Go-kart racing is one of the most popular genres. The games are typically simple, fun and easy to make. However, games such as "Jak X: Combat Racing" and "Chocobo Racing" owe their existence to the original go-kart racer: "Super Mario Kart" on the Super NES. Released in late 1992, the game was such a big hit that "Mario Kart" games also were released on all subsequent systems save the Virtual Boy and the Game Boy Color, including the Nintendo DS.
Launched a little more than one year ago, the DS was designed as a "third pillar" to Nintendo's console and Game Boy line-up. This nifty little device contains two screens instead of the usual one: a regular screen and a touch screen. Several games have made use of this innovation, such as "Feel the Magic," "Kirby: Canvas Curse," "Meteos," "Wario Ware: Touched," "Nintendogs," etc. Ironically, despite the innovative potential of the DS, this latest "Mario Kart" game is arguably the best game for the system.
The premise of any "Mario Kart" game is simple. Mario and his buddies go street racing, but instead of racing in slick automobiles, they race in go-karts. And they also have a variety of items that can help the user finish in first place.
But the Mario Kart franchise is not a static, unchanging entity. Each entry has various aspects that make it unique. For example, "Mario Kart 64" provided the series with new items, an analog stick and four-player modes. "Mario Kart: Super Circuit" took these evolutions and brought them to a handheld with a D-pad, and "Mario Kart: Double Dash!!" introduced a two-person kart and a more devastating blue shell.
"Mario Kart DS"' most striking difference is the utilization of the touch screen as a map. All other "Mario Kart" games had some sort of a map, but the map in "Mario Kart DS" is far more comprehensive. It provides a birds-eye view of a small area on the race course, showing all potential obstacles such as pits, items and other players. The problem with this map is that the displayed area is relatively small, and focused only on your character. The map can also be toggled either through touch or the Y button to present a map of the entire stage where you can track the location of the other racers. The problem with this map is that it lacks the detailed pictorial representation of the other map.
Both maps present an important piece of information that the other "Mario Kart" games did not: your opponents' items in both the one-player and multi-player modes. In previous "Mario Kart" games (except for "Super Circuit,") you can simply look at the other players' screens to see your opponents' items, but this fact is hidden from view in the single player modes. With the new feature in "Mario Kart DS," you can make all sorts of preparations depending on the items.
Because the DS is a handheld system, it only has a d-pad instead of an analog stick. While I loved "Mario Kart 64" and "Double Dash!!," I was unable to fully enjoy "Mario Kart: Super Circuit" because I could not adapt to using the d-pad to control whether I was playing it on a Game Boy Advance or a Game Boy Advance SP. I was extremely worried that the same problem would plague "Mario Kart DS," but the controls work surprisingly well. You press A to accelerate, press B to brake, press or hold R to jump and slide, press or hold X or L to use items and use the d-pad to move your characters and to perform power-boosts. The entire setup takes a while to get used to, but once you adapt to it, it becomes second nature. Power-boosts are easier to perform in "Mario Kart 64" and "Double Dash!!," but they are relatively simple to pull off in "DS."
The number of playable characters in "DS" have been decreased from 16 in "Mario Kart: Double Dash!!" to only 12 (four of which are unlockable) in "Mario Kart DS." Each character can fit into one of three weight classes, all of which were introduced in "Mario Kart 64." Character's different accelerations and different maximum speeds depend on their weight class. Each character has up to three exclusive karts, each with a different feel. Every kart can be made available to each racer, so it's possible to find the perfect combination of character and kart.
The one aspect of "Mario Kart" games that is sure to attract attention is the level design. New levels are one thing that each "Mario Kart" game is expected to have, and the sixteen brand new levels in "Mario Kart DS" do not disappoint. The typical raceway tracks are present, as are a dirt bike-type track, an icy track and some form of Bowser's Castle. One "DS" track puts racers in the middle of a pinball level where they must dodge giant pinballs. Another course is designed to look like a giant clock, with hands, pendulums and gears.
"Mario Kart DS" also pays homage to the four previous Mario Kart games by including four tracks from each game, making up a second set of grand prix levels. It is easy to find fault with the tracks that had been picked. (How could they have included Mushroom Bridge instead of D.K. Mountain from "Double Dash!!"?) However, by including 16 retro tracks, the total number of courses in "Mario Kart DS" rises to an astonishing 32. Tragically, Nintendo did not decide to add a Rainbow Cup featuring all four of the previous Rainbow Road courses.
"DS" also features a battle mode, which has become a standard in "Mario Kart" games. There is the usual balloon battle, where you try to pop opponents' balloons using various items. There is also the Shine Runners mode, where players collect shines. It is similar to the star-collecting mini-game in "Super Mario 64 DS." "Mario Kart DS" has four new battle stages plus two retro stages: Block Fort (from "Mario Kart 64") and Pipe Plaza (from "Mario Kart: Double Dash!!"). The Balloon battle mode also makes use of a DS technology, as it forces players to blow into the microphone to inflate up to five balloons.
The graphics in "Mario Kart DS" are somewhat similar to that of "Mario Kart 64," except that actual 3-D player models are used instead of 2-D sprites. The tracks themselves are colorful but pixilated at times. As far as sound goes, the voice acting is similar to that of previous "Mario Kart" games, in which characters have their own cheers when they fire an item or pass you on the racetrack.
It is in the music department that "DS" shines. Even though the music sounds somewhat tinny (it is, after all, a handheld system,) the musicians at Nintendo have created a wide variety of songs that match well with their respective tracks. Not only that, but they also managed to transfer the songs for the retro tracks quite faithfully.
While Mario Kart is designed for multiplayer play, the one-player game has a healthy number of modes. There is the typical grand prix game, which pits you against seven CPU competitors in eight different cups on three different engine sizes/difficulty levels. (The CPU becomes increasingly challenging as you go from 50cc to 100cc to 150cc.) There is also the traditional Time Trials mode, where you race to beat your best times on each track.
"Mario Kart DS" had included a brand new Missions Mode, which forces players to perform different objectives on a certain track. The missions range from collecting coins to driving through rings to attacking enemies with items. There are seven different levels of missions with increasing difficulties, each of them highlighted by a boss battle.
Finally, "Mario Kart DS" allow players to play battle or versus modes against the computer. This makes it possible to get your racing fill in even without anybody else to play with. Playing versus mode is just like playing a grand prix, except that you have the option of playing in every level.
Nintendo also included versus download play for get-togethers. At least eight players can join in a game even if they do not have a copy of "Mario Kart DS." (However, those without a copy of the game play as Shy Guy.) In download play, one leader forms a room, and anybody that wants to play can download their way into the game. After that, they can play either versus mode or battle mode. Nintendo has also included a team option, in which four players on a team join forces to get a higher score than the other team.
"Mario Kart DS" is that it is one of two DS games to feature internet capability, both wireless and free. You can connect to the wireless server if you have a wireless router or if you make your way to most McDonalds nationwide. A third way to connect is to purchase a Wi-Fi USB Connector from Nintendo.com for approximately $35. Up to five DS's can connect to a single USB Connector, which you simply plug into a USB port.
Sadly, the online aspect of "Mario Kart DS" is quite limited. You can only play versus mode, and not all of the tracks are available. Instead of individual races, a match in Wi-Fi mode consists of four different races. All players (up to four) vote on a track, and points are given depending on where you finish. The point totals determine your final ranking. Interestingly enough, if you finish third in a four-player match, you still get 1 win on your overall record because you finished ahead of one player.
There are four different ways you can search for opponents. One way is to search worldwide. A second way is to search through particular regions. A third way is to find "rivals," which are players with similar records. A final way is to search through your friends. The first time you connect to the wireless network, you are given a random set of twelve numbers to become your friend code. (For example, my friend code is 141793457003.) You can register other people's friend codes and give your friend code out for other people to register. Once both parties have registered a friend code, then they can be found through "friend searches." Having friend searches allows you to challenge the people you know in real life even when you are separated by hundreds of miles. However, it is difficult find anybody in friend searches unless you decide on a time and date.
In "Mario Kart DS," you can design a 32 pixel by 32 pixel emblem to be used in download and Wi-Fi matches. This is one way of expressing individuality. However, it is somewhat difficult to make a good emblem on your own, so a site has been created where you can transform a picture into an emblem. Even so, the color palette for emblems is somewhat lacking, so many potential emblems do not turn out very well. A third problem is that there is no way to monitor and censor certain emblems, so many obscene and profane emblems have been used, which explains why there is a message before the game from ESRB that warns you that "game experiences may change during online play."
But obscene emblems are not the only thing that can change game experiences. The game can be very frustrating in both single player and multiplayer modes online and off. One item can send a player from first to last, so one can potentially hear several vocal obscenities when racing against other people or even against the CPU (which often appears to cheat.) Not only can "Mario Kart DS" be damaging to virgin ears, but it can also inflict physical pain on the hands. It is very easy to get the "Nintendo thumb" depending on how you press the A button. Some people have also reported getting blisters and sores from rubbing against the DS in the intensity of the matches.
Even so, "Mario Kart DS" is one of the most addictive games on the DS. Even though it doesn't break any ground from an innovation standpoint, there will always be something to do whether you play by yourself or online. "Mario Kart DS" is another excellent installment in the "Mario Kart" series, and continues the proud tradition of quality that the series has maintained over the years.
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