I... I like the Wii wheel... o_o

Good review overall. My GF got MKW last night and hates the Wii Wheel. She couldn't pull off one trick during her play.

can you remap the buttons to your liking like in SSBB?

Well, I'm glad that your suggested method of input is one that all Wii owners will have anyway. My copy should be delivered some time today. :3

Awesome, I hadn't read much about the control schemes before now. I was planning on just using a good ole Cube controller, but I'll give the remote+nunchuk a try.

Me and my friends were playing it yesterday and the motion controls did absolutely nothing for me.

I wish I could set up the wiimote in a way that I could use the D-pad to steer.

I sill enjoy Mario Kart DS a great deal more than this outing.

Odd, I actually started off on 150cc when I played it at Nintendo World.

Then today I was playing it online all day, which is 100/150cc

Wii Wheel is Superior, but to each to his own! :)

As long as you have fun it doesn't matter.

lol, having the guests use the madcatz controller is a statement of win.

so true.

Maybe awkward for you! I taunt all the time in Brawl so D-pad is so familiar with my thumb, i am starting to worry about their relationship.
Seriously, its like, jump - taunt, dodge - taunt..

Oh god, really? If I can't use the wheel well, forget this rubber-banding piece of nuts.

Whoa, whoa!...
Are you saying that the Wiimote by itself is nowhere near as good as the Excite Truck experience?!? (which was spot on, imho)

If so, maaan... That's just f@$%'d up.

@lapiz: I never found any issue using the cube controller D-pad for tricks - we don't even have Brawl over here yet :(

We did get MKW two weeks ago though... Ner ner!

i dont like the wheel, but i like just using the wiimote.
i was getting the hang of the manual drifting thing. it's kinda like crash team racing for the ps2, but easier.

maybe i'll try it with the nunchuck tonight after work.

Playing it with the Wii Zapper FTW

Wii Wheel all the way. It gives me the precision I need for 150cc races, and it also makes it feel more like a wii game and less like a gamecube game. Wii wheel 4 life!

Funny, I was racing online last night and utterly dominating all comers with the Wii Wheel. And those at the bottom of the back weren't using the wheel (though I can't tell if they were using the GC/CC or Nunchuk scheme)

The author seems concerned about the "tricks" and how it's impossible to do them while using the wheel...I didn't notice that at all.

It's just a quick tilt on the wheel. You don't have to wrench it back or flail...just tilt it up and viola!

I will admit that at first I struggled with the wheel. But that was because I was trying to adjust to the new controls.

But I've already gotten gold's in all 50 and 100cc races. Have a grade of about B (I haven't gone back to some of the earlier cups a second time yet)

So really, this article just confuses me...I've heard nothing but positives about the wheel, and my own experiences have been nothing but the same.

I disagree.

Gamecube, d-pad to analogue is easy enough to do.

Wii wheel is more difficult, and the problems stated are the main difficulties, but with practice you'll be pretty fine. The only real problem is that you can't really slide without turning before, which means the wheel won't be making any time trial records, but it's perfectly functional otherwise.

I agree with the sentiments above... the wheel feels like a gimmick, and after playing with it for 20 minutes you are going to be left wanting better responsiveness from your controls. As even a seasoned gamer I feel like a 80 year geriatric when trying to steer using the wheel. That and I could feel early onset arthritis setting into my thumbs from the way you are forced to hold to wheel. Save yourself the pain and stick to the mote%nunchuck configuration

@2kreative: I know! I live in Europe too ;) ::hint .. hint::

I think this is the game where more then anything people will be divided between Wii Wheel and Wiimote/Nunchucks.

In before people crying how the Wavebird/GC controller could have easily used and they refuse to buy the game because of that.

What I don't for the love of me understand is how anyone in their correct gaming mind can find the wii wheel anything at all wonderful, yet alone good, or even Bearable.

Now i've been karting since the SNES and everyone since then and all I believe is that Nintendo love making terrible plastic crap to force us in to buying the game.

That doesn't mean people are buying MKWii for the Wheel. HELL NO. carters love karting for the pure amazement of red shelling some one 5 inches before the end of the race to come in first place and the Wii Wheel will not help games get sold, all of us were going to buy it anyways.

On the other hand... this game as I recall from the past 14 or so hours of playing it since its release all it has got is a lot more CHEAP. Jumping is probably my most favorite part about this new MK, whether it is with a bike or a kart either way it makes the game that much more enjoyable. getting those boosts and drifting seems to be exactly what Nintendo wanted to do and yes you must master both of these to excel anywhere in the MK world.

I really don't have many gripes about this game, other than the fact that bulling around while driving and halting to a stop isn't so fun, and that items like the bullet can make or break the race, 9th to 1st and the win its kind of over the top to me. Yes Nintendo has made this for everyone to play and I don't think people aren't going to buy it but I do think strongly that the hardcore MK'ers are going to get sick of its sooner than not. But then again there's multiplayer to hold its own version of the game on which i've actually been a little obsessed about.

Now i'm off to go kick Rainbow Roads ass, and anyone else who races in my way…

@Kai_: You should at least give it a shot before dismissing it after a single review.

I haven't played yet, but I am certain I will agree with you. I do admit to being surprised that the 'Cube controller isn't more awesome, but after being surprised with Brawl, I was ready for anything.

I was skeptical about the Wii Wheel at first -- figured I'd try it and then put it back in the box. I think it's fine. It might not be the best control scheme, but for me it is a lot more fun.

Thanks for the guide, I find this kind of info extremely handy, yet its quite hard to find! Well done!

The wheel is garbage...but my girlfriend likes it...so I will let her use it every time...chuck/mote for me.

I super disagree with the Wii Wheel assessment. This sounds like an assessment from a person who either hasn't tried it or played with it for the first race in 50CC and then ran crying back to to their analog stick because what they experienced frightened them. I've played with the Wii Wheel since I started playing it yesterday afternoon and I've gotta say, I can't imagine getting MORE responsiveness. Also, its adds +7 fun to the whole experience AFAIC. I'm not trying to convert the unbelievers, but seriously give it a fair shake before you crap all over it.

What? I've been doing fine with the wheel on 100/150cc.

i have to agree that the wii mote + nunchuck is the best option but my wife loves the wheel and has managed to get all gold on all CC's but then again she has always been a super mario kart fiend

@Struct09: Same, I think maybe Luke just might suck at Mario Kart.

I love the wheel. I have had MKWII since u.k. launch and that is my only method of control. You need to give it a chance for a while before it feels good. I thought that I would end up using the wavebird controller as a MK veteran.....alas I have not used it and favor the fun Wii wheel.

I'll just add my two cents in - having completed the 150cc mirror mode with only the Gamecube controller, and didn't have a single problem.

@DigiMish: No, you can't map the buttons.

So far I've been doing great with the wheel - its fun and good times for all. I tired the Wiimote/Nun combo and did better with the wheel - so i stuck with it.

GameCube Pad all the way.

I have had no problems pulling tricks with the dpad, I have finished all GPs but the 150cc Mirror GPs (and those are a matter of time).

Oldschool is never old.

I don't see why you got trouble with the Cube controller.

In the few weeks since the Euro launch I been playing Mario Kart Wii a whole lot and use 99% of the time the (wired) Cube controller. Pulling of tricks is so easy and natural that I'm assuming that your definition of awkward is very different from mine.

But to each his own. The fact that you can choose between 5 schemes shows that there is for everyone something they like. Which is why this control scheme review is pretty pointless to begin with as everyone has there own preference.

My only real gripe with the Wheel is that when you go to flick it during a jump, sometimes you'll end up aiming a bit to the left or right, and on some skinny jumps, you end up flying off the edge, which sucks.

I haven't tried playing with the Wavebird yet, but that is what today is for. Thanks for the handy guide though.

There's nothing wrong with the Wii Wheel, or ANY of these controller schemes for that matter.

That's the beauty of the situation, they give you choices. 5 different control schemes rather than just forcing one on you and saying "Do it this way because we said so." Same thing goes for Smash Bros.

There's no need to bash on any of these schemes because at least we all have the choice to use the one we like most. Everyone wins.

Um...I heart the GC controller? And am doing fine with it? Honestly, don't know what the high and mighty approach is earning you on this one but it really does work.

I have one major complaint about the Wheel config. And that is the way items are deployed.

The way it's set up, you have to hold Left or Right on the D-Pad to keep the item dragging behind you. This can "feel" awkward when holding an item while also trying to Drift. (Holding the D-Pad right while turning left, or vice versa)

It would've been nice if they had set it up so that pressing Left/Right deploys the item, rather than having to HOLD it to keep it out.

The ability to fire forward or backward using up or down is fantastic, and could have stayed...but I just wish I could set "prep" the item with left or right then take my hand off the D-pad until I need it.

Oh, and Blue Shells should go back to how they were in Mario Kart 64 (though I'd prefer they go away entirely). I may get a Blue Shell in last place, but it doesn't do a dang thing for anybody but the 2nd/3rd place racers (depending on how bunched together the top four or so are.

I think they may even have changed it so it locks onto 1st place at launch, instead of when it's approaching. I've yet to prove this theory....

I dunno. I thought the classic controllers was best. Granted, i didnt use the wiimote and nunchuck set up, but the classic controller gave some pretty precise control and i didnt think it was that hard to do a trick using the d pad while steering

I acctualy don't mind the wheel... granted I haven't tried using the nunchuck option yet.

I've actually found that the classic controller scheme is the most comfortable, especially when you're not in the mood to assume the correct posture for the wheel or the nunchuck combo. And while I can see have reaching for the D-pad on the GC controller would be awkward, I haven't had that problem on 150cc races with the classic controller. I think it's better placed than on the GC controller.

And of all of them, the classic is the one that enables you to relax the most, which is what I play games for anyway. If I want to use a steering wheel, I'll get in my Toyota.

@OneLetter: I had that problem too.

Instead of a "flicking" motion, try tilting the wheel towards you. I originally "flicked" (which meant I would jerk my entire arm straight up) and had the same problem.

If you just tilt your wrists up, I've found that it allows you to get the trick, but still have control of the kart enough to make a solid landing.

Of course, you may be doing this...and our definitions of "flick" differ.

The GC controller works fine. You are flying through the air when you have to use the dpad on the GC controller so there is no loss of control.

@Dauragon C. Mikado: I heard with the Classic Controller, you can set it to drive with the D-Pad but that was way before the game launched, not even sure if it was a rumor or not. Either way, I'm still gonna give the Wheel a shot once I get the game, but I have a feeling I'd like it...

I disagree with the gc pad/classic pad comments - I've found these to be the best for me. I bought some Thrustmaster wireless pad - upshot over wavebird - it has rumble...smiles all round then.

I'm pretty good with the classic controller, though I could give the Wiimote/Nunchuck combo a try. You're spot on with the wheel though, I liked it during the slower races, but at the higher speeds it just became a game of me going from one side of the track to the other, back and forth.

I haven't tried the Wii Wheel yet. I'm really liking the Wiimote + Nunchuck control scheme. My husband swears by the GC controller and can't figure out how I keep kicking his ass.

I poo-poohed the Wii Wheel when I picked up the game. Though I did buy enough wheels to go around. When I actually played with the wheel, though, I was pleasantly surprised with it. I think doing tricks with it is very simple. The only gripe I have about the game, in any way, is the same one most people seem to gripe about. The items! The ones that should be a lot more rare show up way too much. (i.e. the Lightning Bolt, Bullet Bill etc.)

Waouh, you're tough with the Wii Wheel. I've played every Mario Kart since the Super one, and I really like the feeling of that plastic stuff. It's hard to control at first, but after 5 or ten races, you discover that it's fresh and it changes nicely the Mario Kart experience. But if you want that same old MK, it's your choice...

Just chiming in as another fan of the wheel. It took me about an hour of playtime to get it down, but once I did, it's been pretty smooth sailing with it.

i've used the Wheel exclusively. Played online and haven't had many problems. haven't gotten to anything higher then 50cc yet on single player so i can't say for that. so far i've enjoyed using the wheel.

Can no one work the Cube controller? Using the D-Pad to do a trick or evade the POW is dead easy. As you are going from a ramp either straight or from a drift angle, you don't need to use the analog stick at the moment of tricking, meaning pressing Up on the D-Pad does not disturb you. At all.

The Nunchuk option is fine, I even enjoy the hands free option it gives like in other games, but Mario Kart feels like such a controller title.

I'm with the people loving the wheel. I have no problems getting all the tricks without losing control(only a very small flick is neccesary), and I feel it's plenty responsive. And most of all, it's more fun. And I've played and enjoyed all Mario Kart before this, so I do have something to compare with.
I guess it's just a matter of preference or practice. :]

I actually like the wheel a TON. But i know it's irrational, because just holding that thing puts a bizarre grin on my face and makes every fuckup due to imprecision instantly fade away.
I love powersliding with it, the whole twist left, push button, then turn right to counter motion feels like a cool little minigame every time, far more so than the afterthought it becomes with a thumbstick.

It's not optimal by any stretch, but i could actually see it work to improve a ton of "straight" racing games considering how precise it feels for small changes. Not that those games will ever find a real home on the Wii.

My Wife enjoyed he wheel, i like the WaveBird.

Ha! I like being able to shaft my friends with Gamecube controllers... sounds like a deal to me!

@Shyguy: Way too many items that feel like they exist to merely slow you down rather than speed up the user. I absolutely fucking hate the pow block. It's not only boring to use, it's flat out frustrating to get hit by. Like boom. Time to slow down mate for no real reason.

For a game like MK emphasis should be on speed, not on making others slower.

I found the Nunchuk + Wii Remote option really awkward having grown accustomed to using only the Wii Remote for steering in games like Tony Hawkes and Exite Truck.

For tricks I just jerk the Wii Remote down with both hands to keep the