Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

So Nintendo decided to send a free copy of the game to a number of Gamestop managers. Ours came in today, I promptly bought it off of my boss for $15 (4 or 5 days early, depending on shipping).

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

Game freaking rules, I'm overwhelmed. Tons of tracks, multiplayer is great (bot play in balloon vs!), download and play is alright but the downloader can only play Shy Guy. Several of the single player levels (not retro courses) remind me of older Mario games; namely there's one where the sun floats around and spits fire at you and in the back ground you can see the desert theme (Mario Bros. 3). Haven't had a chance to try out the WiFi (yes, the servers ARE up), I've ordered my router based on Nintendo's compatible list and am anxiously awaiting it. I might hit a hot-spot tomorrow and see if there's anybody worth playing.

Gonna go back and play it some more.

So good... So far it's shaping up to be my favorite Mario Kart.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I HATE YOU







:( !

I don't think I can wait until monday!

...Well since we have someone on the inside, what does it feel like the most? Super, 64, Super Circuit, or Double Dash?

Also, is the touch screen any good?

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Wow, it's really hard to say. I'd say the levels, in design, feel mostly like Double Dash (retro courses aside, of course). Racing feels... Kind of like a good blend between 64 and DD. It's really interesting to play it because you'll be in a course and be like "man this is like MK64," and then you'll go around a turn and you're all the sudden going into SNES mode (there are even some Super Circuit elements in there). There are various single player level designs that are nostalgic reminders of Super Mario 1-3 which is an awesome element as well.

The power-slide boosts are a little tricky to master at first, but only require 2 back-forth motions to actually get them working so once you've got them down they're actually more functional than in the other games. I still haven't gotten the pre-race boost down yet. Not sure what I'm doing wrong but I just can't get a feel for it. Though I have done it just by happenstance once or twice, so it's definitely implemented.

On top of that the item system is much more definite. The computer legitimately keeps track of which CPU has which items and when they use them (a complaint I had with past versions of the game); you can actually see what everybody is holding by looking at the bottom screen and next to the players icon their current item is shown. This makes ghosting semi-reliable although they've changed Ghost so that it only grabs an item around 50% of the time that there's one available - so there's a sort of compensation.

There's also an interesting Mission Mode I'm getting into which is like little 30 second to a minute long courses with a specific goal outlined. Collect 20 coins in this one, crash into 5 blocks in this one. But they get a lot harder the further you get in, and you're graded on them from: C, B, A, Star, Double Star (apparently they didn't wanna give out D's and F's).

The touch screen doesn't do anything except switch between a full-sized over-head map (including flying shells, item blocks, etc), to a smaller one with everybodys placement listed on the left side. This disappointed me a bit, I was hoping for a rear-view mirror effect but ah well.

Really awesome, really fun.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

That sounds fantastic. :)

I hope the mission mode isn't too much like 1080. It was fun sometimes but it started to suck pretty quickly.

I like the sounds of the item inventories.

Maybe the boosting is like double dash as opposed to 64 and Super/Super Circuit? I like the latter boosting more.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

The mission mode is really fun in short 15-20 minute sessions but anything longer than that and you'll be ready to gouge your eyes out. Every 8 levels there's a boss battle to make it a bit more enjoyable. First one was King Goomba, second was Eyerok (from Mario 64 - the two giant rock hands with eyes on the palms that you face in the pyramid). I'm on the 3'rd "World" I suppose you'd call it in Mario lingo. Getting a lot harder because of the placements of items make it much more difficult to achieve the same goal.

The boosting system isn't the same as either of them but handling feels similar to Double Dash simply because you've got a polygonal kart unlike the N64, SNES, and GBA versions which all used a set of sprites - the N64 looked kind of 3D because it was prerendered before being put into sprite form but it still handled like a sprite.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I agree with Dyne in saying I hate you.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Haha, I can't say I really blame you. But in the end I think you'll appreciate the fact that I bothered to take a break and let you know what it's like.

:sneaky:

Or not. :D

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Haha, maybe.

It's too bad you can't get online. Go to McDonalds!

And why are you never on AIM these days?

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Aw yeah. Mario Kart theme time.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

You've already put Mario Kart in your now playing? haha

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Yeah I'll have to go to McDonalds.

As for AIM... I don't know why but I attract girls that like to stalk. Like seriously; everytime I switch AIM nicks a new crowd of them (and a few of the old) suddenly start messaging me. Perhaps I'll try again though, I usually do every few months; I'm probably due for a new screen name.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I've been playing Super Circuit as much as I can on my DS, and Double Dash and Super.

I don't own 64. I should rectify that this weekend.

When I get DS I'll put DS. ;)

EDIT: Also, I'll make Mario Kart sigs for anyone who wants them!

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Dyne - hook me up with a Toad siggy.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

****chyea

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

http://www.zsivanys.nl/mkdecal/index.php

Plan your decal out in sprite art! Upload an image and away you go!

Man that's hot.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Yeah, using built in shapes I've already made a really good mushroom by hand for myself.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Didn't turn out like I hoped though. Anyways, it's a good resource when we make the clan logos.

(lucky I had a PSD from when I made the GT logo. I just grabbed and pasted in a new document.)

EDIT: Easily fixed with a little dicking around.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I have three different message boards i go to that all are planning on having "clans" (GT, AP.net, Nintendorks).

I don't know who I'm representing yet.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

In all honesty I'm probably not going to use the GT clan logo. There's just too many things I can use. I'll probably doing Dalton from CT.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I wonder how many penises and balls will show up as decals.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

^ A LOT...and by a lot I mean like 95%.




I'll be using that decal. Since you can't talk with anyone or even really make much contact it'll be cool to see that you're racing a fellow GTer.



And I too hate you thatmariolover...but I'm willing to put aside my hate and ask some questions: Have you unlocked all the characters yet? How is Dry Bones?

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I haven't unlocked Dry Bones yet. Do you know how, so I can focus on it? I don't think there are any guides yet, so I'll probably just have to wait.

I'm doing a ton of single player stuff right now; I've Unlocked every Nitro Grand Prix cup and am working on the last Retro Grand Prix Cup in the 50cc class (starting slow with this one - I got wtfpwned when I tried to jump to 150cc).

:Edit: Just unlocked Dry Bones. Forgot I quit on the second race of the last part of the Nitro Cup last night so I had to do it again. Once the complete set was finished I was granted access to his character.

:Edit 2: Just unlocked Daisy by finishing the Retro courses.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Man, I'm getting a wet feeling between my legs.

I think I'm horny for Mario Kart.

So Dry Bones is one of the first unlocks? That's kind of lame.

Also, I hope we do get more characters than are mentioned. Remember back when Super Smash Brothers came out? I don't think anyone would've guessed Mr. Game and Watch by the time it came out. Or maybe I wasn't in "the loop" that unlocked everything in a day back then.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

A number of people had the game for almost a week now. Seems like there are only 4 secret characters. :(

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

that's fine. all I need is toad to kick your asses.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

All I can say is that if any of you see this face coming at you when you're racing online, you better prepare for some pain. Some last place pain.

Been playing for over a week now and I am already ranked 2nd best in the world. The other game journalists playing can't handle my sh*t, it's like 3...2...1 BAM I'm off like a ****ing cheetah, and all the whiney bitches are left eating dust, wondering why their asses suddenly hurt so much. I'm just crazy like that.


Suhweet game, I reckon.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

...who do you use?

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

What character you been using?

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

It was strictly Yoshi for me until I unlocked ROB, who is really, really fast. Unfortunately, though, Nintendo's online dealy suffers from one of the main problems that Xbox Live has, and that's idiot players who drop out of races early because they're losing and are afraid of their rank going down. It's even more pathetic right now considering 90% of the people playing online are game journalists. That's why I said most of them are bitches, cause honestly I'm not really a super incredible racer or anything, it's just disappointing to see people act this way.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I've never understood people's desire to have a better ranking in an online videogame. If you're that concerned with something so trivial, you should seriously reexamine your life.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Cool, cant wait for it. Sounds awsome. I'll use that decal, most likely.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

how did I miss this thread, I HATE YOU!!!

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I'd like a Bowser signature, Dyne ^_^ With your cinematic sidebars too.

I'm glad I don't have school on Mondays, I'll be at Target first thing after I wake up!

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

I think I'm going to buy a DS.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Thanks ^_^

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

People stop the presses!

http://orlyyarlydecals.ytmnd.com/

I call the ORLY decal.

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

You are a god of gifts and pressure. I call NO WAI!!!

Re: Snagged an early copy of Mario Kart DS
 

Ah...it's the ship date. Stores probably won't have it. Gonna stop by GameStop. Afraid that if they don't have it in I'll walk out with some other game I had no intention of buying just to fill the void.