appears to be a basic "Kart" and motorcycle for each character, with the karts being similar to the karts from Mario Kart Arcade GP. The official names of these vehicles have not yet been revealed, although Famitsu magazine has revealed that the Wario Bike from the WarioWare series will be one of the vehicles used in the game.
It has been announced that all racers have a choice of 3 karts and 3 motorcycles, and that 50cc mode will feature karts only, 100cc mode will feature motorcycles only, and 150cc mode will feature a mix of both. It has also been announced that stunts will play a big part of the game, allowing the player to gain a boost after a stunt.
Tracks
Mario Kart Wii has been confirmed to have at least 32 tracks: 16 of them being entirely new, while the other 16 are remakes of older tracks from prior games of the Mario Kart Series. According to an IGN "hands-on" session, 8 new tracks and 8 old tracks are available at the start of the game, and the others need to be unlocked. The following tracks have been confirmed by IGN:
New Tracks
- Coconut Mall
- DK Summit
- Luigi Circuit
- Mario Circuit
- Moo Moo Meadows
- Mushroom Gorge
- Toad's Factory
- Wario's Gold Mine
Older Tracks
- Peach Beach (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
- Waluigi Stadium (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
- Delfino Square (Mario Kart DS)
- Yoshi Falls (Mario Kart DS)
- Mario Raceway (Mario Kart 64)
- Sherbet Land (Mario Kart 64)
- Shy Guy Beach (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)
- Ghost Valley 2 (Super Mario Kart)
