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Okay, we’re skeptical about a big box and driving with the weak-ass lookin’ Wii-wheel (remember Ubisoft’s roaring success?) but we’re going to give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt with Mario Kart Wii (or plug in our Wavebird). The track record for the series has been nearly flawless up until now, so we’ve no reason to believe that the janky looking plastic shell will ruin the game. Yet.

Anyway, the set-in-stone North American release date is set to have Mario and company shredding up the tarmac on April 27th and will not only include the Wii Wheel, but the ability to race as Miis and download ghosts from the Nintendo WFC. Like Smash Brothers, this is strangely set to release on a Sunday, likely to avoid being trampled by the Grand Theft Auto IV madness that will ensue the following Tuesday.

We’re not saying that Mario Kart fanatics aren’t up for some car-jacking every now and again, but with such a colossal release at the end of April, it’s a good move on Nintendo’s end to shift the game for an earlier release.

It’d be a shame if this one was somehow lost in the shuffle in GTA’s wake.

Full details after that little “Read More” dealie below.

REDMOND, Wash., March 12, 2008 – This year, the typical signs of spring will be accompanied by the sweet sound of revving engines and the sight of lightning-fast shells whizzing around every corner. Mario Kart® Wii is zooming toward its launch in the United States on April 27. The game comes with the intuitive Wii Wheel™, which makes it easy for novices to compete against veterans, so no one is left in the dust. And with a broadband hookup to Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, players can compete with up to 11 other drivers from around the world for racing dominance.

“Mario Kart Wii transforms one of our most popular franchises into a race that every member of the family can join,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Driving with the Wii Wheel could not be more natural, and this is one place where speeding is encouraged.”

Mario Kart Wii will include 16 new courses and 16 classic courses from previous Mario Kart games. For the first time ever, players have the option of racing with either karts or motorbikes. Players can also hit the road as their personalized Mii™ caricatures in addition to the handful of classic Nintendo characters found in the game. True to the series, the game features tons of racing, plenty of power-ups and oodles of objects for players to use to slow down other drivers. And 10 battle arenas will keep players busy between trips around the circuit.

The easy-to-use Wii Wheel will also be sold as a separate accessory, giving every driver in the household a chance to get behind his or her own wheel. And if veteran Mario Kart fans are afraid of getting smoked by rookie drivers using the Wii Wheel, they can rest assured that Nintendo has them covered. Mario Kart Wii supports four different control options: Wii Remote™ with or without the Wii Wheel, Wii Remote and Nunchuk™ controller combo, Classic Controller and even the Nintendo GameCube™ controller. So there’s bound to be a configuration that fits everyone’s style.

Mario Kart Wii launches with a new channel added to the Wii Menu to enhance game play: The Mario Kart Wii Channel. This new channel builds on the huge online community of Wii owners and lets players compete in tournaments, check worldwide rankings, see when their friends are playing and download ghost data.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com. For more information about Mario Kart Wii, visit MarioKart.com.