Mario Kart Wii is a multiplayer-oriented racing game from the
Mario Kart series for the
Wii, developed by
Nintendo EAD.
Mario Kart Wii retains the traditional premise of the franchise, with players selecting
Super Mario–franchise characters to use as drivers alongside themed vehicles. As with most racing games, the overarching goal is to place first among other competitors, achieved through the usage of item-based weaponry common to the series and taking the fastest routes to secure the lead. Several new key elements introduced to
Mario Kart Wii include increasing the number of racers per race from eight to twelve,
tricks, and a new type of vehicle to the franchise:
bikes. The game takes advantage of features unique to the Wii, most particularly its motion control capabilities. A
Wii Wheel was included in most releases, 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.
