Double Dash is a solid offering in the Mario Kart series, with a host of unlockable characters and karts. Many of the race tracks through the circuits are fun, though some stand out above the rest, including a track in which you are shot to the top of a volcano by a giant cannon, and the race continues back down the mountain. Some of the tracks are incredible and true to the wacky spirit of Mario games, but others are uninspired at best (an oval???). Its varied multiplayer modes are a good addition, expanding the options to include bob-omb blast, a free-for-all bomb-throwing battle that is simply insanity with four players, and shine thief, where each player tries to have a shine when the timer runs out – it falls somewhere between keep away and last man standing. Sort of. These new modes are a nice departure from simply racing against other players, and add a lot to the game’s replayability. Through it all, there is a certain feeling of underachievement in Double Dash. The multiplayer maps and most of the race tracks could have been more complicated, and the races against the CPU could have been much more challenging. More often than not, Nintendo's desire to appeal to the younger audience leaves veteran gamers wanting more. Even with these shortcomings, this game offers many hours of solid fun in its multiplayer, though the single-player is limited once the unlockables are, well, unlocked.
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
