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November 17th, 2005, 18:34 Posted By: wraggster
News From Lik Sang
Nintendo's fresh online service for the NDS performs a perfect start with the release of Mario Kart DS, which we received to stock today. While IGN calls the game the "best of the Mario Kart best" (it scored an incredible 9.5/10), we absolutely agree that this super-fast 3D racing beauty surpasses everything that was done before with this very popular Nintendo franchise. The NDS edition - for the first time in the series - offers online multiplayer via the system's Wi-Fi capability. Use the built-in function whereever a hotspot is near or plug the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector into your computer's USB port to enjoy the service through your own wired internet connection (broadcasted wirelessly to your NDS). What Mario Kart fans over the world have dreamt of for so long is finally here with this version: invite friends from anywhere on the planet and take the Mushroom Kingdom race online! It sure is a genre fan's ultimate gaming experience: a tweaked Mario Kart, with new features and gameplay elements that've been tried and tested in past incarnations of the title, plus the versatility Ninty's latest handheld offers.
Below we serve all the exciting bits and pieces of this remarkable release, you can start off by watching a whacky US TV Commercial (care to throw some pizza into the racing mayhem?) and some Wi-Fied footage of the game in another new trailer for Mario Kart DS:
The game in its US version is in stock now and all pre-orders are being taken care of as we speak. New orders are of course very welcome, Mario Kart DS ships now within 24 hours for only US$ 49.90 (Free Shipping Worldwide!). Nintendo celebrates this milestone release with a system bundle, offering a "Hot Rod Red" NDS edition including the game in one great package, due out on November 28th, shipping for just US$ 169.99. For lovers of Mario Kart, Nintendo fans in general and all videogame toy collectors out there, we would like to mention a couple of dedicated goodies that you shouldn't miss to check out as well.
Online Multiplayer: A Mario Kart Dream Come True
Compete with up to four people online wirelessly on 20 of the 32 tracks using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or race up to eight people using one game cartridge with local wireless connection. Keep a log of people you consider friends, where this list can be obtained by two ways. Either get IDs from people that you play wirelessly in the same room for instance (not by Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection), or trade unique 12 digit "Friend's Codes" with those you'd like to hook up for a match. Here, as soon as your friend is online when connected trough Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, the game offers the appropriate user name for the Code you added manually to your list earlier. Mario Kart DS also links players on your friends list automatically together in the match up, but you can basically play anyone by choosing to compete against rivals, gamers in your region or even worldwide. If a friend is logged in, you will receive an appropriate alert and all win/loss statistics of friends will be saved to the game cartridge. The interface itself is simple and allows for easy navigation. Although there is no chat function to "talk" to other players and a couple of elements have been adjusted for online play (e.g. some power-up useability has been limited), racing opponents online is a fantastic way of bringing Mario Kart players together globally. Are you ready to take on the world? Don't be a shy guy, get connected already!
 
Gameplay and Features - Fresh Content and Nostalgia Bits
NDS dual-screens come in handy once more, where you can monitor your progress on the bottom one, with the track map getting displayed there and follow the action on the upper screen. Sporting names of Nintendo fame, the cast of characters includes Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, Bowser and Toad, where each shows differences in Acceleration, Top-Speed and Off-Road skills. While for example Mario's younger brother is a well-balanced driver, Mr. Big Ape Donkey Kong shines in the speed category, but is a bit weak in the acceleration department. With the NDS version of Mario Kart you can activate a power-slide boost with the R shoulder button, last seen on N64 and GameCube editions. A bit of extra speed when coming out of a bend can be utilized with the D-pad. The kart-hopping of the SNES original also returns.
Nostalgia doesn't only strike at kart mechanics. As far as racing tracks go, there are all-new ones and re-prints from past Mario Kart games on SNES, N64, GameBoy Advance and GameCube. While replay value focus was definitely put on the (online) multiplayer feature, Mario Kart can be enjoyed in a superbly fleshed out single player experience, with a series of missions. Six worlds of eight missions offer boss battles reminiscent of Super Mario challenges. Summed up, modes include Grand Prix, Time Trials, VS, Battle and Missions, where VS and Battle are also available in Multiplayer Mode for up to eight players. Furthermore, single player lets you record Ghost Data for each track, which you can also trade with your friends wirelessly. More traditional power-ups like banana peels and turtle shells return, but you can now pick up some new additions as well (and let all hell break loose for your opponents), bringing the items total to a whopping 17. Sufficent new fluff to truly make this the top Mario Kart game of all time!
For more information and downloads, click here!
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