Mario Kart rules
This week I have mostly been playing Mario Kart DS. This game is absolutely amazing, though it happens to be one of those games that is rather limited in one player. It really is a game that has to be played Online, and if I said it for Halo 2 I have to say it for Mario Kart.
Actually I don't cause with Time trial and mission mode as well as a lovely grand prix mode it does last a few days (for experts and those who have played a Mario Kart before).
Mario Kart DS is like the best of the other 4 Mario Karts squeezed into one. You have the techniques from Mario 64 such as Shell Shielding and Power slide boosting. You have some of the better Mario Kart Double Dash stages, Unlockables, Lan play and slipstream technique. You have the GBA versions Ranking system and retro track cups. And of course you have the heart of the original, at a nice speed (ok it's no F-zero GX but it's faster than Double Dash) and thrilling every step of the way.
Though it's Online where the game really shines, but it's not without it's faults. While the online aspect is meant to be much easier to set up and cheaper than Xbox Live!, the first is not so true in practice. So many people are having trouble with compatibility with Routers and Dongles.
There is a rule for Peripherals though many seem to be forgetting, ALWAYS GO FIRST PARTY. The Nintendo Dongle works like a dream and I hope that it can be compatible with the Xbox360 so I go use it for Live!. However Nintendo are rather pissed at retailers that have generally refused to stock it! Madness.
Also no lobby system and yes like I said before you can't choose you friends. My advice MSN it first. Some of the TGN members and myself have had 4 player friend matches, when it's rare to find one at any given moment, just by using MSN as a quick chat room.
Bandwidth can also be a problem. I find occasionally people jump around the screen, especially when you're active on the net or downloading something at the same time. Also it doesn't number those who disconnect which is bad because DCing means a worthy winner doesn't get his win, and the other players don't get their loss.
So many times I've been winning, or at least made it so the best my opponent can do is draw, and they disconnect. Sad, pathetic. A loss is a loss, accept it! It would be nice to have a DC number alongside Wins and Losses so you can tell who does this.
Gameplay wise it does suffer from some Double Dash problems. Many races can be settled on Luck and there's very little to guarantee you a win. Sometimes someone is last place will get 2 blue shells in a row, other times you'll get a banana! Whereas if you're in first you'll 90% of the time get a banana. This is alright in Multiplayer, that's the fun. But it can be frustrating in one player when you miss out on a cup cause you've been blue shelled 3 times in a row.
Visuals and sound are superb I have no quarrel with them.
Overall an amazing game with some faults you can overlook. You definately must take this game online and experience it for yourself. Get the Nintendo Dongle (or make sure your connection is working fine) and see the real beauty of this title for yourself.
I will only swap friend codes on message boards and over MSN, my Address is Joz@sinkorswim.co.uk (but don't use that for E-mail).
Actually I don't cause with Time trial and mission mode as well as a lovely grand prix mode it does last a few days (for experts and those who have played a Mario Kart before).
Mario Kart DS is like the best of the other 4 Mario Karts squeezed into one. You have the techniques from Mario 64 such as Shell Shielding and Power slide boosting. You have some of the better Mario Kart Double Dash stages, Unlockables, Lan play and slipstream technique. You have the GBA versions Ranking system and retro track cups. And of course you have the heart of the original, at a nice speed (ok it's no F-zero GX but it's faster than Double Dash) and thrilling every step of the way.
Though it's Online where the game really shines, but it's not without it's faults. While the online aspect is meant to be much easier to set up and cheaper than Xbox Live!, the first is not so true in practice. So many people are having trouble with compatibility with Routers and Dongles.
There is a rule for Peripherals though many seem to be forgetting, ALWAYS GO FIRST PARTY. The Nintendo Dongle works like a dream and I hope that it can be compatible with the Xbox360 so I go use it for Live!. However Nintendo are rather pissed at retailers that have generally refused to stock it! Madness.
Also no lobby system and yes like I said before you can't choose you friends. My advice MSN it first. Some of the TGN members and myself have had 4 player friend matches, when it's rare to find one at any given moment, just by using MSN as a quick chat room.
Bandwidth can also be a problem. I find occasionally people jump around the screen, especially when you're active on the net or downloading something at the same time. Also it doesn't number those who disconnect which is bad because DCing means a worthy winner doesn't get his win, and the other players don't get their loss.
So many times I've been winning, or at least made it so the best my opponent can do is draw, and they disconnect. Sad, pathetic. A loss is a loss, accept it! It would be nice to have a DC number alongside Wins and Losses so you can tell who does this.
Gameplay wise it does suffer from some Double Dash problems. Many races can be settled on Luck and there's very little to guarantee you a win. Sometimes someone is last place will get 2 blue shells in a row, other times you'll get a banana! Whereas if you're in first you'll 90% of the time get a banana. This is alright in Multiplayer, that's the fun. But it can be frustrating in one player when you miss out on a cup cause you've been blue shelled 3 times in a row.
Visuals and sound are superb I have no quarrel with them.
Overall an amazing game with some faults you can overlook. You definately must take this game online and experience it for yourself. Get the Nintendo Dongle (or make sure your connection is working fine) and see the real beauty of this title for yourself.
I will only swap friend codes on message boards and over MSN, my Address is Joz@sinkorswim.co.uk (but don't use that for E-mail).
posted by Master hunter at 1:09 am
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