In general I agree, but in this particular case, the game is under-rated, like Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn before it.

Instead of expanding on the gameplay in significant ways, the game merely expanded the breadth of content available.

Another game that did this, was Brawl. I feel that Kart had an equally robust expansion, with what I believe was 64 tracks, as well as a few new interesting mechanics, and an online mode.

Basically, despite the game changing very little, it still managed to drive home the Mario Kart experience better than ever before.

So, while games like Assassin's Creed were over-rated, for being innovative and evolving, with great graphics, though the actual game was crap due to it being one long MMORPG fetch quest, Mario Kart was under-rated for having nearly the same gameplay, nearly the same boards, small tweaks to the engine, yet the actual game turned out to be pretty good.

Game reviewers not universally deciding if games should be reviewed well for innovation, or for substance, or if games should be rated comparitively to their last entry, or judged on their own merits, is why the review system for long running series, and new unique games is messed up.

Not only that, but reviewers relish proving their objectivism by labeling average Nintendo games with average ratings. It helps their credibility with the vast majority of the Nintendo hating internet.

That said, the fact that the lowest rated Mario Kart game still ranking above 80 percent on gamerankings is a testament to the quality of the series, and well, I think a few people enjoyed it....look at the sales.

I would think twice before calling it a bad game.

1

It is an excellent game and reviewers are actually destroying the gaming industry. Alongside Nintendo with their Wii of course.

you know what's freaking annoying everyone talking about it and from the time this game launched i have never seen a physical copy of it you guys are making me jealous

^ you better buy it and get your self on one of the vgc mkwii leagues

^^been trying i can't find it which is starting to annoy the shit out of me

The "sophisticated" games were always awful in multiplayer though.

Quoted for truth...Manuelf might be off the ball a little bit, but I've learned that the more complicated a game is, the worse it is for multiplayer - roughly speaking.

I think that's one reason nobody wants any part of Metroid Prime 2's multiplayer.  I played around in it on my own a little and it seems fine...but learning how to lock-on, use the morph ball, etc. adds a layer of complexity to the standard FPS formula which is already complicated enough.

So the game is fine if I'm playing it, but if I try to introduce it to three friends who have never played a Metroid Prime game before, it's going to be no fun because they can't figure out WTH they're doing.

Since I have Mario Kart I'm getting twice as much people coming to say hello...

and play MARIO KART!

Reviewers mistake it as unsophisticated because it has a cartoon look and a learning curve of about 12sec.

What really shows me the true degree of sophistication and beautiful craftsmanship is that it takes a range of characters and vehicles with clearly different characteristics including carts and bikes but balances them so well that try as I might, I cannot find any combination that has a real edge over any other. That is difficult to achieve but makes for great game play.

Played with good cometitors I personally find it just as challenging as the simulation racing games and a lot more fun.

The often complained about targetting of the leader is also a well thought out device. The best driver will still always win overall, but the seemingly unfair barrage will let the weaker players win just often enough to make the game fun for them also. That way a family, for exampe, can all have fun, even when one player is clearly much stronger.

Achieving this degree of balance requires very skillful and sophisticated game design and execution and a fine polish which I personally did not see in much higher rated games such as GTA.