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Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Richard finally concludes his pondering of this 'quirky' racer...

It's from Nintendo. It's Mario Kart. Of course it's good. There, I said it. But is it good enough? What do I mean by that? Well like it or not I think gamers demand more from Nintendo than they do from other developers. Nintendo is certainly more dependent on it's first party titles than the other major console manufacturers. The lack of third party support for the GameCube means that the release schedule is often quite barren and so when the big games do come out it's important that they satisfy the audience. Double Dash certainly has all the elements one would expect in the franchise. That is also its main problem. It's exactly what I expect, an update of the franchise for the GameCube. For the supposed premier racing gaming that is meant to set the standard for others, Mario Kart comes across as unoriginal and ultimately feels like a bit of let down.

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The first thing you'll notice is the speed, or the lack thereof. The three speeds on offer are unsurprisingly 50cc, 100cc and 150cc, but none of them feel particularly fast. Later on you can unlock a slightly faster mirror mode. Though quite slow it is by no means an easy game. To win a race on the higher speeds you will need to master the tracks. The karts handle in a quintessential Mario kart fashion, where the only way to really fly around a corner is to skid round it. The little jump that featured on the N64 has gone and now you simply squeeze one of the shoulder buttons to start slip slidin' away. If you waggle the thumb stick while skidding you can cause the sparks under your kart to go blue, then when released you will boost out of the turn.

Your choice of characters effects your top speed and acceleration. Larger characters are faster but slower to get going and vice versa. The big change this time around being that you choose two characters instead of one. It means you can opt for a balance in terms of speed and acceleration or favour one over the other. Once you have chosen your characters you then pick from a selection of karts, all of which look like they have been depressingly modelled from the Early Learning Centre. Perhaps the biggest influence your character choice has is the unique power up that they can obtain. The usual assortment of items that we've come to know from the series are all present from mushroom boosts to turtle shells. Each character however has a special power up. For example Yoshi has an egg that attacks the person in front and then leaves bonuses. Daisy has a shield that can absorb attacks. Mario can shoot out five fireballs in a spread. Each special power up is shared between two characters, like Mario and Luigi, so diversity is the key. Two characters also means that two power ups can be carried at any one time with the Z-button switching between each one.

Of course it's multiplayer that has always been the selling point with Mario Kart and Double Dash proving no exception. The game mechanics that worked so well previously are still sound. With the power ups helping to level the field between players somewhat so that the better ones are given to those trailing in the rankings. To stop players holding onto a bonus for an entire race, as sometimes happened in the N64 version, it is now possible to steal them from other players. This is done either by boosting into a character, skidding into them or hitting them when you've activated the star power up. And though you can no longer hold bananas behind you indefinitely like a shield, if you are about to be hit by a homing shell a visual warning gives you just enough time to try and block it. With two characters to a kart there is also a mode that allows you and a friend to team up, with one driving and the other responsible for power ups. I'm afraid I found it to be a bit of a gimmick and not much fun for the person who isn't driving because you have little to do. I wasn't able to test the LAN play unfortunately, but I certainly know that some people love it. If you don't balk at having to purchase a few rather pricey broadband adaptors then I'm certain you won't worry about buying the game. I will say this though, aside from this feature there is nothing else in Mario Kart to suggests that it could not have been a much needed launch title as it was with the N64.

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1. Ahhh, happy memories of last year's ECTS: getting my arse-kicked in a race of this in 'quirky Karts' beside the Nintendo juggernaut in the pouring rain. I'm probably no better now, either... but at least I can play it in the dry without the panicking Nintendo PRs struggling to organise everything.

   Luke Monday, 16 February 2004, 09:35:18

2. this is a very good game it is hard on mirror mode but its very cool to play on if i was u BYE IT NOW

   daniel Tuesday, 11 May 2004, 08:48:16

3. chill out, its a good game, as usual from nintendo. we cant expect miracles.

   john Monday, 24 May 2004, 13:38:22

4. oh yeah, definitely go get it if you have a gc. and if not, go buy a gc.

   john Monday, 24 May 2004, 13:40:9

5. who here cant wait for mario kart ds

   michael Tuesday, 25 May 2004, 20:05:52

6. This is my favorite game. It doesn't get boring fast like many other games.

   Kristi Wednesday, 2 June 2004, 11:47:11

7. this my best game i could play it all day

   Jack Friday, 18 June 2004, 18:03:57

8. i rule at this game so bow down

   salah Friday, 18 June 2004, 18:07:28

9. salah, I rule at this game 2. In fact I challenge you 2 a LAN Mode Race.

   Goose Friday, 18 June 2004, 18:58:25

10. I have the game and I find it realy great. I also agree with Richard that Nintendo is kinda kraming it, but it's good for us cause we have games that are a lot more fun than before, when they were on top. That's about all I had to say. Next time!!!

    Dan Thursday, 1 July 2004, 16:20:30

11. It's a good game, but it still doesn't beat Mario Kart on the N64. The game has a very random feel to it, which I don't really like. Overall, it's worth the buy.

    Oh, and to the idiot named Daniel who made the second post -- You spelled B.U.Y. wrong. *roll*

    Billith Thursday, 22 July 2004, 17:41:12

12. The game is extremely once you beat it entirely and you've understood how to do every single sharp turn and handle attacks from other enemies. This is one of the easiest games I've ever played.

    John Roberto Sunday, 1 August 2004, 03:00:13

13. I left out a word in my first sentence...easy

    The game is extremely easy

    hahahahahahaha

    John Roberto Sunday, 1 August 2004, 03:01:44

14. Just got a new GC, with this, and I must say from my limited memories of MK64; it lives up to it just as well. Its a good, fun game with plenty of challenges to keep you occupied as well as plenty of multiplayer fun (even if co-op mode is a bit... boring)

    Go get it if you have a gamecube; but I don't think it's worth buying the console just to play.

    Murray Thursday, 30 December 2004, 14:34:48

16. good work by nintendo

    bb Friday, 18 February 2005, 15:16:56

17. I am liken it, I have done every single level and unlocked everythink. makes you bring back memories and I like Mario kart double dash!

    Mick Thursday, 3 March 2005, 07:18:25

18. How do u get mirror mode?

    Conster Sunday, 24 April 2005, 14:15:37

19. When I rented this game it was very cool so I got the game for Christmas.I beat the whole game I thought it was a short game until I got furthur.I think the game is very fun.

    Jason Jones Wednesday, 4 May 2005, 18:18:6

20. To get mirror mode you have to unlock All cup tour and beat All cup tour in 150CC then you will get mirror mode.

    Jason Jones Wednesday, 4 May 2005, 18:20:2

21. hi

    charron11 Tuesday, 10 May 2005, 16:58:36

22. This game is great but I play it so much I'm getting bored but I still rock at it so I order the LAN and I'm looking for a challenge.

    Andres Sunday, 1 January 2006, 01:59:40

23. I beat all cup tour at 150cc and It said that I got mirror mode. How do I get to it and use it? (I have a memory card)

    gamer110 Friday, 6 January 2006, 21:32:24

24. I unlocked the All Cup Tour..beat it at 150CC it also said I was in Mirror Mode. However, the tracks seem to be the same..and I was trying to unlock the extra carts and characters like King Boo..and the parade cart...but when I beat the All cup tour again in supposed mirror mode..nothing happened??? What am I doing wrong..i have memory card.

    Erika Saturday, 22 April 2006, 03:46:48

25. I completed all levels @ 150cc but even tho i recieved a msg saying ide unlocked mirror mode - nothing has really happened...

    How do i know if im in mirror mode?!

    What is mirror mode?!

    Someone reply because im going out of my mind knowing ive unlocked something but not knowing whether im using it!!!

    lisa Thursday, 11 May 2006, 00:10:17

26. That's intelligent gaming opinion? You can't even speak English!

    Huh? Friday, 16 June 2006, 01:48:34

27. i rule this game!! except i unlocked mirror mode , but i don't kno how to get to it ..... so yeah. any1 kno how to??

    me Sunday, 23 July 2006, 05:19:15

28. i press bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb yo go faster

    lego Friday, 1 September 2006, 23:30:5

29. i press bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb yo go faster

    lego Friday, 1 September 2006, 23:30:41

30. Dude this game came out close to 4 years ago and I am still playing it. Your review is trash.

    yoi Sunday, 24 December 2006, 22:04:31

32. have you had sex yet

    dfdfd Monday, 18 June 2007, 21:14:16

33. this game rocks!! its not better than wwe smackdown vs raw 2007 but i like this game a lot and i unlocked everything there is if anybody needs any tips to unlock things just write on this i check this every day so just write for tips and ill write back im a huge wrestling fan!! 6/25/2007

    DX Thursday, 26 July 2007, 00:23:58

34. i mean i check this every hour

    DX Thursday, 26 July 2007, 00:28:22

35. im from AMERICA

    DX Thursday, 26 July 2007, 00:29:58

36. IM THE BEST PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE AT THIS GAME

    DX Thursday, 26 July 2007, 00:37:37

37. this game rocks coming from RVD

    ROB VAN DAM Saturday, 4 August 2007, 18:48:57

38. this game rocks coming from TRIPLE-H

    TRIPLE-H Saturday, 4 August 2007, 19:11:49

39. how do you get the mirror mode???

    jj Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 15:48:17

40. how do you get the mirror mode???

    jj Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 15:48:20

41. allyou have to do is beat 150cc on all cups

    if there gold

    HBK Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 22:05:48

42. I think you should make a veido game of ME

    Tiger Woods Thursday, 14 February 2008, 22:46:48

43. I WANT TO BUY MARIO KART DOUBLE DASH FOR GAMECUBE BUT I HAVENT GOT ONE SO I GOT A WII SO THATS OK THEN

    liam bradshaw Monday, 10 March 2008, 16:43:6