Best in its series! (Spoiler free, includes tips)
You start out with the original 8 characters and 2 karts for them each, each kart fitting their racing style. As you progress through the game and grand prix (Nitro and Retro cups) you get more and more goodies such as more characters, tracks, and karts. Soon enough you'll find yourself jamming your DS into a wall because you made one simple mistake to lose it all in 150cc. But worry not angry gamers out there, Mario Kart DS like many other MK games, you can change whos winning and whos the lser in a matter of seconds with the new weapons. (Tip: People in last place get better items)
Yes I said new weapons, specifically the Bullet Bill which launches you throughout the track crashing into opponent racers as it goes and the Blooper which causes every racer ahead of you to have ink all over their screen that washes off in a few seconds or aired off once you reach a boost of some sort. (Tip: When hit with the Blooper ink, use the bottom touch screen close view to navigate and to dodge items and terrain)
Power slide from the previous installments is also included along with the infamous turbo slide where you get a little boost when power sliding. (Lingo: Power slide is when you drift in Mario Kart ; Tip: To turbo slide first you must power slide and tap left right left right untill your tires spark red. Let go of the slide and zoom!)
Some new characters are revieled in this installment, as well as some that were taken out. (To find out which new characters are included check GameSpot's hints/cheats to go there, warning though, they are spoilers for new characters!)
The nice folks at Nintendo also decided that 1 game mode wasn't enough. They added multiplayer for both download and 2-8 cards, VS a short term category for Custom Game, or battle mode. Oh, did I mention the brand spaking new (Well kind of) mission mode? Its a mode where you go through various missions (duh) and when you complete them you get a grade if you beat it. The grade doesn't really matter unless your a perfectionist and want to unlock the extra thing (cannot say, spoiler). After you finished the 8 missions, you fight a boss (which are mostly from Super Mario 64/DS which is why its not really new) where you have to do different tasks to defeat the boss. (Hit it with shells, beat it in a race, dodge its attacks, ect)
The big addition Nintendo added is Wi-Fi technology added into the DS system and MKDS game card. You need a compatible wireless router (Check http://www.nintendowifi.com) and broadband and $0. Yup its free if you don't count the router and internet. If you don't want a router and don't plan on getting one, go to Nintendo's website (http://www.nintendo.com) to order a Nintendo adapter which hooks into your computer a transmits signals allowing the DS and DS ONLY to go online WiFi. The distance of the adapter is about 30-40 feet depending if there is anything in the way of the signals. The total amount (shipping/taxes ect) of the adapter is about $42 US, the adapter itself is only $35 US. Unfortunately it is only available through Nintendo's website currently. Theres a 3rd choice though! After you get MKDS scan your area for routers your neighbors might have and you can just mooch of of theirs like I do. Its not illegal if they aren't smart enough to keep it password protected. But you might want to ask them first if its for a while or at least until your router/adapter comes.
Enough tech. stuff. Lets get into WiFI details. Basic rundown: You connect to the wifi using your router/adapter. There are choices if you want to play Rivals (Similar to your current record online) Friends (Play with your friends on your list) [Info: You add friends using their DS game code which they can find in WFC>Friends>Confirm Code] you can also play Worldwide or Regional. Tap one and you'll see its searching for more players. Of course only 4 people can play an online game though. If you are short a person or a few, you can't do anything about it, you just have to wait until it is done searching which takes 3-5 minutes a game. After you get into the game online you choose a character, kart, and level. The rest of your opponents will also pick a level. Its majority rules for the levels, if not then random choosing. (You have a time limit to choose, so don't worry about people that are away) There are some problems with online play such as:
There is no chat function which is an important part of online gaming. Sometimes characters spike (Counter Strike term meaning lag where you freeze, and then go really fast, aka double image) making it hard to hit one another with green shells/bannana peels, ect. You have to wait for 4 people to come, OR for the search to stop searching for people. You cannot play a particular person, if you play a friends match online, it just brings all the friends that are on to the game, instead of the 1 you just wanted. (Therefore you must delete all your friends from your list except the one you want to play, and then tell him to do the same, and then enter the friends category, followed by 5 minutes of waiting for the stupid search to stop searching, ect, ect.) Its a real pain in the butt.
One of the biggest problems is people ditching you when 1vs1. Any racer can leave a race unpenalized on their score. (Info: Each match is out of 4 races/stages) So on the 4th race where your about to get the official win on your score, the other guy can just shut his DS off and you won't gain anything, and he won't lose anything.
Controls are great, it seems better without the analog.
Overall MKDS is a great game, best handheld game of 2005 for me so far of whatever is left of this year. I recommend this game highly to someone who has a DS and hasn't experienced it. The graphics are superior to those of Mario Kart 64, and the frame rate is smooth no choppiness unless someone has a crappy router.
Final question: Rent, buy or stay away from?
BUY definately.
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Tips:
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-Power Slide: Hold R while turning
- Power Boost: While power sliding tap left and right untill your tires spark red, and then release R.
-Starting Boost: Hold accileration (Default A) when the number 2 is at its climax (WHen its the biggest) and you should blast off. (Warning: Chance of spinning out if timing is wrong, to do a slightly slower boost without this chance, hold gas when the 2 starts to fade)
-Hold L/X when you get a shell or bannana allowing you to release whenever you desire and still get another item from an item box.