Post by: Bloodworth on November 03, 2005, 08:10:55 PM
Inarguably, Mario Kart DS is the biggest game at the Gamers' Summit—and rightly so. I have owned the game for less than a day, yet I have easily put over four hours into multiplayer.
Upon receiving Mario Kart DS we joined international matches among New York, Redmond, Germany, and Canada. After specifying the online mode (Regional, Friends, Rivals, or Worldwide), you are pitted against up to three other players. After each player specifies a character and kart, a four-course contest begins. Every course is chosen democratically: each player's choice is immediately visible to the others and the most popular track wins. Chance breaks ties, and players are awarded points for their performance in each race, much like in a Grand Prix.
The online matches were impressively smooth, considering the circumstances. My game usually stuttered once or twice per match in a room with thirty Nintendo DS systems all connecting through a single NOA router, which in turn connected to similarly crowded gatherings around the globe. Lag can be deadly, since the copy with lag freezes while the others continue, but horrible attacks were rare, even under such worst-case-scenario conditions. I strongly doubt the game will suffer from these issues under normal conditions at home.
The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection menu interface is surprisingly intuitive. Although techies can tweak the nitty-gritty details (yes, you can look up the MAC address), the partially-automated tutorials make setup a breeze. Nintendo also confirmed a few compatibility questions, definitively stating WPA is not supported and that free (Wayport) connections which normally require browser authentication are supported. There are some disappointments: opponents cannot converse through the DS, players cannot drag items, and (like all Nintendo Wi-Fi games) your online profile is tied to the game-system combination. These problems are forgivable: overall Mario Kart's online mode is very impressive, especially when coupled with the access point location directory and game tracking features found on the official Nintendo Wi-Fi web site.
But enough about online performance—you probably want to know if this is a good Mario Kart entry. HELL YES! My colleagues and I couldn't get enough: we played local eight-player matches on the bus ride to and from dinner, and plan to continue the mayhem later this evening!
Crisp digital controls, varied new and old-school tracks and a ****-load of options blow previous incarnations out of the water. A new mission mode provides skill-honing challenges such as chasing down item blocks, driving through tire hoops, or fighting bosses. Yes, you can relive the glory of ramming Mario 64's Big Bully into lava with mushrooms and karts. Such missions are ranked, and performing well will unlock items such as new selectable karts for the characters. The karts have different strengths, including a new Item parameter specifying the frequency of desirable items.
A strong selection of old-school courses, ranging from Choco Island 2 (SNES) and Sky Garden (GBA) to Wario Stadium (N64) and Luigi Circuit (GC) provides instant familiarity, but the new courses are surprisingly good as well. I appreciated the new courses' details, such as the graveyard gates in the Luigi's Mansion track and the desert track's hopping fireball chain from Super Mario Bros. 3. Waluigi's Pinball course is especially zany. It is difficult to pinpoint, but many of the new courses simply feel good and certainly hold their own against the retro offerings.
The local multiplayer modes are similarly infused with fresh variety. Team battles extend the comradery found in two-player GP, requiring teammates to watch each others' backs and avoid friendly fire. Players may now choose the same character, creating a fairer environment. (Luigi seemed to be popular!)
Balloon battle is quirkier than ever. Although characters still only attach three ballons to their kart, they have five balloons at their disposal. Only one is initially inflated -— players must inflate their extra balloons by stopping and pressing select or blowing into the mic. Failing to inflate balloons fosters premature deaths; eagerly inflating balloons invites balloon theft. Blowing into the microphone also speeds the inflation process. The sound of eight gamers resuscitating their handhelds trumps even the most triumphant "OBJECTION!"
Mario Kart DS also includes a slightly less amusing Shine Runner mode, modeled after the star-nabbing multiplayer game from Mario 64 DS. Shines will randomly appear on the map as a timer counts to zero. When the buzzer sounds, the players with the lowest score are bumped and the timer resets, slowly whittling the contenders down to one. The concept is amusing, but I'm not yet sold on its lasting appeal.
Mario Kart DS has top notch production quality. Believe the hype: this game is yet another killer app for the blossoming Nintendo DS.
Michael "TYP" Cole, Senior Editor, Trivia Manager
Post by: IceCold on November 03, 2005, 08:38:52 PM
QuoteGood to hear, good to hear. I really can't wait to get my hands on this one.. and I'd have thought that it wouldn't seem fresh, but sounds like it's still inviting.
Crisp digital controls, varied new and old-school tracks and a (expletive)-load of options blow previous incarnations out of the water
...
Mario Kart DS has top notch production quality. Believe the hype: this game is yet another killer app for the blossoming Nintendo DS.
Post by: Dasmos on November 03, 2005, 08:44:43 PM
Post by: wandering on November 03, 2005, 08:55:55 PM
Oh, thanks for the impressions. I'm frothing with anticipation for this game!
Post by: Bill Aurion on November 03, 2005, 09:30:43 PM
And it's an all-new Wario Stadium, Bloodworth goofed...
Post by: Mario on November 03, 2005, 09:35:52 PM
This game is gonna be HUGE! In every way. Nice impressions.
Post by: Hostile Creation on November 03, 2005, 10:13:01 PM
All in the matter of about a month.
Also, TYP wrote this up, Bloodworth only posted it.
Post by: WackerJr on November 03, 2005, 11:38:23 PM
Post by: PaLaDiN on November 03, 2005, 11:46:17 PM
Post by: ruby_onix on November 04, 2005, 12:17:42 AM
Quote
Mario Kart DS also includes a slightly less amusing Shine Runner mode...
Yay for alcohol references in a first-party Nintendo title!
Post by: Bill Aurion on November 04, 2005, 01:34:33 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: WackerJr
So do we or do we not get Wario Stadium from the N64?
Do I need to post again? It's a new one...
Post by: Darkheart on November 04, 2005, 02:19:06 AM
LOL but seriously I nearly pee'd in my pants yesterday at work when I opened a box off the truck filled with Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, and Tony Hawk...................Yeah I know I was retarded and started freakin out to only realize that they were display boxes -_-;!
Seriously though I cant wait to go online I have no friends by me with a DS (wait I have one, who wishes to not play any multiplayer games tho) and this will be the freakin first time I actually get some multiplayer fun time in! I cant wait to be watching you all eat my dust mwahahahahaha! Oh and by the way, Im the guy who sits in 8 th place then at the last minute zaps you with a lightning bolt, hits 1rst out with a blue shell, then star's his way to 1rst right at the finish!
~Darkheart~
Post by: stevey on November 04, 2005, 03:16:50 AM
Post by: Darkheart on November 04, 2005, 03:47:44 AM
Post by: UncleBob on November 04, 2005, 06:10:44 AM
Post by: Arrow on November 04, 2005, 08:19:41 AM
And like darkheart said, everyone should definitely check out the videos on IGN. They basically show off every gameplay mode, including some of the missions. They already have all of the stages unlocked, so that will be a minor spoiler, but they don't have any of the secret characters unlocked. Personally, I think the Shine Runnner mode looks fun... very fast and frantic. It's definitely a step above the Shine Thief mode from DD.
Post by: TMW on November 04, 2005, 10:10:56 AM
This game is one of the reasons I bought my DS in the first place.
And...I'm speechless. Wow. This sounds like everything I wanted it to be and more.
10 more days...GAH.
Post by: Artimus on November 04, 2005, 10:20:27 AM
Post by: ssj4_android on November 04, 2005, 10:32:49 AM
That was like the best course on Mario Kart 64. And no WEP is even worse, of course. Hopefully, Nintendo will hire some experts when designing Revolution online.
Post by: KnowsNothing on November 04, 2005, 12:06:19 PM
But that won't ruin my fun! Super impressions!
Also, because of AWESOME HYPE, this freaking rocks
Post by: Bill Aurion on November 04, 2005, 01:39:03 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Artimus
Are there really boss stages?!
Yep...
Post by: Artimus on November 04, 2005, 03:08:15 PM
Post by: Arrow on November 04, 2005, 05:06:04 PM
The two shown in the IGN videos were against the Big Bully from Mario 64 and the Stone Hands from the pyramid in the same game. Against the Bully you would pick up nothing but mushrooms and have to use them to try to bump the Bully off the stage... while he tried to do the same to you as well, of course. The Hands fought basically the same way they did in Mario 64, trying to crush you. You pick up shells and have to time really accurate shots to hit the eyes on their palms.
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on November 04, 2005, 09:01:07 PM
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on November 06, 2005, 12:22:57 AM
http://www.mariokart.com/mkds/launch/index.html
The fact is, only 20 of the 32 tracks are available online, as far as I can tell. The Nintendo WFC ditches some of the crazier tracks with interactive/moving environments (such as cars). Disappointing, but 20 is still more than what we got in MKDD or MK64.
Post by: stevey on November 06, 2005, 07:40:41 AM
Post by: UncleBob on November 06, 2005, 08:48:06 AM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/TheUncleBob/typplayingmario.jpg
Post by: IceCold on November 06, 2005, 09:38:03 AM
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on November 06, 2005, 05:02:32 PM
And yeah, Baby Park is not ditched--it's the simplest of tracks. Bowser's new track is pretty cool, but it is not online. Also, when you get the game, look out for the beach level that totally looks like Stage 1 from Sonic Adventure.
