With an update in the series due with the release of the Nintendo 3DS, Ashely Martin writes his review on the portable racing classic, Mario Kart DS:
"Time and time again Mario Kart proves that racing doesn’t have to be realistic to be fun or challenging. With many new improvements and modes of play, MKDS is one of the best iterations in the series and benefits rather than suffers from being on a handheld platform. With plenty of bitesize challenges and hectic multiplayer action, this game ticks so many boxes you’d be silly not to give it a whirl."
Mario Kart DS still plays a fine game of handheld Mario Kart more than 20 years after its initial release.
I really liked the Mission Mode. They had you doing crazy stuff like driving backwards, or collecting all the collectibles as quick as you can between a litter of enemies.
They should add it to Mario Kart 9 for sure, along w online leaderboards for the mission stuff. That's how they could expand on the already excellent Mario Kart 8, bc track quality it's hard to imagine them getting much better beyond slightly tighter graphics and 4k on the Switch 2. Maybe more Diddy Kong Racing-esque adventure layout w more emphasis on boats and planes.
It's hard to say that Mario Kart DS is the best "handheld Mario Kart" though, bc Mario Kart 8 is handheld. It's definitely got some uniqueness that I appreciated. The 2 merged together would be amazing.
I don't think Mario Kart 8 (and Deluxe) rank too highly for me, personally. There's just not as much life in them.
Mario Kart Double Dash, MKDS and Super Mario Kart are the only three that are actually fun to play. Sure MK8 is pretty but its just that. It lacks the soul of double dash. the DS one controls really really well and the orignial with the feather power up is cool.
Hard to disagree with that, really how can all the other games (especially after it) have less single player content?
DKR managed a better game on the 64 and Mario Kart gets away with literally the bare minimum all the time.
Nintendo's beloved racing series has been around for more than three decades, but which are the best Mario Kart games?
While not the greatest handheld from day one, the best Nintendo DS games still offer some of the most fun you will find on any console.
The fact that Tetris DS does not include an unlimited play mode make it one of the worse Tetris versions for me. The online play was OK back when it still worked.
