A blast from the past that may have done better to stay a distant memory
User Rating: 6.5 | Diddy Kong Racing DS DS
Diddy Kong Racing 64 was a good game for many reasons. Original tracks, a descent weapons system, a variety of characters, all with different driving capabilities, and a colorful landscape that was fun to tear up in either a car, hovercraft, or airplane. Diddy Kong Racing DS still has these things, but with poor touch screen capabilities, and just not enough change to make this a very good choice in games to buy from. There is now a vehicle upgrade system though, but it doesn't really matter, being as you can still beat the game without upgrading once, and unless you want to play the tracks over and over again to collect the coins needed to upgrade the vehicle, then it really isn't worth it. The boss races are still fairly similiar to what they were on the N64, but the lack of a joystick on the DS can make a few of them fairly aggravating. They will also challenge you to a special touch race, promising money if you are able to win. The thing is the touch capabilities to this game are a bit off, and this makes these races hard, since you have to draw the path you want to take, spin the tires to keep momentum, and poke the weapons that you wish to pick up. All the of the multi-tasking just doesn't work with the shoddy touch capabilities, and you will find that even if you poke the weapons, it may not work, leaving you weaponless and eventually, in last place. Another thing that bothered me was the lack of one of my favorite drivers, Conker, most likley left out due to the two M rated games that he later inspired. Not everything is bad about this game though. There is a fun online element to it, and two adventure modes, although the second adventure mode is just the same adventure mode, except all of the tracks are now mirrored. They also portray a more in depth story as to why you are racing in the first place as well. Although this game does have it's moments, I honestly couldn't reccomend it to anyone but the people who are extremley patient, and to those who won't throw the DS accross the room when this game raises their blood pressure, and I assure you, it will. 
