That review is very good and shows an actual understanding of the game.

My Mario Kart history has been a bit wierd. Mario Kart I played alot alot alot, Mario Kart 64 I really didn't like at all for some reason, GBA version I completely destroyed in a morning and didn't really get much out of it... enjoyed Double Dash, and DS version but they've gone too far down the gimmicky track route that doesn't engage me as much as the simplicity/purity or the SNES stuff.

And then there's the old weapons balance thing that really irks me.

Good as a "party" game I'm saying.

And y'know online doesn't really interest me, maybe the time trialling if they've done that, but really, there is no such thing as a competative online experience for me, the tedious technological issues that I think exist are too much for me to ever really have as much as a go as if I was playing side by side or over a LAN.

Never played MK64, . Played a lot of the original back in the day, but mostly battle mode, so I don't really know any of the circuits

Didn't get the DS one, have 2 copies of DD I think?... but haven't really played it. As a result I'm mildly interested in this, but not OMG TEH KARTZ!!!111!!

I have to say that Wii Pro Evo 2008 is about as excited as I can get at the moment games wise. I'm probably going to go through a long introspective period of delving through the back catalogue to remind myself exactly why I play. Normal service will be resumed sometime later this year, so don't be surprised to see some rather odd threads from me on old games, especially old PC games. I've even started to contribute some titles to the Wine Applications databse.

That review was a good read - agreed the writer has a good understanding of the Mario kart mechanics. I must admit I didn't enjoy the N64 version at all, infact I hated it. The DS one though I love to bits and this sounds like it plays in a similar fashion minus the snaking that ruined the VS play for me.

WiFi play on the DS version was superb - even linking up with a friend in Tokyo on my lunchbreak leaching off random connections made for loads of good matches!

Proper looking forward to this - how come none of you guys have appeared for your kicking at Smash Bros yet?

Dont be shy.

________________________________

- "Your hair looks like shit."

Didn't like MK64 either, SNES was obviously great, GBA was ok, and DS was very good. Looking forward to the Wii version. Had fun on the Cube lan'd up as well.

Smash Bros. - it has only just arrived, not had chance to get started on it yet.

Seems like everyone has a different MK history.

I adored the N64 and DS versions. Found SNES and GBA ones fun but nothing more. And I detest Double Dash and the two arcade games.

Not sure what to make of the new one but I have a feeling I won't take to it.

Man, you just mentioned the Arcade games!!!

Total travesty ##insert other wordy words here###.

Not even close to anything to do with Mario Kart its unreal.

Now an AV Mario Kart game would be something to buy a rotating cab for!

I just could not resist, this game has some serious push on the High Street this week and coupled with some good initial impressions I splashed out on it. Comes in a large box complete with DVD case for game and the Wii Wheel.

Which surprisingly does not feel shit to use and hold. I played the game exclusivly with the wheel yesterday for about an hour, and I don't know what exactly it was, but I was grinning like a loon controlling Wario around Mario Circuit.

Did not manage to figure out how to orange smoke drift around corners using the wheel properly yet, but I tried to emulate the left and right motions using the wheel to get the smoke to come out numerous times and ended up stacking it into a Pirhanna pot. :\/ My brother was playing with the pad and managed to drift around corners fine, and the last time he played a Mario Kart was on the N64. Forgot to ask him if he couldn't snake around the course though...anyone?

I've only put an hour and a half into it, so I dont know about all the options, karts and control nuances in how to play it properly, but it certainly feels like how a Mario Kart should be. Best thing is the start line has now been bumped up to 12 racers at a time so it feels a bit ace seeing so many karts racing ahead of you then normal.

Seen some classic courses even some remade from the GBA Super Circuit as well as some returning tracks from Double Dash. Best race I've played so far has to be a toss up between Toad's factory with it's left and right sectioned conveyor belt stretch of Road and Wario's Gold Mine track which has massive deep swooping hills to drive down.

Had a quick go in Battle Mode too, this has been kicked up a notch too allowing Teams and additional CPU players to be driving about. Played the recreated Block Fort level from the N64, this should be the tits online. ^_^

First impressions are positive though, was really dreading that I would hate it. Will post more when I've finished some of the cups and got to see some more courses. Hoping for the original Snes Ghost Course 1 tbh!.

I'll put some more time into it tommorow to post some better impressions.

I caved in too, although I'm Freeloader bound with a US Wii, so a firmware update will scupper it at some point.

I think it takes longer to charge the boosts so snaking isn't really possible unless you have a series of turns strung together. For the orange boost, it is basically just how long you have been drifting, although changing direction while drifting speeds up how quickly the blue and then orange boost charges up.

I've stuck to the wheel too, and been really enjoying it. The wheel works really well, surprisingly well in fact, and feels just right to use (weight is perfect). It feels an awful lot like the DS version of the game overall, and the online stuff is very well implemented. If only it wasn't for damned friend codes. I'm 0602-6455-6324.

I haven't got properly started with the 100cc stuff, so I'm still getting used to the bikes. Have the feeling that 150cc, online, and TT is where it's at, so I need to get stuck into the later grand prix yet.

The only thing bothering me so far is item-carnage in online races, I noticed as you finish higher you start nearer the line, which seems to help get you out of trouble. Maybe it takes a few races to really get going?

Really interesting?:

http://www.videogamer.com/features/article/15-04-2008-374.html

Side by sides of the games tracks.

Most interested to see the SNES ones really.

Given this a proper play this evening, still on 50CC but i've cleared the Mushroom, Flower, Star and Special Cups. Honestly, I can't say that I've been that impressed with these new tracks on offer, theres deffo a good one or two on each cup, but nothing which has made me think that

"I would love to race that again!"

Apart from maybe Wario's Gold Mine, the AWESOME new Rainbow Road, Bowser's Castle and I think it was called Koopa Cape. Hopefully a few more run throughs will make the other tracks shine, but I can't see it yet.

In contrast to the above courses, the new set of Cups; Shell, Banana and Leaf have some classic courses from the SNES, GBA, N64 and some from Double Dash on the GCN. First cup has Ghost Valley 2 from the SNES and N64 Mario Raceway, DS Yoshi Falls and GCN Peach Beach (I don't like this one, poor SNES\N64 Koopa Beach tbh!)

Older courses have been a lot more fun to play the new ones so far and I like how some of them have been updated with the trick ramps so you can head straight into a corner, fly up and shoot back down with a speed boost. Great for when theres too many karts on the corner sliding it about, just floor it and whizz past them with a trick boost.

Not tried online or anything yet, thought I would unlock all of the Karts and courses first.

I was playing with the wheel earlier on, but for some reason on straights my Kart would end up doing sharp turns into the wall and I was holding it right infront of me. The battries are going low in it, but I don't think that should matter. Got so annoying that I had to stick the Gamecube pad in to play. Might need to adjust the sensor...

Pressing left and right on the controller or wiggling left and right on the wheel during a drift on MANUAL has no effect at all doesn't it? I can't remember what the previews said about how it eliminated snaking, but as far as I can tell there seems to be a set amount of time before the blue and orange smoke starts to flow out. Although I'm sure it comes out quicker sometimes...what do you think? I think it probably depends on how sharp you are turning.

I'm still in the habit of pressing left and right for the drifting, it was only after a while I started to realise it was having no effect at all. Deffo a good thing, I remember the swarms of Yoshi snakers on the DS...URGH!

got this yesterday but didnt get much chance to play it as i had to go out. i woke up this morning with a savage hangover and skived off work to play. i've not stopped all day. great game. i've only played the snes and n64 versions, but i prefer this. the tricks work really well, the powerslide or whatever its called is really satisfying and some of the tracks are fantastic. the wheel is pretty cool, the sensitivity is just right. i've not even tried the bikes yet, i need to raise my game tho, i keep getting my ass served to me online. highly recommended

sehr gut!

The Wii Wheel is excellent, seems a slightly more forgiving Excite Truck interms of nuance. Early on I was close to punching myself in the face with the wheel, with that wierd stunt mechanic.

The rest of it appears to be straight Mario Kartness... I mean, some the the Wii tracks appear to be "too long" but expect by the time you get to 150CC it'll make sense.

Only done 50CC Wii tracks so far.

Dunno if anyone has noticed the tournaments.

First one is a Wii Track but different to the normal game, the chain chomps are running around the track (in a predictable way).

This track isn't avaiable to non Tournament players at the moment, which is kinda cool / wierd / bizarre.

i came nowhere near the best times on this competition and i thought i was getting good at this :jawdrop: there is some SERIOUS online talent.