Why Mario Kart 8 is the best way to get your kid into gaming — and into the Wii U

For the first time in years, Mario Kart feels fresh. And that’s not thanks to the new features — things like anti-grav karts, new items, or the Koopa Kids — but to the Wii U GamePad.

I’ve never been a big fan of the Wii’s Remotes. The motion controllers always feel imprecise and laggy, even after the Wii Motion Plus upgrade to the sensors. And the motion controls are especially cumbersome for Mario Kart Wii, even when you stuck a Wiimote into that damn Wii Wheel contraption. The wheel made the controller’s buttons hard to use. I couldn’t image a veteran player — and especially a little kid — dealing with it effectively. Motion controls sucked in Mario Kart Wii.