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Mario Kart: Double Dash
by Jeremy Gard
Saturday, November 22 2003
The newest incarnation of the series undergoes the "moleman" examination.
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Title:
Mario Kart: Double Dash
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Platform:
Gamecube
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Publisher:
Nintendo |
Developer:
Nintendo |
#
of Players: 1 - 4 |
Genre:
Racing
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Origin:
Japan
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Expected
Release:
November 17, 2003 |
Grapevine:
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is pure chaos—and pure fun. Very few multi-player games can compete with the replay value and excitement you’ll find in this game. |
In the past, Nintendo has done everything it could to suck every dime out of Mario. Mario has gone from having his own series of games to having a multitude of spin-offs, including the infamous Mario Kart series. In fact, Nintendo’s latest Mario spin-off is from the Mario Kart series. The game is Mario Kart: Double Dash, and again Nintendo, I tip my hat to you. You have done a fine job again indeed.
For those of you who have been locked away in an attic your whole life, here is the scoop. Mario Kart is a series, developed and published by Nintendo, in which you can choose multiple characters from the Mario universe and race against the computer or against a friend in various stages (the designs are based on certain Mario universe characters). Each new addition to the series has brought new characters, new stages, and the ability for more human players to plug in and play. In Super Mario Kart, you could choose from eight different characters and had four different cups with four tracks a cup. Numerous types of weapons and power-ups could be picked up and used in each level. It also included a Battle Mode in which you and another friend could go head-to-head in a battle royal.
In Mario Kart 64, Nintendo gave us a new character (Wario) while taking out an older one (Troopa), improved graphics, and thrilled us with new four player action!
In Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA), the player was able to play through all four new cups and the four older cups from Super Mario Kart. However, the graphics weren’t as great and though up to four players could be playing at the same time, it wasn’t as simple as buying another controller. Since it was made for a handheld system, your friends had to have the GBA as well just to play the game with you.
But what makes this Mario Kart special? A number of things. One of those things being that, in essence, you get your own gunner. No more one man kart for Mario. No, this time, Luigi’s hopping on the back…or anyone else you want to choose for that matter. The game includes SIXTEEN characters to start with instead of eight (they brought Troopa back!) and four unlockable characters. It also includes unlockable karts, unlockable multi-player levels, new multi-player battle modes, new weapons, new tracks, a new cup, a new driving option, and new driving techniques including the DOUBLE DASH! Also, Nintendo has finally decided to put their Network Adapter to use. This allows for up to 12-players to team up in pairs of two and go at each others’ throats.
Don’t get me wrong, this game is not without its faults. Sure, 12-player multiplayer sounds great. However, when playing over a LAN with a friend, you are not given the option of choosing which karts or characters you want. It is totally random. Also, though it had its tougher times, I found the single-player mode to be only of slight difficulty (my roommate and I beat it in less than two days) and the replay value not so great. Once you have the gold, you have it. However, don’t let this stop you from buying the game. Though single-player may not have much replay value, multi-player definitely does. Like all multi-player Mario spin-offs, this one can be played hours on end without boredom.
Multiplayer has always remained a strength of the series since its debut on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Ok, enough chit-chat. It’s time to get down to the nit-picky stuff. First off, the graphics are amazing. They have updated the characters’ cartoon looks so that they look more polished and sharp. The level designs are beautiful and get more complex as the game progresses. This game runs at a very smooth 60 frames per second and is very easy on the eyes. Though there are some mistakes (once, the back wheel of my cart was going through the road on a tight turn in Rainbow Road), it isn’t anything that is going to cause me to condemn the game. Overall, I was very pleased with what I saw.
Now to audio. I got mixed feelings about the music to Mario Kart. It is basically a compilation of simple MIDI pieces that give the game a kiddy kind of feel. Though it is kind of fun at the beginning, it gets kind of old after a while. However, I still haven’t gotten sick of the cute sayings of the baby characters (Baby Luigi, number not one). Once again, it is all very similar to something you would find in a cartoon. Just a fair warning, it you are looking for something more orchestral (like from SSBM), you won’t find it here (God, the piece from The Fountain of Dreams was awesome!).
Anyway, now to gameplay. This game felt SO good on the hands. It was as if I was one with the controller. Ok, so maybe it wasn’t THAT good, but it was still above average. The different modes make the game very enjoyable whether you are playing alone or with friends. The numerous diverse weapons make the game anyone’s to win (a well-timed use of a lightning bolt can change the tide of the game in an instant). The addition of a two-man kart allows for players to go co-op with friends instead of just being forced to race against one another. The two-man kart also allows for a certain amount of strategy and teamwork to be added to the game. The Battle Mode also offers something new for gamers. Instead of the regular balloon popping battles, gamers can now participate in a Sunshine Grab (a sunshine keep away) or a “Bob-omb Blast” (bombs are your only weapon, have fun) as well as the classic versus style. It also allows for players to not only unlock more characters, tracks, cups, and karts, but it also allows for unlockable battle stages including a tilting stage in the shape of the original Super Mario! In short, the entire flow of the game is very smooth, and the graphics and audio come together to compliment the run of the game.
The replay value of this game is endless. Though the single-player mode or co-op mode can be completed in a long weekend (took me about ten hours), the multi-player never seems to get old. Hours and hours can be spent with this game, whether it is unlocking secrets or yelling and talking trash to friends.
I was pleased with the overall presentation. The gameplay was felt great. The graphics were bright and easy on the eyes. The audio had a cartoon bounce feel to them. The different modes of play make the game hours upon hours of endless fun, whether you are by yourself or with a friend. All of the aspects of the game seem to compliment one another. Nintendo, I must say I am impressed. You have managed to create yet another game that will be the center of many long, loud, competitive nights with caffeine-high Munchie-hungry friends. I salute you!
--- Jeremy “Moleman” Gard
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