While calling "Mario Kart" the greatest spin-off series of weapon-based kart racing might be as ridiculously specific as hailing TLC the best all-female R&B vocal trio of the '90s, the game has earned that detailed title.
Since its debut on Super Nintendo, "Mario Kart" has only continued to grow in popularity. The appeal of hurling Koopa shells and navigating around discarded banana peels while piloting a cartoon vehicle has yet to fade, even in the age of realistic games like "Call of Duty" or "Grand Theft Auto."
The newly available "Mario Kart Wii" has successfully acclimated itself to the seventh console generation by incorporating online play but has retained the appeal of older versions by including complex elements to remain challenging for veteran players.
Taking "Mario Kart Wii" online is much quicker and much less frustrating than it was with "Mario Kart DS" or with any other Wii game with online capability.
Both races and battles can be played online against friends, regional opponents or players across the globe with the push of a button. The game plays seamlessly, and you can enter matches instantly.
The two areas where Nintendo excels are innovation and preservation. Nintendo rarely makes the same game twice even when adapting to different consoles. Playing with the included Wii Wheel, while admittedly difficult, adds a whole new dimension to the game.
If that doesn't suit your style, Nintendo has made the game playable with four other controller styles including the Gamecube controller, so that no one is left in the dust.
New game elements that must be tackled are the introduction of tricks and motorbikes. Although people tend to resist change in video game paradigms, purists should feel comforted because the game does not differ wildly from the beloved older versions, and new vehicles and strategies are easily mastered.
Finally, the game is noticeably harder than previous "Mario Kart" games.
The highest difficulty level was nearly impossible when first playing the game. I don't care how hard you rocked "Mario Kart 64" when you were 11; this version will have you starting on Easy.
"Mario Kart Wii" is certainly a giant leap forward for Nintendo, which has been taking baby steps in catching up to the online prowess of X-Box Live. As the social element of an after-school "Mario Kart" challenge at a friend's house becomes antiquated, "Mario Kart Wii" bridges the gap between '90s nostalgia and the age of online convenience by allowing friends to compete in a game that is both utterly familiar and utterly revolutionized.
