Is Nintendo's premier racer starting to lose some wheels?

There are three things that are guaranteed in life: Death, taxes and another iteration of Mario Kart. The impact this nearly 16-year-old series has had on the game industry is unquestioned (it created its own genre after all). A version of Mario Kart has been released on every Nintendo platform since the Super NES and each one has gone on to sell a gazillion copies despite little change in the overall gameplay. But with Mario Kart Wii ditching key features from its GameCube predecessor, are the new additions enough to prevent this game from actually being a step backward for the series?

Nintendo message boards erupted when the company announced Mario Kart Wii would be without the two-man vehicles contained in Double Dash!! Depending on your point of view, having a second character drive shotgun while the other managed the road either made races more fun and interesting or provided a needless distraction. Either way, they're gone along with character-specific items. In their place are a few new power-ups, the option to ride bikes instead of karts and, of course, online play.

Mario Kart Wii contains a total of 32 courses to race on: 16 original tracks and 16 tracks from past Mario Kart games dubbed "Classic" tracks. Up to 24 drivers separated into three weight classes can be unlocked to race (not including your Mii), each with their own strengths, weaknesses and drivable set of karts and -- for the first time -- motorcycles. Karts are better drifters whereas bikes can perform wheelies for slight speed boosts. As with every Mario Kart, completing Grand Prix Cups in 50, 100 or 150cc will unlock more Cups, courses and characters.

Of course everyone knows by now that every copy of Mario Kart Wii comes packed with Nintendo's wireless Wii Wheel. It's an adequate peripheral that may provide better steering for some players despite there being little separation between your hands. Those that shun the wheel have the option of controlling with the Wiimote and Nunchuck, Classic Controller or GameCube Controller instead.