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- From sophisticated F1 cars to exotic Japanese imports, American muscle to off road 4x4’s, the world of video driving games has never been better.
Ask 100 people which games console is king of the road when it comes to the best for driving based games and the split will be pretty close between the Xbox 360 and the PS3.
We take a look at what these colossus giants have to offer when it comes to 4 wheels and although not as sophisticated as the big two we also take a look at what the Nintendo Wii has to throw into the ring.
Pit Stops
The Mario Kart franchise has been around for over a decade and is the gold standard by which all other kart racing games are inevitably measured against. Mario Kart Wii is the first kart racer, and indeed the first significant racing game of any kind, on Nintendo’s Wii platform. Despite the pressure, the game doesn’t disappoint and instead pushes the franchise ahead, maintaining its well-earned place at the head of the pack.
Since it’s a Wii game though, the first question should play to the strengths of the console: how are the controls? In a word: fantastic. There are a number of control schemes you can choose from, ranging from using the control stick on the Nunchuk to steer (something that will appeal to players who are used to playing racing games on other consoles) to simply holding the Wii remote sideways and tilting it (right/left to steer, forward/back for acceleration). All the control schemes work well and will likely set the standards for future titles released on the Wii.
Multiple game modes are available, but the main attraction is Grand Prix, which is basically a career mode that takes you through the games more than 30 race courses on the way to winning cups in progressively more challenging circuits. Some tracks will be familiar to players who have followed the game’s predecessors, but most are redesigned or altogether new for the Wii version. The variety and creativity in course design will entertain your eyes while simultaneously boggling your brain with seemingly impossible track segments that can only be conquered through the magic of cartoon physics.
Speaking of cartoon physics, players will notice ramps scattered all over the new race courses. These are not just for taking jumps for a brief respite from the crowded track down below, they also allow you to perform stunts in midair that give you speed boosts when you land. The stunts are easy to perform and basically just require you to flick the Wii remote in any direction.
Mario Kart Wii features 25 classic characters from the Nintendo franchise whom you can race as, or against. New vehicles are also available in the form of motorbikes and hogs. What sets kart racers apart from other racing games isn’t the karts though, it’s the weapons. All the old weapons are back, from blue turtles to banana peels, and some new items have been added in to make things even more interesting.
Several multiplayer modes are offered, including a variety of cooperative and battle modes. These can be played either in split-screen mode by up to 4 players locally or with up to 11 other players online. Whether you are going to play the single player Grand Prix mode, have some friends over for a split-screen battle, or race against gamers from across the globe, one thing is for certain: This game has something for you. It’s the definitive kart racer and currently the best racing game of any kind on the Wii. If you own a Wii but don’t yet have this game, you should seriously consider adding it to your library.
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