Navigation through the menus in the game is handled by pointing the Wii Remote at the screen but when it's time to race, players hold the remote horizontally with both hands. The "2" button serves as the accelerator and the "1" button puts on the brakes. To maneuver the kart, tilt the controller to the left or right and the vehicle responds in kind. Hairpin turns can be dominated by performing a drift where the brakes are tapped lightly and the remote is tilted towards the curvature of the turn. As the vehicle slides and matches the curve, players may hit the accelerator to power through the turn like a champ.

In addition to the single player racing game, up to four gamers may join in on the action with a split-screen viewing mode where each players is afforded a quarter of the viewing area. It's a bit cramped and claustrophobic but workable. Three mini-games are also included for a little bit of variety from the kart racing conventions.

Region Incompatibility
Please note that Japanese Wii games cannot be played on USA Wii consoles due to the region lockout implemented by Nintendo.

Jan Code: 4527823994652

View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

» Before a race starts, you can choose a racing vehicle from three karts and customize it with one of two possible themes. For example, the kart that looks like a Formula One racer can be painted in an orange/white color scheme or colored blue with orange racing flames all over.

» The controls utilize only the Wii Remote that's held horizontally in your hands. It's very intuitive and feels like you're actually driving the vehicle and possibly the next best thing to a hardware steering wheel. The first stage is on a normal track but the second stage takes the player onto dirt roads which are surrounded on both sides by canyon walls. The twisting dirt roads are conducive to testing out the drifting mechanics of the game which work reasonably well with the Wii Remote controller.

» Whenever your guy passes another driver, he'll wave to him similar what the drivers did in Sega's Power Drift coin-op from back in the day.

» The "A" button on the Wii Remote activates the nitrous boosters. The booster gauge is located on the lower-right corner of the screen and slowly refills after it's been used. Each full booster shot lasts for about 5 seconds of exhilarating speed but when you're racing on twisting roads, the boosters are liable to smack you right dab into a wall and slow your roll to zero.

» The three mini-games as follows:

1) The first mini-game takes place on a Speed Circuit and you're supposed to gain as much speed as possible to jump over a lake. The boosters are required to make it to the other side but adventurous types can see how far they can go on normal engine power and dunk themselves into the water. The important thing about the nitrous is to activate it about six seconds after your vehicle has topped out at its max speed of about 213km/h so you can gain the acceleration required to clear the lake.

2) The second mini-game takes place on a wide open circular track where the goal is to run your racer into balloons and coins in order to rack up points within the span of 2 minutes. Knocking into walls or traffic cones will deduct points from your score and boosters are available for rapid fire point collection. The Mii squares that slowly rotate are worth the most points at +20 each.

3) The third mini-game is a conventional race against time where the goal is to run into coins as well as a highlighted area at high velocity to gain mass points.

» Minna de Kart Race is an enjoyable racing game that's fun and well designed. Sadly, we're fairly certain most North Americans won't get to play this game since it's Japanese (region-protected) although D3P may eventually bring it over to the States.

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