A new start for the Kart

Mario Kart is back, and it’s rocking even more tripped-out tracks, shell-lobbing good times and highly dangerous motorized vehicles than it ever has before.

If by chance you have somehow missed out on playing a Mario Kart game before, you need not worry. The sixth incarnation of Mario Kart (new to the Wii) has been carefully designed by its developers, inviting new players to give it a try, but not forgetting the longtime fans of the series.

The best new feature of Mario Kart Wii is the online capabilities the game offers. You can now compete against players from all over the world (though there are options to just play against people in your local area or your friends list if you’re the shy type). Races can have up to 12 players. And while you’re waiting for your race to begin, Nintendo thoughtfully keeps you entertained by giving you a voyeuristic race-cam view of a match currently in session.

The game’s online features also allow for better player training through the “Mario Kart Channel.” While it has long been a standard for competitive games to display best times, Kart Channel allows for players to download “ghost” replays of top players around the globe to learn the secrets of the kart-fu masters. And if you’re a cocky bastard with the unbeatable time record, you can annoy your friends even more by sending your own ghosts out as a personal challenge.

Mario Kart Wii also introduces two-wheeled racing into the mix in the form of motorcycles. For some fans of the series, deviating from the traditional weaponized kart warfare may be on par with blasphemy (it is a Kart game after all), but the challenges to cycle racing add a fun new layer to game play. Let’s face it: motorcycles are awesome--and fun to race.

And on the subject of “more fun to race,” Nintendo has added a detailed stunt system to the mix. Flicking the Wii-mote right as you hit the air on a jump will cause your racer to perform a trick before landing in to a nice speed boost for your efforts. To help make the most of the new feature, game designers upped the racetracks with new half-pipes, twists, jumping points, pits and more for your gravity-defying pleasure.

Sixteen classic tracks from previous versions of the game are included, but they pale in comparison to the newer tracks. While taking a friend through a spin around “Sherbet Land” may be a nice way to ease new players into the game style, aside from nostalgic value, there’s hardly reason to touch the tracks when you can race through beautifully-rendered and wickedly-designed courses like the new “Maple Leaf Highway. ”

What game designed for the Wii platform would be complete without tackling the challenge of the Wii’s unique controller? For Mario Kart, a Wii-Wheel has been designed to house the Wii-remote for more car-like playing.

The Wii-Wheel is difficult to adjust to at first, as it is not only stylistically different from a standard controller, it’s also tilt-sensitive. Until you get used to its reactions to your movements, expect to go hurtling in the wrong direction a couple times. You will probably feel pretty stupid sitting there for the first 10 minutes or so, holding a disembodied steering wheel.

However, the add-on is quite responsive and some of my playing buddies enjoyed it immensely. Fortunately for those not interested in wheel-shaped controllers, Nintendo has thoughtfully included support for pretty much every available controller configuration.

All in all, Nintendo has once again done an excellent job of furthering a series franchise. Game play is refreshing and well developed, walking that thin line between familiarity and fresh attitude.

Mario Kart WiiSystem: Nintendo WiiCost: $49.99