October 30, 2008 

Re-discovering a classic: Mario Kart DS

I’ve always been a fan of the Mario Kart series and owned all of them (I think) on various formats. I joined the party late when I bought a SNES just as it was dieing and people were thinking the Mega CD was the good idea. I picked up a cheap copy in Electronics Boutique (now GAME) for about 15 pounds (strange keyboard doesn’t have pound sign..) and rushed home to see what all the fuss was about. I had a minor obsession back then (and still do a bit) with any kind of spite scaling or 2D warping tricks like the SNES’s “Mode 7″ effects so Mario Kart was a dream come true after the basic effects of the Megadrive (Genesis in the states).

After that there was a huge gap before Mario Kart 64 which was both amazing (to have something new) and disappointing (had some truly boring tracks) at the same time. After an equally long gap the game moved to the portable platform of the gameboy where a kind of retro style game was born, it was actually really good but because it wasn’t very mainstream it was hard to find people to play against (one of Mario Karts strong points).

Eventually we get to the Gamecube and double dash which was allot of fun but did put in a dual driver mechanic and complex drifting that made it allot harder for casual players to compete against any semi skilled players.

Mario Kart DS - Screenshot

Mario Kart DS with the very useful mini map.

Finally we have the new DS and Wii versions, I bought the DS version at launch played it a bit and kind of forgot about it then the Wii version came out and I played that instead because somehow I’d assumed that a “nextgen” version somehow = better. The Wii version brings various control methods, new and pointless weapons and some gimmicky courses to the mix and generally feels more confused and complicated (somehow more so that having two drivers per kart in double dash). This isn’t to say its bad just a bit forced and not quite as much fun as it could be.

Today I went back and played the DS version, its has one character per kart, a restrained number of useful powerups, amazing course design with a bunch of classic SNES and Gameboy tracks, online and wireless multi-player (with single catridge download play) and the best controls of any game in the series with only one simple control setup and no crazy complicated drifts to upset beginners. I’ll definatly be spending more time playing the definative Mario Kart game (at least in my opinion).

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  • binny

    I do love the DS version. You are right it was over shadowed by the inferior Wii version. With its crazy controls and lack of originality. It is one of the few games on the DS I feel I have truly had my moneys-worth from. It is faithful to the original, adds in some retro goodness, is well thought out, and just works as a game. Wireless play is a bonus.

    But for me the definitive version is “Double Dash”. It plays well, handles as you would expect, and the addition of the two drivers means noobs can pick it up and play without effort. Experts have an extra dimension to play with.

    But the most compelling feature. “Shine Thief” battle mode. This is the only version of battle I ever want to play again. Shooting is fun. But you have to use your wits, cunning, and guile with “Shine Thief”. Blasting alone will not win you the game. Just wish it had more battle tracks.

  • http://www.the-cwf.com sideswipe

    I still think the original SNES version is the definitive version. The risky shortcuts and the feather, why was that removed I’ll never understand as it raised the stakes like nothing else since. Do you dare use the leaf on ghost valley was a decision that could truly make or break a race.

    I have to agree with Binny that for multiplayer, Shine Thief is the best. Whereas a race or battle can often be determined by luck of powerups, it takes skill to win at Shine thief.

  • binny

    Do you know what. I never (not once) got the leaf to work on ghost valley. I know the exact bit you mean. You can go round the long corner, or there is the thin plank heading off towards the opposite side, cutting off the entire corner. Never worked.. always died. Then lost the race.

    Shine Thief on block fort. Or in fact most of the levels on the N64 would be the best. But G is right, SNES is where it started, in I’m not sure you can ever truly beat it.

  • http://www.biggiantrobots.com/general/nintendo-does-me-over-once-more/ Nintendo does me over once more | BIG GIANT ROBOTS!

    [...] it also had the very best version of Mario Kart. I won’t go into it here, Nikobe has already done that for me. But you can not beat “Shine Thief” battle mode. It requires real skill, and when you [...]