Opening
Bibliographic Information:
Mario
Kart Wii / by Nintendo
ASIN: B0029OUYKG / OCLC Number: 228108153
Format: Nintendo Wii
Release date: 2008 / $43.99 (Amazon)
Body of Content
Summary: The video
game Mario Kart Wii takes gamers on a
racing adventure – with the ability to select from 32 unique courses. While classic modes like Battle and Time
Trial are available, the chief mode within the game is the “Grand Prix” option,
where a player races against 11 other computer opponents through a series of four
progressively harder road courses. The
number of characters is expanded, as more characters from Nintendo’s classic
Mario Brothers series are possible driver choices by gamers. The road courses are not, in themselves,
completely new – but borrow heavily from other incarnations of the popular game
series. Four different race cups are
playable – with the gamer needing to complete each cup before the game allows
access to the harder series of cups.
Further, each cup series contains four difficulty settings. The game is controllable through the Wii
Wheel or Nunchuk – though classic, non-motion controller abilities are still
available (Wikipedia, 2011).
Critique: The
game is a welcome addition to the Wii console, and admittedly, one of the
better games for the platform. I believe,
though, that weapons are a little too important to game theory within the
racing venture. Earlier versions of the
game – on the Super Nintendo and GameCube – do not have as many weapons at a
player’s disposal – or as many opportunities to use them. In those earlier versions, more game theory
centered on the racing aspects of the game.
In my opinion, in an attempt to lower the entry level into
the game, weapons determine more of a race’s outcome. Many of the weapons remain the same – from turtle
shells to mushroom speed boosts – from a star’s demolishing power to a lightning
bolt shrinking one’s foes. But the game
designers added weapons such as giant mushroom, storm clouds, and POW blocks –
all of which are more influential than run-of-the-mill banana peels.
Such additions are not necessarily a design flaw – as any
game desires to improve and expand upon previous versions. Still, the focus is away from racing and
track times – and more about creative ways to cause an opponent to crash. The game is still enjoyable – but the feel is
slightly different – as weapons have a larger say in the outcome of each race.
Teaser: Twelve players in a race to the finish – with a few raceway
turns and trick weapons along the way!
Information about the Author: Nintendo started its
operations back in the 1980s. Over the
last three decades, they have launched numerous consoles and hundreds upon
hundreds of games. Their latest console system
is the Nintendo Wii. Although the game
selection trends more to younger audiences, teens still hold nostalgic ties to
their childhood days filled with Nintendo’s star franchises like Zelda and
Mario.
Supplemental
Material
Genre: Racing / Multiplayer
Curriculum Ties: Recess / Celebration after Finals
Booktalking Ideas: 1) Can
you pass all the race levels? 2) Can you find all the secret shortcuts?
Reading Level: The game has a broad
demographic reach – rated E for Everyone – going as young as children – to as
old as persons in the twenties. The race
and battle modes make this an easy party game with friends.
Challenge Issues and Defense: Given the family-friendly
E-Rating, this video game should not invite any challenges – well, not unless a
parent believes the Italian plumbers were treated stereotypically.
Personal Reasons for Inclusion: Back
in high school, I played the Super Nintendo version of this game quite often on
the weekends.
Last Thoughts
References:
Wikipedia.
(2011). Mario Kart Wii [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Mario_Kart_Wii
Listening to (Music):
Artist – Hans Zimmer / Album – “Soundtrack from ‘Inception’”
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