Remember the good ol’ SNES days, when Super Mario Kart was released?
For those who remember these times, wasn’t the game addictively fun?
Well, nearly fifteen years later, the same can be said for the latest
iteration of the Mario Kart series on the Nintendo DS.
From the gameplay aspect, it all feels very polished in Mario Kart DS.
If you’re familiar with the series or even a complete newbie, there’s
nothing to be skeptical about. Mario Kart games have always offered an
easygoing pick up and play experience, and this time it’s really no
different. However as you progress through the several kart classes,
races noticeably become more challenging. A fairly new gameplay
mechanic in Mario Kart DS is power-sliding. This is performed with the
L and R buttons on the DS and a turbo boost can come as a result when
simultaneously pressing left and right on the D-pad. Some players may
become confused on how to do this, but it’ll become second nature to
pull of fairly quickly. An improved map also provides as a helpful
tool, while making a simple but effective use of the touch-screen. You
can switch between two map views on the fly, a zoomed out version,
showing the entire track and what racer is in what position, then a
zoomed in perspective, giving you a more vivid idea of how far you are
in front or behind.
Another huge aspect of Mario Kart’s gameplay has always been the items.
Bananas, Koopa shells, bomb-oms, stars, and item stealing Boos all make
a return. Several new items include Bloopers, the squid-like foes in
most Mario games, whom blast an area of dripping ink on the screen,
slightly hindering the vision of other racers. Additionally, you can
transform your racer into a Bullet Bill, and make your way to the front
of the pack at near hyper-speed. All the items are pretty fun to
utilize and help the player in their own unique way. However, I did
find myself sometimes getting the same items repetitively using most
characters, and that kind of got annoying after a while. Races consist
of up to eight participants. In the grand prix mode, there are three
classes, 50CC, 100CC, and 150CC. Inside each class exists 8 cups with
four races in each. Now that alone adds a strong bit of variety in the
game’s value. In fact, variety is the strongest attribute of Mario Kart
DS. Time trials and a battle mode serve as good add-ons, but the one
game mode that stands out greatly and makes this version of Mario Kart
a classic is the mission mode! It spans over six levels and you’ll
complete challenges like: driving backwards through a number of gates
in order with an allotted time of forty-five seconds. Progressing
through these small missions leads up to an unlockable boss fight on
each level.
While much is served on the single-player side, the greatest thing
about Mario Kart DS is the multiplayer. Without question, this entry in
the series delivers the best multiplayer action in any Mario Kart game
to date. All game modes can be used in the multiplayer component. With
the Nintendo Wifi capability, take your kart online with folks from
around the world. You can even connect to players wirelessly within
thirty feet of you, and them having a copy of Mario Kart DS isn’t even
required. They can simply download a mirrored version of the game. The
multiplayer is widely and easily accessible which extends the game’s
overall value.
Mario Kart DS contains a pretty decent presentation. Mario, Luigi,
Princess Peach and the rest of the gang are all here, with a few
unlockable characters. The graphics are in 3D and look pretty much
exactly like the N64 Mario Kart. What’s great is that most of the
tracks are a collection of the best and most memorable ones from
previous entries in the series. The sound isn’t too shabby; in a
nutshell it’s all the sound effects and music from the Mario universe
recycled.
In summation, Mario Kart DS is clearly the best Mario Kart game out.
With a solid presentation, traditionally good gameplay that is
significantly improved on, the load of extra content and game modes,
and some of the best multiplayer around, it’s a must own for those with
a DS. In essence, it maintains and at the same time expands on what
made the original Super Mario Kart a classic back in 1992. Addictive
and great fun!
