The best entry in its long running franchise yet
Yes, the fifth. Luckily, it's probably also the best yet. Tons of content and an awesome Multiplayer are only two of the many reasons why to buy this game.
THE GOOD
+ super tight controls
+ huge content
+ fast paced racing
+ great track designs
+ multiplayer is absolutely awesome
+ online multiplayer for up to four players world wide
THE BAD
- weak competition in single player races
- it takes insanely long to find somebody over wifi- connection
Mario Kart DS is (or was) the most complete Mario Kart package yet.
The game offers an incredible amount of things to do. Alone Single Player is a huge win.
The single Player has five modes, the long known and beloved Grand Prix, Time Trials, Versus and Battle Mode, but there is also a new mode called mission mode. It's a great extra.
The name says everything, it's you fighting yourself through a tons of missions.
There are six sections each filled with 8 missions and a boss mission. All of them are fun and varied, and are highly entertaining.
Battle Mode, Versus and Time Trials are also all fun, with lots of replay value, but seriously, the mode you will play the most with is Grand Prix.
There is 50ccm, 100ccm and 150ccm, and mirror mode that still has to be unlocked.
8 characters are from begin on there to choose from, but there are four more to unlock. There are also lots of different karts to unlock.
But the best, instead of 16 tracks, there are now 32 tracks sorted into 8 cups. 16 new tracks ( nitro grand prix) and 16 old tracks (retro grand prix).
The new tracks are all very well designed and look great. The old ones also are a great inclusion and are also still nowadays good designed. Except a few like the donut track which where a bit lackluster.
The game has lots to unlock in 50, 100 and 150 ccm, to keep you always playing.
Most importantly though, the racing is fast paced and really fun. Items make the racing also even more interesting, old items like the red shell or banana peal are back, but some new items like the bullet bill or the bob-omb also make an appearance.
Combined with awesome tracks and super tight controls, this is a racing game in its finest form. One little complain I do have to point out is the weird AI.
See, you drive against 7 driver AI in a cup, which sounds good, right? Well the problem is that only two actually try to win the race, the others just seem like they got payed to drive with.
The two AI also are the same drivers through out the whole four races of one competition.
Don't believe me? Just play the game and watch out when one of the leading opponents gets hit by an item and another opponent passes the opponent that got hit: he immediately slows down and lets the other opponent pass again. Also, check out the end results of a four race competition, and you will notice that two AI's have lots of points, and then the third best opponent only has maybe half as much points, if not less.
Now, I know most of you don't care really about that, because its all just about winning a race, and sure, for that two good driving opponents are enough, and it doesn't make this game any less fun.
However it does take a way only a little bit of the racing feel, and especially makes the game feel less competitive than it could have been: simply put, there is a bit to little competition in the races of Mario Kart DS. With more competition the game would have been even a bit more interesting and exciting, but all in all, its still a pretty minor gripe.
At the end the races in Mario Kart DS are still pure win.
But Single Player isn't the only awesome mode of the game, the Multiplayer might just be even more impressive.
You can play the game with up to seven other friends with only one copy of the game, which is also impressive, but to get the full experience, everybody needs a copy.
When everybody has a copy, the game gets really started. It's a blast to play against other friends about the first place, and the more are playing with, the more fun and exciting it gets. And yes, of course, the game then gets also really, really competitive.
On the last note there is also online play. You are allowed to play with up to four other people world wide, and its a great extra for those who don't have any to play with.
It isn't as fluid as local multiplayer, and it takes incredibly long until you find somebody to play with, but it's still a great option for those who, you know it already.
All in all Mario Kart DS is an awesome game with lots of content. Fast paced racing and great tracks with lost of drivers and karts to select from and lots of other extra modes, combined with an awesome multiplayer and good online play, this is a game no racing or especially Mario Kart fan wants to miss.
On top of that the visuals also look great. Tracks are colorful and very detailed and backgrounds also look nice.
The animations work well, the game runs fluid and the graphics are very sharp.
The only real downside maybe is that the competition for single player races is a bit weak, you know, that only two of seven AI drivers give up a challenge to win against you, but it's a pretty minor gripe.
Also, on a quick note I do wish that the drivers had a bit more personality to them, like when somebody would pass them they would turn their head to the side, but that is more real nitpicking and wishing.
So as it stands Mario Kart DS is one of the best Mario Kart games yet (or at least for its time, but you could probably say that it even holds up to Mario Kart Wii) and everybody with out this game isn't allowed to name him self a real Kart racing fan.