I've seen a number of reviews of Mario Kart Wii buzzing around the site and I felt that I had to add my two pence, since most seem to make MK:Wii to be the greatest thing since sliced television, and I would like the set the record staight... or at least slightly more cynical.

I also get the impression that most of the writers have only passing experience with the franchise (maybe one or two games at most), which gives a little bit of a narrow view.

Ok, so here's a brief summary of the good things about the game:

1. Some of the most interesting tracks in the series so far. Koopa cape is like something out of F-Zero, and Moonlit Highway returns the series' "traffic-filled" track type back to the hectic rush of the original Toad's Turnpike (N64).

2. Largest selection of (sometimes reeeeaally obscure) characters yet.

3. The online aspect is PHENOMINAL. This game may not be the Wii's best, but it's the Wii's best for online play.

4. The new trick system is fun, and gives a very satisfying feeling when you pull things off.

5. Bikes are new, fun, and handle *wildly* differently to karts, particularly in terms of the drift.

6. A few new items, each of which brings something new and interesting to the mix (particularly the potentially self-sacrificing storm cloud which speeds you up hugely, but if you don't bump into another racer in time you get shrunk as if hit by a lightning bolt).

7. The Wii wheel handles beautifully. It's really intuitive.

8. Revamped drift system means NO MORE GODDAMNED SNAKERS ONLINE! *angry face*

9. No DS mini-map means that the calimari (squid) item actually has some point now.

Okay, so bad things.
The number of racers has been upped to 12 from 8, and while that may sound good in theory, this causes two large problems.

Number one, the racers bunch up a whole lot. This means that the difference between first place and 8th or so is usually one badly-timed red shell away. There is no frustration like Mario Kart frustration when first place is stolen by bad luck and items.
Skill really takes a back seat at times.

Number two, more racers means more items flying around. And it's a tad too much. Remember what I said about having first place stolen by one red shell? Well imagine what being hit by a blue shell, lightning bolt, red shell and pow block in rapid sucession will do. And trust me, that's not as infrequent an occurance as it sounds.
Game-breaking items are just too frequent to be balanced, and you're acutely aware at all times that you're only winning (or lagging behind) because of luck.
Also, because of this, if you find youself at the back of the pack the only way to recover is with items of your own. Thus, if you miss an item box or two, you're pretty much screwed.

Let's get back onto tracks:
Though some are brilliantly designed, an equal number are frustratingly difficult. Oh, they shouldn't be... they simply don't have as many fences at the edge of the track, or have a few more jumps over lava/water/bottomless pit than others... and this would all be great if it weren't for the dozens of items flying around, threatening to send you out of bounds... which happens a whole lot, particularly if like me, you favour a light racer (who gets bashed around by the heavyweights a lot).
Further, a few are just rediculously difficult, with sudden twists and no barriers which even sends the AI racers flying into the void. Regularly. (I'm looking at you Rainbow Road). There are often boost pads in place in places when you *will* fly off the track if you use them, which smacks of poor level design to me. Also, several tracks with lots of jump *punish* you for going fast... you know, like you're supposed to in a racing game.
For example, an early track has you bouncing over multiple mushrooms to cross a ravine. Problem is that going fast (like, by using a power star or boost mushroom) can often make you jump so far as to overshoot the next mushroom in sequence and fall to your death.
Oh, and let's not forget how the offroad track sections are so much less forgiving. So much as *look* too hard at the slightly different-coloured dirt which marks the outside of the track and you will slow down so severely that you'd be in a better place to be hit by a shell instead.

This all combines to make a game that is dominated by luck, and send you flying off the track through no fault of your own far too often.

Also, what happened to the boo item? That was awesome!

Still, this is a good game regardless of my bitterness. Go get it.
Like now.
What are you waiting for?
I'm serious.
Go.