GAME REVIEW
'Mario Kart Wii' a Disappointing Ride

The Wii, Nintendo's super-popular and notably innovative game console, is far from perfect -- but it's also easily forgiven when the flaws are weighed against the extraordinary fun it offers.

That has been my attitude until now, anyway. It's the recent release of "Mario Kart Wii" that is giving me pause. It's a major title that comes with an important new accessory: a smallish steering wheel that fits together with the Wii's motion-sensing remote.

Given the exceptional pedigree of previous "Mario Kart" games, I expected the combination of the game's comic racing action and its new toy -- the wheel -- to be a huge tug on my time. Yet I'm finding the experience as flat as the tires on a long-abandoned car.

Nicer Than 'GTA IV' but Dullsville

That's unfortunate from a number of aspects. If nothing else, "Mario Kart Wii" could have been the perfect family-friendly alternative to the game world's current sales juggernaut, the Mature-rated "Grand Theft Auto IV."

The problem is, this latest "Mario Kart" is bereft of any compelling freshness. Without that, one or two of the Wii's inherent weaknesses become dramatically magnified.

First and foremost, the graphics are quintessentially mediocre and tear the heart from the racing zaniness.

As you navigate wacky courses with kart-like vehicles and motorbikes, the perils include ink-spraying creatures that obscure your vision and lightning strikes that temporarily miniaturize and slow you. It should feel like being in the middle of a Pixar (Nasdaq: PIXR) movie. Instead, there's an inescapable visual dullness that's hard to accept in this age of computer-generated bedazzlement.

Abandon the Wheel

Then there's the wheel. It's an awkward and finicky thing that is far too easy to oversteer. It's an object you hold in front of you, attached to nothing, that effectively can guide your kart or bike with only slight degrees of turn. You'll frequently overturn, then overcompensate.

You're supposed to be able to initiate trick moves with shakes and yanks of the wheel. I found that inconsistent -- another Wii syndrome that cuts across many games that are designed with special motion-sensitive features.

My best advice: The wheel is an option, not a necessity. Try the other control methods -- including the remote and Nunchuk attachment, or a GameCube controller -- to see what's most comfortable.

'Speed Racer' Dead Ahead

Two other notes: I haven't tried racing online yet, but I will -- and another significant game, "Speed Racer" from Warner Bros. Interactive, hits stores this week for the Wii and is compatible with Nintendo's wheel.

My first hour with "Speed Racer" was a lot of fun and the "car-fu" moves, triggered by both wheel and button controls, worked smoothly.

For updates on both "Mario Kart" and "Speed Racer," check my gaming blog.