Mario Kart DS easily beats most other Mario Kart games, except for Mario Kart Wii, which it still nudges out for the #1 position. This Mario Kart game has enough single player conntent to keep players busy for weeks, or sometimes monthes. The 8 cups, each with 4 difficulties, is the main single player substance, with 16 great new tracks, and 16 welcome returning circuits. The control system is great, as are the graphics. It is very pick up and play, and can be learned in only minutes, at almost any age, good for both casual players and experts, who will have the edge. The map on the touch screen can be very helpful, and is probably the best posible use of the second screen for this game. The missions, although sometimes repetive, can provide enjoyable challenges to get higher scores on them. The balloon battles work very well and the shine runs are a nice addition, but not quite as good as the classice baloon battles. The time trials are the same thing they have always been, and will attract some players. The character, now numbering 12, each with 3 of thier own karts, and the karts of other racers can eventualy be used. This time, the character and kart that you use actualy have a significant effect upon your racing style (instead of the usualy light, medium, and heavy system). It affects your max speed, acceleration, stearing, drift, and the quality of items you get, to result in fairly balanced racing between characters. The huge amount of unlockables; 4 characters, a third kart for each character, the use of other character's karts, 3 new difficulty levels, 4 new grand prix cups, and another group of missions, will keep players racing for hours nonstop, and that doesn't even include the basic addictiveness of the gameplay. The items like golden mushrooms, bullet bills, and blue turtel shells will sometimes give the edge to those in the back, or the less experienced player in multiplayer, but these provide some welcome drama and challenge to the game, and, in multiplayer, can act as a handicap for the less skilled Mario Kart racers. The multiplayer is some of the best on the DS yet. You can do grand prix, balloon battle, and shine runs, all with only one game card, with up to 7 other players! The only drawback the download play suffers to multi-card play is that there are only 2 cups in the grand prix, and that if you don't have the game you have to be Shy Guy, and ca'n't choose your kart. The wi-fi racing works very well, the only problems are the players who quit, and those who use action replays, or other cheating devices. Overall, Mario Kart DS is one of the best games on the DS. It is the best Mario Kart game, the best racer on the DS, and probably has the best multiplayer. It can keep players going for monthes, and then visit it often again.
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