Joystiq goes all out with Mario Kart Wii controller comparison

As we're all too well aware, Mario Kart can be serious business for some folks, and Mario Kart Wii will certainly be no exception, which makes the right choice of controller all the more important. Thankfully, our pals at Joystiq have now come through with a meticulous comparison of all five driving options at your disposal. That includes the Wiimote on its own, the Wiimote with Wii Wheel, the Wiimote / nunchuck combo, the Classic Controller, and the tried and true GameCube controller. Somewhat surprisingly, while the GameCube Controller and Classic Controller each helped to put in some solid times, Joystiq actually found the Wiimote / nunchuck combo to the best all around option, with it faring particularly well when using a bike. Lagging far behind, however, was the solo Wiimote (which they recommend to avoid at all costs), although the addition of the Wii Wheel did apparently did help to make things a bit more manageable. Hit up the link below for the full rundown.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Apr 25th 2008 7:51PM]

Cool. I guess I'll try everything except the Wiimote by itself.

[Bassir @ Apr 25th 2008 8:00PM]

I'll see for myself which scheme I'm better at.

[MeatyPi @ Apr 25th 2008 8:06PM]

I believe most wiists can decide their best wiitatics without someone telling us how to wii

[El Taco @ Apr 25th 2008 9:36PM]

wow. You just used Wii as a stereotype, a verb, AND a noun. That takes skill.

[Neebs @ Apr 25th 2008 10:03PM]

El Taco -

I was gangstering in the hood as a gangsta.

[gabe @ Apr 25th 2008 8:07PM]

why is it the white controllers all have to gang up on the black one?

[Neebs @ Apr 25th 2008 10:03PM]

massive plus.

[austin @ Apr 25th 2008 10:44PM]

petition to bring back 'Highest Rank' just for this guy.

[maryland157 @ Apr 25th 2008 8:22PM]

test

[aMac @ Apr 25th 2008 8:47PM]

If you're using the Wii Wheel (and probably just the wii remote) you get a much better experience by driving in automatic mode rather than the manual mode they tested in.

You don't get the power slide boosts like you do in manual, but turning feels much more natural, like a real wheel would.

[nxtiak @ Apr 25th 2008 9:03PM]

Wiimote/Nunchuck combo is the best why? Cuz you dont' have to keep your hands together. You can put your hands/arms to your sides and be more comfortable.

[Andy Anonymous @ Apr 25th 2008 9:15PM]

This is a side of Wii playing that doesn't get much attention, but it's one of my favorite things about the controller. After you play long sessions of a Wii title with hands separated, it gets to be noticeably more comfortable than a one piece controller.

[Ignatius @ Apr 25th 2008 9:18PM]

Playing Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess taught me that pretty quickly when I relaxed. It was hard to use a GameCube controller after that because my hands wanted to come apart.

[b33eazy @ Apr 26th 2008 5:45AM]

This game will be awesome..........

Make me highest rank please?

[austin @ Apr 26th 2008 10:13AM]

i doesnt exist anymore

[vulgardaclown @ Apr 26th 2008 12:01PM]

you don't exist any more?... that really sucks for you.

[austin @ Apr 27th 2008 12:10AM]

EXACTLY MY POINT!

you should be highest ranked for that witty comment.

but with this new, bullshit system, you arent

[Kevin @ Apr 26th 2008 8:30AM]

It "did apparently did help" did it?

[Georgi @ Apr 26th 2008 8:44AM]

They used pen and paper to track the stats, obviously this whole thing is flawed :P

[Ernie @ Apr 26th 2008 12:17PM]

typo alert

"did apparently did"

[Josh* @ Apr 26th 2008 3:43PM]

Wiimote plus Nunchuk is the best control system for most things on Wii, as your hands can act independently of each other. Exception being Brawl, that NEEDS a Wavebird.

[Sonic_13 @ Apr 26th 2008 9:41PM]

I disagree. I think The Wii Remote / Nunchuk combo is much better than a GCN controller for Smash Bros.

I feel that the button placement makes it easier to perform different moves more quickly and the D-Pad is better than the C-stick, because in the heat of battle you can be sure that you are definitely pressing a certain direction.

[yui @ Apr 27th 2008 10:11PM]

To myself, CG controller is better. I have been using it for years.
Maybe my techniqe for using wii wheel is bad, but I just found that I can't clear 150cc without using a CG controller. I wish I could purchase a wavebird but its sold out...

[Gresteh @ Apr 27th 2008 6:28AM]

What an awful time, i can get 5 seconds less than the time they got with the game cube controler with the wii weel... and 7-8 seconds less with the classic controller, and im not even good.

[Axton @ Apr 27th 2008 11:04PM]

I think i would use the wheel if for no other reason than looking cool.

[dervheid @ Apr 28th 2008 4:02AM]

Wiimote/nunchuck combo for me.
You CAN get powerslides using the Wiimote (with or without wheel), but it's a MAJOR pain to achive.
Not tried a GC controller (yet), so no comment on that.

[qwho @ Apr 28th 2008 7:48AM]

I use the classic controller with the nyko nubs added to it. It feels just like mario kart 64 to me, I love it so far.

[Nintendie @ Apr 28th 2008 8:41AM]

Hi - MK racer from the UK here.

Don't write off the Wii Wheel just yet - when you get online you start off with 5000 points and gain or lose points depending on how well you fair in races.

Think is, you seem to get more points if you use the Wii Wheel as the Wii knows which control system you are using. My brother said it was double the points when using the wheel but I'm not so sure - it's definitely higher tho.

If you get gold in all the races in one player mode using the wheel, you get a nice shiny gold wheel symbol next to your name online! I saw someone from Japan who had 3 gold stars and a gold wheel next to his name, meaning he had done all the races perfectly and got 3 stars on each - surely he must have worked for Nintendo!

Nintendo had to give you some reason for using the wheel as it is unbelievably hard to get to grips with - many times i've wanted to go back to the trusty wavebird!