Mario Kart DS
Platform: Nintendo DS
Publisher: Nintendo
Review Type: Touchy
Version: Retail
The Nintendo DS has enjoyed a steady stream of solid games in the past few months. Advance Wars: Dual Strike nailed the strategy nerd demographic and Nintendogs delivered a breezy and fun pet sim for the casual crowd. Mario Kart DS is the first Nintendo DS game for everybody.
The biggest strength of the Mario Kart series has been its accessibility. Anybody with even the most rudimentary knowledge of video games can play. And almost anybody can win. This detail sticks in the craw of some gamers -- who hate the idea of losing a race. But this is the genius of Mario Kart. The game's wide array of weapons, from banana peels to the dreaded "Blue Turtle Shell" (a homing missile that takes out the first place racer in a massive explosion), are all about evening the playing field. Everybody has a shot at first place, even if you're not the greatest racer. And it's this chaos that makes playing Mario Kart DS so damn fun.
Mario Kart DS really shines when played against human opponents via Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection. Don't bother trying to play with friends over the internet, unless you make a specific play date. There's just not enough room on your friends list to build a large enough roster of people to randomly hook up with. The best way to play is against "Worldwide" opponents, which sees you matched against other racers. There's always someone playing.
Mario Kart DS is the first game that every Nintendo DS owner should have, no matter what kind of gamer they are. It's that good. And because its so good, it only serves to further underline the Nintendo DS's urgent need for a redesign. After hours of racing, the handheld's poorly positioned and all-around ill-conceived d-pad has really done a number on my thumb.
Recommended
Publisher: Nintendo
Review Type: Touchy
Version: Retail
The Nintendo DS has enjoyed a steady stream of solid games in the past few months. Advance Wars: Dual Strike nailed the strategy nerd demographic and Nintendogs delivered a breezy and fun pet sim for the casual crowd. Mario Kart DS is the first Nintendo DS game for everybody.The biggest strength of the Mario Kart series has been its accessibility. Anybody with even the most rudimentary knowledge of video games can play. And almost anybody can win. This detail sticks in the craw of some gamers -- who hate the idea of losing a race. But this is the genius of Mario Kart. The game's wide array of weapons, from banana peels to the dreaded "Blue Turtle Shell" (a homing missile that takes out the first place racer in a massive explosion), are all about evening the playing field. Everybody has a shot at first place, even if you're not the greatest racer. And it's this chaos that makes playing Mario Kart DS so damn fun.
Mario Kart DS really shines when played against human opponents via Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection. Don't bother trying to play with friends over the internet, unless you make a specific play date. There's just not enough room on your friends list to build a large enough roster of people to randomly hook up with. The best way to play is against "Worldwide" opponents, which sees you matched against other racers. There's always someone playing.
Mario Kart DS is the first game that every Nintendo DS owner should have, no matter what kind of gamer they are. It's that good. And because its so good, it only serves to further underline the Nintendo DS's urgent need for a redesign. After hours of racing, the handheld's poorly positioned and all-around ill-conceived d-pad has really done a number on my thumb.
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