4/5 ★ – DarrensTrashBag's review of Mario Kart Wii.

Jesus Christ, how did people grow up and endure this game? Playing this game made me feel miserable. The driving is just very stiff to control, you are bouncing off walls constantly, some corners you have to slow down dramatically to successfully scathe through. Doing tricks added a nice touch to the gameplay but is improved upon in later titles. The skateboard half-pipe system was unnecessary, did not feel satisfying to do, and just seemed like a waste of time to do. The biggest problem with this game is the item balancing. It is horrendous, the worst in the series. You can get blue-shelled 3 times, red shelled 5 times, struck by lightning 2 times, and pow-blocked once per race in just 50cc. It is baffling to me how people played the grand prix. This is so far the only Mario Kart game I have not 100% because I just hated myself while playing through it. I was able to complete all of 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, and two cups in mirror mode before I gave up. I do not understand how someone can gather joy from this mode. This game is deeply overated and was the worst Mario Kart game to go through. What saved this game were these other things: Battle Mode: was underwelming but still enjoyable, pretty terrible structure to it. Time trial: where I spent most of my time, this is because the maps are the best part of this game. Multiplayer: enduring the chaos with friends is less torturous than doing it by yourself. The Score: it is quite iconic and made each session much more bearable. Thoughts on Each Course: Luigi Circuit: Probably the worst map in the game from how generic it is, every other map just looks better or plays better. Moo Moo Meadows: Very great, I just wish that they a better pathway through the grass circles near the end. Mushroom Gorge: I used to hate this map, thinking that the mushrooms themselves had terrible physics and it was difficult aiming the kart towards the next mushroom. Now I admit that it does not feel natural bouncing on the mushrooms, but I can do it with better ease. Toad's Factory: Love the theme here, just wish that the final corner did not suck. Mario Circuit: Very similar to Double Dash's, which does not get a lot of memorability despite it being the rewards stage. Coconut Mall: Easily the best course with great music, lots of paths, and is a creative location. Dk Summit: It is just a worse version of DK Mountain, I hate the half-pipe things, second least favorite track. Cool music track though. Wario's Gold Mine: very great theming, just can get timing'd when trying to do the shortcut but you have a minecart blocking the way. Daisy Circuit: Decent with a cool statue, not much to say about this one. Koopa Cape: My second favorite map because this one just feels like a roller coaster all the way through, very enjoyable visually and physically. Maple Treeway, I hate the wigglers but other than that the map looks nice. Grumble Volcano: too many hazzards but I really like how the course changes over time. Dry Dry Ruins: Typical Desert level with nothing much going for it. Moonview Highway: the cars are too chaotic with not a lot of room to dodge the cars but still a good map. Bowser's Castle: I do like this one, that is all I have to say. B tier Rainbow Road: Design wise, this Rainbow Road is dissapointing, Probably the 2nd worst Rainbow road next to 8's. The Retro courses chosen are very weird. I know they are running out of unique options but they literally chose all of my least favorite maps from the other games. It then choses maps that are the same as the base game maps like Mario Circuit and DK Mountain. They do makes these maps better but it still made going though this game that much less enjoyable. TL;DR: Very overrated, driving is stiff, maps are great, score is great, play with friends. 83/100