It’s not often that a series installment can stray so little from its past and still make a mark, but Mario Kart Wii waves the checkered flag with a 12-player online racing mode that makes the best use of the Wii’s Wi-Fi capabilities to date.

Sure, Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo, $49.99) introduces a steering wheel controller shell, two-wheel motorcycles and new racetracks and attack items, but it’s this slick online interface that makes the whole experience more human.

The online lobby provides a place to hook up with friends, but it’s more fun jumping into a worldwide match with random opponents. Just knowing that each introduced “Mii” character is powered by a good old human brain instead of artificial intelligence is enough to rev your engine.

You’ll be hard-pressed to leave this online world, but some single-player action is a must to unlock additional characters, tracks and vehicles.

The tried-and-true Mario Kart formula hasn’t changed much since the series’ 1992 debut on the Super NES, with Mario, Luigi and their friends racing vehicles around elaborately decorated tracks. Players can also choose battle mode, in which teams complete to pop the most balloons or gather the most coins.

The Grand Prix racing mode offers the standard classes. An excruciatingly slow 50 cc is for go-carts only, while 100 cc showcases the new bikes. Carts and bikes can be used in the more challenging 150 cc class.

The newly introduced two-wheelers handle much differently than the carts. It’s easier to negotiate sharp curves, but the motorcycles are understandably more susceptible to bumps from the cart drivers sharing — or hogging — the road. Bikers can also pop wheelies for quick speed boosts by tilting the Wii Wheel, but that trick is best reserved for straightaways.

Whether you’re using a cart or bike, you’ll want to try the Wii Wheel…

Tags: US