Is it me or
is the new generation of handheld game systems the best thing to happen to the
industry since the release of the PSone? Here I am away from my controller,
away from my console, and nowhere near a TV screen and yet I am able to steal
my friend’s star and beat him to the finish line. He is nowhere in the room.
There are no free power outlets (they’re occupied by my PC), or any wires
connecting our game experience.
That is the
beauty of wireless, handheld gaming that’s as powerful as the last generation
of game consoles. With their new, N64-caliber system, Nintendo was able to
realize the dream of putting a real Mario Kart game in the palm of our hands.
They were also able to do something that was not possible before: take the
game online.
Finally,
after more than a decade of bringing joyful addiction to gamers’ homes, Mario
Kart could now be played at any time and at any location. Go somewhere with a
WiFi connection (McDonald’s is the most common, but other restaurants like
Panera Bread offer WiFi as well) and you can play against gamers from all over
the world. It’s not like online gaming on a console where getting into a game
is as easy as clicking an open race or starting your own. But it’s a start,
and it’s got thousands of gamers hanging out at the Golden Arches – with or
without the urge for a Big Mac.
Before going
online, before entering your first race, know that above all else Mario Kart
DS is a spectacular racing game. This isn’t a rehash, or some compilation of
Mario Kart’s past. It hasn’t forgotten where it came from – 16 of the series’
most popular courses are back, marking the first time that tracks from the
SNES, N64, Game Boy Advance and GameCube versions have appeared in the same
game. Each of the returning courses have been re-designed for the Nintendo DS,
adding 3D elements to the two-dimensional GBA and SNES tracks. Nintendo 64’s
courses look about the same, while GameCube’s selections have been re-rendered
and look fantastic on the small screen.
The other 16
courses are brand-new, Mushroom Kingdom-inspired worlds designed exclusively
for Mario Kart DS. Luigi’s Mansion wasn’t the GameCube launch title we had
hoped for, but its originality and everlasting charm made it hard to forget –
thus the creation of a course based on that game. It’s dark, filled with
ghosts, and haunted by trees! The kind that move and will make you spin and
spin. The horror, the horror!
Delfino
Square should be instantly familiar to anyone who went searching for Shine in
2002. Waluigi Pinball is a quirky, eventful course where balls aren’t the only
thing that get bounced around. Shroom Ridge is what life must be like at the
Mushroom Kingdom during rush hour. Those of you who grew up playing the NES
Mario games, join me in shedding a few tears for Airship Fortress and Cheep
Cheep Beach. Both tracks pay homage to Mario’s earlier days, featuring 3D
characters and environments that replicate the worlds and enemies Super Mario
Bros. 1 and 3.
Yoshi, Wario,
Peach, Bowser, Donkey Kong – no one was left out. Every major Mario Kart
character has a world represents their existence in some way. Whether through
inspired characters, environments or both, these courses were made for
Nintendo fans.
Mushroom Cup
Figure-8 Circuit
Yoshi Falls
Cheep Cheep Beach
Luigi’s Mansion
Flower Cup
Desert Hills
Delfino Square
Waluigi Pinball
Shroom Ridge
Star Cup
DK Pass
Tick-Tock Clock
Mario Circuit
Airship Fortress
Special Cup
Wario Stadium
Peach Gardens
Bowser Castle
Rainbow Road
Shell Cup
Mario Circuit 1 (SNES)
Moo Moo Farm (N64)
Peach Circuit (GBA)
Luigi Circuit (GameCube)
Banana Cup
Donut Plains 1 (SNES)
Frappe Snowland (N64)
Bowser Castle 2 (GBA)
Baby Park (GameCube)
Lead Cup
Koopa Beach 2 (SNES)
Choco Mountain (N64)
Luigi Circuit (GBA)
Mushroom Ridge (GameCube)
Lightning Cup
Choco Island 2 (SNES)
Banshee Boardwalk (N64)
Sky Garden (GBA)
Yoshi Circuit (GameCube)
The
dual-character controls are exclusive to Double Dash, but you still get 12
different characters to choose from, including Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad.
Bowser and DK are back (it wouldn’t be Mario Kart without ’em), as is Daisy,
though I’m still confused as to why. Is she really more popular than Baby
Mario and Baby Luigi, who do not appear to be in the racing lineup? If they’re
hidden they’re hidden really well because I have yet to find them.
There are a
few notable surprises; skip this paragraph if you’d prefer to discover them on
your own. Dry Bones, the skeletal Koopa Troopa that made its debut in Super
Mario World, is a playable character. He’s got his own unique vehicle set, as
do all of the characters. Toad drives a mushroom, Luigi controls a vacuum
(called the Poltergust 4000. Get it?), Yoshi rides an egg, etc. Complete each
cup with a gold trophy and you’ll get to use every vehicle with every
character, for a total of 12 characters and 36 rides.
New to the
Mario Kart series is the Missions mode. Coin collection – been there! Hitting
Cheep Cheeps with a star – I don’t remember doing it in a racing game before,
but I’m sure I have. On the other hand, I have no memory of throwing Bob-ombs
at a Pokey, nor do I remember taking on a Big Bully with Yoshi’s kart. The
boss battles are the best part, letting players take on classic Mario bosses
like the Eyerok hands from Mario 64. Some of the missions are tedious, and
there’s no getting around the chore of having a near-perfect performance if
you want to unlock every mission. But at the end of the stress and frustration
are memorable boss battles.
You’ll have to get a lot of gold trophies to acquire every playable character.
Mario Kart
DS is the most connected handheld racer on the planet with eight-player
close-range frequency and WiFi available. WiFi is awesome but a pain to set
up, and if you don’t have broadband and a wireless router, or broadband and
Nintendo’s USB adaptor you’ll have to leave the house to take advantage of
this feature. Standard multiplayer is wire-free but is restricted to a 30-feet
(give or take a few dozen) area. It’s instantly clear when you’re getting too
far away from your opponent(s) because the frame rate starts to drop.
Anyone with
a DS can play thanks to the implementation of single-card multiplayer. Those
playing without the game get a special treat — they get to control Shy Guy.
Courses are limited to about half of what’s available. To access all 32 in
multiplayer you’ll just have to convince all your friends to get the game
themselves.
For the
first time ever the Time Trial mode keeps track of your progress. Think you’ve
just had a really good race? Send the "ghost" image to another player with the
game to see if he or she can top it.
hThere’s a reason why
Nintendo released a DS/Mario Kart bundle: this game is a system seller. Many
of you already know the joy of this racer. Some of you, however, are still
lurking in the shadows, watching us while we play, waiting for the moment when
you can snatch a DS from our hands (I can see you in the screen, guys. Clear
plastic is reflective). Stop being a DS-snatcher and give into your desire.
I’m not saying this to sell more systems, I just want more challengers. And
fewer people lurking in the shadows.
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Gameplay: 9.5
The long-awaited
Mario Kart DS is everything you could want from a handheld racer: the controls
are perfect (for a kart racer using a D-pad), the course design is brilliant
and nostalgic, and the replay value is unbelievable. This is the first
multiplayer DS game that I can’t put down. It’s to the point where I’m
ignoring this review so I can have another race. I can’t say it’s better than
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! only because I love that title and am still thrilled
to play it. But if there ever was a time when being just as good as its
predecessor meant something special, this is it.
Graphics: 8.5
Solidly designed
vehicles and characters, but the environments aren’t always impressive. The
new courses are beautiful and will take gamers, even younger players, back to
the golden days of Mario. The GBA and SNES courses, while upgraded with 3D
elements, really lack any form of visual depth. Seeing rows of colored blocks
is anything but exciting, yet that’s what most of the GBA courses are
comprised of.
Sound: 7.5
The music is
generally good, but the overabundance of sound effects are a bit much. I
wasn’t too impressed with the quality of the sound either. It pales in
comparison to other top-tier DS releases.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 8.9
Do the math: 8
cups, 12 playable characters, 32 courses (half classic, half new), 36
vehicles, and dozens of new missions (including easy, moderately challenging,
and so-frustrating-you’ll-want-to-bang-your-head-against-a-shell). The WiFi
setup could’ve been a lot better, but it still beats every Dreamcast, Xbox and
PlayStation 2 game released when their online services began.
Multiplayer: 9.5
Who says you
can’t buy happiness? I got mine for $34.99.
Mario Kart
DS is so addictive you’ll attempt to play it single-handedly when life
requires your immediate attention. “Oh no, a pipe! I should’ve seen that
coming!” Next time life requires your immediate attention you’ll be thinking,
“Uhh…umm… It can wait.” In other words, doctors, firemen, and police officers
should not be allowed to have a DS in their possession. The old excuse, “But
commander, I confiscated this from the drug dealer on fifth avenue!” will only
work once.
Overall: 9.5
Mario Kart DS
lives up to its legacy of having inventive courses, stellar multiplayer, and
more replay value than any other racer in its class. The controls, the speed,
the familiar-yet-original environments – this is the kind of Mario Kart game I
would have developed! It combines elements from every Mario adventure,
including his kart exhibitions.
