... Mario Kart is such a title. In its various formats be it that of the original Super Nintendo, N64 or Gamecube versions it stands head and shoulders above other driving games in terms of track design, multiplayer fun and good old fashioned playability. However, despite Mario Karts various incarnations ... Read review
It's time to race...with no wires attached! The acclaimed Mario Kart series has gone ... more
wireless, letting you race and battle locally with up to eight karts at once, regardless of whether everyone has a Game Card. Plus, play with up to three people around...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
It's time to race...with no wires attached! The acclaimed Mario Kart series has gone ... more
wireless, letting you race and battle locally with up to eight karts at once, regardless of whether everyone has a Game Card. Plus, play with up to three people around...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Mario Kart DS will drive players new and old to distraction as they race their way around ... more
a selection of tracks, including all-new extravaganzas and time-honoured classics from previous versions of the games. What's more Mario Kart DS will be the first...
5 single player modes - grand prix, time trial, VS, battles and missions 8 player wireless ... more
racing and battle modes More than 30 tracks Design your own custom cart emblems Nintendo Wi-Fi connection support Save your best times and send to friends M&S is...
Postage & Packaging: £3.50 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Gear up for portable racing fun anywhere you like!Race on newly-designed intricate 3D ... more
courses through harsh terrain, such as sandy or swampy environments. Duke it out with your friends in thrilling multiplayer mayhem. Connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Conn...
Includes the Wii WheelPlay against up to 11 players, download and share ghost data and ... more
race friends via Nintendo Wi-Fi ConnectionTake part in events organised by Nintendo in the Mario Kart ChannelPerform special tricks to score some serious speed boost with the new bikes and supped-up karts, Mario Kart Wii gives you more options than everRace as your Mii - grab the Wii Wheel and race through the new and retro tracks as your favourite MiiSee all the new Wheel Wii Colours
5 different control options: Wii Wheel, Wii Remote turned on side, Wii remote and ... more
nunchuck, classic controller and Nintendo Gamecube controller New wheels and courses including motorbikes Play with up to three friends locally or challenge up to 11 friends via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Includes Wii Wheel: Transform your Wii Remote in to a steering wheel that feels natural in anyone's hands Visit the Mario Kart Channel on your Wii Menu to check regional and worldwide stats, friend rankings, download ghost data, participate in worldwide Time Trial events and more! M&S is a member of the WEEE Distributor Take Back Scheme. Recycling your electronic waste has never been easier! Click here for more information *Must be returned with the tamper seal intact for full refund, Platforms: Nintendo Wii, ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults
Postage & Packaging:£3.50 Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
5 single player modes - grand prix, time trial, VS, battles and missions 8 player wireless ... more
racing and battle modes More than 30 tracks Design your own custom cart emblems Nintendo Wi-Fi connection support Save your best times and send to friends M&S is a member of the WEEE Distributor Take Back Scheme. Recycling your electronic waste has never been easier! Click here for more information, Platforms: Nintendo DS, ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults
Postage & Packaging:£3.50 Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Simplicity of gameplay and a variety of tracks. Multiplayer genius! Disadvantages: Does not make use of dual screen technology.
...often cloned but never bettered. Mario Kart is such a title. In its various formats be it that of the original Super Nintendo, N64 or Gamecube versions it stands head and shoulders above other driving games in terms of track design, multiplayer fun and good old fashioned playability. However, despite Mario Karts various incarnations being great games in their own right, there has always been a sense that I had yet to see a complete Mario Kart title. ... ...considerable aplomb.
Mario Kart DS is a racing game so as such has no plot. However, thanks to an array of ten familiar characters available for selection from across the length and breadth of the numerous Mario titles it is not difficult to see were racing rivalries take place. Fights between such characters as brothers Mario and Luigi and evil doppelganger Wario are commonplace. Of course, the plot to all racing games is largely ... more
Every now and then a game comes along that bares no comparison with others in its genre and it is simply superior to its competitors. A game such as this has no equal and is often cloned but never bettered. Mario Kart is such a title. In its various formats be it that of the original Super Nintendo, N64 or Gamecube versions it stands head and shoulders above other driving games in terms of track design, multiplayer fun and good old fashioned playability. However, despite Mario Karts various incarnations being great games in their own right, there has always been a sense that I had yet to see a complete Mario Kart title. Mario Kart DS is the title that manages this with considerable aplomb.
Mario Kart DS is a racing game so as such has no plot. However, thanks to an array of ten familiar characters available for selection from across the length and breadth of the numerous Mario titles it is not difficult to see were racing rivalries take place. Fights between such characters as brothers Mario and Luigi and evil doppelganger Wario are commonplace. Of course, the plot to all racing games is largely superfluous to the gameplay and Mario Kart DS is a prime example of this. Selecting a character and choosing a race be it a traditional Grand Prix, Time Trial or a one on one race/battle is were the real fun begins!
The array of tracks on offer is as impressive as you will find anywhere and what is particularly good about Mario Kart DS is it takes from the old and new to create one hugely impressive title. As well as a choice of characters and two Karts per character (more of which only unlock after completing certain tasks) the tracks are both ingenious and simplistic at the same time. With four cups available of entirely new tracks including desert areas, tropical islands and ice laden hills all of which affect your driving approach there is a lot of gameplay in here. Along with three "Kart CC" options which act as your difficulty levels this is a game that even in single player will last and last. Perhaps, most interestingly for a Mario Kart fan such as myself is the inclusion of the "Retro Cup" which provides even more Karting fun with tracks lifted straight from previous titles going right back to the Super Nintendo version. All in all that's thirty tracks to play on!
As a single player game Mario Kart DS is a highly enjoyable experience. The controls on the DS are responsive and simplistic with only four buttons and the D-pad needed to play. As with all Mario titles the fun is in hurtling round the track at top speed while skidding round corners using the legendary "hop and slide" manoeuvre which takes seconds to learn and months to master and naturally by running over the question mark boxes littered across the track there are a menagerie of weapons and speed ups available including a heat seeking turtle shell, banana skins and a ghost with kleptomania! These are but a few of the items available and once again it is nice to see a mixture of old and new ideas incorporated.
Although the single player is undoubtedly worth the Ł29.99 purchase price on its own it is as a multiplayer game that Mario Kart DS really rocks my world. The DS is a marvellous little console and its wireless multiplayer option is what the Mario Kart franchise has been waiting for. Play against your mates wireless in either an out and out race or in a pop your opponents balloons battle. Either way with a huge amount of fun is guaranteed as you pip them to the finish line thanks to a speed boost or wayward banana skin. "Shine runners" is a nice little edition too. Another multiplayer mode in which you race around an arena in order to collect the "shines" littered around the landscape. And of course if your opponent happens to get in your way…
Much has been made of the wi-fi option on the DS and again Mario Kart is an ideal game to utilise this. Playing against other DS users across a wireless internet connection for free is my idea of a gamers paradise but unfortunately our home computer is not wireless yet! However, there are several free access points known as "hotspots" in my area and accessing these seems simple enough. I will of course update on how I get on.
I have yet to mention the graphics or sound and that is largely because the gameplay is so damn good if they were awful it would not matter. However, as with all Mario titles the graphics are very colourful and sprites are sharp. Landscapes are all about colour too although there is little in the way of shading to note the backdrops are all suitable rendered be it waterfalls or deserts. Sound is exceptional with an appropriately "revved up" audio on start up and music suitable to each area (spooky noises for Luigi's Mansion being a prime example). Sound effects could be straight out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon and the game is all the better for it with pops, bangs and amusing noises in all the right places.
As you can see there is very little not to love about Mario Kart DS. It has a unique sense of fun unparalleled in other games and it is certainly the best game I have played on any console in many years. If I were to dig deep for any criticism it would be that the game makes little use of the DS's dual screen capability with the top screen for racing and the bottom a rudimentary map but that is me really digging to China for criticism.
Mario Kart DS is the perfect racing game. Be it in Single or multiplayer the lifespan is truly infinite. The addictiveness of the gameplay combined with a perfect learning curve and responsive controls make this a must have for any gamer and is one for all ages from three to eight three.
Advantages: Improved gameplay, graphics and AI! Disadvantages: It isnt free!!!
...of the retro tracks include: Mario circuit 1 from the SNES, Moo Moo Farm from the N64 and Peach Circuit from the GBA to name but a few. There is the standard layout of single player and multiplayer (broadband internet connection needed for online play) which allows you to play against people around the world with the push of a button. Inside the single mode are five racing types: Grand Prix - Race 4 tracks in 3 difficulties, 50cc (easiest) past 100cc ... ...the most points at the end and win the Grand Prix. There are to start off with 4 "retro" grand prix - including the SNES N64 and GBA tracks, plus the "Nitro" grand prix which holds the newer tracks. Also, be ranked on your performance and try to get 2 stars!!! Time Trials - Try all of the grand prix tracks but with a twist, beat the time to get a higher rank, and use the item boxes to your advantage, see later in the review. VS - The most basic of ...
blackoboy07 30.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)
Advantages: Great single player Disadvantages: Balance issues online
...Nintendo platform since the SNES, Mario Kart returns once more for an outing on the DS. Bringing his buddies into the mix, Mario lines up on the starting line again with the likes of Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong and many more for mayhem on the asphalt. Various bright and sometimes cutesy themes taken from the Mario universe translate into different racetracks. Exotic and exciting tracks like Luigi’s Mansion – a nod to the ghost-hunting ... ...the N64 and the Gamecube Mario Kart outings.
Playing single player is satisfyingly difficult, although not overly so. From the beginning of Grand Prix you can start in 50cc mode, which is conquered fairly quickly, as it is the slowest and easiest. 100cc is a little quicker, while 150cc mode provides a good challenge and the computer is unrelenting. Each cup of Grand Prix is split into four tracks and getting the most points overall wins you the ...
dudeglove 03.06.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)
Advantages: Your fav characters, plenty of weapons, lots of tracks, head 2 head mode Disadvantages: Not recommended for those not seeking light hearted fun
Mario Kart bursts onto the DS after enjoying great success on the SNES and N64. Therefore after being so successful on home consoles, I was interested to see how this game would turn out when programmed onto the hand held console. The title pretty much says it all, you can star to race as one of your favourite mario characters including Mario, Luigi, Wario, Peach. You are given a host of tracks to race around but to ensure or at least help you get ... ...fire at your opponents cars, speed boost to give yourself extra acceleration and of course no kids game would be complete without the banana skin. The gameplay is excellent, controls are responsive and intuitive, in truth there is not really a lot to remember so your focus can be solely on mastering the cutting of corners. Also of course remembering to utilise the many potential shortcuts which come up so keep your eyes open. The game playing speed ...
grandchamp 07.09.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)
Advantages: The best in a long line of games. Simple, great graphics Disadvantages: None
...have different abilities. For example Mario is a good all rounder but the larger characters such as Bowser have a higher top speed but slower acceleration. I always choose toad who has excellent acceleration, you will need it when you crash or are hit by a shell.
The next thing to do is choose a single race and a track or a grand Prix where you race over different tracks. There are 8 grand Prix's to enter but you need to complete the easy ones first ... ...the basics but what makes Mario kart such a fun racer is the ability to pick up power ups on every lap, for example a mushroom gives you a turbo boost, a green shell that you can fire at enemys, and a red shell is like a homing missile taking out the first racer it locks onto. These power ups add a great dimension to the game, you can be comfortably in first position but get hit by a bomb or squid ink, you can go right back to last place, it's nail ...
monkeykong1 12.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)
Advantages: Amazing online multiplayer, awesome fun, great graphics (for the DS), loads of tracks Disadvantages: "Rubber Band AI", the damn blue shell
Overall Rating: 92%
Mario Kart DS is one of the best DS games there is. The online play is fantastic, the single player is great, the difficulty, for the most part, is well balanced, and the graphics are some of the best seen on the DS (even though its an oldish game). I found it very hard to find a flaw with it.
The gameplay is typical Mario Kart - it takes the best elements of all the Mario Kart games before it, and culls the stuff nobody liked. ... ...that it uses the classic Mario Kart "Rubber Band AI", where if you're winning by too much on a harder difficulty, the items you get and the speed of the enemies will become more harsh and unforgiving in an effort to make it more of a challenge. This makes it a bit frustrating sometimes, as it's easy to feel like you're being cheated. This doesn't happen against human players, however - in the world of online play everything becomes fair.
The items ...
Ultima2876 01.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)
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four people.
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Product Information for "Mario Kart DS (Nintendo DS)" »
Product details
Publisher
Nintendo
Developer
Nintendo
Age
3+
Genre
Racing/Driving; Kids/Family
Sub Genre
Arcade Racing
Max Number of Players
8 Player
Platform
Nintendo DS
EAN
45496735906
Manufacturer's product description
Time to race... no wires attached. The acclaimed Mario Kart series has gone wireless letting players race and battle with up to eight karts at once regardless of whether everyone has a game card. An all-star cast that includes Mario Luigi Peach Yoshi Donkey Kong Wario Bowser and Toad will round out a truly all-star lineup of more than 30 courses drawn from every Mario Kart game. That's right - players will tour courses from Super Mario Kart Mario Kart 64 Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart: Double Dash not to mention brand-new tracks and arenas. With all the crazy items and frantic speed players have come to expect this game is a Mario Kart fan's dream. The game has a new dimension of fun since players can battle others around the world by connecting to Nintendo's new wireless gaming service Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
