Mario Kart DS

Mario makes his dual-screened karting debut to rapturous applause. Some say this it's the best Mario Kart game ever. Do we?

	Version DS	Developer Nintendo	Publisher Nintendo	Genre Puzzle

By Andy Robinson

Grab your raincoats and open your umbrellas - for the next 1,000 words I'm going to be unashamedly gushing over Mario Kart DS. Online play already guarantees this as the best Mario Kart for some, but after prolonged and in-depth play time with the game we can confirm that this really is the greatest Mario Kart game ever made. How's that for a bold statement?

It's hard for us to crown any recent Nintendo title with the Best Ever accolade - especially with all the rose-tinted memories of games the company has brought us in the past inflicting warm, fuzzy feelings every time we take a rendezvous down memory lane. But this Mario Kart outing is something really special. Mario Kart DS is perfectly balanced, and the online modes we have been screaming out for have finally been included.

What really pleases us about this latest instalment is everything we've ever loved about the series has been included in the DS version - you could call it a compilation of sorts. The game features four tracks from each of the previous Mario Kart games (on SNES, N64, GBA and GameCube), and the gameplay is a perfect blend of the original's skilful cornering and the later title's drifting and power-ups. The inclusion of the N64 Battle Arena Block Fort elicits boyish smiles that only this series can barter, and there's sure to be a nostalgic inclusion here to rekindle a happy memory for everyone.

A quick compilation with an online mode would have been sufficient to roll in the dough for Mario Kart DS, but the game just keeps on giving. There are 16 brand new tracks to skid around along with a ridiculous number of karts and game modes. Polish is everywhere - no corner of the game has gone unnoticed. Gameplay runs at a solid 60 fps, with character models that seem a whole world away from Mario Kart 64's jagged sprites.

Along with the original offerings, the inclusion of the 16-track Retro Cup makes this the biggest Mario Kart ever - and that's before you've even scratched the surface of what this game has to offer. There's a new Mission Mode with plenty of challenges to entertain you with and Versus and Battle Mode now have full CPU opponent support. And of course there's the expected Time Trials and a wealth of multiplayer options. In terms of raw content, this Mario racer is a beast.

Look at us - we've got so carried away with the majesty of Mario Kart DS that we have yet to mention how the game actually plays. In a word: sublime. The game has obviously been extensively tweaked and balanced. Winning is no longer about lucky power-ups. There's skill involved to win yourself first place. The kind of situations where you would lead for 2 laps and then come 8th because of a shell up the arse are now just a painful memory.

We have no idea how we ever lived without the second screen. The original SNES Mario Kart had a split horizontal setup, and now the with the DS's second screen this traditional formula has been reclaimed. Players are now offered a second display with a close-up overhead view of the action, along with the current leader board. This is incredibly useful - you can see exactly who is behind you and aim your power-ups accordingly. In many instances it's actually easier to guide yourself around the track using the bottom screen for reference.

Karting is a lot more personal this time around. There's a whole bundle of cars, karts and rocket-laden contraptions available to be ridden around Mario Kart DS's wonderful courses. In addition, you can now create your own decal to be displayed on the front of your kart and for use as a personal avatar in online games. Only a limited number of colours are available, but the more talented pixel artists among you can easily use what's available to create some DS masterpieces.

We always thought that we were the Mario Kart champions, and now we know for sure. With Kikizo standing undefeated in all our online games, know that seeing our logo on the kart in front means you're in for some pain. The online mode is easily the most awaited feature of the Mario Kart DS and it is exactly what we've been patiently waiting, even pleading, for since the series first graced our television screens.

Options are minimal. Selection gets about as specific as playing with either continental or worldwide players. Finding friends is as easy as entering their game codes and racing away, but our experience so far with the matchmaking service has seen lengthy waits for other players to join the game. Online play is an absolute joy and features all of Mario Kart's hallmark gameplay with minimal lag. Beating a real person to the finish line is always more fun that playing against the AI - this is the only reason you need to give Nintendo your money.

On the negative side, Nintendo has gone a bit user-paranoid with the online mode. There are no chat functions and players are aggressively enforced to stay in their current online games, but that doesn't seem to stop other players from turning their DSs off when they're coming last. However, we'd be interested to see Nintendo's plan to stop people from creating phallic kart decals.