Gamezone

'Dirt the skirt. Dirt the skirt," I screamed as I flicked the plastic racing wheel holding the Wii-mote forward as I tried to make Princess Peach pull off an "X Games" type stunt on her motor bike and make my decision to play as her character, well, less girlie. It was futile for a number of reasons. The first being that Peach wasn't wearing a skirt, but rather a form-fitted racing suit (and it's still pink). Second, I just haven't managed to master the timing with her character. She landed uncharacteristically ungraceful (at least in my mind). Rats. No speed boost. Foiled again.

The original kart racing game is back. Those familiar with the franchise will notice about half of it is new content. Half the tracks in the game are from previous versions. I'm of the mindset that if I've ponied up another $50, I should be getting $50 worth of material, not tracks recycled under the banner of "nostalgia."

To be fair, the game does come packed with one plastic racing wheel (additional wheels are $15 each) and while you can play the game just holding the Wii-mote in your hands, it's not as fun. And least you think the wheel is a one-game accessory, WB Games' "Speed Racer" (reviewed left) also uses the wheel, offering up some hope that other developers will follow suit to let gamers have the option of using the accessory.

Other additions to the game this time around include the baby versions of Mario and crew, motor cross bikes as vehicles (the title should really be "Mario Bike and Kart") and online play.

Yes, after years of dragging its feet in embracing online play, Nintendo has now built free online play into the game (internet connection required). You still race around the track, occasionally picking up power-ups like shells and what not to either disable your opponents or give yourself a temporary boost of speed, but instead of racing against someone else in your living room, the other racers just might be in another part of the world. I have a wifi connection and played a couple of races with a few Australians and there wasn't any lag in the gameplay.

The power-ups are still one of the most frustrating things in the game, at least when you are in first place. You no sooner pull out in front and the rest of the racers are directing various things at you to slow you down. On the plus side, it gives newbies to the franchise a fighting chance when racing people who have been around the track more than just a few times.

"Mario Kart Wii" offers everything you would expect in a kart game featuring a plumber.