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Mario Kart Wii Is Still a Painfully Fun Experience | Szymon Malkin
from Issue 9 Games
Szymon Malkin
Mario Kart Wii Is Still a Painfully Fun Experience
Growing up, I was a rather happy kid who only cared what I’d have for dinner, or which cartoon would be on TV when I got back from school. However, once I had started playing Mario Kart Wii, I was witness to things no child should ever be exposed to. A sudden boost from behind, ending in a frenetic ride. A lengthy fight for the first place, only for the whole effort to be eventually wasted away by a sudden power-up. And while there are many racing games out on the market, none of them is as efficient in bringing out the best and worst in a person as Mario Kart Wii.
Now, granted, there is a very good chance that I am suffering from a strong case of nostalgia, but there is something truly special about this Mario Kart edition. While many people enjoy the game, it is not as revered as the solid, classic arcade feel of Mario Kart: Double Dash or the modern fluidity of Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart Wii is a league of its own. Perhaps it is the graphics that, even with the jump into the next generation of consoles, make the game look somewhat worse than its predecessor.
Maybe it’s the controversial exclusion of the iconic double power-up items from the previous game, which were brought back in Mario Kart 8. Or maybe it is because of how much joyful suffering this game has caused.
I find Mario Kart Wii to be one of the most ruthless Mario Karts ever made. With its approach to power-ups, which can immensely aid you in your races, the competitive computer players make for a vibrant experience of vehicular combat. Many of the tracks are designed to allow the racers to blindly throw anything that can cause damage, even to themselves. Alternatively, some levels are built tight and narrow, essentially making it nearly impossible to avoid a likely barrage of three shells launched by a vicious player. All these factors come together to elicit engaging, tense, and exciting feelings in the midst of the race. And it’s something very few racing games can achieve.
I believe that the then-new controller, the Wii Wheel, contributed significantly to the frenzy of the game. There’s something electrifying about being physically able to turn the wheel in such a frantic setting. The rush and the increased blood flow kick the brain into overdrive. There are moments when I am surprised and terrified of what I do when playing the game, as if some demons possessed me. Many Nintendo games centred around party modes, such as the Mario Party franchise, are known for causing great distress and even rifts in people’s relationships. Mario Kart Wii is a prime example of such a game, with a longstanding reputation for being one of the least forgiving games in the franchise. The rage I’ve witnessed during the countless sessions of the game I have played with my friends and family certainly raises questions about how much of a “family” game it really is. A major factor contributing to the calamity of the gameplay is how the items are used. The worse the position you’re in, the better and more menacing the item you receive is.
There are a few of these items that can greatly disrupt the race. The POW Block, a staple of the Mario franchise, comes in to deliver a localised earthquake, which wipes everyone out in front of the player. No defence is possible against this block. You still lose your items even when applying the trick of shaking the Wii Wheel when the POW Block hits. An even more souped-up POW Block is the Lightning. The only way to protect yourself from the wrath from above is with an Invincibility Star, that is, if you are lucky enough to find one. Another power-up is the Mega Mushroom, which crushes anyone under your wheels. Then there is the Thunder Cloud, also known as “how to cheese a race.” You see, when the Cloud is picked up, it floats above your head, slowly counting down the time until it strikes and makes you small and slow.
How do you get rid of it? Simple! You give it to someone. Well, makes sense. Here’s the sick part – before it strikes, it speeds you up. A lot. Thoughts race through your head, and you start wondering how to gain the most out of this temporary boost while figuring out when and to whom you should give the cloud, so as not to get zapped by it. Personally, it is one of my favourite items of the game because of the tactical thinking it involves. If you want to ruin someone’s day or one of your friendships, it’s the ideal tool.
This game is a one-of-a-kind experience. It provides the player with an outstanding arcadelike feel, not seen much in modern racing games. While the game market is full of more “realistic” games of this kind, sometimes the move to throwing bombs out of karts while flying through space is a needed change. That is the magic of Mario Kart Wii.
