Mario Kart Wii Game Review
Mario Kart Wii takes everything fans love about the long-running racing series and cranks it up with more characters, more chaos, and – for the first time – motion-controlled mayhem. Released in 2008, this Nintendo Wii entry in the franchise is a fan favorite for good reason. It’s wild, it’s unpredictable, and it’s one of the most couch-friendly multiplayer experiences to ever involve turtle shells and banana peels.
At its core, Mario Kart Wii keeps the classic formula intact: race through imaginative tracks, collect wacky power-ups, and try to cross the finish line before your grandma does a blue shell drive-by. The real twist here is the Wii’s motion controls. Players can steer their kart using the Wii Remote like a tiny, invisible steering wheel. It’s surprisingly intuitive once you get the hang of it, and while purists might prefer the more traditional controller options (Classic Controller or GameCube pad), the motion steering is a big part of the game’s accessible, party-friendly charm.
The roster of racers is the largest the series had seen up to that point, with over 20 characters including classics like Mario, Luigi, and Bowser, as well as newcomers like Baby Daisy and Funky Kong. Each character comes with multiple karts and bikes to choose from, all with different stats. Yes – bikes. Mario Kart Wii introduced motorcycles, and with them came wheelies, tighter turns, and new strategies for racers who like to live on the edge.
The game features 32 tracks: 16 brand-new ones and 16 retro courses pulled from previous entries. The new tracks are creative and chaotic, with standouts like Maple Treeway, Coconut Mall, and Mushroom Gorge. The retro tracks are smartly chosen and feel right at home alongside the newer ones. The balance of nostalgia and innovation is pitch-perfect.
Mario Kart Wii also introduced online play, allowing up to 12 players to race together over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. While the online infrastructure was a bit clunky by today’s standards – and has since sadly been discontinued – it was a huge step forward at the time. Leaderboards, time trials, and online racing communities extended the game’s lifespan well beyond your average party title.
Graphically, the game holds up well. The art direction is colorful, sharp, and full of Nintendo charm. Tracks are loaded with details, and the animation is smooth, even with a dozen racers and a battlefield of bananas on screen. The sound design is equally strong, from the satisfying thwack of a green shell to the catchy music that bounces between whimsy and high-energy chaos.
There are a few drawbacks. Rubber-banding AI is alive and well, meaning you’ll often find yourself getting hit by a flurry of items just before the finish line. The motion controls, while fun, aren’t as precise as analog steering, which can be frustrating for competitive players. And the item balance can sometimes feel more like luck than skill. But let’s be honest, that’s part of the charm.
In the end, Mario Kart Wii is a celebration of everything that makes arcade racing fun. It’s loud, colorful, chaotic, and endlessly replayable whether you’re playing solo, with friends, or taking on the world. It might not be the most balanced racer out there, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s about fun first—and in that department, it’s still firing on all cylinders.
Mario Kart Unlockables and Cheats
Unlockable cups:
Unlock the following cups by performing the corresponding tasks:
CUP – HOW TO UNLOCK
Star Cup – Complete the Flower and Mushroom Cup with a trophy.
Special Cup – Complete the Star Cup with a trophy.
Leaf Cup – Complete the Banana and Shell Cup with a trophy.
Lightning Cup – Complete the Leaf Cup with a trophy.
Unlockable characters:
Unlock the following characters by performing the corresponding tasks:
CHARACTER – HOW TO UNLOCK
Baby Daisy – Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 50cc cups or win 1,950 races.
Baby Luigi – Unlock eight Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials mode or win 3,150 races.
Birdo – Play 16 different courses in Time Trials mode or get 250 Wi-Fi wins or win 1,350 races.
Bowser Jr. – Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 100cc Retro Cups or win 3,450 races.
Daisy – Win the 150cc Special Cup or win 2,850 races.
Diddy Kong – Successfully complete all 50cc Retro Cups or win 450 races.
Dry Bones – Win the 100cc Leaf Cup or win 1,050 races.
Dry Bowser – Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 150cc Wii Cups or win 4,350 races.
Funky Kong – Unlock four Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials mode or win 2,250 races.
King Boo – Win the 50cc Star Cup or win 750 races.
Mii (Outfit A) – Win the 100cc Special Cup or win 1,650 races.
Mii (Outfit B) – Unlock all 32 Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials mode or win 5,100 races.
Rosalina – Get a “One Star” rank or better in the Wii Cup Series or have a saved game file from Super Mario Galaxy and win 50 Grand Prix races; or win 4,950 races.
Toadette – Play on all 32 courses in Time Trials mode or get 1,000 Wi-Fi wins or win 2,550 races.
Unlockable bikes:
Unlock the following bikes by performing the corresponding tasks:
BIKE – HOW TO UNLOCK
Daytripper – Win 2,700 races.
Dolphin Dasher (medium) – Win the Mirror Star Cup or win 3,750 races.
Jet Bubble (small) – Win the Mirror Leaf Cup or win 3,900 races.
Kamek (small) – Defeat all the Nintendo ghosts in the Star Cup.
Magikruiser (small) – Play on eight different courses in Time Trials mode or win 900 races.
Phantom (large) – Win the Mirror Special Cup or win 4,050 races.
Quacker (small) – Win the 150cc Star Cup or win 2,400 races.
Shooting Star (Twinkle Star, large) – Win the 100cc Star Cup or win 1,500 races.
Sneakster (Nitrocycle, medium) – Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 100cc Wii Grand Prix Cups or win 3,300 races.
Spear (Torpedo, large) – Unlock 12 Expert Staff Ghost in Time Trials mode or win 3,600 races.
Zip Zip (Rapide, medium) – Win the 100cc Lightning Cup or win 2,100 races.
Unlockable karts:
Unlock the following kart by performing the corresponding tasks:
KART – HOW TO UNLOCK
Aero Glider (large) – Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 150cc Retro Cups.
Blue Falcon (small) – Win the Mirror Lightning Cup or win 4,200 races.
Cheep Charger (small) – Get a “One Star” rank or better in all 50cc Retro Cups or win 1,800 races.
Honeycoupe (Dragonetti, large) – Win the 150cc Lightning Cup or win 3,000 races.
Jetsetter – Win 4,500 races.
Piranha Prowler (large) – Win the 50cc Special Cup or win 600 races.
Royal Racer (medium) – Win the 150cc Leaf Cup.
Sprinter (B Dasher Mk 2, medium) – Unlock 24 Expert Staff Ghosts in Time Trials mode or win 4,650 races.
Tiny Titan (small) – Unlock one Expert Staff Ghost in Time Trials mode or get 50 Wi-Fi wins or win 1,200 races.
Turbo Blooper (medium) – Get a “One Star” rank or better in the 50cc Leaf Cup or win 300 races.
Mirror mode:
To unlock Mirror mode, win all 150cc Cups or win 4,800 races
Expert Staff Ghosts:
To unlock the Expert Staff Ghosts for a course, beat a normal Staff Ghost by seven seconds on that course.