 |
 |
| Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Reviewed by Pirate Yoshi Over-view: The kart racing genre, a type of game that took the standard racing group and threw it off-road in miniature vehicles, began its life with one of the world's most revolutionary titles, Super Mario Kart, featuring everyone's favorite plumber and the entire Mario gang. The game was immensely popular and, in the end, very successful--to the point where a sequal was not far. When the N64 came, there was Mario Kart. When Game Boy Advance came, there was Mario Kart. And, when there was GameCube.....there was Mario Kart. Graphics: 9.4/10 Mario Kart has always proved that no game needs great graphics to be a success--but don't think that that statement means MK has ever been known for poor-quality graphics! Double Dash!! is very well crafted, carefully and fluidly animated, and a pure joy to watch, even when not playing! The motion is very smooth, even with LOTS of players (yeah, 8 players at once even!), and the backgrounds are beautiful! A big round of applause to Nintendo for providing us with fantastic graphics yet again! Sound: 9.4/10 Double Dash!! doesn't disappoint in sound, either. I particularly enjoy the voice clips (as always) that accompany the various events and situations taking place in the game. The dialogue is good ("Waaahh! I lost...to a bunch of LOSERS!"), and the voices are right on to deliver each phrase. The sound effects, such as motors, skidding, exploding, and homing sound effects, are very fitting and let you know in very clear terms what is happening off screen (or, if you're unlucky, on screen). The only minor downside is that some of the music becomes annoying after too long, losing its bouncy flavor in exchange for a rather obnoxious tone. Controls: 10/10 I'm not an easy ten guy (although not as strict as BL or FD, by any means), but I firmly believe that Mario Kart's latest incarnation deserves a perfect score. I consider the controls flawless--no, better: unimprovable. The handeling is extremely crisp, to the T, and every motion comes out on screen just as you plan it on the controller (unless you hiccup going across a bridge, knock the control stick sideways, veer to the left, fly over the edge, lose the race, and....well....let's say the following motion you make won't translate to the game very well...) I have always found the Mario Kart series to boast phenominal controls, but Double Dash!! takes the cake!! Challenge: 5.8/10 This is (rather unexpectedly) the falling point of Double Dash!! For reasons unknown, either I became extrodinarily good right away, or else this title seems to be lacking a bit in challenge, and I think it's the latter. I completed Double Dash!! within about two weeks, playing sporatically here and there. The final race that I won to finish the game, I won by a single point while playing the second half of the cup on two player co-op mode.....by myself. For those who don't understand what that means, it translates to, "I beat the hardest cup of the game playing a mode meant for two humans, alone." That also means without using any items, building power for turn boosts, or swatting away opposing carts or weapons. I'm not phenominally good, I'm not. So what does that mean? The answer is, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is not a challenging game, after enough practice has occurred. Trust me, this isn't like the original Super Mario Kart--you'll not be working years to finish this one. Replay: 9.3/10 The best part about Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, perhaps, is being able to cooperate with another player. Nothing feels quite as rewarding as besting a bunch of computer adversaries with your best friend, and to do so over and over hardly takes away from the game. Every time you sit back down for another run, that same adrenaline rush will fill you, and off to the races you go! In case you can't find anyone who will cooperate with you (and it happens, we feel bad for you), you can always find someone you don't like, set them up with a controller, then smash the living tar out of them in Battle Mode, either classic balloon-popping style, or else with two new games, Shine Thief and Bob-omb Blast (Shine Thief is a capture-and-hoarde game, and Bob-omb Blast is an all-out war with nothing but Bob-ombs, as far as the eye can see!). Very good replay abilities! Gameplay: 9.8/10 The real shining point of the game, in actuality, is just playing with a friend--a backseat driver, if you will. This is the best: having a teammate who will yell and scream at you to "turn to the left! No, you idiot, your other left!", or "DRIVE! DRIVE! THEY'RE COMING!". A friend who will launch weapons from the back while you control your team on the run, a friend who will stick his neck out for you....and his fists out for other drivers. This is honestly the most fun I've had in an eternity gaming, all because of the type of wild, screaming, frantic shouting (both of joy and panic) exchanged between driver and passenger, who should become very well acquainted before going into a game like this. Nothing makes you spout explitives (other than F-Zero GX) like arguing with your driver as you desperately try to work your way back up the ranks to first place on the final lap.... **Story: 0/1 This game has no story. **Multiplayer: 1/1 *groan*......read the above paragraph. This is why you should buy this game (although if you're all alone, I still recommend you buy it). The future of gaming will be cooperation between players...why not start early and get good at it now? Besides, aren't you tired of just beating the brains out of your friends yet? Graphics: 9.4/10 Sound: 9.4/10 Controls: 10/10 Challenge: 5.8/10 Replay: 9.3/10 Gameplay: 9.8/10 **Story: 0/1 **Multiplayer: 1/1 Total Score: 9.1 Score Explanation: Okay, this is much lower than I would judge the game at. If you can't tell where the slip came, I'll give you a hint: check the Challenge catagory. Being fair, the challenge was low. But obviously, if that played such a huge role in how much fun this game is, the Gameplay catagory would have dropped much lower as well...but it didn't. Why? Because this game is simply FUN to play, no matter who fast or often you beat it! Winning is only a quarter of the battle--how you get to the finish line in first is what counts, and it'll keep you coming back for more, I guarentee it! Give Mario Kart: DD!! a chance--it's at least worth a rental, and should be an experience tried by everyone. |