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There's not a whole lot in the single-player campaign to get excited about, other than to sacrifice a few hours to unlock all the hidden characters like Toadette, the toddler versions of Mario, Luigi and Peach, Baby Koopa, and several others. Upon meeting certain conditions in the Grand Prix and Time Trials will also gradually reveal new racing circuits and different vehicles (now featuring 20% more variety thanks to the debut of bikes, yay!). The weight class system is still in full effect here, allowing players to carefully plot their strategies before hitting the track, rather than creating a handicap against inferior competition. Personally, I always opt for a medium-weight class bike that has a balanced amount of speed and acceleration, as it allows me to easily elude the heavier class vehicles and maneuver in tight corners. Any diehard fan can tell you that there's no specific vehicle that will guarantee victory. Much of your success comes down to racing skill (and the sporadic randomness and luck that ensues) in each match. That being said, in the right hands, even those who opt for the heavier vehicles can score the occasional victory.
In case it wasn't made obvious by now, online is where it's at and the only reason why I'll never trade this in. While it's a far cry from Microsoft and Sony's online gaming services, Nintendo gets the job done keeping players connected during versus and team-based competitions. I can count the number of times my connection was mysteriously dropped from a session on one hand, so that's saying a lot for the WFC. The regulation of the service makes little sense to me, and perhaps we're all better off not knowing (or caring) how Nintendo can get players throughout the world connected with close to little or no lag whatsoever. One thing I definitely don't miss is the outcries of immature kids (and adults) that typically taint the online experience. Of course, some yearn for voice chat, but when you take into account most just want to hop on for a couple of rounds, the silence is bound to keep you interested a lot more than that person whose either trying to insult your race, voice or engage in some erotic discussion. Oh, and for you idiots that LOVE to drop because you can't handle a loss - you're only hurting yourselves since the system has been designed to dock your VR a few points if the console is reset during a match. If only developers could follow Nintendo's example, perhaps the age of droppers would come to an end.
In spite of a few valid criticisms, Mario Kart Wii is a ton of fun, albeit being the same experience as always wrapped in a different package. Nintendo should start evaluating the direction of the franchise to take a fresh new approach if they expect to draw in even more casual players (while keeping the hardcore fanbase satisfied). Though it's hard to fault Nintendo too much for running with a longtime successful formula, it's only a matter of time before they realize reinventing the wheel may be the only thing that's going to keep the franchise going strong.
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