Mario Kart: Final Code Hands-On, Direct Feed Gameplay Videos, New Screens

We report on Nintendo's biggest game launch of the year, discuss the Euro release coup, and yet again deliver ultimate video coverage first.

At a special event in London last night, Nintendo was kind enough to provide us with a final copy of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! - which as you'd expect, has now received the full Kikizo media treatment with 18 direct feed gameplay videos, plus 30 new screens.

Mario Kart is here! And so are our videos.

Held at the popular Revolution Karting venue, Nintendo invited journalists to take part in some real life kart racing for a few hours, before launching their biggest party of the year with a Mario Kart tournament and quantities of booze that only this particular games territory's media seems to be able to handle.

"Miyamoto-san really helped get the game launched in Europe quickly."

- Shelly Pearce

European Nintendo fans really have something to be happy about right now, with the imminent release of Mario Kart three days before it hits North America. Speaking to us last night, Nintendo's PR Director Shelly Pearce said that Miyamoto-san himself played a large role in making the game's European release so swift. "He loves Europe," she revealed, "especially the food! But seriously, he really helped get the game launched here quickly."

"The two characters per kart idea really works; you can stock-up on power-ups and attacks."

Now that we've had some quality hands-on time with the final game, we're pleased to report that it's all good news for fans of the series. Don't be fooled by the monkey playing the game in our videos. I am obviously much better than that. We love this game and here are some reasons why.

The two characters per kart idea really works. Whilst it's difficult to detect any difference in handling when you switch your characters' positions, the tactical element of the game is enhanced considerably by enabling players to 'stock up' on power-ups and attacks, saving them for a more appropriate point in the race.

For example, you won't need immediate use of the banana skin if you're last in the race, and the homing projectiles are best saved for when you really need them. You won't want to use the 'speed boost' power-up shells if you're leading the race either.

The way you partner up your characters up before racing starts is also important, since each character has their own unique attacks and projectiles during the race. Special extra-large banana skins even split into three after contact, so things can get really tricky at times.

"The twelve courses are distinctive and all offer something slightly different."

The quality of the design in Double Dash is absolutely breathtaking. The twelve courses we've checked out (four in each of the three Cup tournaments) are distinctive and all offer something slightly different. The Baby Park course, for example, is a very small oval circuit, which makes the race a constant, ridiculous battle with projectiles flying around everywhere. Waluigi Stadium, on the other hand, is one of the larger courses that looks spectacular and requires a greater level of technique to win.

Similarly, DK Mountain has plenty of narrow hairpins and cliff edge pitfalls, with the most distinctive feature being a huge cannon barrel in the middle of the course that blasts you all the way up the mountain, which you have to race back down again! In Dry Dry Desert (yep - it's extremely dry) you have to avoid huge sand tornados and fatal quicksand ditches, while remembering to stay on the main track as much as possible - the karts slow down on the sand like you wouldn't believe.

The Mushroom City track has tonnes of traffic that must be avoided at all costs, Peach Beach is apparently set on Isle Delfino, while Yoshi Circuit is a big island shaped just like the little green fellow himself.

There's also a 'Special Cup' tournament for those earning gold in 50cc, 100cc and 150cc championships, which promises even better looking levels that we'll try and unlock for you as soon as possible. Wario Colosseum, Dino Dino Jungle, Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road are all guaranteed to make you pay attention to what you're doing, not to mention the fantastic scenery.

"The game's eight-player LAN races work flawlessly."

The graphical and audio quality of the game is exceptional, offering the kind of vibrant, stylised Mario themes you'd expect, while going beyond the call of duty in terms of general polish. Sometimes there's so much going on at once you can't help but smile, especially with everything running at a rock-solid sixty frames.

We also had the opportunity to play a few eight-player LAN races last night, which worked flawlessly. You can't beat the way the game looks full-screen - but obviously Mario Kart is all about multiplayer racing and it works as well as ever in Double Dash.

"Those important handling tweaks have thankfully been included in the final version."

Those important handling tweaks since the various preview builds have thankfully been included in the final version, a sure sign that Nintendo listened to the overwhelming feedback. The L and R triggers enable you to powerslide beautifully; by letting go of the wheel and keeping the gas on, holding down the trigger can produce some very effective, and moreover, insanely fun corner taking. The overall pace of the game is pretty much fine, but obviously the fastest moments are saved for the use of the 'speed boost' power-up shells, and driving over the speed-up arrows.

"How well Mario Kart performs over time remains to be seen - but it's looking good."

How well Mario Kart performs over time, and whether the multiplayer gameplay has the magic ingredients that made the Super NES version legendary, remains to be seen at this stage - but it's looking good. We'll be making our judgement next week when we review the game, but in the meantime enjoy our latest exclusive, over the top media blowout and rest assured - Double Dash will not disappoint you.

Remember to check P2P if our video servers are busy - until we implement the bittorrent downloading system, you'll just have to be patient if things get really busy. Since most would say that paying 'sucks', this is about the best solution for high-quality video delivery we can see...

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com

Click here for 18 additional new screens

Video Coverage (Latest Videos & Video FAQ)
PLEASE DO NOT DIRECT LINK TO ANY MEDIA FILE ON KIKIZO
Description	Dur.	Size	Details
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Introduction: all characters and circuits	0.47 min	7.08 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Mushroom Cup #1: Luigi Circuit - Mario and Luigi	1.21 min	12.6 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Mushroom Cup #2: Peach Beach - Mario and Luigi	1.20 min	12.31 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Mushroom Cup #3: Baby Park - Mario and Luigi	1.08 min	10.47 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Mushroom Cup #4: Dry Dry Desert - Mario and Luigi	1.50 min	17.02 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Flower Cup #1: Mushroom Bridge - Wario and Diddy	1.17 min	11.88 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Flower Cup #2: Mario Circuit - Wario and Diddy	1.17 min	11.87 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Flower Cup #3: Daisy Cruiser - Wario and Diddy	1.28 min	13.62 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Flower Cup 4: Waluigi Stadium - Wario and Diddy	1.28 min	13.6 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Star Cup #1: Sherbet Land - Donkey Kong and Bowser	1.30 min	13.86 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Star Cup #2: Mushroom City - Donkey Kong and Bowser	1.36 min	14.78 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Star Cup #3: Yoshi Circuit - Donkey Kong and Bowser	1.42 min	15.7 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Star Cup #4: DK Mountain - Donkey Kong and Bowser	1.38 min	15.15 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Replay: Donkey Kong Mountain	1.09 min	10.6 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Replay: Waluigi Stadium	1.12 min	10.83 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Rolling Demo: Baby Circuit - Mario and Luigi	1.40 min	6.06 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Rolling Demo: Two player split screen	1.37 min	5.58 MB	WMV
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! [Direct Feed, 640x480, 1340kbps] Rolling Demo: Four player Split Screen	1.37 min	5.64 MB	WMV

Mario Kart: Final Code Hands-On, Direct Feed Gameplay Videos, New Screens

We report on Nintendo's biggest game launch of the year, discuss the Euro release coup, and yet again deliver ultimate video coverage first.

Kikizo:

Kikizo Classic:

Entertainment:

Mario Kart: Final Code Hands-On, Direct Feed Gameplay Videos, New Screens

We report on Nintendo's biggest game launch of the year, discuss the Euro release coup, and yet again deliver ultimate video coverage first.

Kikizo:

Kikizo Classic:

Entertainment:

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