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Since the begging of time man hath played video games. And at the beginning of time Nintendo had conquered all other challengers. What was Nintendo’s secret? One word… Mario. Probably the most famous plumber in the world, he was center of almost every family’s living room. His first star appearance was in a side scrolling game called Super Mario World. But his true colors were revealed a couple years later when Super Mario Kart was released for the Super Nintendo. Mario Kart has evolved through the years. From being on the SNES, then to the N64, later to the Game Cube in an traditional version and a new twist that had two players on a single kart. The Mario Kart series has also been protablized (if that’s a word) for the Game Boy Advance and now the Nintendo DS. I think the best phrase for it would be new and improved for it stays true to its sacred Mario Kart root while adding great new features to the franchise.
The thing everyone and their step-grandma-twice-removed is talking about- Mario Kart online… free and official. All you need is a router or a Wi-fi USB connector from Nintendo.com and the game. You can wirelessly play against friends across the world, nation, or street. It is so simple I can do it while running backwards, with my hands tied, and my eyes closed (slight stretch). You can play against friends online, various people of the same skill level, or people from different parts of the world.
The single player experience is even better than the online. You can play some of the best classic tracks from old games or new tracks. Either way its one hell of a race in 150CC mode. The Grand Prix is, as it was, a 4 race tournament. Versus and Time Trial modes are also playable and you can play against your own ghosts or send/receive other peoples’ ghosts. Battle mode consists of Shine Runners and the ever popular Balloon Mode. In Shine Runners you compete to pick up ‘shiners’ and periodically there is and elimination where the people with the least shiners lose. In Balloon Mode everyone blows up balloon and attacks the other people til the last man is standing. A completely new element has been added to Mario Kart: Mission Mode, where you complete objectives like drive backwards thru the posts in order, collect all the coins, or open a can of whop-ass on DK. After the mission is completed you are given a rating. There are 6 worlds with 8 levels each (including the boss). The mission mode is great addition to game in my opinion and adds a good deal of fun too the game. A bunch of new weapons were added including the bullet, the boo item stealer, and the inky-squid-like-thing.
The music is the same as any Mario game, the pansy-rific tunes that keep the world going round and the koopa shells flying. The graphics run at an extremely smooth 60fps and there is little lag when playing online. The menus are pretty easy to use and are simple to understand.
Although I haven’t played the multiplayer I hear it is better than online, which I don’t doubt because you can play with 8 people (yeah I said eight!) download play or multi-cart. You can play race or battle mode (w00t!). But any one who doesn’t have the game plays a ShyGuy.
The game last forever and is endlessly fun. If you haven’t got this game yet then you must either be tied up in and old pedophile’s garage or in a box down my street because every DS owner MUST HAVE THIS GAME@!!!
Presentation: 9.0
Game play: 9.5
Graphics: 9.0
Music/Sound: 8.5
Online play: 8.5
Lasting time: 9.5
Overall: 9.0 –Tied for the best DS game out (next to Castlevania XD).