There is one big problem with the Wii Mariokart game. It’s totally addictive. Although my young daughter loves to pretend she’s a ‘big girl’ and can drive, it is totally obvious she is far, and I mean far, from being ready, especially after seeing her attempt to play Mariokart. She found much amusement in trying to hit the other racers while I tried to explain the game was not a version of ‘bumper cars’. Me? Oh I am oh so ready to take this game for a spin, again and again and again. Mariokart is pretty much a wheel barrel gift of sorts for your kid, since it’s a game that is as entertaining for the hard to impress adults as it is the game happy kids.
Mariokart comes bundled with a Wii Wheel that houses your Wii remote in a comfortable touse steering wheel. This enables you to race through crazy courses like a gold mine, the street of Venice and the mall (which slyly features your various Mii characters along the sidelines and in the billboards around the track – it’s always nice to see a familiar face). And speaking of faces, there are oodles of characters you can choose from for your avatar or you can just use your own Mii. With your avatar selected, you race away. Along the way you can earn special powers that can really give you a racing advantage. But you must always be on the lookout for the rogue banana peel, dancing crab or wayward racer.
The game can be playing solo (for after the kid goes to bed), or you can compete with up to three people in the comfort of your own home. You also have the option of logging in to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and race against, well, the world.
You can pick up your own Mariokart for Wii here for $45.99. But be warned you family will be racing the day (and morning and night) away. So if your kid has homework, you better keep Mariokart hidden.
