Nintendo has gone above and beyond to appease every hand cramping preference with four different control schemes. You can use the nunchuck/Wiimote combo, the Wii classic controller, an old school GameCube controller, or last but certainly not least the included Wii Wheel adapter. The nunchuck/Wiimote method will most likely become the fast favorite with veteran players due to its analog thumb steering accuracy however the Wii Wheel may rein supreme with the more casual players. The wheel has a quick learning curve; it’s surprisingly responsive, and most of all it’s simply fun to use.

Mario Kart titles have all remained faithful to the same signature visual style and MK: Wii is no exception. Everything in the Mushroom Kingdom is bright and colorful with such a large amount of detail packed into each themed track you’ll wish you could take a break from zipping around at breakneck speeds and take more of it in. From time to time you will even notice your custom created Miis cheering you on from the sidelines or captured on billboards. Even with all the on screen action frame rates never suffer much other than a few noticeable hits when playing in split screen mode.

Once you pick up MK: Wii it’s hard to put back down. The hefty selection of tracks, vehicles, and race options make this a virtual pantheon of racing. Whether it’s taking on a few local friends or testing your skills online it should provide countless hours of entertainment. If for some reason all of that isn’t enough to keep you busy you can also subscribe to the Mario Kart channel on the Wii Network where you can check out leaderboards, download time trial ghosts, and compete in tournaments.

Although the game hasn’t evolved much in the last fifteen years it still tends to fall into the “don’t fix what isn’t broken” category. It’s a fast and fun racing game that is easy enough for beginners to pick up and enjoy while still a challenge for veteran players to master. The addition of online play (other than it’s not so friendly friends system) and the introduction of the Wii’s motion technology add even more oil to what is already a pretty slick offering. Mario Kart Wii is a true family friendly game that can be enjoyed by a huge age range and should be on every Wii owner’s must buy list.

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