Mario Kart Wii is a multiplayer-oriented racing game for the
Wii console, developed by
Nintendo EAD. It is the sixth main installment in the
Mario Kart series and the eighth overall.
Mario Kart Wii retains the traditional item-based weaponry familiar with the franchise, where players can select a
Mario franchise driver and themed vehicles. As with most racing games, the overarching goal is to place first among other competitors, through the usage of such items and taking the fastest routes to secure the leads. Several new key elements introduced to
Mario Kart Wii include increasing the number of racers to 12 racers from 8 racers from previous entries in the series, as well as introducing a new type of vehicle to the franchise:
bikes. The game takes advantage of features unique to the Wii, most notably its motion control capabilities. A
Wii Wheel is included in most
Mario Kart Wii packages, though the game is still compatible with other controllers such as a regular
Wii Remote held sideways, the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, the Nintendo GameCube controller, and the Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro. Additional game modes are also present such as the traditional Grand Prix, Versus, Battle, and Time Trial modes.
