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> Results: Mario Kart DS
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Some games are timeless. Mario Kart in all its forms is among the best of these timeless games. Each entry in the series has changed the fundamentals of the gameplay just enough to make them different experiences, especially for the hardcore fans that spend hours in multiplayer. The main game has always been the same, drive fast and use weapons of varied tactical value to win. For many, the first was still the best. Super Mario Kart for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System invented the genre of kart racing which has since been copied and cloned countless times. That Nintendo's designers got it so right the first time that many people still revere that as the best is testament to their continued success in videogames. That continued success means every Nintendo platform since has had its own version of Mario Kart. This one for the Nintendo DS incorporates bits from every one that came before, some of the old circuits are in there perfectly rendered, to become the greatest yet.
The gameplay is simple. Pick your favorite Nintendo character like Mario, Yoshi, Peach or DK and then choose a "kart" for them to race on. Each cart has different characteristics including speed, acceleration and more. Picking the one that suits your driving style is important. Some are heavier and allow you to bang other opponents out of the way. Others are fast off the line which hopefully gives you the advantage to stay up front and get item boxes before your opponents. Item boxes level the playfield. With each one you pick up a roulette wheel spins, landing on anything from a mushroom (burst of speed) to a blue shell (target and blow up the leader of the race). Players further back get the more powerful items while those at the front have to make do with unguided green shells or lay out bananas, hoping to slow down their pursuers with spins. It's all very Mario-esque but perfectly sublime in its absurdity. Once again, Nintendo's longevity and success means things like turtle shells have instant meaning to you when you pick them up in the game.  It might be a simple setup, but the game is deceptively deep. Each race is filled with strategy. Hanging back around third might be the best way for you to get the item you need to win. There are also many ways to short cut the courses. These are not obvious when you first start playing, but time playing both online and in the Mission mode will help you find them. Many even require an item for you to use them in a race setting. This Mission mode is new to the series. It consists of challenges such as gathering coins or running through gates within a time limit as well as more difficult tasks like boosting ten times in a lap and even features boss fights. None of it is all that difficult, but it does score your attempts so you can go back multiple times to try to improve your skills. It's not labeled "Training" but it may as well be since you will become a better racer by playing these missions. In addition to racing and Mission mode, there are the excellent Battle and Shine Thief modes. Battle has been around since the start of the series and challenges you to be the last one with a balloon remaining on your kart while trying to knock the balloons off of your opponents' karts. It's great fun against the computer AI but especially against other humans. Shine Thief is similar but instead of holding your balloons, you have to collect Shines that appear around the course. Players are kicked out for having too few shines every so often. It's a great game that focuses on the offensive aspects of Mario Kart play. Both of these are unfortunately only available in offline modes and you cannot play them over the new Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is the real star of Mario Kart DS. Thanks to the DS' built-in wireless networking, you can connect to nearly any wireless network. Here at home, I have a Linksys Wireless router with WEP (an encryption protocol) enabled. I simply input my WEP key into the game's wireless setup screen, checked all other important settings and bingo, connection to the Internet and Nintendo's Wi-Fi service. The game handles matching for you on a Regional, Worldwide, Rival (opponents with similar skills) or Friend basis. Friends must have a code that you give them from your DS in order to become an in-game friend, and even then there seems to be no way to know if they are online. That's the biggest downside to the online play, though. Racing against random opponents is exciting and fulfilling. Players of all skill levels can be found online and it sure beats having to gather up four or more friends at your house given hectic daily lives. There is always a human opponent just a few button-pushes away with Nintendo's new service. It's mostly lag free and makes an already great game even better.  It seems like Mario Kart should've worn out its welcome by now but it's not even close. With a number of unlockables, Mission mode, Battle modes and of course both off and online multiplayer, this is one series that's still going strong in its latest iteration. You can't go wrong with Mario Kart DS. It doesn't use the touch screen in any major capacity, but it does use one more unique feature of this deceptively amazing little handheld that hasn't been exploited until now. It provides all the excitement expected from online action. With McDonald's participating in the Wi-Fi plan of Nintendo, you can even go to your local McD's and hop on the Internet for some game time if you don't have wireless at home. Just don't eat too many burgers while you're there. 
Nintendo's online option is the safest way for your kids to play online. It's not 100% foolproof though. Lewd images can be entered as avatars for random people you play on the Internet. It's not as bad as it sounds since those folks have to make these images by hand and they're rather tiny as well, but it's still there and you may run across it from time to time. If you only let your kids play with friends though (which is difficult given the menus are easily accessible for Regional or Worldwide games), that eliminates a lot of the problem with avatars. There doesn't seem to be a way to turn them off, either. There is no chat in the game of any kind so at the very least, your kids won't have others cursing at them during the games. It's just a matter of picking a character, a kart and then racing. Some players are poor sports and quit out early, but once again the lack of chat saves you from the sour grapes of the losers.
If you don't play online, this is a safe choice like much of Nintendo's lineup of games. Bright, colorful and cartoony characters race around a silly fantasy world throwing turtle shells and bananas at each other. It's certainly not Shakespeare, but it's a heck of a good time for anyone from age six to sixty and up. The difficulty ramps up nicely during the single player races and in Mission mode so there won't even be much frustration during that skill-building phase that accompanies every new game your kids play. Expect them to get hooked and you to have to set limits. This is one of the most addictive and entertaining games of the year and should be in every Nintendo DS owner's library. Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Browse Amazon.com's selection of "Mario Kart" themed games Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Mario Kart DS |
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