Review: Mario Kart DS 349
- Title: Mario Kart DS
- Developer: Nintendo
- Publisher: Nintendo
- System: Nintendo DS
- Reviewer: Zonk
- Score: 10/10
Playing the game is almost unchanged from the experience in Gamecube's Mario Kart Double Dash!!. While you aren't able to ride with a gunner, as you could on that system's Kart offering, Kart DS still offers up the opportunity to bring the blue sparks. Skidding around corners allows you to maintain your momentum, and quickly twitching the D-pad back and forth generates sparks which can give you a much needed boost. As you fly around the tracks, you'll gain access to a bevy of items for use against your opponents. Ranging from a simple banana peel that can slip up foes behind you to a leader-seeking flying blue shell, the items keep the game extremely balanced and the ending always tight. The further back in the pack you find yourself, the more powerful the items you find on the track. Players relegated to the far end of the course may even find themselves transformed into a Bullet Bill, which can rocket down the racetrack at high speed and blast foes out of the way. Even if you're lagging far behind you're never more than an item away from rejoining the pack. The gameplay is designed to be simple to learn, with plenty of depth to unlock through repeated play. Unfrustrating and good-natured fun is the result, a title that can be picked up by novice and expert alike and played with equal enjoyment. In addition to Prix mode there are also 54 missions to try out, each of them more challenging than the last. The trials are designed to improve your racing skills, and range from simple 'go through the numbered posts' slalom-style events to some truly unique boss fights. Each boss requires a different strategy to defeat, and some trials are extremely tough to power through. These battles are well worth it though, and add just that much more replayablity to the title.
The field of battle in Mario Kart DS is the racetrack, and there are 32 tracks to compete in over the course of the single-player mode. There are three racing speeds, from 50cc engines for newcomers to 150cc engines for the more experienced player. Each speed rating has eight cup races, with each cup being made up of four racetracks. Tracks from every previous Kart title are offered here, going all the way back to the SNES version. There are also a number of original tracks available, and the simplicity of the older tracks is almost refreshing compared to the complexity of some of the newer environments. While older tracks are just ovals to navigate, newer tracks offer criss-crossing paths and stupendous leaps. Some of the racetracks have a higher fun factor than others, but the sheer variety of tracks means there is something to offer for every player. There's also something to offer for every Nintendo fan, in the form of over a dozen selectable characters. While you initially start with eight, you unlock new Mario buddies and new carts for the characters as you complete cups. Each character has a definite racing style, and it's refreshing that playing Toad is fundamentally different than driving as Bowser. Who you play is more than just an aesthetic statement: it affects your strategy as well.
Aesthetics are a fine topic for this game, though, because Mario Kart looks just great on the DS. All of the characters are identifiable, and have a lot of personality to their models. Karts are imaginatively designed, and game items have the same quirky looks as their non-racing counterparts. The entire game runs smoothly as silk, with no graphical hiccups or even slowdowns that I could tell. The tracks themselves, besides their enjoyable design, bring the world of Mario to life as you whizz past. Some of the older tracks look a little blocky in comparison to the Gamecube or brand-new offerings, but overall the game is a slick and pleasant world to drive through.As much fun and challenge as the single-player prix mode offers, the true joy of Kart racing is multiplayer mode. Mario Kart DS makes playing with your fellow gamers brilliantly simple. Locally, multiple DS units can be networked together to run races or engage in one of the entertaining mini-games. Fellow players don't all need the cartridge, either, with one console running the game acting as a hub for up to seven other players. Hopping into this feature is intuitive and only requires a few button presses. Mario Kart DS has also launched as one of the premier titles utilizing Nintendo's WiFi Connection. If you have access to a compatible WAP, or live near a McDonald's, you can compete with fellow Kart players across the country and around the world. My WAP required no tweaking whatsoever to allow the DS to start looking for other players. Up to four players can race together competitively on a series of tracks. The full set of 32 are not available, but there are more than enough options to keep strangers enjoying each other's company. The family-friendly side of Nintendo means that DS multiplayer is as pleasant to play as it is easy to set up. There's no way to interact with other players besides racing, so comments about your mom won't be drifting from your DS speakers. The network appears to be solid as well. Despite disparate geography and connection setups, I've never had even the slightest bit of lag while playing with other Kart racers. Some players do inevitably drop out of the race because of signal strength or petty annoyance, but the race moves forward without interruption. There are also vs. modes, which bring back the balloon-popping fighter and introduces shine runner, a challenge to collect the Mario series ever-present star-shaped rewards.
There are a few minor quibbles I have with the setup. In order to play with specific individuals, you'll need to trade Friend Codes. Friend Codes are unique identifiers pairing the DS and a cartridge, and are the only way you can seek out any one person online. You can't trade Friend Codes online; they have to be traded via some other information channel. There's no way, then, to block racers who constantly drop out if they're in last place or befriend a good sport you bested on the Luigi's Mansion track. Likewise, it can sometimes take a while to find opponents when you're out searching on the Regional or Worldwide screens. If the game can't find four players to put together it will often drop two or three players together into a race just to get them racing, and there are no options governing your preferences here.Idiosyncrasies with the online setup aside, Mario Kart DS is a drop-dead gorgeous racer with a nearly limitless pot of fun on to boil. The gameplay is addictively fun. There are several options for single-player play, ensuring you'll never get tired of playing by yourself. And, if you do, it's a matter of minutes to be online and racing someone from anywhere in the world. It's not often that I pause to reflect on the real changes that modern developments have made to gaming, but the ease and fluidity with which you can be racing other gamers from the comfort of your cozy WAP is enough to make even the most jaded technology aficionado pause. If you own a DS, there are very few reasons not to consider at least renting this game. It's the latest and greatest in one of Nintendo's most venerable franchises, packing graphical prowess and technical savvy into one impossible-to-put-down package. I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes having fun.
Sir! With the keyboard! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Sir! With the keyboard! (Score:2, Funny)
I love nintendo (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I love nintendo (Score:2)
-Jesse
Re:I love nintendo (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I love nintendo (Score:2)
-Jesse
Re:I love nintendo (Score:3, Interesting)
I still play classic 8-bit Nintendo games (and often wonder why I paid $20 or $30 for some of them when they were first released). My favorite is Contra. Despite beating it thoursands of times, I still play it when my brother visits me and says "hey, let's go beat Contra again." The scary thing is that I'm finally able to beat the game without doing the cheat
Re:I love nintendo (Score:3, Interesting)
Maybe because that's what they cost? In fact, I seem to remember $20-30 as being cheap.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Wish there was internet battle mode (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Wish there was internet battle mode (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Wish there was internet battle mode (Score:2)
Re:Wish there was internet battle mode (Score:5, Informative)
On local LAN, there is also battle mode and shine runners. In battle mode, you get 5 lives and getting hit with shells, banana peels and other objects takes away a life. In shine runners, you're competing to pick up shines (from Mario Sunshine). You can knock shines loose from other players with shells, etc. Every 20 seconds or so, whoever has the fewest shines gets dropped off until one person is left.
Unfortunately, neither of those modes are available online.
Re:Wish there was internet battle mode (Score:2)
Unfortunately, neither of those modes are available online.
I was disappointed when I saw that shine runners wasn't available via WiFi. And I was also wondering if it would be something that might be added to the WiFi network at a later date? The main racing game is tons of
Re:Wish there was internet battle mode (Score:2)
I don't know if such an update is even possible, but I would enjoy it if it were.
Re:Wish there was internet battle mode (Score:2)
Re:Wish there was internet battle mode (Score:2)
Or you could just go out and make some friends.
Just sayin' is all.
Just Waiting (Score:4, Funny)
I'll just wait for Mario to snap and enter "Grand Theft Auto: Mario's Revenge"
Re:Just Waiting (Score:3, Funny)
For some reason I just don't think that tossing turtle shells will suffice in GTA
Re:Just Waiting (Score:2)
Re:Just Waiting (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Just Waiting (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Just Waiting (Score:5, Insightful)
Hmm, these sound like the words of a PS or Xbox fanboy.
Who really cares if it's "cartoon racing"? Does the fact that it looks like a cartoon make it any less fun? Since when does a game have to look real to be enjoyable?
Re:Just Waiting (Score:2, Insightful)
You'll have to accept that it is a matter of taste. That people are going to talk about what they like and what they do not like. Here's what I don't like:
Since the late nineties I've just about had it with lil' Mario. I liked how Nintendo came up with the whole Pokemon scene and was glad that there are virtually unlimited heroes to chose from there.
Simply put: I just can't
Re:Just Waiting (Score:2)
That said... I've got the new Mario Kart DS. And I have to agree that it is insanely good. I wasn't all that happy about the N64 version (liked the SNES one better) and never got around to playing the GameCube Mario Kart. But Mario Kart DS is deceptively sim
Re:Just Waiting (Score:2)
And that sounds like the kneejerk reaction of a Nintendo fanboy, frankly. Of course the style of the game impacts how you perceive it. Myself, I will take Wipeout over Mario Kart. Both are loads of fun but I enjoy the futuristic aesthetic to the cartoony one. Its, you know, an opinion.
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! (Score:5, Funny)
"...Mario, needs no introduction." (Score:4, Funny)
It gets better (Score:2)
Whoa there, not just entirely - on the whole entirely.
Re:It gets better (Score:2)
Actually, I'm just causing myself physical pain by reading this, now.
Sends the wrong message? (Score:5, Funny)
However I am not the only one who feels that games should carry a positive message as well as offering the opportunity for education. And unfortunately this is not one of them. Although I quite enjoy racing games I noticed this particular title can actually create a bit of tension. It encourages poor sportsmanship by letting players use what are effectively glorified weapons to cheat their way to first place by knocking their competition off the road, and does not adequately represent the sort of technique and caution actual race car drivers use when operating their vehicles (Gran Turismo 3, while not a portable title, does much better in this regard.)
While you could certainly do worse when picking out a game for your child, you would do better to choose a title like Max Trax or Speed Math.
Re:Sends the wrong message? (Score:2)
And people say Nintendo makes kiddie systems! I guess this proves them wrong ;-)
Re:Sends the wrong message? (Score:2, Insightful)
NASCAR has spurned more asshat drivers on the road than anything else. God help me the next time I see some moron with a "I'm not tailgaiting I'm drafting" bumper sticker.
Yeah, that carful and calculated driving by pro racers certianly sent a good message. Why dont we have these racers on TV in psa's saying "people who tailgate are retarted morons that should have things thrown at them."???
because pro racing drivers are NOT careful, they drive just on the edge of out of control.
Re:Sends the wrong message? (Score:2)
Re:Sends the wrong message? (Score:2)
When someone is far ahead in first and second place is trying to catch up, third place will wack them back further and further with the red shell while extending the lead for the 1st place player.
Blue shells only blow if you get tagged by someone in last right at the finish or something and 2nd can zoom around you.
I have been playing this game a ton though and I enjoy the heck out of it. I think I'm sitting at something like 97 wins 56 losses. The riva
Re:Sends the wrong message? (Score:2)
Re:Sends the wrong message? (Score:2)
How young to enjoy (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:How young to enjoy (Score:2)
Re:How young to enjoy (Score:2)
I would expect that a 7-8 year old might be able to play this game without being incredibly frustrated due to lack of skill. Of course, proper guidance and probably explanation that it gets easier over time is necessary, before DSs go flying through the room.
Younger one's don't care (Score:5, Interesting)
At least that is what I tell my wife, I bought it so I could play Metroid and what not.
Anyway, This was one of the titles I was waiting for. However she loves it as well. She doesn't care about racing per se, she just has fun driving around in circles. Every once in a while I'll get tired of hearing the 'wrong way' noise from the little dude on the cloud and turn her around but she'll run around for 30 min the wrong way and be laughing and having a blast.
When she gets older, I'm sure she'll figure it out. But for now she loves the game.
Re:How young to enjoy (Score:2)
I'd be willing to bet money that my 4-year-old son can wipe the floor with most adults on the GBA version of this one. He uses techniques that simply never occurred to me, like leaping over the inside corners of right-angle turns to get a wider virtual turn radius.
Don't sell little kids short. They can do some pretty amazing things.
The real fun... (Score:3, Insightful)
SSID and 128 bit WEP? (Score:2)
Re:SSID and 128 bit WEP? (Score:2)
Re:SSID and 128 bit WEP? (Score:2, Informative)
Easiest way to find people to play! (Score:5, Interesting)
If you want to play me Bring it [witendofi.com]
Re:Easiest way to find people to play! (Score:2)
ditto - 240577 799156
seems like a good time to start ... (Score:2)
I would say:
Super Mario Cart
F-Zero
Pitstop II (C64)
MotoRacer
Any additions?
Re:seems like a good time to start ... (Score:2)
Re:seems like a good time to start ... (Score:2)
Test Drive Le Mans (Dreamcast)
Al Unser Jr. Arcade Racing (Win95/Mac)
Out Run (Genesis)
Stunts (Score:2)
Re:Stunts (Score:2)
Re:Stunts (Score:2)
Check out some screens here:
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=R&game
Re:seems like a good time to start ... (Score:2)
and I third RC pro Am.
Didn't really like it (Score:2, Interesting)
Like most Nintendo games, it takes an established franchise and runs with it. Unlike most Nintendo games, it has added nothing really to the franchise. Online play? I could do that earlier. That leaves octop
Re:Didn't really like it (Score:2)
Little tip: Put your Advance wars GBA cart in when playing the DS one then head to the shop
Tom -- AW player too
Re:Didn't really like it (Score:2)
Also, what was up with ditching WAP functionality? Why do I need to unsecure my access point to play?
why would you do that? it supports WEP fine.
Re:Didn't really like it (Score:2)
CSI: Mario Cart (Score:5, Funny)
Decal / Emblem Maker (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Decal / Emblem Maker (Score:2)
SVN diff for Slashcode: (Score:5, Funny)
CORRECTION: SVN diff for Slashcode: (Score:2)
Re:CORRECTION: SVN diff for Slashcode: (Score:2)
Minor correction... (Score:5, Informative)
The author meant you can't trade Friend Codes online via Mario Kart DS. But there are a number of gaming site/threads where people do trade their Friend Codes online. But...this practice is prohibited on the Nintendo company forums and they specifically tell you never to post codes online.
For the their first online effort, I think MKDS is pretty good. The online component is a more restrictive that I would like and I think Nintendo has a bit of work do to in balancing between online communication and online restriction (to protect the kids).
Re:Minor correction... (Score:2)
I'm confused (Score:2)
Bah.. back in my day... (Score:3, Insightful)
Rules you say? You never had house rules with Kart? Well the rule that required us to be in arms distance was juvenilely called "Jump Fa&&try". This is where in the N64 version of Wario's race, at the jump if someone would drop the lightening bolt while people were in the air the game would drop them to the track below, causing them to be massively behind. Yup.. if someone pulled that trick there would be a solid punch in the arm by all who were afflicted. Gawd bless ol' negative reinforcement.
I know if we were playing on handhelds the we would require a fifth person to run down and enforce the rules.
Does anyone else have any home rules for Kart?
Re:Bah.. back in my day... (Score:2)
codes (Score:3, Funny)
Re:codes (Score:2)
Re:codes (Score:2)
Just get an easy link for all your Friend Codes!
one minor nit with the wireless (Score:4, Informative)
not that anyone near me knows enough about computers to crack my network, it's just frustrating that the latest 'secure' stuff isn't supported.
Re:one minor nit with the wireless (Score:2)
Re:one minor nit with the wireless (Score:2)
How about a "Super Smash" Kart? (Score:2)
It could add a ton of variety to the gameplay and race types.
Think about it, if you will, a race track where the players fly in spaceships in a starfox kind of setting.
Perhaps a horse race, riding Epona from the Zelda series?
The only thing that I'd worry about creating such a title would be the possibility of it becoming super cheesy like that "Nicktoons Racer" game I see at movie theaters and Chuck E. Cheese type p
Re: (Score:2)
Friend Code Exchange (Score:4, Interesting)
If you're interested in getting a little Slashdot Kart action in, a code exchange would probably be the best way to go.
My code is 000059522506.
What is yours?
Re:Friend Code Exchange (Score:2)
Re:Friend Code Exchange (Score:2)
How Many Tracks Really? (Score:2)
*sigh* I wish games would be honest about that sort of thing- or at least that reviews would tell you strait out how many of the tracks are essentially clones of one another.
No Stylus/Analogue (Score:2)
I guess turning a corner is tap tap tap but could anyone enlighten me about the control scheme?
Re:The RIAA envies Nintendo (Score:2)
Re:The RIAA envies Nintendo (Score:5, Informative)
Re:The RIAA envies Nintendo (Score:2)
So you'd advocate doing the same to the PS2, because it most certainly _does not_ support all PS1 games?
Or am I misinterpreting "their" to be Microsoft, when you really mean "the user's"?
-Erwos
Re:The RIAA envies Nintendo (Score:2)
Re:The RIAA envies Nintendo (Score:2)
So, um, I can buy it? Good!
Re:The RIAA envies Nintendo (Score:2)
Although the RIAA has nothing to do with formats since the RIAA equalization curve for LPs, lets just take this as a given anyway.
Is there any evidence that the record labels are interested in alternate recordings besides CDs? The only real viable option to obtain an MP3 is through iTunes or possibly things like Wal-mart or whatever Yahoo! has to offer, but iTunes seems to
Re:The RIAA envies Nintendo (Score:5, Informative)
Have you played the games in the series? The true 3-D Kart games (Kart 64, Double Dash, and now DS) are a HUGELY different experience than the lower-tech 2-D + perspective titles (the original SNES Super Mario Kart, and Super Circuit on the Gameboy Advance).
But people should boycott the XBOX 360 until it supports all the XBOX games in their collection.
No. People should buy the 360 if they feel it has value, and refuse to buy it if they think it does not.
Re:The RIAA envies Nintendo (Score:3)
It's funny, because a lot of times the people who complain about all of the mario titles "being the same" are the same people who run out to grab every "Need For Speed" title that comes out.
Re:YEAH! (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:YEAH! (Score:2)
Hills, heavily banked turns, loops, spirals, cannons that you blast out of... it's all there. Yes, Virginia, the DS is a fully 3D machine, and Mario Kart takes full advantage of it.
Re:YEAH! (Score:2)
I'm saying the games that have come out for the DS so far are largely a bust. With a few notable exceptions [AW, Nintendogs and maybe Mario64] they're all fairly lame in the technical department.
I like the DS platform, no moving parts, built in screen cover, longer battery life, interesting dual screen setup, etc. I truly do.
I just hate the games so far.
Tom
Re:YEAH, you're truly ignorant. (Score:2)
You are, indeed, ignorant.
It's isn't exactly a huge leap up from mode 7 games. You're behind the racer on tracks that are mostly flat with slight bends in them. Whoopy!
And not being a savant on MK doesn't make me ignorant. It makes me bitter and pissed off.
Tom
Re:YEAH! (Score:2)
Re:Didn't really like it (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:One thing I would like to know... (Score:2)
Re:One thing I would like to know... (Score:2)
Re:One thing I would like to know... (Score:2)