Metareview: Mario Kart DS

by Blake Snow { Nov 14th 2005 at 10:30PM }

You knew this was going to be a big one, and it's getting big scores to match the hype. Rehash? Maybe. Fun? See what the critics are saying:

IGN: 9.5/10 "Mario Kart DS's production value is almost staggering. The development team worked an unbelievable amount of focus in nearly every aspect of this racing design, pushing a huge amount of effort in both the single player experience as well as the multiplayer competition."
GameSpot: 9.2/10 "The online play is undoubtedly the icing on an especially yummy cake."
1UP: 9/10 "Once you find a working connection, once you accept the fact that online matches are limited to four people.. once you get playing…all complaints drift away."
Yahoo! Games: 4.5/5 "Multiplayer Mario Kart is, in a nutshell, an absolute blast. If you want to see a room full of grown men and women revert into hyperactive, obscenity-laden teenagers, just put the game in their hands and let them go at it."
Gamerz Edge: 9.6/10 "If I could award Mario Kart DS an eleven on Fun Factor, I absolutely would. This game is simply the most fun I have had in years as a gamer."

GameRankings composite: 93%. Pretty freakin' good.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

I cant wait to pick up my copy tomarrow! I'm sure the multiplayer will be fun, but what if your not around a router/connection, and you you've already beat the single player? Just hope that doesnt get boring...

SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

I'm a Nintendo fan, mind you, but there is a major obstacle that must still be overcome. By the end of November, we will see if Nintendo's system can handle the load of hundreds of thousands of players using it.

I think it will, but it is yet to be proven.

vrf @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

But it can't be so much fun because the graphics aren't as good as GTA:LCS! Graphics are everything, and GTA is so much more better. How can you have fun when you can see so many polygons? Waaahhahahahhh.. boo hoo.

jason w @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

HAHAHAHAHA I cant wait to smoke all your azzes online with this sweet looking game. I may feel better tomorrow when I get this game in hand. Damn Gamestop (put me on second shipment for the 360) but at least ill get this sucker tomorrow.

Oshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Haven't been disappointed with any Mario Kart game yet. :)

speedball @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

vrf, you're right. If its not in hi-def, why bother? Meh. 360 Rulez.

Ha! GTF outta here!

Spiza @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

And this is why revolution has a shot with its free multiplayer games. Nintendo does multiplayer best imo (n64 is my fav system for this reason). You'll have online mario kart, smash brothers, animal crossing, mario party, pikmin, f-zero, and metroid for free. I'm sure nintendo will come up with some other great multiplayer titles as well.

Then you can add on the fact that rev is a perfect console for an rts. (and ds desperately needs a starcraft port (salivates)). RTS games are a big portion of pc gamers that don't really have anything on a console. They cum up with a small numpad to hook up to the remote, and you are all set. Starcraft2 could be a huge system seller for rev if blizzard is wise.

Bo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Only Nintendo can put out a game that has everyone jumping for joy in every sex/age-range that doesn't require sex/drugs/and violence as a gimmick to draw prepubescent 'cool teens' into a frenzy.

For that, I salute you Nintendo and come tomorrow I'll buy a few copies as presents and one for myself.

Beeves @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Wow!

Those scores are amazing!

Mario Kart DS, thou shalt be mine!

I'll try to snag a copy this weekend, seeing as I would have absolutely no time this week to play it, let alone purchase it. Damn school assignments...

gozer @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

me and the fianc?icked up a copy each tonight.

wifi routers tomorrow.

sheik124 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Online..........Smash Bros? Forget online Smash Bros., HANDHELD SMASH BROS. Damnit Nintendo, gives us Smash Bros DS

JRM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

the new courses are absolutely beautiful.

Oscar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

I can�t wait to start playing online. this game is going to be great.

bd (formerly b) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Nintendo says: "PSP Killa'!, I summon you!"

n3rrd @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

I've played all but the GBA version of Mario Kart. I am thoroughly enjoying this one. The controls are solid, even without an analog stick. The fact that we have the power slide and jump is pretty rad.

The animation is smooth and the models are fairly well done, considering the limitations of the platform. My experience with the online was rather painless, and quite entertaining even though I got my ass kicked.

I have to agree that the new levels are good. The designs are solid. I really enjoy the Retro grand-prix... they kept my favourite GCN Track... Baby Park. :D

Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

�If I could award Mario Kart DS an eleven on Fun Factor, I absolutely would."

I love this quote, and for one reason, the fun factor. These days everyone reviews a game for so many different reasons. But I believe that the most important part of a game is it's fun factor. Everything else is superfluous. When you talk back with your friends about the games you used to play, what is it you usually tell them? Anyway, I'm planning on purchasing this game tomorrow. I hope it's in. :)

octorok @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

On the 4 Color Rebellion podcast, There is a cool interview with the #1 ranked Mario Kart Double Dash player in the USA - He goes on about several 'Kart' topics and then talks about Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Revolution - its a good listen: www.4colorrebellion.com

-V @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

A few years from now, this game will make an appearance on most every "best ever" video game list in the world. It's a stunning accomplishment for Nintendo that they were able to do this on a handheld console.

DeeMan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Street date was broken in Australia today - been playing online today - very, very impressed!

My router only has 1 star according to Ninty's rankings, but it works beautifully, so all the compatibility issues might be grossly overstated...

AndrewNeo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

#14: No, no. You should know better.

It's: "PSP killa'! I choose you!"

dracula @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

SWEET

Jay @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Nintendo online is like giving america a nuclear weapon, or giving a katana to a ninja. Nintendo's multiplayers have always been the best. Its not probably the ideal place to get into this but Nintendo+Free internet multiplayers is going to pretty much destroy the competition.

Isn't the PSP going to start charging for online too?

m0nkey @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

/me shakes fist

I've got over a week to wait til the UK release!

DG @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Based on what people are saying, doesn't a 93% overall seem kind of low? Given that the apparent lowest possible rating for any awful video game is 80%, an actual good game seems should like it should be rated higher. Oh well.

mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

�If I could award Mario Kart DS an eleven on Fun Factor, I absolutely would. This game is simply the most fun I have had in years as a gamer.�

---

hm.. they're not complaining that it should be less fun with prettier graphics.. odd..

De3S HEat0r @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

meh, De3Ss ST33lL teh Sk0rS...
M4r0 K4rt si t3h cr4P3r!!!1111!!!1!1
PSP si G00d111
0k3y, k

1up_clock @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Cue horde of rabid Sony fanboys screaming at the top of their lungs, "DOOD!!! MARIO KART IS TEH S UCK!!! AND A STRIPPED-DOWN VERSION OF BURNOUT 3 CERTAINLY ISN'T!!! AND NIN'S ONLINE PLAN IS SO CRAPY, I MEAN WHO WANTS FREE ONLINE? BABY FAGS, THAT'S WHO! SONY WILL PWN ALL!!!"

BM5k @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Got this game yesterday. Its definately the one you need to buy a DS for, if you haven't already got one.

BM5k
502570
627529

BM5k @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Got this game yesterday. Its definately the one you need to buy a DS for, if you haven't already got one.

BM5k
502570
627529

Dustin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

This game is the second title I have run my DS's batteries dry (buy Meteos, and its a LONG battery). Nothing is funner to play than this game. NOTHING. The sheer amount of content in this game is amazing. Retro tracks, mission modes, 7 karts per player, battle mode, computer oppenents on single player battle & single races, and teams in LAN mode. Online has a ways to go, but an excellent first outing. THIS IS THE REASON YOU NEED TO BUY A DS!!
And where do the N bashers get of saying that the (underselling) PSP is better because it has bad games, no online service, and a pretty screen?

Joe @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Just to clarify... you don't need a router/wireless connection to play online. There's a separate USB Nintendo dongle sold that jacks up to your ethernet and voila, your home becomes a wireless spot. Oh yeah, FREE ONLINE. Sony pwn3d!