Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii is the latest installment of the Mario Kart series. Designed from the ground up for the Wii, a Wii Wheel will be packed into the North American release to allow for a more realistic steering experience. Announced at Nintendo’s E3 2007 conference by Reggie Fils-Aime, some information has been released about the game. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection has been confirmed for this game.

Gameplay
Mario Kart Wii is based off of its predecessors. Up to twelve players race to the finish in a multi-lap race around a given circuit. Along the way, players may employ items, horseplay, and take shortcuts to earn first place.

Also, a new feature called "Stunts" is now a large part of gameplay. When player performs a stunt, the player is able to gain a momentary boost of speed, which allows characters to do a few different things, such as grabbing an Item Box out of midair. One example of stunt is pulling off acrobatics in air, which can be performed by shaking the Wii Wheel up.

Controlling the Kart
The main feature is the use of the motion sensing of the Wii Remote. By tilting the remote, players can steer their karts. Nintendo hopes to address some of the issues game critics faced with the first racing game Nintendo published for the Wii, Excitetruck, by making Mario Kart Wii compatible with the Wii Wheel. Since the Wii Remote is designed to be inserted into the Wii Wheel (as it is not an independent controller) players can also play without the Wheel. So far, Mario Kart Wii showed the compability of playing using the Wii Remote with the Nunchuck attached, the Wii Classic Controller or the GameCube controller along with the Wii Wheel.

Modes of Play
These game modes are confirmed by Nintendo.


 * Grand Prix (1 or 2 players )
 * Time Trial (1 player)
 * Versus (1 to 4 players)
 * Mission (Unlockable)
 * Battle (1 to 4 players [ Team play only ] )

Note: Grand Prix mode for 50cc using Karts and Bikes, 100cc using for Karts only, and 150cc using for Bikes only.

Nintendo has explicitly confirmed the presence of a Battle Mode in this game. Additionally, both normal races and battles are playable online through the use of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (WFC). This is the second game in the series to utilize the WFC and the first to allow for online battles. Battles will now cater up to 12 players via Wi-Fi connection.

It is also possible that Mirror mode may appear in the game as its predecessors. As evidence, Luigi drives in a mirrored version of Mario Circuit 3, which, Luigi's L symbol is mirrored.

Just like Mario Kart DS, it isn't possible to play Grand Prix with multiple players. Players can now only win trophies playing alone. It is possible to make Grand Prix within VS. mode, however, VS. mode won't work for unlocking new features.

It is an option to play in teams in VS. mode. However, unlike past Mario Karts games, users can only play in teams in Battle mode.

Major Changes
While every previous Mario Kart game allowed for a maximum of eight racers on each course, up to twelve have been seen in video footages of Mario Kart Wii. Reggie Fils-Aime promised that Nintendo would release more information about this in the future.

In Mario Kart Wii, players can select, minimum, six types of vehicles, the standard kart, two other classes of karts and three classes of motorbikes. Vehicles vary, depending on the character's weight type, and color schemes of every kart will also vary regarding to every character who is shown.

A notorious change of the game, based on reviews and notes, is the removal of Snaking, which players tend to gain several consecutive mini-turbos after performing a powersliding. So far, performing a mini-turbo depends on how long a player can hold the button for drifting. However, there is a strategy to use drifting, something that has always kept on each Mario Kart game. This strategy involves managing the drifts to avoid losing speed. .

Another new way to gain speed is performing Tricks. This new feature allows to the players to make acrobatics in air in order to get a short speed burst once landed into the ground.

In the last Nintendo event (10/09/2007), Nintendo confirmed Motorbikes as vehicles in the game (which, as seen by artworks, can be chosen between motocrosses and MotoGP-like bikes). Peach and Daisy are shown in an alternate outfit while riding the motorbike, as opposed to their traditional outfit while riding there karts. Additionally, two different motorbikes have been revealed for Peach.

Mario Kart Wii will feature a text chat on Wi-Fi mode. Users can write predeterminate words to create small texts to other users before a race. It is unknown whether or not this feature will be available in random matches.

Playable Characters
A total of twelve Mario characters are available from the start, while twelve more can be unlocked. Leading to a total of twenty-four playable characters,  along with any Miis.

Unlockables

 * Daisy -  Middle Weight
 * Birdo - Middle Weight
 * Bowser Jr. - Middle Weight
 * Diddy Kong - Middle Weight
 * Toadette - Light Weight
 * Baby Luigi -  Light Weight
 * Baby Daisy - Light Weight
 * Dry Bones - Light Weight
 * King Boo - Heavy Weight
 * Rosalina - Heavy Weight
 * Bowser Bones - Heavy Weight
 * Funky Kong - Heavy Weight

Misc.

 * Mii

Courses
Several racetracks have been revealed in the media put out by Nintendo. Both new tracks and famous retro tracks from all four previous games will be playable. These older courses have been confirmed by Nintendo Power to be in the final version of the game.

Race courses will be divided into various Cups again: Confirmed are Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Star Cup and Special Cup for new courses and Shell Cup, Banana Cup, Leaf Cup and Lightning Cup for old courses. Notably, these are the same as Mario Kart DS.

New Courses
Several distinct courses have been identified from the media. At now, there has been confirmed sixteen new courses, a feature that has appeared in all the games starting with Mario Kart 64. Other courses may have been missed due to the montage nature of the video released to the public.

Luigi Circuit
A new version of Luigi Circuit was shown in E3 2007 and Nintendo's press conferences. The course has some Dash Panels on their curves, similar to the Luigi Circuit version from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Luigi's Hat trademark is shown over the audience, seen also in Mario Kart 64.

Moo Moo Meadows
A course resembling Moo Moo Farm from Mario Kart 64 will also appear in-game. This course is distinctly different from the version featured in Mario Kart 64 as players must dodge the cows crossing on the track. The Cows from Wii Play's 'Charge!' were going to be in this course, but were cancelled.

Mushroom Gorge
A course located in a mountainous zone, with canyons. From the abyss, tall mushrooms rise over there, which the drivers can jump on their tops to pass the abyss. The track is not very protected, and any player could fall into the abyss. The course resembles somewhat to some high land stages from New Super Mario Bros where tall mushrooms act like platforms.

Toad's Factory
This course shows some conveyor belts on the track, which can change slightly the speed of the karts and some items that stand still on the track, such as Bananas and Fake Item Boxes.

Mario Circuit
This course features Princess Peach's Castle and other stone buildings to the side of a very wide track. Lush lawns and trees can be seen at the sides. As such, Toad Town may have inspired this course. The stage's backdrop is reminiscent of World 1 from New Super Mario Bros. A blurry sign that may read "Mario Circuit" indicates that this course may be a new version of the classic.

Coconut Mall
The course takes place around and inside of a mall or a department store. This course has two levels and features elevators which can be used to gain a short boost.

DK Summit
Seen in the Nintendo conference in 2007, the track bears a resemblanse to DK Pass where racers compete in a snowy-covered slope and racing along in a half-tunnel, similar to a snowboarding track. It is also shown that this course will include a cannon.

Wario's Gold Mine
A course with wide roads set in a canyon has been revealed. A sign with Wario’s face decorates the course along with Warp Pipes and cabins out of reach of the racers. This course features steep declines and sharp turns and may lend itself to the frantic, roller coaster game play of Wario Colosseum from Double Dash. Segments of the track lack siding to allow players to fall off. Additionally, this course employs Boost Pads.

Dry Dry Ruins
Many Pokeys and Swoopers reside in and around the ruins. Inside there is also sand falling from the ceiling, building small sand hills. It has a similar starting point as Dry Dry Desert and the Yoshi Sphinx of Yoshi Desert in Mario Kart: Super Circuit.

Moonview Highway
A course involved in traffic. It has a bridge similar to Mushroom Bridge from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and takes place partly in a city and next to a gap, like Mushroom City, also from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Shroom Ridge from Mario Kart DS, respectively.

Bowser's Castle
A new version of the castle full of lava and Thwomps. It features once again a fire-spitting Bowser Statue, like Bowser's Castle from Mario Kart: Double Dash.

Rainbow Road
A new version of the rainbow-colored rollercoaster track. The track features mainly a 90 degrees downhill, located once after the starting line. The track shows a reminiscent of the Rainbow Road of Mario Kart DS.

Reappearing Courses
In addition to graphical updates, current footage indicates that the courses may receieve substantial size-increase. Nintendo has confirmed that they will be graphically updated. Currently there have been confirmed ten courses from previous Mario Kart games.

Shell Cup

 * Peach Beach (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
 * Yoshi Falls (Mario Kart DS)
 * Ghost Valley 2 (Super Mario Kart)
 * Mario Raceway (Mario Kart 64)

Banana Cup

 * Sherbet Land (Mario Kart 64)
 * Shy Guy Beach (Mario Kart Super Circuit)
 * Delfino Square (Mario Kart DS)
 * Waluigi Stadium (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)

Leaf Cup

 * Desert Hills (Mario Kart DS)
 * Mario Circuit (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
 * DK's Jungle Parkway (Mario Kart 64)
 * Bowser Castle 3 (Mario Kart Super Circuit)

Lightning Cup

 * Mario Circuit 3 (Super Mario Kart)
 * Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 64)
 * DK Mountain (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
 * Peach Gardens (Mario Kart DS)

Nitro

 * Block Plaza
 * Delfino Pier
 * Funky Stadium
 * Chain Chomp Wheel
 * Thwomp Desert

Retro

 * Battle Course 4 (Super Mario Kart)
 * Battle Course 3 (Mario Kart Super Circuit)
 * Skyscraper (Mario Kart 64)
 * Cookie Land (Mario Kart: Double Dash)
 * Twilight House (Mario Kart DS)

Items
Nintendo has declined to comment on items or their uses at this point. Three new items have been spotted in the media released to the public: the Mega Mushroom, the POW Block and the Thunder Cloud. Items can be earned by driving through Item Boxes on the courses, just like in previous games. Once a player has done so, an item will be selected via the Item Roulette. In general, players tend to obtain a weak item as a banana or a green shell when they come first. However, if players are in second or a lower place, obtaining a powerful item such as a red shell or a thunderbolt is more frequent. Usually, the lower the place of the player, the rarer and more powerful the item they get.


 * Mushroom
 * Golden Mushroom
 * Triple Mushrooms
 * Banana
 * Triple Bananas
 * Red Shell
 * Triple Red Shells
 * Green Shell
 * Triple Green Shells
 * Blooper
 * Blue Shell
 * Bob-omb
 * Star
 * Thunderbolt
 * Fake Item Box
 * Bullet Bill
 * POW Block
 * Mega Mushroom
 * Thunder Cloud