Mario Kart Wii

[Yoshi]

Mario Kart Update
New courses, online details, and Mii support!
by John Tanaka

February 6, 2008 - With Smash Bros. at last out (in Japan, at least), Nintendo appears to have penciled in Mario Kart as its next big title. We're assuming that much, considering the unexpected blowout on the game in the latest issue of Famitsu.

The Wii installment of the cart racer that started it all looks like it's going to have lots of variety. Famitsu reveals a total of 32 courses, with 16 remakes of old courses, and 16 completely new courses. New courses include Mario Circuit, Momo Country, Kinopio Factory, DK Snowboard Cross, Coconuts Mall, Kinoko Canyon, and Luigi Circuit.

Some of these courses will put a new feature of the karts to use: mid-air tricks! Karts and bikes are both capable of performing actions and tricks in the air. Get a trick just right, and your cart will perform a dash upon landing.

In addition to a ton of content, Mario Kart Wii will have some serious multiplayer options. The game will include Wi-Fi based play for up to 12 players. You'll be able to select to play against players from throughout the world, players in your country, and players on your friend list.

As part of the new network mode, Nintendo will be making use of the Wii's Channel interface in yet another unique way. We're not sure of the specifics, but it seems that you'll be able to install a Mario Kart Channel to your Wii hub to view world rankings as well as your own records.

Going along with the Wi-Fi multiplayer play, Nintendo will be giving players a means of customizing the game. You'll be able to make your very own Mii ride a bike or kart, adding that bit of you to online races.

The online mode will also expand the single player fun. The game will offer downloadable ghost data, so you can play against some of the best players.

Not big on the whole internet thing? In addition to the Wi-Fi play, the game will also let players play together the old fashioned way: through split screen for up to four.

With this Famitsu blowout just hitting Japan, we expect the Nintendo marketing machine to start getting into gear and remind everyone why Mario Kart is so great. If, as a part of that initiative, we get a chance to sample the Wii installment in advance, you can be sure we'll let you know.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/849/849925p1.html

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[epmode]

Forget about online multiplayer + leaderboards, snaking is alive and well.

[Yoshi]

God I hope you're wrong about that. That completely ruined the DS version online.

[epmode]

I haven't seen video or anything, but http://gonintendo.com/?p=34347

[Yoshi]

Fuck me:

Sliding and snaking confirmed
Baby Peach, Boo to be drivers
online battle mode
16 new + 16 old courses
different vehicles for every driver
controls can be compared to Excite Truck

If the first and last are true, then there is no reason to own a Wii in 2008. Wii Fit is the killer app.

[YellerDog]

There's no way it's not going to allow for GameCube or Classic Controller controls, fucking relax.

That rollercoaster stage looks fucking hot.

[Nash]

controls can be compared to Excite Truck

lol.

[epmode]

There's no way it's not going to allow for GameCube or Classic Controller controls, fucking relax.

Yeah, multiple controllers work. Snaking is a much bigger problem, though.

[Yoshi]

Snaking needs to be able to be turned off by the host of online games, and non-motion controls need to be an option. Those are extremely easy solutions, but so is getting 16:9 and 480p to be standard, and Nintendo couldn't do that.

[YellerDog]

Learn to be the snake-er and not the snake-ee, IMO.