Before I start, I have never played Mario Kart on the N64 or in-fact double dash on the Gamecube, I come fresh from the delights of the Mode 7 engine from the original Mario Karts! However, I part of me wish’s I had as after opening Mario Kart on the DS for my birthday, wildly excited I ended up disappointed. There are so many things missing for me in this version (or taken out if you will) I feel that the Mario Kart package is left with a above average karting experience.
Single Player
I will list the things I miss from previous versions of Mario karts….
- Coins! In the old days of Mario Kart, coins were scattered around the track and if you collected them, you would receive a small speed boost! Also, in true sonic stylee’! you needed coins to prevent oncoming nudging attacks from the other karts. This was a great feature which is greatly missed in this version. Instead we have a rather annoying ‘drifting’ move to gain a speed boost, but more about that later…!
- Falling into water! If you fall into water, you cannot get out, you need to get replaced onto the track! Why? Why cant I swim my way out a little back onto the track! It makes the retro tracks with water VERY frustrating!
- Ranbow Road – The new rainbow road is rubbish, in-fact it’s a bore! Wheres the old one Ninty?!?!? We don’t want this new boring rubbish!
Not to mention that the 3D engine is terrible. It’s so easy to drive around the tracks, even the new ones with obstacles! There is no sense of speed at all! Give me the mode 7 engine any day!
Multiplayer
This is, the most poorly designed multiplayer game on record (and dont give me the 'this is Nintendos first attempt at an online game, pick up any online title today and your see a better implemented online game, there is NO excuses!) . Where are the high score tables for the tracks? Where can I exchange online ghosts with top players and friends? Where can I have an advanced searched option on when searching for games? Why can’t I change the game rules like limit certain in-game items (blue shells gonna get ya!)? Why can I only play certain online tracks? Why can’t I play Battlemode online! Why can I only play against four people online? Why c0an’t I chat to my opponents? Why cant I add someone to my friends list after a really good MK:DS session with him?
Nintendo, if this is the limitations of the Nintendo DS online, then Wifi is going to be a big disappointment! How can there be latency issues on some of the most complicated maps when I can play SOCUM on my PSP with 15 other people online? Which also has clans/message boards etc…?
At the end of the day, MK:DS is good, its not great, its good.
Overrated? Yes! Worth a purchase? Yes! 6/10? Yes, a very low 6 at that!
Thatisall.
