The Shrine

It looks like critics love these games, both have been getting very high reviews from the press. Seven major reviewers average Mario Kart at 94% (according to Game rankings) and Sonic Rush averages at 86%. With the 94% average this puts Mario Kart DS as the critics most liked game on DS by quite a margin ahead of Advance Wars DS, Kirby, and Castlevania which range between 91 and 92%.

That's their opinions.......

Unfortunately, I have yet to play either of these titles, I do plan to buy them both as soon as they are available here (which might be right now). Just a heads up. I think that based on the reviews so far, Sonic fans will like Sonic Rush, and Mario Kart fans will like Mario Kart DS (unlike the last Mario Kart game for Gamecube).

Just a heads up for now, I'll post my thoughts on the two titles later on in the week in this thread.

I think most people's favoring MK64 and SMK over Double Dash stems from either nostalgia or a lack of playtime with DD. The Gamecube version is superior in every way to MK64.

This new version may force me to buy a DS.

Personally I liked Mario Kart 64 the best. The main flaw of the first one is that weapons were WAY over powered, if you got hit once, you were royally screwed and that was that. Mario Kart 64 balanced things out almost to perfection, plus threw in 4 players.

Double Dash I own, but had a large problem with. I felt tracks seemed too short and repetetive. I also felt that the game revolved too much around weapons and not enough on racing. You had these gigantic weapons that blasted the entire track. From my perspective, it certainly wasn't a bad game, it's just I would rather play Mario Kart 64; and everyone I knew felt the same (though that may have been just because of my constant insistance, as well as my best friend's, that MK64 was the better game). It's a game that keeps getting played because there are certain people (all girls, at least from who I know) who only like Mario Kart, and no other games (except maybe the Sims now, that is a big game with girls).

Anyways, IGNDS had some fairly reassuring words to say on the game:

Closing Comments
After experiencing Mario Kart DS, it's hard to imagine how Nintendo's going to improve on what they've done for this stunning portable rendition. There's so much gameplay and depth in this design, moreso than the series has ever had in the past. It's an amazingly addictive racer both in single and multiplayer modes, and even with the limitations of the online functions, it's impossible to avoid becoming addicted to the long distance Mario Kart match-ups. The only way to finish this review is just to say it: this is the greatest Mario Kart game ever developed, and is without a doubt the best DS game of 2005.


9.5 Presentation
Incredibly thorough single and multiplayer experience with tons of options to beef up the variety. The online component works simply and elegantly, but it's just a little too restrictive.
9.0 Graphics
Super fast, super smooth 3D engine drives the action. All the Mario-esque elements are represented here, and even though the characters are low-poly they still look fantastic.
9.0 Sound
The happy, peppy Mario style of music continues on its happy and peppy direction. Some voice samples are more compressed than others. Stereo effects are outstanding and work well on the DS speakers.
10 Gameplay
This is the best of the Mario Kart best. Kart and weapon balance is incredibly tight, new track designs are fantastic, and the game has an extraordinary amount of playtime well after
10 Lasting Appeal
If there's any game you'll continuously come back to, it's this one. Single cart, multiple cart, and online multiplayer, and single player finally has "bots" for practicing Battle Mode!
9.5
Incredible OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)


With Civ 4 just a short time ago, and some other great games still ahead this season, it is turning out to be the best autumn in a LONG time. Probably since the year of Zelda, Turok 2, Rogue Squadron, Xenogears, ISS98, Space Station Silicon Valley, and Parasite Eve. 1998, what an awesome year.

Black Lotus wrote:I think most people's favoring MK64 and SMK over Double Dash stems from either nostalgia or a lack of playtime with DD. The Gamecube version is superior in every way to MK64.

This new version may force me to buy a DS.

Get the Mario Kart bundle, it's only $10 Cdn more and you get the game (plus the DS is red, which is the best lookin' one IMO). You also get some decals and a racing-stripe strap, but who cares? Overall, you're saving $30 from the new price which isn't bad.

Alright, once we start getting the game, we should set up multiplayer tournaments =)

Who else has a wireless router and is planning on getting Mario Kart? (for the record, you can get them free with certain Internet plans).

The Seeker wrote:Alright, once we start getting the game, we should set up multiplayer tournaments =)

Who else has a wireless router and is planning on getting Mario Kart? (for the record, you can get them free with certain Internet plans).

And even if your ISP doesnt supply one, they are butt cheap nowdays and easy to setup.

The Seeker wrote:Alright, once we start getting the game, we should set up multiplayer tournaments =)

Who else has a wireless router and is planning on getting Mario Kart? (for the record, you can get them free with certain Internet plans).

I'm getting the Mario Kart DS bundle when it comes out, but no reouter yet. Maybe if Best Buy is having a sale I'll get one on Boxing Day. I haven't really had a need for one yet.

The Seeker wrote:Alright, once we start getting the game, we should set up multiplayer tournaments =)

Who else has a wireless router and is planning on getting Mario Kart? (for the record, you can get them free with certain Internet plans).

I plan on getting a DS very soon and will probably get Mario Kart. I'm game for some multi-player when that happens.

I have never owned a handheld, but I'm tempted to get the DS because of Mario Kart. The new Castlevania would be a nice bonus. Handheld gaming never held much appeal to me until wireless Mario Kart was an option.

Kupek wrote:I have never owned a handheld, but I'm tempted to get the DS because of Mario Kart. The new Castlevania would be a nice bonus. Handheld gaming never held much appeal to me until wireless Mario Kart was an option.

I've always loved handhelds because I could play on my lunch break at work, sitting on my friend's couch, waiting for my fiancee to try on clothes, etc. But having wireless freaking Mario Kart is about the coolest thing ever.

Plus Animal Crossing DS is going to be sooooo awesome.

Lox wrote:

Kupek wrote:I have never owned a handheld, but I'm tempted to get the DS because of Mario Kart. The new Castlevania would be a nice bonus. Handheld gaming never held much appeal to me until wireless Mario Kart was an option.

I've always loved handhelds because I could play on my lunch break at work, sitting on my friend's couch, waiting for my fiancee to try on clothes, etc. But having wireless freaking Mario Kart is about the coolest thing ever.

Plus Animal Crossing DS is going to be sooooo awesome.

For the last little while Handheld gaming for me has been the primary gaming method rather than the alternative; just as it was before in the early 90's when you had games like Metroid 2, Final Fantasy Legend 1 and 2, Adventure, etc... I was a large fan of it all =P

There was a re-emergeance in popularity with the Pokemon titles, but then other great titles began appearing, such as Casltevania, Advance Wars, and Fire Emblem. Now we're seeing a whole lot of great games coming; and it looks like this is going to continue for a while yet with the best still yet to come. It is almost like a Golden Age.

PS. Animal Crossing, I loved the first, I always thought it was MUCH more suited to handheld. Now there's the beefed up sequel of the original on a handheld system, and with online play (which will make things SO much easier since the game does involve a lot of interaction between towns (trade and stuff); now it can be done directly instead of by code. It's still my most anticipated game of the year.

The Seeker wrote:PS. Animal Crossing, I loved the first, I always thought it was MUCH more suited to handheld. Now there's the beefed up sequel of the original on a handheld system, and with online play (which will make things SO much easier since the game does involve a lot of interaction between towns (trade and stuff); now it can be done directly instead of by code. It's still my most anticipated game of the year.

I am looking forward to the touch screen making writing letters and drawing patterns a breeze.

And the online town-visitation features are going to be really fun.

Black Lotus wrote:I think most people's favoring MK64 and SMK over Double Dash stems from either nostalgia or a lack of playtime with DD. The Gamecube version is superior in every way to MK64.

Yeah, me and most people I know think DD is way better than MK64. MK64 always seemed a little bland to me probably because of the N64's limited graphics capabilities, and I really hated the cheating computer.

MK64 only had one good battle map, too, the one where you could fall off.

Flip wrote:MK64 only had one good battle map, too, the one where you could fall off.

I always liked the one with the multi-colored levels and the bridges personally.

Lox wrote:

Flip wrote:MK64 only had one good battle map, too, the one where you could fall off.

I always liked the one with the multi-colored levels and the bridges personally.

Maybe with 4 or more people, but me and my friend i played with found it too big and boring for 1on1 action. The multi-tiers never took off with us.

Flip wrote:

Lox wrote:

Flip wrote:MK64 only had one good battle map, too, the one where you could fall off.

I always liked the one with the multi-colored levels and the bridges personally.

Maybe with 4 or more people, but me and my friend i played with found it too big and boring for 1on1 action. The multi-tiers never took off with us.

Ah, that makes sense. Back in the day, we always played it 4-player so it worked. Now I can't find one other person to play against.

I only ever played the battle mode with 4 players (probably 3 on occaision), but it's usually never a problem to get 4. Otherwise we'd stick to racing.

Kupek wrote:I have never owned a handheld, but I'm tempted to get the DS because of Mario Kart. The new Castlevania would be a nice bonus. Handheld gaming never held much appeal to me until wireless Mario Kart was an option.

If you do get one, go back and look at some of the GBA games. It was like having a SNES all over again, it's great. And the Wario Ware games are an excellent diversion and tons of fun

Torgo wrote:

Black Lotus wrote:I think most people's favoring MK64 and SMK over Double Dash stems from either nostalgia or a lack of playtime with DD. The Gamecube version is superior in every way to MK64.

Yeah, me and most people I know think DD is way better than MK64. MK64 always seemed a little bland to me probably because of the N64's limited graphics capabilities, and I really hated the cheating computer.

It was the four-player racing that got us hooked on Mario Kart. The first day that game came out I rented it and 6 of us spent about 10 hours playing. Wario's Colosseum was the best track. We only stopped 'cause the sun came out :-)

Zeus wrote:

Torgo wrote:

Black Lotus wrote:I think most people's favoring MK64 and SMK over Double Dash stems from either nostalgia or a lack of playtime with DD. The Gamecube version is superior in every way to MK64.

Yeah, me and most people I know think DD is way better than MK64. MK64 always seemed a little bland to me probably because of the N64's limited graphics capabilities, and I really hated the cheating computer.

It was the four-player racing that got us hooked on Mario Kart. The first day that game came out I rented it and 6 of us spent about 10 hours playing. Wario's Colosseum was the best track. We only stopped 'cause the sun came out :-)

Yeah, I liked that one and the one with the four cubes. Two player racing through the circuits is a lot of fun as well. I actually play the racing quite a bit more than the battle mode nowadays (mainly because only two of my controllers are in perfect condition, the others are a bit loose, it doens't make a huge difference, but it is annoying.)

Zeus wrote:If you do get one, go back and look at some of the GBA games. It was like having a SNES all over again, it's great. And the Wario Ware games are an excellent diversion and tons of fun

I have a GB Player for exactly that reason. The Minnish Cap and Zero Mission are some of the best game experiences I've had in the past two years. The games appeal to me, their handheld nature does not.

Kupek wrote:

Zeus wrote:If you do get one, go back and look at some of the GBA games. It was like having a SNES all over again, it's great. And the Wario Ware games are an excellent diversion and tons of fun

I have a GB Player for exactly that reason. The Minnish Cap and Zero Mission are some of the best game experiences I've had in the past two years. The games appeal to me, their handheld nature does not.

Yeah, they were great. I really like Fusion as well. And the MMZero games, but I'm a huge MM fan :-)

Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga is an excellent RPG, BTW

Zeus wrote:Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga is an excellent RPG, BTW

There is a new Mario RPG coming out very soon. Also, if you were a fan of the old Super Mario Brothers games, there is a brand new one scheduled for DS. The first in its line since Mario World way back in the early SNES days.

I won't be able to get away from my desk to get Mario Kart (or the Sonic game that no here seems to be interested in except me) until Friday.

The Seeker wrote:

Zeus wrote:Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga is an excellent RPG, BTW

There is a new Mario RPG coming out very soon. Also, if you were a fan of the old Super Mario Brothers games, there is a brand new one scheduled for DS. The first in its line since Mario World way back in the early SNES days.

I won't be able to get away from my desk to get Mario Kart (or the Sonic game that no here seems to be interested in except me) until Friday.

I may have to wait until the 28th to get my damned system with the game. Sooo angry. The game was just released today!

Yeah, I've known about both those for a while, can't wait to get them. Been waiting on them

Kupek wrote:

Zeus wrote:If you do get one, go back and look at some of the GBA games. It was like having a SNES all over again, it's great. And the Wario Ware games are an excellent diversion and tons of fun

I have a GB Player for exactly that reason. The Minnish Cap and Zero Mission are some of the best game experiences I've had in the past two years. The games appeal to me, their handheld nature does not.

I hear you. I havent had a hand-held before my PSP since the original gameboy. I thought i would play the PSP everywhere, but i seem to end up playing it on the couch. A little different for me, though, since it is usually while the wife is watching some stupid show that i dont care about and i wouldnt have had access to the PS2 anyways.

I thought i would play it at work at lunch and stuff, but with being in a pretty serious department and a certified professional (toot toot), i dont want to look like a slacker or whatever any other totally uncalled for label someone would give me.

Flip wrote:I thought i would play it at work at lunch and stuff, but with being in a pretty serious department and a certified professional (toot toot), i dont want to look like a slacker or whatever any other totally uncalled for label someone would give me.

Man, you can't bring something like a PSP into a "serious" office, it's SOOOO unprofessional! 'Cause playin' during your lunch time in the lunch room or on a quick break anywhere within sight distance of the office is a bad reflection on the company that its "professionals" aren't serious....

Can't you tell how much I love the office environment?

Zeus wrote:

Flip wrote:I thought i would play it at work at lunch and stuff, but with being in a pretty serious department and a certified professional (toot toot), i dont want to look like a slacker or whatever any other totally uncalled for label someone would give me.

Man, you can't bring something like a PSP into a "serious" office, it's SOOOO unprofessional! 'Cause playin' during your lunch time in the lunch room or on a quick break anywhere within sight distance of the office is a bad reflection on the company that its "professionals" aren't serious....

Can't you tell how much I love the office environment?

That is, sadly, exactly what would happen. I hate office life.

Speaking of Animal Crossing DS. Famitsu magazine gave it a whopping score of 9, 9, 10, 9 = 37/40.

Pre-orders for the game in Japan have reached 500,000 which is the largest amount of any DS game to date.

Flip wrote:

Zeus wrote:

Flip wrote:I thought i would play it at work at lunch and stuff, but with being in a pretty serious department and a certified professional (toot toot), i dont want to look like a slacker or whatever any other totally uncalled for label someone would give me.

Man, you can't bring something like a PSP into a "serious" office, it's SOOOO unprofessional! 'Cause playin' during your lunch time in the lunch room or on a quick break anywhere within sight distance of the office is a bad reflection on the company that its "professionals" aren't serious....

Can't you tell how much I love the office environment?

That is, sadly, exactly what would happen. I hate office life.

Yeah, it's crap. I've always maintained that the business world is the purest form of social Darwinism. Offices, unfortunately, are an extension of that world.

I just got Mario Kart DS. More later.

The Seeker wrote:I just got Mario Kart DS. More later.

My damned system and game won't be in until the 28th.....

One thing that is aparent right off the bat is that the game took the best of every Mario Kart game, incorporated it, and then got rid of the bad stuff. There is a ton packed into the game. It also has up to 8 player multiplayer. There are tons of tracks, at least double of what is normal in the games. THey took all four games (Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart Advance, and Mario Kart Double Dash) and took 4 of the best courses from each of the games, and put them in; at least that is what I know is unlockable by this point, I have unlocked 8 of them so far.

The Wifi multiplayer mode has two options, race friends or random people. You can add friends manually. If you go to random people, it will pick up characters automatically, but there is no way of communicating with them, and you cannot tadd them to your friends list. So you can only add people to your friends list by meeting them another way.

You can draw up whatever logo you want for yourself.

Oh yeah, apparently about 45% of people who have bought the game have already gone online with it during the first week of the games release; this is in comparison to Halo 2 where only 18% of people had gone online with it by the end of the first month of its release.

I have a copy of Sonic Rush and have been loving it, but my god is it ever HARD. This game is kicking my ass every which way it can. Defidently worth the investment tho. Now, like many others here it seems, I am waiting for the 6th and my copy of Animal Crossing ^_^

I still don't have Sonic Rush yet, but I have been leaving hints towards a certain sister that it is something I want.

I still haven't chosen what I plan to get her yet, but likely it will be a DVD set of a sort. The thing is, she already has everything, she must own like 1000 movies (no exageration).

Her favourite things (like clothes, make-up, crap like that) are not stuff I know much about, so I stick to DVDs and sometimes The Sims or Mario Kart =P