A vastly underrated karting gem, right from the original series.
These guys are wrong. Any gamer should find a lot to love, not only in the terrific Mario Kart 64 and Super Mario Kart, but in the latest addition to the series, the all-around fun and simply supremely polished Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Double Dash!! has quite a few differences from the early games. The first one, and the most immediately obvious one, is the fact that now, on every kart, there are always two characters on a "kart" that you control, one riding shotgun on the back throwing items, and one driving. People say that this doesn't change much, but it actually lends quite a lot of new elements to the game. One important thing is that it lends considerably more variety in the game, characters-wise. Since every kart holds two people, and there are a fairly major number of characters (each of which is divided into three classes of size), there are lots of options for you to experiment with. The characters within themselves hold variety; as characters now have a special ability that only they (and one other character usually) can use, which are picked up just as normal items are. Secondly, it lends a tactical importance to the items. Now, since you can switch between the driver and the item thrower instantly, you may want to save items for later before you chuck them. Thirdly, it adds the potential for whole new modes. It's terrific fun to play co-op against another co-op team or even against computers, one person playing the driver and one playing the item thrower (and you can switch too).
The controls are remarkably tight and handle very well. Double Dash!! holds the perfect difficulty, as it is extremely easy to pick up the fundamentals, but you have to play quite a lot to learn the nuances of the control, especially skidding, which is a necessity if you want to hit the turns just right - "easy to learn, hard to master". Also, the tracks are much more interesting overall in Double Dash!! One track will shoot you out of a cannon to the top of a mountain, another one is literally shaped like Yoshi (and is actually one of my favorites), another one has quicksand and tornados to throw at you. Even the more basic tracks are fun, and Waluigi Stadium in particular (the successor to Wario Stadium for Kart 64 fans) is great fun. Almost every track can be played tons of times, and there are overall very few ones that you will regret coming back to if you play again.
The graphics in Double Dash!! are sharp, clean, and polished, and sport a Nintendo look. The characters are practically caricatures in themselves, but they are animated very well and are very detailed. The tracks also look very well, and the game as a whole sports an extremely appealing, colorful look.
The sound is great. Each item holds a unique and fitting sound, but it's really the score that takes the prize here. Each track has a merry and lively tune to fit, and they're surprisingly memorable, as you'll often find yourself humming along as you race fairly quickly.
The value in the game is great. With multiple kart sizes and karts themselves, as well as unlockable cups, modes, characters, and more karts, the game is extremely replayable. The game particularly shines with multiple people, as can be expected.
Concluding this then, Double Dash!! is simply a supremely polished, good-looking, and most of all fun game. It doesn't take itself too seriously and is one of the few games out there that will almost instantly put a smile on your face. Not just a worthy sequel, but so far, the best game in the series.