Mario Kart Wii#Sales
{{Short description|2008 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Mario Kart Wii.png
| alt = Square artwork with the game's title taking up most of the upper third of the piece. Below the title are 3D renderings of two cartoon-style video game characters, one in a green shirt and the other in a red shirt, floating above the ground in seated positions. They both are wearing blue overalls while holding white steering wheels. Directly below each character is the silhouette shadow of a small racing kart on the ground.
| caption = Box art depicting Luigi (left) and Mario (right) using the Wii Wheel
| developer = Nintendo EAD
| publisher = Nintendo
| producer = Hideki Konno
| director = Yasuyuki Oyagi
| composer = {{Unbulleted list|Asuka Hayazaki|Ryō Nagamatsu}}
| series = Mario Kart
| platforms = Wii
| released = {{Video game release|JP|April 10, 2008{{cite web|title=Mario Kart Wii |publisher=GameSpy |url=http://www.gamespot.com/wii/driving/mariokart/similar.html?mode=versions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919123847/http://www.gamespot.com/wii/driving/mariokart/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=2011-09-19 }}|EU|April 11, 2008|AUS|April 24, 2008|NA|April 27, 2008|KR|April 30, 2009{{cite web |title=마리오 카트 Wii |url=http://www.nintendo.co.kr/Wii/software/mariokartWii/main.php |publisher=Nintendo of Korea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425210225/http://www.nintendo.co.kr/Wii/software/mariokartWii/main.php |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |language=Korean}}}}
| genre = Kart racing
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| programmer = {{Unbulleted list|Katsuhisa Sato|Yusuke Shiraiwa|Yukihiko Ito|Keiichiro Kato|Ichiro Suzuki}}
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|Hirotake Ohtsubo|Yoshihisa Morimoto}}
| artist = Daisuke Kageyama
}}
{{nihongo foot|Mario Kart Wii|マリオカートWii|Mario Kāto Wī|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 2008 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series, and was released in April 2008. In Mario Kart Wii, the player takes control of one of 24 Mario series characters, who participate in races on 32 different race tracks using specialized items to hinder opponents or gain advantages.
Mario Kart Wii features multiple single-player and multiplayer game modes including two- to four-person split screen. Online multiplayer was supported until the discontinuation of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in May 2014. Mario Kart Wii features a returning multiplayer mode: Battle Mode. The aim is to defeat the other players by attacking them with power-ups, destroying balloons that surround each kart. Mario Kart Wii uses the Wii Remote's motion-controls to provide intuitive and conventional steering controls. Each copy of the game was bundled with the Wii Wheel accessory to augment this feature and mimic a steering wheel.
Development of Mario Kart Wii began shortly after the release of 2005's Mario Kart DS. Hideki Konno, who originally served as producer of the previous two games of the Mario Kart series, returned to produce the title. In his Nintendo composer debut, {{Ill|Ryō Nagamatsu|ja|永松亮}} joined Asuka Hayazaki (who composed 2005's Yoshi Touch & Go) as Mario Kart Wii{{'s}} main composers. Both used new interpretations of the familiar melodies from earlier games alongside original material to create Mario Kart Wii{{'s}} soundtrack.
Mario Kart Wii was received positively by critics and general audiences. Praise focused on the online mode, characters, innovative gameplay, tracks, and karts, whereas criticism was directed at its item balancing and rubber-band difficulty adjustment. It was a commercial success, selling more than five million copies in 2008 to become the best selling game of the year. In total, Mario Kart Wii sold over 37 million copies, making it the second best-selling Mario Kart game after Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and one of the best-selling video games of all time.{{Cite web |last=Founder |first=Patrick Garratt |last2=Publisher |date=2009-02-02 |title=Mario Kart Wii is 2008's biggest selling game on global level |url=https://www.vg247.com/mario-kart-wii-is-2008s-biggest-selling-game-on-global-level |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=VG247 |language=en}}
Gameplay
{{See also|Mario Kart#Gameplay|l1=Gameplay in the Mario Kart series}}
File:Mario Kart Wii screenshot.jpg drifting on a bike, a new vehicle type for the series, during a race on the Mario Circuit track. The heads up display indicates race information in the four corners of the screen (clockwise from top right): race time, laps, mini-map, race position, and collected power-up.]]
Mario Kart Wii is a kart racing game featuring single-player and multiplayer modes. The players control one of many selectable Mario franchise characters and participate in races or battles using go-karts or bikes on courses thematically based on locations from the Mario franchise. During gameplay, the player views the action from a third-person perspective that tracks the player from behind their kart.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/11/more-mario-kart-wii-impressions |title=More Mario Kart Wii Impressions |author=Casamassina, Matt |author-link=Matt Casamassina |date=March 11, 2008 |access-date=February 2, 2014 |publisher=IGN |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223222758/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/11/more-mario-kart-wii-impressions |url-status=live }} Mario Kart Wii supports four different control schemes; the primary control scheme is the Wii Remote, optionally used in conjunction with the plastic Wii Wheel accessory, which uses the controller's motion-controls to simulate operating a steering wheel.{{Cite web |date=2007-07-11 |title=Nintendo packing Wii Wheel with Mario Kart for Wii |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-07-11-nintendo-packing-wii-wheel-with-mario-kart-for-wii.html |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} The other supported control schemes are the Wii Remote with the Nunchuk attachment; the Classic Controller; and the GameCube controller.{{cite web |title=Mario Kart Wii Puts Everyone in the Driver's Seat |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/28/mario-kart-wii-puts-everyone-in-the-drivers-seat |author=Bozon |date=April 28, 2008 |publisher=IGN |access-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223222755/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/28/mario-kart-wii-puts-everyone-in-the-drivers-seat |url-status=live }} While driving, the player collects power-ups from item boxes placed in various points on the track—these power-ups allow the player to attack opponents, causing them to slow down or spin out of control; defend against such attacks; or gain boosts in speed.
File:Wii-Wheel.jpg with the Wii Wheel accessory.]]
Mario Kart Wii features 24 playable characters from the Mario series, the largest roster of any Mario Kart game until the release of Mario Kart 8 in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/12/02/which-is-the-best-mario-kart-ever |title=Which is the Best Mario Kart Ever? |date=December 2, 2011 |publisher=IGN |author=Rigg, Jonathon |access-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223222802/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/12/02/which-is-the-best-mario-kart-ever |url-status=live }} Wii introduces Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, Rosalina, Funky Kong, and Dry Bowser as playable drivers for the first time in the Mario Kart series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/the-complete-history-of-mario-kart-games/|title=The Complete History of Mario Kart games|last=Scullion|first=Chris|date=August 31, 2022|website=Video Games Chronicle|access-date=May 3, 2025}} Unlike Mario Kart DS, where characters can drive a kart exclusive to that character and the standard go-kart, each character is assigned to one of three different weight classes, which affects the selection of vehicles the character can drive. Mario Kart Wii uses two different classes of vehicles, Karts and Bikes, with the latter being a new addition to the series. Bikes were also subdivided further into two categories: regular and sports bikes, with sports bikes featuring an alternate drift type known as inside drifting. Mii characters saved in the console's Mii Channel are also playable.{{Cite web |date=2008-02-06 |title=Mii support, bike wheelies, and an April date for Mario Kart Wii |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-02-06-mii-support-bike-wheelies-and-an-april-date-for-mario-kart-wii.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2008-02-20 |title=Mario Kart megaton: Mii integration, online menu navigation, and tracks exposed |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-02-20-mario-kart-megaton-mii-integration-online-menu-navigation-and.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} Thirty-six vehicles are available in Mario Kart Wii, each of which has different properties that affect how the vehicle handles while driving.{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Laura|date=2014-09-22|title=Nintendo turns 125: From Mario to Zelda - a trip down memory lane|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/nintendo-125th-anniversary-from-mario-to-zelda-a-trip-down-memory-lane-9749536.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101191516/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/nintendo-125th-anniversary-from-mario-to-zelda-a-trip-down-memory-lane-9749536.html|archive-date=2016-01-01|access-date=2020-08-05|website=The Independent|quote=The best selling racing game of all time from 2008 saw players master the Wii Remotes (to varying degrees of success) with 24 characters and 36 vehicles to choose from.}} Half the characters and vehicles are initially unavailable to the player; certain objectives must be completed to unlock each one.
The game features eight cups—sets of four different tracks—for a total of 32 unique tracks. Like its predecessor Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart Wii has 16 new courses and 16 courses from prior Mario Kart games.{{cite book|title=Mario Kart (Wii): Prima Official Game Guide|last=Hodgson|first=David|publisher=Prima Games|year=2008}}{{Cite web|last=Bajgrowicz|first=Brooke|date=2019-11-23|title=Mario Kart: Every Game, Ranked (According To Metacritic)|url=https://www.thegamer.com/mario-kart-every-game-ranked-according-metacritic/|access-date=2020-08-05|website=TheGamer|language=en-US|quote=There are 32 different race tracks, some of which are revamped from older systems and some that are totally new.|archive-date=2021-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418141419/https://www.thegamer.com/mario-kart-every-game-ranked-according-metacritic/|url-status=live}}
Mario Kart Wii features multiple game modes: Grand Prix, Time Trials, Versus, and Battle. All modes support single-player gameplay; Versus and Battle support local multiplayer for up to four players, with or without computer-controlled players. In Grand Prix, the player participates in four three-lap races from one of eight cups against eleven opponents. The player is awarded points at the end of each race based on their ranking. The total number of points collected, among other factors, determines the player's overall rank. Versus mode is similar to Grand Prix, but the presented courses and items are configurable. In Time Trials, the player must quickly complete the race in the fastest time possible—there are no opponents or items except for three Mushrooms given at the start of each race. The player can compete against a ghost character, which mimics a player's movements from an earlier race.
Battle mode is similar to that seen in previous installments in which players drive around an enclosed arena and attack each other using items. The players are divided into two teams, red and blue, and teammates cannot harm each other with their items. There are two variants of Battle mode available: Balloon Battle and Coin Runners. In Balloon Battle, each player's kart has three attached balloons. A player gains a point each time they pop or steal a balloon belonging to an opposing team player but loses a point each time they lose all balloons. In Coin Runners, the players collect coins scattered throughout the arena and attack opposing team members to make them drop coins. The team that has accumulated the most points or coins total when the three-minute time limit expires wins.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/14/mario-kart-wiis-battle-mode |title=Mario Kart Wii's Battle Mode |author=Casamassina, Matt |author-link=Matt Casamassina |date=March 14, 2008 |access-date=February 2, 2014 |publisher=IGN |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223222800/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/14/mario-kart-wiis-battle-mode |url-status=live }} There are ten arena courses available for Battle mode, which include five original courses and five retro courses.
Online play via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was available until its discontinuation on May 20, 2014.{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/02/the-day-the-mario-kart-died-nintendos-killswitch-and-the-future-of-online-consoles/ |title=The day the Mario Kart died: Nintendo's kill switch and the future of online consoles |author=Orland, Kyle |date=February 27, 2014 |access-date=May 20, 2014 |publisher=Ars Technica |archive-date=May 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522221444/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/02/the-day-the-mario-kart-died-nintendos-killswitch-and-the-future-of-online-consoles/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title=Termination of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection|url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Wii/Setup-amp-Connect/Termination-of-Nintendo-Wi-Fi-Connection/Termination-of-Nintendo-Wi-Fi-Connection-859609.html|access-date=2021-08-21|website=Nintendo of Europe GmbH|language=en-GB|archive-date=2014-08-23|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140823151232/https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Support/Wii/Setup-amp-Connect/Termination-of-Nintendo-Wi-Fi-Connection/Termination-of-Nintendo-Wi-Fi-Connection-859609.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=Jeffrey |date=2014-05-19 |title=Online support for Mario Kart DS and hundreds of Wii and DS games ends tomorrow |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/online-support-for-mario-kart-ds-and-hundreds-of-wii-and-ds-games-ends-tomorrow/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}} Versus and Battle modes were available and supported up to 12 participants, and up to two players could connect and play from the same Wii console. Players could compete against random players from within the same region or from any continent, or could compete only against players registered as friends.{{Cite news |date=2008-03-05 |title=Mario Kart Wii online details |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/mario-kart-wii-online-details |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}} At the end of each race or match, each player's VR (versus rating) or BR (battle rating) would change based on their final ranking.{{Cite web |date=2008-03-05 |title=More online details for Mario Kart Wii and its Channel |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-05-more-online-details-for-mario-kart-wii-and-its-channel.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} The Mario Kart Channel also offered additional online information, including regional or worldwide rankings for Time Trials, and monthly Nintendo-sponsored tournaments with special objectives.{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/mario-kart-wii-detailed |title=Mario Kart Wii Detailed |date=February 6, 2008 |author=Sato, Yoshi |publisher=1UP.com |access-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192825/http://www.1up.com/news/mario-kart-wii-detailed |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/nintendo-announces-worldwide-mario-kart |title=Nintendo Announces Worldwide Mario Kart Tournaments |date=May 2, 2008 |access-date=February 2, 2014 |author=Watts, Steve |publisher=1UP.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312025708/http://www.1up.com/news/nintendo-announces-worldwide-mario-kart |archive-date=March 12, 2014 }}
Development
File:Hideki Konno GDC 2011 Day 3 (cropped).jpg (shown in 2011), who originally produced the previous two games of the series, returned as a producer.]]
Mario Kart Wii is the sixth game in the Mario Kart series, following Mario Kart DS.{{cite web |url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/0 |title=It Started With A Guy In Overalls |work=Iwata Asks: Mario Kart Wii |access-date=May 5, 2018 |publisher=Nintendo of America |archive-date=August 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816051935/http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/0 |url-status=live }} Hideki Konno, who worked with the Software Development Department of Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis & Development (EAD) division and had previously worked on the first two Mario Kart games as well as Mario Kart DS, served as the game's producer. Shigeru Miyamoto acted as "General Producer" and gave miscellaneous advice on various aspects of the game.
Features cut from Mario Kart DS due to time constraints were implemented in Mario Kart Wii alongside various improvements to online play. The developers also wanted to avoid online races becoming more deserted as they progressed, thus altering the online matchmaking to allow players to join a race once it is finished for participation in the next one.{{cite web |url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/1 |title=Motivated By Frusturation |work=Iwata Asks: Mario Kart Wii |access-date=May 5, 2018 |publisher=Nintendo of America |archive-date=August 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816051935/http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/1 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=High Voltage Explains the Challenges of Online Wii Development - News |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/16304/high-voltage-explains-the-challenges-of-online-wii-development |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Nintendo World Report}} The game was the first in the series to feature BMX motorbikes as drivable vehicles, an idea which Konno had proposed since Double Dash out of his passion for extreme sports but was rejected due to the seemingly bizarre image of Mario riding a bike.{{cite web |url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/3 |title=Mario Kart X |work=Iwata Asks: Mario Kart Wii |access-date=May 5, 2018 |publisher=Nintendo of America |archive-date=August 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816051935/http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/3 |url-status=live }} The game was briefly known internally under the name "Mario Kart X{{-"}} before its final name was decided upon, referring to the "X" in the word "extreme".{{cite web |title=Mario Kart X |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Mario-Kart-Wii/Bringing-Racers-Together/4-Mario-Kart-X/4-Mario-Kart-X-214639.html |access-date=July 11, 2019 |website=Nintendo |archive-date=August 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200824045218/https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Mario-Kart-Wii/Bringing-Racers-Together/4-Mario-Kart-X/4-Mario-Kart-X-214639.html |url-status=live }}
Mario Kart Wii was officially announced at E3 2007; the online features and the first footage of the game were shown at the Expo.{{cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/803/803351p1.html|title=E3 2007: Not Your Father's Mario Kart|access-date=2007-08-03|date=2007-07-18|publisher=IGN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909225619/http://wii.ign.com/articles/803/803351p1.html|archive-date=2007-09-09|url-status=dead}} During Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aimé's presentation, he unveiled the game via a trailer that showed some of the new characters and tracks. The trailer also displayed that the game would include up to 12 simultaneous racers. Additional details of the game were later released in conjunction with the Nintendo Fall 2007 Conference held in October 2007, where it was revealed that it would include bikes and the Wii Wheel. New gameplay footage from the game was also shown, and the release date was revealed to be set for spring 2008.{{cite web|url=http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/826/826130p1.html|title=Nintendo Conference 2007 Fall|access-date=2008-04-17|date=2007-10-11|publisher=IGN|archive-date=2008-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807125031/http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/826/826130p1.html|url-status=live}}
To complement Mario Kart Wii{{'s}} unique motion controls, a plastic, wheel-shaped casing for the Wii Remote was included with some versions of the game.{{Cite web |date=2008-04-02 |title=A note about control options in Mario Kart Wii |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-04-02-a-note-about-control-options-in-mario-kart-wii.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2008-03-19 |title=Watch Mario Kart Wii played with and without Wii Wheel |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-18-watch-mario-kart-wii-played-with-and-without-the-wheel.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} The designers tested roughly 30 different prototypes of the wheel with different shapes, colors, and weights based on real-life go-karts. The final design for the wheel was made to be as lightweight as possible for it to suit long-term periods of gameplay, and it was made entirely white despite experimentation with two-colored designs for it to fit with the color scheme of previous peripherals such as the Wii Zapper and the Wii Balance Board. A blue ring with the Wii logo inside of it was also placed on the backside of the wheel to give spectating players something interesting to look at; as a result, this blue ring ended up being featured in the game's logo.{{cite web |url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/2 |title=The Many Wii Wheel Prototypes |work=Iwata Asks: Mario Kart Wii |access-date=May 5, 2018 |publisher=Nintendo of America |archive-date=August 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816051935/http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/2 |url-status=live }}
The game's music was composed by Asuka Hayazaki and {{Ill|Ryō Nagamatsu|ja|永松亮}}, who both used new interpretations of the familiar melodies from earlier games alongside original material. The speaker on the Wii Remote is frequently used during gameplay, with sound effects being emitted from it. During the extensive testing of the different Wii Wheel prototypes, the developers decided to have the voice actors play the game during recording sessions.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| title =
| Edge = 6/10{{cite web |title=Review: Mario Kart Wii - EDGE magazine |publisher=Future Publishing |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/mario-kart-wii-review |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904193637/http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/mario-kart-wii-review |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |access-date=April 11, 2008}}
| EuroG = 8/10{{cite web |title=Mario Kart Wii Review |date=20 March 2008 |publisher=Eurogamer |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=95123 |access-date=March 20, 2008 |archive-date=7 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307153302/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/mario-kart-wii-review |url-status=live }}
| Fam = 37/40{{cite web |title=Famitsu Mario Kart Wii Review |date=2 April 2008 |publisher=Famitsu |url=http://gonintendo.com/?p=39351 |access-date=April 2, 2008 |archive-date=April 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406134246/http://gonintendo.com/?p=39351 |url-status=live}}
| GSpot = 8.5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-kart-wii-review/1900-6189936/ |title=Mario Kart Wii Review |website=GameSpot |last=Anderson |first=Lark |date=April 25, 2008 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418141358/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-kart-wii-review/1900-6189936/ |url-status=live }}
| GI = 8.5/10{{cite magazine |url=http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/28943931-4B64-4BD6-8BDE-75C4FA6E445B.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505042800/http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/28943931-4B64-4BD6-8BDE-75C4FA6E445B.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-05-05 |title=Mario Kart Wii Review|magazine=Game Informer }}
}}
Mario Kart Wii received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/mario-kart-wii/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Mario Kart Wii for Wii Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=December 6, 2008 |archive-date=August 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824041052/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/mario-kart-wii |url-status=live }} Reviewers deemed the gameplay to be familiar and more safe and predictable than that of Mario Kart: Double Dash.{{cite magazine |title=Reviews: Mario Kart Wii |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |last1=Bettenhausen |first1=Shane |last2=Mielke |first2=James |last3=Parish |first3=Jeremy |date=June 2008 |issue=229 |pages=72–75}}{{cite web |url=http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/mario-kart-wii/870096p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502044410/http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/mario-kart-wii/870096p1.html |title=GameSpy: Mario Kart Wii Review |last=Williams |first=Bryn |date=April 27, 2008 |archive-date=May 2, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2008 |website=GameSpy}}{{cite web |url=http://wii.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r33028.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501084650/http://wii.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r33028.htm |title=Mario Kart Wii Review – Wii |website=GameZone |last=Nicksarlian |first=Greg |date=April 28, 2008 |archive-date=May 1, 2008 |access-date=February 15, 2021}} Tae K. Kim of GamePro admired the variety of the character roster,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/wii/games/reviews/180548.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429184824/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/wii/games/reviews/180548.shtml |title=Review: Mario Kart Wii for Wii on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |last=Kim |first=Tae K. |date=April 28, 2008 |archive-date=April 29, 2008 |access-date=February 15, 2021}} though Bryn Williams of GameSpy felt that some of the unlockable characters were bland. Although Shane Bettenhausen of Electronic Gaming Monthly and Ryan Davis of Giant Bomb acknowledged that some of the new tracks were inventive, they and Williams determined the track roster to be weaker and less creative than in previous entries.{{cite web |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/2008/05/07/yeah-thats-mario-kart-alright/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511182123/http://www.giantbomb.com/2008/05/07/yeah-thats-mario-kart-alright/ |title=Giant Bomb >> Yeah, That's Mario Kart Alright |website=Giant Bomb |last=Davis |first=Ryan |date=May 7, 2008 |archive-date=May 11, 2008 |access-date=February 15, 2021}} Lark Anderson of GameSpot praised the game for being easy to jump into for players of any skill level and stated that motorcycles provide a great alternative to go-karts. The additions of motorcycles and an online multiplayer mode were welcomed. The unbalanced items and rubber band AI, which were said to result in chance-influenced gameplay, were a common point of criticism,{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/immr0b/mario-kart-wii-review|title=GameTrailers Mario Kart Wii Review|access-date=2008-04-25|publisher=GameTrailers|archive-date=2014-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107043548/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/immr0b/mario-kart-wii-review|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/868/868012p1.html |title=Mario Kart Wii Review |website=IGN |author=Bozon |date=April 20, 2008 |access-date=April 20, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423063615/http://wii.ign.com/articles/868/868012p1.html |archive-date=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead}} as was the truncation of the battle mode from previous titles.
Kim was unimpressed by the graphics, and observed that their quality lowered in the split-screen multiplayer mode. Williams described the game as a "480p widescreen treat, delivering crisp, colorful graphics". Greg Nicksarlian of GameZone complimented the visuals as sharp and vibrant, but acknowledged their simplicity. Mark Bozon of IGN summarized the visuals as basic but charming and polished. The music was generally considered to be unremarkable, and the voice acting was derided as repetitive and annoying.
In 2010, Mario Kart Wii was included in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.{{cite book|title=1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die|last=Mott |first=Tony |year=2010 |publisher=Quintessence Editions Ltd.|location=London |isbn=978-1-74173-076-0 |page=776}} Anthony John Agnello and David Roberts of GamesRadar+ ranked Mario Kart Wii #11 in their 2017 list of best Mario Kart games, the second-lowest ranking behind the cancelled Virtual Boy Mario Kart. They described the game as "a bloated, populist mess attempting to please everyone" that "feels like the most Mario Kart rather than the best Mario Kart, and as a result, it's as if it's missing the series' soul".{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-mario-kart-games/ |title=The best Mario Kart games from worst to best |website=GamesRadar+ |last1=Agnello |first1=Anthony John |last2=Roberts |first2=David |date=April 17, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418141358/https://www.gamesradar.com/best-mario-kart-games/ |url-status=live }} The staff of IGN ranked the game #18 in their 2019 list of "Top 25 Favourite Kart Racers", deeming it "yet another solid entry in the series" and saying that its expanded track roster and inclusion of both online and splitscreen multiplayer gameplay made it "one of the system’s go-to party games".{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/22/igns-top-25-favourite-kart-racers |title=IGN's Top 25 Favourite Kart Racers |website=IGN |last1=Reilly |first1=Luke |last2=Shea |first2=Cam |last3=Ogilvie |first3=Tristan |date=May 22, 2019 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310001834/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/22/igns-top-25-favourite-kart-racers |url-status=live }} Luke Plunkett of Kotaku ranked the game at #7 out of the nine best Mario Kart games; he felt that there was little reason to play the game after the improvements made by Mario Kart 7 and 8, and that the motion controls were "straight garbage".{{cite web |url=https://thebests.kotaku.com/lets-rank-the-mario-kart-games-worst-to-best-1842892038/slides/4 |title=Let's Rank the Mario Kart Games, Worst to Best |website=Kotaku |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |date=April 21, 2020 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123090321/https://thebests.kotaku.com/lets-rank-the-mario-kart-games-worst-to-best-1842892038/slides/4 |url-status=live }} The tracks Maple Treeway and Coconut Mall have been ranked among the series' best,{{cite web |url=https://primagames.com/feature/10-best-mario-kart-tracks-video-game-history |title=10 Best Mario Kart Tracks in Video Game History |website=Prima Games |last=Workman |first=Robert |date=April 18, 2014 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303123326/https://primagames.com/feature/10-best-mario-kart-tracks-video-game-history |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/wii-u/a572548/mario-kart-the-10-best-tracks-in-franchises-history/ |title=Mario Kart: The 10 best ever tracks |website=Digital Spy |last=Reynolds |first=Matthew |date=May 25, 2014 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418141358/https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/wii-u/a572548/mario-kart-the-10-best-tracks-in-franchises-history/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/mario-kart/the-15-best-mario-kart-tracks/ |title=The 15 Best Mario Kart Tracks |website=Paste |last=Irwin |first=Jon |date=April 21, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123023126/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/mario-kart/the-15-best-mario-kart-tracks/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/best-mario-kart-tracks-ranked/ |title=10 Best Mario Kart Tracks, Ranked |website=Screen Rant |last=Steele |first=Amanda |date=June 26, 2019 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421003507/https://screenrant.com/best-mario-kart-tracks-ranked/ |url-status=live }} while Matthew Wilkinson of Screen Rant respectively ranked Rainbow Road, Wario's Gold Mine, and Moonview Highway as the first, eighth and ninth most difficult tracks in the series.{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/most-difficult-mario-kart-tracks-ranked/ |title=Mario Kart: The 10 Most Difficult Tracks Of All Time, Ranked |website=Screen Rant |last=Wilkinson |first=Matthew |date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117053245/https://screenrant.com/most-difficult-mario-kart-tracks-ranked/ |url-status=live }}
= Sales =
Mario Kart Wii had a successful launch and sold 300,000 copies on the launch day in Japan alone, compared to Mario Kart DS which sold 160,000 copies on its first day and Mario Kart: Double Dash which sold 180,000 on its first day.{{cite web |title=Mario Kart Wii Sold 300,000 Copies? |publisher=Kotaku |url=http://kotaku.com/379769/mario-kart-wii-sold-300000-copies | access-date=April 15, 2008 |url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420052658/http://kotaku.com/379769/mario-kart-wii-sold-300000-copies |archive-date=April 20, 2008}} In the week ending May 4, 2008, Mario Kart Wii had sold over a million copies in Japan alone, less than a month since its release in the region.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/388562/aint-no-stopping-mario-kart-wii-in-japan |publisher=Kotaku |title=Ain't No Stopping Mario Kart Wii In Japan |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=May 8, 2008 |access-date=May 8, 2008 |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509111210/http://kotaku.com/388562/aint-no-stopping-mario-kart-wii-in-japan |url-status=live }} In the UK, Mario Kart Wii was the best-selling video game in the week ending April 12, 2008, having "the eighth biggest opening sales week in UK software history," according to GfK Chart-Track/ELSPA.{{cite web |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30188/UK-CHARTS-Mario-Kart-smashes-records-at-it-hits-No1 |title=UK CHARTS: Mario Kart Wii smashes records as it hits No.1 |access-date=8 November 2017 |archive-date=29 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229060026/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30188/UK-CHARTS-Mario-Kart-smashes-records-at-it-hits-No1 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=British Sales Charts |publisher=Kotaku |url=http://kotaku.com/379767/british-sales-charts | access-date=2008-04-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420052652/http://kotaku.com/379767/british-sales-charts |archive-date=April 20, 2008}} The game dwarfed all other five Mario Wii games released up until then for the Wii combined when comparing first-week sales. In the United States, Mario Kart Wii was the second-best-selling video game in April 2008, selling 1.12 million copies, according to the NPD Group; putting it behind the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV and ahead of the PlayStation 3 version, both released in the same week.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6191066.html |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |title=NPD: US game revs spike on 2.85M GTAIVs |date=May 15, 2008 |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=May 24, 2008 |archive-date=July 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718233327/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6191066.html |url-status=live}} It ranked the fourth-best-selling game of December 2008 in the United States, selling more than 979,000 copies.{{cite web |title=NPD: Nintendo Drives '08 Industry Sales Past $21 Billion |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-nintendo-drives-08-industry-sales-past-21-billion-/?biz=1 |publisher=GameDaily |access-date=January 15, 2009 |date=January 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117013042/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-nintendo-drives-08-industry-sales-past-21-billion-/?biz=1 |archive-date=January 17, 2009}} According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 2.409 million copies in the United States, 687,000 in the United Kingdom, and 1.601 million in Japan, respectively, for a total of 4.697 million copies sold by August 1, 2008.{{cite press release |title=Leading Market Research Firms Join Forces to Provide First Multi-Continent View Of Video Game Software Sales |url=http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_080821.html |date=August 21, 2008 |access-date=August 23, 2008 |publisher=NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, Enterbrain |archive-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080824092644/http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_080821.html |url-status=live}} As of March 2009, Nintendo has sold 15.4 million copies of Mario Kart Wii worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2009/090508e.pdf#page=6 |title=Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2009 |publisher=Nintendo |date=May 8, 2009 |format=PDF |access-date=May 8, 2009 |page=6 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629121637/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2009/090508e.pdf#page=6 |url-status=live}} As of January 4, 2009, it has sold 2,133,000 copies in Japan.{{cite web |title=Dissidia Wins Final Week of the Year in Japan; Nintendo Takes Six of Top Ten |url=http://chartget.com/2009/01/media-create-sales-1229-0104-software.html |publisher=Chart Get |access-date=January 9, 2009 |date=January 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202072338/http://chartget.com/2009/01/media-create-sales-1229-0104-software.html |archive-date=February 2, 2009}} It is also the fourth-best-selling game of Japan in 2008.{{cite web |title=JAPANESE 2008 MARKET REPORT |date=9 January 2009 |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/403/JAPANESE-2008-MARKET-REPORT |publisher=MCV |access-date=January 9, 2009 |archive-date=January 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090122135649/http://www.mcvuk.com/interviews/403/JAPANESE-2008-MARKET-REPORT |url-status=live}} According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 856,000 copies in the United States, 394,000 in the United Kingdom, and 218,000 in Japan, respectively, for a total of 1.468 million copies sold in the third quarter of 2008 (July–September).{{cite press release |url=http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_081110a.html |title=Third Quarter 2008 Sales Results From Top Global Video Games Software Markets Released |date=November 10, 2008 |publisher=NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, Enterbrain |access-date=November 14, 2008 |archive-date=December 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20081220052208/http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_081110a.html |url-status=dead}} It was the second-best-selling game of 2008 in the United States, selling more than five million copies. In France, it sold 4.8 million units, which is more than it sold in Japan (3.7 million).{{cite web |title=Wii U: Nintendo finally presses the mushroom |date=6 August 2014 |url=https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/wii-u-nintendo-appuie-enfin-sur-le-champignon-136353.html |access-date=2018-01-12 |archive-date=2017-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109191322/https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/wii-u-nintendo-appuie-enfin-sur-le-champignon-136353.html |url-status=live }} With 37.38 million copies sold worldwide as of March 31, 2021, the game is the best-selling Mario game for the Wii, the second-best-selling racing game, and the second-best-selling game for the Wii behind Wii Sports.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/wii.html |title=IR Information : Financial Data - Top Selling Title Sales Units - Wii Software |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-date=19 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219181140/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/wii.html |url-status=live}}
=Awards=
The game won multiple Wii-specific awards from IGN in its 2008 video game awards, including Best Racing Game{{cite web |title=IGN Wii: Best Racing Game 2008 |url=http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/6.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222040944/http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/6.html |url-status=dead}} and Best Online Multiplayer Game.{{cite web|title=IGN Wii: Best Online Multiplayer Game 2008 |url=http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/19.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222040859/http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/19.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008}} IGN also nominated it for Best Family Game for the Wii.{{cite web|title=IGN Wii: Best Family Game 2008 |url=http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/17.html |publisher=IGN.com |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222040849/http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/17.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008}} During the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Mario Kart Wii for "Racing Game of the Year". Guinness World Records has awarded Mario Kart Wii with a record for being the best-selling racing video game of all time.{{cite web |title=Best selling racing video game |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-6000/best-selling-first-person-shooter-video-game/ |work=Guinness World Records Gamers Edition 2011 |publisher=Guinness World Records |access-date=17 April 2012 |date=1 October 2010}}
Notes
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References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/rmcj/ Official website] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Mario racing games}}
{{JGA GOTY}}
{{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Video Game}}
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Category:Cooperative video games
Category:Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development games
Category:Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Split-screen multiplayer games