Platform
Nintendo DS
Gamer Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
Mario Kart DS is one of the most unassuming games for Nintendo's Dual Screen porta-console. It does feature the whole gamut of cutesy and harmless characters from Donkey Kong and Mario Brothers, and all the familiar courses and nostalgic themes of former platform titles are everywhere to be seen. Bowser's Castle, Luigi's Mansion, and Marioland are all converted into racetracks. But don't let the warm and fuzzy nostalgia fool you. Mario Kart DS is a bonafide racing cartridge which shows its teeth and one that offers endless hours of fun for solo play and magnificent online and Wi-Fi play.
Start your engines
Starting a race is downright easy. In less than 10 seconds, you choose a character, a racecar, and a track. The next thing you know, you are scraping the rear end of someone's car trying desperately to accelerate while maneuvering around an assortment of bombs, banana peels, flying shells, and other distracting objects that can be picked up and deployed throughout the game.
The racetracks prove to be another challenge altogether. Most are straightforward and easy to master, while others are ridiculously difficult and require strokes of timing and good luck to get through. Each character's vehicle also has certain attributes that can give them an advantage or disadvantage depending on terrain. I found myself favoring the Yoshi character's rides because they offered quick acceleration and maneuvering even though they were not resistant to collisions or obstacles. Other cars may lack quickness but have the brute force to bully opposing cars out of the track. Others still have higher top speeds or can drift better and recover from crashes.
Playing the computer and winning gold medals, which is easy but time-consuming, unlocks extra characters and cars that can be used in future games. This is all good since you will need the best ride and the best driver to take on players around the world wirelessly.
Red hot and wireless
Using your character and car of choice (complete with your own logo drawn right into the car's hood) you choose between playing between friends, regional, or world. This is Nintendo's new thrust: that with their console and the appropriate games there will always be people to play with. You can be alone in your home in Quezon City but playing against people in the US, Europe, and anywhere else without feeling the distance.
Setting up a World race seems to be the most interesting option, as you get characters from all over the world showing up with their names in Arabic, Kanji, Chinese, and other languages and symbols. Once anywhere from two to four players are lined up, the races begin.
It is important to get a good running start. Revving the engine too much may cause you to explode and lose valuable seconds as all the other cars pass you by. Hitting the accelerate button at the right time can give you a three-car lead from the onset. If you can maintain this advantage, then your chances of winning are better. The racing is real time with no perceptible lag despite people being in different places. One thing to consider is that Nintendo tracks your win-loss record, so if you're not prepared (meaning you haven't improved yours skills by playing against the computer), then you will have a harder time establishing a good record.
Action on Mario Kart DS is always frenetic; the fact that the characters and environments are cute and cuddly soon fades as you get into elaborate mix-ups trying to catch the lead racer while avoiding the pesky runners-up behind you. More than anything, the action is addicting and brings out everyone's competitive nature. The Nintendo DS's 3D engine handles the graphics very well even during higher framerates - such a sight to behold.
This game will be a classic and a phenomenon. It will sell thousands of DS units simply on its own merits and the immersive experience that it offers.
GRINS
? classic gameplay is better than ever
? great multiplayer capability
? lots of fun stuff to unlock
? you can play with other people from all over the world!
GRIMACES
? you need to hang out at some Wi-Fi hotspot to play online - unless your house is a hotspot
THE LOWDOWN
This is quite possibly the most enjoyable racing game on a portable console today.
