1. Online Experience
This is a fairly simple point, but perhaps the most vital: players should be able to fully customise game options (how many courses the GP includes, which ones, the difficulty level, etc) and play with friends easily online. I wont pretend that the Wii version wasnt a good start, but vast improvements are needed: at least eliminate the lag of previous iterations, and make it easier to find and customise games. Features such as parties (groups who can join games together), are the standard in online console gaming now, and Nintendo cant afford to keep crippling its own online capabilities with annoyances such as the Friend Code. I accept that a large part of its audience is based on the Wiis status as a family friendly product, so features such as voice chat might cause problems and best be left out much as Id love to see them. The other features mentioned, however, have nothing to do with age appropriacy issues, and should be improved as soon as possible. Features such as staff member who chooses 4 of the best player created maps every week to make an Online GP would be amazing, and revolutionary but perhaps its asking a little too much of Nintendo, although they easily have the resources to do it. Mario Kart is already the King of split-screen nights in with the mates, lets make it the king of the online world as well.
Do you have any other thoughts on how Nintendo can rejuvenate the Mario Kart series for the Wii U? Let us know in the comments section below.