With intense racing both on- and off-line, you can't go wrong here. It's classic Kart with new twists and unlimited fun.
All of the familiar single-player racing modes make their return in Mario Kart DS, in addition to a few new features. The portable title contains eight grand-prix competitions containing four races each. Half of these tracks are new, well-designed courses that are a blast to play. The other 16 tracks are borrowed from each of the previous Mario Kart titles to form the game’s four Retro Cups. While some of the track choices are questionable, they do make for four well-rounded Grand Prix competitions. It should be noted, however, that a number of the GameCube courses have been altered in order to make online racing more “balanced.” As always, Grand Prix competitions may be held in 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc classes. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock a fourth class, 150cc mirror mode, which will effectively double the number of tracks by forcing you to race backwards. You’ll also notice that speed, opponent aggression, and computer skill will increase steadily with increasing class.
In addition to the traditional Grand Prix mode, Mario Kart DS includes time trial matches in which you can unlock staff ghosts by approaching their best times. You also have the option of competing in single-player VS. or Battle matches against the computer. When selecting a Battle match, you may choose between the classic Balloon Battle or the relatively new Shine Runners. In Balloon Battle, the player is tasked with bursting all of his opponents’ balloons with items he’s picked up on any of the game’s six battle arenas. The unique features of the DS, however, let the player re-inflate his balloons by blowing into the microphone. The object of Shine Runners is simply to collect more Shine Sprites than your opponents. Those players with fewer Shines will be booted from the match over time, and the winner is ultimately the last player standing. Mario Kart DS also offers a single-player mode that is entirely new to the series. In Mission Mode, the player can choose from a variety of tasks that focus on various skills necessary to master kart racing. For example, you may be asked to perform a certain number of power-slide turbo boosts in one lap, collect coins, or defeat one of seven familiar bosses from the Mario universe. While Mission Mode doesn’t exactly bring anything new to the genre, it does offer a fun diversion when you’ve only got a few minutes to pick up and play your DS.
The first time you play Mario Kart, you’ll be able to choose from eight classic characters, each of whom has two karts to choose from. As you progress through the Grand Prix competitions, many more racers and karts will become available, including a nice surprise from Nintendo’s past. Each kart has a number of attributes that you should be aware of before making your choice. As in previous versions of Mario Kart, speed, acceleration, weight, handling, and drift all have noticeable impacts on how your kart performs on the track. New to the series, however, is an Items feature that dictates the quality of weapons you’ll receive from the game’s numerous question blocks. If you’re tired of always getting bananas when you’re in first place, you’ll want to choose a kart that has a good Items rating.
The DS version of Mario Kart also includes three new power-ups that complement an already outstanding line-up of items. Taking advantage of both screens, the new Blooper item squirts ink in front of the driver’s eyes so that the player is forced to rely on the surprisingly accurate and nearly SNES-quality lower screen map. Although driving over a speed boost or using a mushroom will quickly clean off any ink, Blooper is still a fun item to throw at your friends. If you’re a racer who frequently finds himself frustrated somewhere in the lower ranks, Bullet Bill will be your new best friend. If you’re lucky enough to use this new power-up, you and your kart will be transformed into the infamous projectile as you plow through your opponents on auto-pilot. It’s great for catching up in a pinch. The final power-up addition, the Bob-omb, is tricky to master. Like the banana and fake question mark, it can be thrown ahead or dropped behind your kart, only to blow up a few moments later. Timing is difficult, but landing a Bob-omb hit can be oh-so satisfying.
Of course, Mario Kart DS offers the same amazing visuals and sound that gamers have come to expect from the series. Each character (with the exception of Donkey Kong and his desperate need for dental work) and every kart are beautifully detailed. And although the SNES and GBA courses are of somewhat lower quality than their N64 or GameCube counterparts, each arena is instantly recognizable as classic Kart. The game’s sound effects are also vintage Mario Kart, and you’ll find yourself quietly cursing under your breath as the hum of that infernal blue shell slowly approaches.
Despite the system’s lack of an analog stick, the control scheme maps nicely onto the DS. Thankfully, Nintendo didn’t bother tinkering with the touch screen. The D-pad remains faithful to the title’s SNES roots, and power-slides are easily controlled with the R button. If you ever get tired from playing Mario Kart, it won’t be for lack of a good control scheme.
Where Mario Kart DS truly shines, however, and what sets it apart from its predecessors, is its incredibly entertaining multi-player modes. With just a single copy of the game, you can race or battle up to seven opponents. Although there are restrictions on character and circuit choice when using one copy, you’ll also find exclusive content (like the ability to use Shy Guy as your racer). If you and your friends all have copies of the game, get ready to try out every circuit, character, and kart that you’ve unlocked in an eight-player free-for-all.
It’s easy to see why Nintendo chose Mario Kart DS as their flagship title to launch the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Getting online is simple and easy to do from home or one of the nation’s increasing number of Wi-Fi hotspots (Starbucks, McDonalds, etc.). Unlike Sony’s PSP, which maintains online network settings from the system’s main menu, all of Nintendo’s connection settings are managed in-game. Nintendowifi.com lists wireless routers that are supported by Nintendo, as well as a search engine for finding hotspots in your area.
Once you get online, you can search for up to 36 of your closest friends or rivals. You’ll also be able to compete with regional opponents who are in the same country as you, or worldwide. Four players are supported in each race, and only 20 of the game’s 32 tracks are available. Online races consist of four-track Grand Prix events, and each player can vote on which course he wants next. The only frustrating aspect of Mario Kart online is that there is currently no way to prevent sore losers from ducking out of a race when they fall behind. But don’t let this minor setback prevent you from experiencing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. It offers free, unlimited replay value for an already superb title.
Mario Kart DS is one of the best reasons to own a Nintendo DS. If you’re a long-time fan of the series, you’ll find enough new content to keep you entertained for hours on end. And if you’re new to this quirky, yet engaging genre, you’ll begin to wonder what kind of cave you’ve been living in all this time. Nintendo chose a great series to launch its Wi-Fi Connection service, and, because the added hours of entertainment are completely free of charge, they can even be forgiven for the glaring lack of the SNES Rainbow Road. Well done, Nintendo. Well done.