Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS) Preview

By Nick Cheesman 14.03.2005

At the DS Conference in January we Europeans were the first to be gifted with a sight of Mario Kart DS being played over the 8 player wireless Wi-Fi. Then our fellow American gamers got to see something similar at the GDC last week. Mario Kart: Double Dash allowed for a similar experience with 8 players on the GameCube by use of the LAN option; however Mario Kart DS will be the first Mario Kart game to allow for 8 players without any wires whatsoever.

Since the game was first unveiled at E3 almost a year ago, the graphics have not changed immensely, but videos shown at this years GDC have shown that game still looks as smooth and as crisp as ever; running at a steady frame rate constantly, complete with 3D characters and tracks to race through. Although the game looks very similar to the Nintendo 64 version and seems to have done away with the two man cart idea of Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, there are some track and kart changes on hand, with Mario sporting a jazzy looking Formula One like car with an oval nose cone and 1960's aura about it.

The DS' second screen has become a map once more, however Mario Kart DS also shows the location of other racers, plus who is closest to overtaking you, along with a top to bottom presentation of the current racer positions. This also shows what weapons everyone currently has and is all shown on the bottom screen. There is also the ability to have a close up view of any of the other racers that can be changed mid-race to and from the map screen, which is useful to have, considering you can now see if someone is about to nail you with a sheel.

The amount of tracks on offer should be similar to the other Kart titles, but the only playable track seen so far has been a normal figure of 8 tracks. Other tracks so seen far include the absolutely crucial haunted house track that comes complete with various Boos and crashes of lightening.

Final Thoughts

Set for a release at the end of this year, many complained about how Mario Kart: Double Dash!! failed to capture the great experience held by the N64 and GBA versions. Now that the DS version has 8 player mode and returned to the gameplay style of the N64 Mario Kart, anyone who felt slightly hard done by Double Dash!! should easily be won over here.

Developer

Nintendo

Publisher

Nintendo

Genre

Driving

Players

8

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  9/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  10/10 (57 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date Out now   Japan release date Out now   Australian release date Out now   

Comments

RobTheBuilder is offline. RobTheBuilder 14.03.2005#1

This is THE game.
If this is online it will be the defining DS game of 2005.

See no Wiivil
Hear no Wiivil
Speak no Wiivil
 
jesusraz is offline. jesusraz 14.03.2005#2

Excellent Nick! Now I hope you're not doing one for Castlevania, or your neck is mine... :sarcy:

Hehe Smilie

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses
 
Sharpshot is offline. Sharpshot 14.03.2005#3

Doing MOH: European Assault at the moment, anything Gamespot can do, I can also do...and add my mannerisms in...

Nintendo have said the end of the year is when online gaming will take off, and this is when Iwata said MK is coming. Coincidence? I think not!



Nick Cheesman < Sharpshot :: Writer :: P/Reviewer :: Hilarious Second Name >
 
LewieP is offline. LewieP 14.03.2005#4

mario kart + online = lots of happy people

 
theduffman is offline. theduffman 14.03.2005#5

boo. the spiked shell is brilliant and has resulted in many an exciting finish. :P as long as it jumps to 1st pllace, its horrible when it takes out every single player.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Duffman ~~~~~~~~~
"If you make yourself really small, you can externalize virtually everything", Daniel Dennett
 
theduffman is offline. theduffman 14.03.2005#6

oh, (seperate idea) I think they need to make items important in this one, with tons of characters and special items (like in mkdd)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Duffman ~~~~~~~~~
"If you make yourself really small, you can externalize virtually everything", Daniel Dennett
 
theduffman is offline. theduffman 14.03.2005#7

[post duplicated]

[ Edited by theduffman On 2005/3/15 6:05 ]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Duffman ~~~~~~~~~
"If you make yourself really small, you can externalize virtually everything", Daniel Dennett
 
Bz0 is offline. Bz0 14.03.2005#8

Good preview Sharpshot.:Smilie

Mario Kart is one of the most anticipated games for the DS and if it'll be online, it will be a killer app and a best seller.
They should add the jump.

[ Edited by Bz0 On 2005/3/14 20:07 ]

Revolution is the solution.
 
Sharpshot is offline. Sharpshot 14.03.2005#9

I originally didn't mind the spiked shell, but the amount of people I saw getting pissed off about it meant I had to gvie it a mention. I still stand by my comment, I think Double Dash!! is the best MK ever! :-D

Thanks guys, got some more on the way!

[ Edited by Sharpshot On 2005/3/14 20:07 ]



Nick Cheesman < Sharpshot :: Writer :: P/Reviewer :: Hilarious Second Name >
 
Mason is offline. Mason 14.03.2005#10

This should be brilliant. Just so long as they get the online business right...

 
baf1 is offline. baf1 14.03.2005#11

Sweet! If it's online like I believe it will be...

Can anyone say "Game-that-single-handedly-sells-millions-of-DS-units?" :Smilie

 
alksdjhfoawhencjdf is offline. alksdjhfoawhencjdf 14.03.2005#12

Doing MOH: European Assault at the moment, anything Gamespot can do, I can also do...and add my mannerisms in...

I could do that! "We take a look at Raven's new shooter, bo urr aye." Easy Peasy Smilie

I'm liking the preview, btw. Good write up.

 
Cheesing It Up is offline. Cheesing It Up 14.03.2005#13

Sounds as good as any other MK game! This game will convince me get me a DS if I haven't got one already

 
TAG is offline. TAG 14.03.2005#14

This looks like it will be good. As long as the races have speed (unlike the the horrible slow races of DD...Smilie then I'll be one happy person^_^

And the spiked shell is awesome:-D

TAG: That American Guy

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:18
 
mooojc is offline. mooojc 15.03.2005#15

Cannot wait for this game, need it now!

 
teh_gam3r is offline. teh_gam3r 15.03.2005#16

Yeah its gonna be amazing if it goes online and it will be Ds game of the year if it goes online, god its gonna be great.

 
Robbo is offline. Robbo 15.03.2005#17

Hopefully this'll be out at xmas!

 
howzy22 is offline. howzy22 15.03.2005#18

Yep this is looking damn good, however pokemon is being released end of this year IN JAPAN, so that could take it if were counting worldwide(by "it" i mean the best game of the year), but i am looking forward to this.

 

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