Such a huge game for such a small portable!
Sound
I won't spend long on this since the sound is typical Mario with an amusing charm to it. If you've played anyother Mario games (and lets face it, who hasn't) then the sound and music is so striking and rememable. And although it can be repetative and unoriginal, it certainly fits the scale and mood of which this game and Mario games in genral require to be what they are.
Graphics
For a portable, the graphics are outstanding since they are much like the N64 and to be honest, even better. Whats more is that environment is absolutly huge and shaped with different personas, unlike your tradtional flat ground tracks in a circle. Here you can go over raps, round loops, through the sky, on water and upside down which can create a more lively experience with the whole Mario gang! Of course there are noticable painted backgrounds and some characters are pointy andf slightly pixeled but hey, its a portable, what you expect?
Gameplay
Now unlike other portables this game is as fun and more so than other games thats its fun to play sitting down at home like you would on a console or PC whereas most portables are good for while on a train, toilet or at you grandparents, but in Mario Kart DS's case far from it! Its hard to describe but if you're a Mario fan you'll understand. The gameplay is as addictive as ever with both your classic gameply that cooked up a new generation of games, mixed up with modern day conventionals like unlockables and design tools. Theres plenty of gameplay both on and offline since theres multiple tracks, karts, characters and settings to make each experience a new one, not to mention side challenges that actually have Boss Fights! Thats right, a racing game that has Boss Fights! And good ones to! The game involves the orignal concept of kart weapons and tricks to make the job much easier but hopefullyyou should know how to drive lol! But either way they bring classic Mario charm to the game and its wide selection a chartacter and Karts. This is supprising yet wonderful gaming experince for both Hardcore Mario fans, and racer gamers in general. This derserved its hard earned awards!
Value
Well like I said before, this game is full of options and has wide appeal but whats more, like me, even if you're not a race gamer, Mario Kart DS is different enough for you not to take that fact on board and still enjoy yourself. Of course no game is perfect but even though this is a portable, it beats out more high defintion and mainstream games out there. The game may be abit easy for some and you may come colse to finsishing the job in no time, plus online could of been much better what what you're given in the first place is still both a real retro treat and a new experience for others! After all, who doesn't love Mario and co?