Nintendo's most loved plumber Mario has been just about everywhere making appearances on platform games(such as the genre defining Super Mario 64), sports games, and most notably Kart racing, and now Mario has decided to go for another round with Nintendo's latest Mario Kart game, Mario Kart Double Dash!!. Mario Kart Double Dash!! improves a bit on its past predecessors giving gamers an all-out multiplayer madness, but its also somewhat undermine that its basically the same game as Super Mario Kart. If you've enjoyed previous Mario Kart games, you'll definitely find that Mario Kart Double Dash!! features just about everything you'd want in such a game. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! features several game modes, any of those familiar with the series will undoubtedly recognized many of the games modes. If your going single-player, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, which in each the difficulty is tuned up a bit, but there are also grand prix races for you to indulge in and win cups. Like in any racing game it also has a time trial mode in which you try to top your previous set record. As with the grand prix races once you win them you'll unlock the hidden set of characters, karts, and additional grand prix modes. The game offers about 16 tracks all in all, most of these can be compared to previous Mario Kart tracks, thats not to say they are stale though. Although the games most unique track is Donkey Kong Mountain which launches you from a cannon and has you fly over many aspects of the track and then eventually crash landing on the other side. The game features a cruise ship track, ice track, a track set in Bowsers castle, and a few others. The games track design isn't anything out of the ordinary, but its enjoyable for the most part, and solid at best, you'll have to rely on strategy, and timing to win the levels of course. The biggest change in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is that it features two-riders instead of one, making the multiplayer aspect of the game really compelling. The game offers you to go play cooperatively, or solo. The object is to have one driver, and the other delivering all the special powers ups in the game, and if you decide to go head to head you'll be forced to drive and use your special powers, which isn't hard at all. With all the different characters featured in Double Dash!!, they also have there own unique kart and special power ups to use such as Wario and Waluigi. They both can toss a devastating bob-bomb, the games drivers are also in three specifications of weight--light, medium, and heavy which will effect the momentum as you turn a corner, or go straight ahead. The games powerslide technique is probably more relevant than past Mario Kart games, it all works out solid, and you'll find yourself relying on it often. As in any racing game, if you dont got a couple of buddies to play with, the games replay value really just gets stale after a few hours. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! like its previous predecessor, is more appealing if you've got a friend to play along with. Double Dash!!'s multiplayer aspect aside from its racing levels, offers three unique game modes--bob-bomb blast, shine thief, and balloon battle. The object of balloon battle is to pop as many balloons that your opponent has, while keeping yours afloat and its also worthy to note you can steal there balloons as well--bob-bomb blast is really identical to balloon battle but all the weapons you'll pick up are bob-bombs. The shine thief is very linear too as you must steal shines and keep them away from your oncoming attackers. Double Dash!!'s multiplayer aspect is really just flat out fun, full of madness, and all in all its really an exciting part of the game. These games are surprisingly amusing, and fun to play. Double Dash!! also features a somewhat thrilling LAN mode, if you've got a GameCube broadband adapter you'll beable to face other players, but its really not that great since it has a lot of shortfalls. It's nice that Nintendo decided to use the broadband adapter, but once you go head to head with your friends over a LAN network, you wont beable to choose the characters you want to play as--its picked for you. Still its pretty enjoyable for the most part, but also disapointing to say the least. In terms of graphics, there isn't anything that'll make you gawk at the overall look of the game. That's not to say it isn't solid though--but its something that many gamers are used to considering Mario games dont always feature top-of-the-line graphics, but its pretty good on its own right. The tracks are well familiar if you've played previous Mario games, the effects are solid but nothing more(such as your kart wheels grinding and sparks flying out, or the explosions). It's undoubtedly well done in how the game captures the feel of the classic Mario levels, its probably perhaps the most impressive offering of Double Dash!!'s graphics. The games framerate is pretty solid too, but you'll notice some slowdowns when there is a four-player splitscreen. It's easy to say from top-to-bottom that Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is really just a solid looking game, that doesn't fail to capture the old-school feel of previous Mario games. The games voice acting is really just solid, and shall I say brings back memories, since it sounds as if a lot of it is recycled, which doesn't hurt the game, it actually maximizes your take on how familiar Double Dash!! is with its previous games. It does often get repetitive though, as you'll hear several of those remarks played over and over again. The games music is just perfect, from the beginning of your race you'll hear a lot of familiar Mario music featured in games, and dare I say is it a solid welcome to Double Dash!!. There are a few new sound effects such as new engine roars, but there isn't a whole lot. Mario Kart Double Dash!! is somewhat undermined by the fact that its technically the same game as 1992's stellar Super Mario Kart--but if you've enjoyed previous Mario Kart games, you'll still find that Mario Kart: Double Dash!! still has a lot to offer to those who find it appealing. Mario Kart Double Dash!! doesn't revolutionize the racing genre in anyway, its perhaps a step-back for many fans. Although it does feature an exciting and compelling multiplayer mode, there's still a lot you'll enjoy from this game--but you might just want a buddy along with you.
Other Helpful Reviews for Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
The Good: Plenty of Mario flare, nice track design, great multi-player, the nice addition of different karts and characters. The Bad: This game may be a little too different for some players, enemy AI can be predictab... Read Full Review
Mario Kart: Double Dash is a great game on the GameCube. A game which everyone can enjoy, even gamers who don't like racing games, will certainly enjoy this one. The sequel to Mario Kart 64 has done its work, it has ... Read Full Review
