Diddy Kong Racing DS

"One of the best racing games"

Welcome to my review of Diddy Kong Racing! If you are not sure if you want to buy the game you have chosen a great review to look at! I tried to make it as easy to read as possible. So if you like it once you read it please see the bottom of the page.

Graphics 4.0/5.0
They are really nice and colorful most of the time. Although it seems it you get to close to an object it can appear grainy and blurry. They are pretty good for the most part though and the whole game kind of looks like a kids show. But graphics shouldn't really decide if you buy the game or not. Good gameplay should and graphics are a bonus. This game has a little better than average graphics, they're not new or anything but I like them.

Control 3.5/5.0
So we come to a part of the game that has frustrated me many times. At the beginning of a race you have to use the stylus to get a boost bonus. But then you have to use the regular controls to drive, so you have no time to put the stylus away! Usually I dropped it but if you don't get the bonus start you are left behind and if you are new to this game you may not be able to catch back up. Also the hovercraft just controls like a piece of crap sometimes. It goes into areas you don't want and the whole thing feels delayed. Other than that everything's good here.

Sound 4.0/5.0
The sound in this game is kind of odd at times. The music is pretty good but sometimes it just sounds plain weird like it doesn't belong in this game. it is pretty good though and sets the tone and theme for most races. The sound effects are really cool though seeing as you can record your voice when you get hit be a power up, use a power up etc. But you have to be really close to the mic when you record your voice or the game will not hear you. The default sound effects are alright but some characters sound different than they look.

Fun Factor 4.5/5.0
This game is really fun and can get you addicted. It has some really fun races and challenges that can keep you playing for the whole day. It also has a ton of stuff to unlock and buy and it's really fun to see what those things are. It has some good replay value because you can go online and play against other people. You can play a multitude of options online ranging from a simple race to a really cool battle game mode in which you use powerups to destroy your opponents. If you are looking for a really good and fun game to add to your collection look no further than Diddy Kong racing.

Value: 4.0/5.0
This game costs around thirty dollars and is almost worth it. I say thirty dollars for any game is too expensive but there's not much I can do about it. At least this game gives you a lot of things to do such as single player adventure, other single player modes, multiplayer without going online, multiplayer online, and a whole bunch of secrets and stuff to unlock. Still it feels like they could have included more bang for your buck.

Closing Note: This game is no Mario Kart but the online is better because you cannot snake in this game. There also aren't a lot of hackers and you can make some good friends in the online mode. So if you are bored with Mario Kart pick up this game, it's at least worth a rental for all the stuff you can unlock and all the secrets you can find. It's also more accessible than Mario Kart in that you can explore the whole island from the beginning. So at least give this game a chance and if you don't like it return it at the end of your rental. For most people though who are like me they will love this game and will not even need to rent it so just buy if from the start.

Final Note: I give this game an 7! It will probably never go down as a classic game, but it is an very fun and accessible game. For the time being is is one of the best DS games you can buy or rent out there so have fun with whichever one you choose to do! If you liked this review you'll be seeing more of me soon! Thanks for reading my review and have a good day!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/29/07

Game Release: Diddy Kong Racing DS (US, 02/05/07)