Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

"Do NOT Underestimate What a Kart Can Do"

In this game, almost anything is possible. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has a lot in store for any player willing to try it. Just like all the previous Mario Karts made, this sequel is packed with courses, new and old, and now has a new feature; you can have 2 characters in a kart! This next-generation game is loaded with tons of fun, and really has brushed the very ground of this earth.

Story-10/10

The story is basic; you are one of the characters in the game, and must overcome several courses and obstacles with your partner, and secure a good win, and possibly a record. Your partner doesn't necessarily have to be the person who you're supposed to be teamed up with; Mario and Bowser, Donkey Kong and Wario, and even Toad and Petey Piranha are all possible combinations that you can have in a kart. The story is easy to learn, and it's the same as any other Mario Kart. You can start racing after learning what to do in about 5 seconds, so there's always more time to play.

Game-play-10/10

I have loved the game-play since the first time I played one of the Mario Kart games. In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, you are one of the playable characters, and a partner rides on the back of your vehicle. Working together, you and your partner have to journey through several treacherous courses, and make it to the finish line in the shortest time possible. You then score points based on how well you did. At the end, your points are added up, and the final scores decide who wins what position. There are several categories to test your skills on; Grand Prix takes you through 4 or 16 courses against 7 computers. Battle puts you up against 3 other family members or friends in numerous types of games. Time Trial is a sort of training that puts you through one course, and you try to get the quickest time possible. The game-play has several features and types of games, and keeps you occupied for a lot more than just one day.

Graphics-10/10

The Game-Cube isn't the only item that is helping create such vibrant colors. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has some of the brightest and sharpest 3 dimensional graphics I have ever seen. Each character is carefully designed to create the proper size and shape for this game. The backgrounds match the course name, and the ground has detail to match the type of terrain. Each character and course is bright or dull, depending on what course it is, and the shadow and sunlight are distinct and contrast to perfection. When completing the course, the scoreboard appears, and is translucent, so you are still able to see the computer-controlled action that takes place after a course in completed. The scoreboard shows the colorful faces of your favorite Mario characters. The letters are bright and yellow, so you do not have to squint in order to see what you're trying to do. The graphics were a great success, and I enjoy playing this game every time I see it.

Control-9/10

The control is difficult to get used to at first, but after playing this game 5 to 10 times, it's a piece of cake. To move, you must hole the A button. When doing so, the kart will only accelerate in a straight line. To turn, you must use the Control Stick. The B button is not used much, but you may use it if you want to. The X button is used to throw the items you pick up. These items can be found in colorful boxes. To slide across pavement, which is needed to clear sharp turns, use the L, R, and Control Stick to maneuver your way through the course. The Z button is used to switch the places of your characters. When doing so, the driver will move to the back, and the item user will move up to the front. In the 2-player modes, if you and your family member or friend are in the same kart, use the L and R buttons to kick your opponents away, and possibly send them flying off the edge of the course. The control uses almost every button, and it takes awhile to get used to it. After a lot of practice, however, you will eventually be able to get it.

Sound-10/10

The sound in this game is music to my ears. Every course has its own unique music, unless the courses are somehow related, and the music matches the course. If the course is bright and happy, the sound is happy, and suits its purpose. The sounds made in the game are used to match the actions created by the characters. When the kart is making a sharp turn, rubber sliding against the pavement can be heard. If a character gets hit, screams and yelps can be easily made out. If a character hits another kart with an item, they laugh with joy and they pass the now-slowed opponents. Alerts can be heard when a shell or other item is approaching, and this alerts you to try and find a way to avoid it. When you are trying to get to the finish line, the music speeds up as you enter the final lap. This encourages you to continue going for the first place, and will help you achieve it more often. The sounds and music are extremely enjoyable, and at times, the sounds heard will help you become a better gamer.

Difficulty-10/10

This game is short, but the difficulty is tremendous for such a quick game. At the beginning you choose the difficulty of the course you are entering; 50 is the lowest difficulty possible. The 50 should be used when you have just received the game, as you will get better training at this difficulty level. Once you think you're ready, you may try entering the 100. The 100 adds and takes away certain obstacles in this course, and the computer players are smarter and faster. You must improve your strategies if you want to quickly master this difficulty level. When you think it's time, move on to the 150. In this difficulty, 2 of the karts are extremely quick, and only 1 kart is extremely slow. The remaining karts are all decently quick. This difficulty is very hard, and you must try to get the best times possible to get past the 2 fastest players. The final difficulty level is the Mirror. This difficulty has the same stats as the 150, except the entire course is flipped. The course will be a mirror image, and you must do your best to go the opposite ways and get to the finish line in the same amount of time. There are several un-lockable karts, characters, and courses scattered throughout the cups, and you must get every un-lockable to truly complete this game.

Re-playability-9/10

The re-playability isn't much easier when you start the game over. The un-lockable features will once again be dispersed throughout each cup, and all difficulties and characters will be the same as usual. Your records will be removed, and you must try to defeat everything in the best time possible again. There are no new features, and no new obstacles you must face. If the characters you enjoyed playing as are now gone, you will have to use the characters you start out with to defeat each level, and since you will not have experience with the characters you will be using, you won't stand much of a chance for quite awhile. Though everything is removed, you will still know where everything is, and after repeating the game several times, you will have used practically every character possible, and this game will be easy. However, due to the fact that that will take years, it doesn't look like much of a problem. Even if you do get bored with this game, the multi-player modes are always fun to play with family and friends, so there isn't many bad qualities this game actually has.

Overall-10/10

I was very impressed with the sequel to one of the greatest series ever. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! was a new and exciting game for me, and I enjoyed it a lot. Though many things could have been improved, the game still came out alright. This game had a lot of thought and new ideas put into it, and nearly everything came out as best as it could. Most of the un-lockable bonuses are a challenge to obtain, and I really liked to play this game for hours, as it's always fun to play, and never gets boring. I await another Mario Kart game on one of the next-generations consoles, and once I try it, I hope I will not be displeased.

Rent Or Buy?

If you are a fan of Mario games, or enjoy new types of racing games, then I urge you to buy this game. It's a new idea, and is fun for people of all ages. Even if you don't like the Mario series, try this game with a rent anyways, and see if it changes your mind.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/21/07