Mario Kart DS triumphantly rekindles the series with a wonderful variety of modes and features filled to the brim.
There are eight characters to choose from in the beginning, but most Nintendo advocates should know that the lineup will grow steadily throughout the course of the game. You can also choose between two carts for each character, one being a new model, and the other being a classic model. Eventually, every character will have up to three to choose from. In addition, there are two different types of races, a Nitro Grand Prix, which contains the latest in race-terrain, and a Retro Grand Prix, a sedated step to the past that flaunts previous courses derived from the entire series. Each type of race features two cup events; two more can be unlocked after achieving the gold medal for each prefacing event, and this cycle remains consistent throughout each difficulty (50cc to 150cc).
The Nitro Grand Prix boasts a very solid assembly of new tracks containing blueprints of handed-down adventures, such as the tick tock clock level of Super Mario 64, and Luigi's Mansion from the game of the same name. Many other proverbial locations are also emblemized as new tracks to race on, all of which fit their position in a cup event. Unlike previous games of the series, where some of the more difficult cup events would display one very tough track, one rather simple track, and two generally average tracks, Mario Kart DS presents a formula that pits the difficult tracks with the difficult tracks, and the simple tracks with the simple tracks. The retro division of tracks consists of many memorable locations scattered all over the series, such as Moo Moo Farm from Mario Kart 64, the Sky Garden from Super Circuit, and Donut Plains from Super Mario Kart.
Surprisingly, the first-player modes are far from over even after unlocking all of the characters and tracks. You can partake in time trials, versus modes with computer opponents (the idea is the same as a regular event race, but you can pick any single track you want instead of having to race all four of them), battles against the computer (as well as friends via friend codes), and even missions. The time trials allow you to send your ghosts to friends through online compatability, and vice versa. Unfortunately, there are only two battle modes in Mario Kart DS: Shine Runners and Balloon Battle, both of which are quite straightforward, but the CPU obtains a lot of handicaps; primarily they'll always have more balloons than you, and sometimes they'll work together, even though it's an every-man-for-himself concept. With missions, there are six overall levels, each of which exhibit eight missions and a boss at the end. The idea is to complete on-road tasks in various tracks before time runs out, similar to how training simulations will pop up in console racers. Once all eight missions are complete in a level, you can challenge the boss. You'll run into a few familiar faces, such as King Bob-omb, King Boo, and Eyerok from Super Mario 64, and your goal is to knock them off a platform surrounded by a pool of nasty liquid with your go-kart alone.
The gameplay still doesn't stop there. In fact, the straight answer is that it'll never stop, because online play is a never-ending sequence. If you have a wireless router or AC adapter handy, you can play against people from all over the world at any time of the day as much as you want. Online play in Mario Kart DS is strictly formatted in the aphorism of expecting the unexpected. Naturally, so many things can go right or wrong during an online race – even the most experienced players can lose to novices any time, because red shells, blue shells, and other unfortunate mishaps take place at any point of the race, especially if it buckles down to you and the finish line. People tend to drop out of the following race, but the match doesn't end; in fact, they never do unless you eventually drop out.
While there's a new slate of faces and tracks, the weapons are also on the growing side of things. You'll come across Bloopers that obstruct your screen with ink, as well as bullet bills that automatically maneuver you through the crowd of frantic drivers ahead. On the other hand, you'll come across a lot of familiar items as well, such as the banana peel, lightning bolt, and most infamous of all, the red shell. There are plenty of strategies that will enable a player to temporarily sustain an advantage when it comes to brandishing items. A player may hold off using an item until the opportune moment, in case there's a red shell closing in from behind (a banana peel will mar it), or if there's a Gooper Blooper spraying ink on your screen (a super mushroom will zoom right through it). You'll also want to keep in mind the dynamics of your go-kart: its drifting, control, weight, and acceleration are all key characteristics that will inevitably determine your fate and whether or not you upheld those characteristics well in your performance.
With the proper application of drifting, it's possible for one to "snake" around a bend in the road. This convenience has been delivered courtesy of Mario Kart 64 and the ability to hop while on the road. Snaking is a special drifting acceleration that enables you to maneuver through sharp turns much more expediently. And while you can drift, you can also draft: a technique used in NASCAR that fends off the wind by staying right behind the driver in front of you. In Mario Kart DS, you'll get a sudden rush of speed if you can manage to stay behind the lead driver long enough.
Considering the Dual Screen's underwhelming proportions, Mario Kart DS delivers the best presentation graphically than any other game in the series, and by far one of the best to appear on the DS. One of the first things you'll notice is the brightness it has to offer: everything is so illuminating and colorful. Before a race, the setting is shown through both screens as the cameraman rushes through part of the course, which is one of the more impressive visual conceptions. The touch screen is mainly used to show yours and your foe's locations on the map, but it also displays incoming weapons and other hazards that surround the level. Surprisingly enough, the classic tracks have been refurbished to look and feel almost modern, including the lineup of Super Mario Kart's onset environments. Most distinct of all, the 3-D atmosphere depicts everything from characters to items to the road in general with unprecedented continuity. Habitually, the graphics border a late Nintendo 64 to early GameCube look, but none of it looks too old to re-adjust to.
The audio is nearly as captivating on all fronts. Each individual track has an exclusive tune that fits the environment perfectly. Some songs have even been recycled and revamped from earlier games to associate better with the area. While there isn't a big amount of voice acting, it's a lot easier to hear people's cheers and cries, although they don't sound as good as the rest of the game. Most importantly of all, you hear all of the warnings that precaution you for the inevitable. Blue shells may land without fail, but you can still hear them before they actually reach you, leaving the door open for a strategy, such as bumping the nearest driver, slowing down so both drivers are hit by the shell, or allowing the second place driver to pass you, ultimately feeding him the shell.
You'll get your money's worth out of Mario Kart DS because of the stellar gameplay and online compatibility. Since the single player campaigns make up most of the game, and you only race, unlock, race, and unlock some more, you'll find more value in other games. Similarly, unlocking the amenities can be a pain, especially when you're on the verge of winning, and suddenly a red shell knocks you off the course, causing you to start from scratch again. For some, though, the challenging pace is what makes Mario Kart a better series than most other gimmicky Mario games.
Overall, Mario Kart DS is a fantastic experience for anyone who's affiliated with Mario or racing in general. Essentially, it's one of the better portable racers out there, and one of the best games the DS has to offer.
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