On Monday night, after the kids were in bed, I pulled on my hot pink racing suit, jumped on my dirtbike, and met up with my gal pal from North Carolina for an hour of drag racing through the streets. This was my first time racing with the Triangle Moms, but I know that this is a regular event for the mommies.

Okay, okay. So, clearly I wasn't actually drag racing (although, seriously, how funny is the idea of a bunch of moms breaking out their bikes and tearing through the streets of Raleigh). Instead, I was playing Mario Kart Wii.

Mario Kart Wii is the latest installment in a game series that was first introduced in 1992 when Nintendo introduced Super Mario Kart for the Super Nintendo. If you are familiar with any of the Mario Karts that have come before (Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Double Dash, or Mario Kart DS) you will be familiar with the format, which is a go-kart style racing game. Players choose a character from the Mario Brothers Universe (including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Bowser), the vehicle they want to drive, and the course or circuit they want to complete. As you drive around each track you pick up weapons or items which you can use against other players so you can, hopefully, cross the finish line first.

To play Mario Kart on the Wii you hold the Wiimote horizontally and turn it like a steering wheel. Mario Kart comes with one steering wheel which makes driving a little easier, and you can buy additional wheels for under $10 (I bought a pink steering wheel used at Game Stop for $6). You can also buy steering wheels that have a base, so you don't have to hold up the wheel for an extended period of time.

Mario Kart Wii has proven to be a fun game for everyone in our family (ages 36, 6 and 3). It doesn't take any skill to play the game, but it does take some effort to actually WIN a game (I am a terrible driver).

My favorite feature in the game is the ability to "meet" with friends to play over the Wii's wireless network. It was so much fun to watch the gals from North Carolina, even as they kicked my butt. My only wish was that I could also chat with my gal pals as we scooted around the track.

To answer a question I did receive about this game – is it worth it? I would say yes! It's a fun, family-friendly game that's appropriate for kids of all ages.

Rating:    [4] out of [5]
Mario Kart Wii is available for the Nintendo Wii. It retails for $49.99 and includes one steering wheel.

Have you tried Mario Kart (for any of the Nintendo systems)? What do you think?