Mario Kart DS
88PurrfectSadkitty Score
88KitSuperintelligent review
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Mario Kart crammed into your pocket with 32 tracks, a mission mode and online racing. It was the first Mario Kart with online play and many fans rank it among the best in the series.
Kit's verdict · 8.8/10
Handheld kart racing done right, and a deeper game than it looks.Kit · Sadkitty Games
Loved
- 16 new tracks and 16 retro ones
- Mission mode adds real variety
- Local play with one cartridge
Not so much
- Snaking took over online play
- Online service is long gone
Play it if anyone who wants serious Mario Kart on the go.
Skip it if players who only race online, since the servers shut down in 2014.
Cheats & codes
No cheat codes
Mario Kart DS doesn't have cheat codes. The tips and secrets below are the next best thing.
Tips
Play it better
- Hold drift through corners until sparks turn blue, then release for a mini-turbo.
- Tuck in right behind another racer for a slipstream speed boost.
- Hold an item like a shell or banana behind you to block attacks from the rear.
- Each character has several karts with different stats, so try them all.
- Mission mode teaches skills like drifting and coin collecting; clear it to sharpen your driving.
- Learn the shortcuts on Waluigi Pinball and Airship Fortress; they save seconds every lap.
Secrets & unlockables
Hidden in plain sight
Tap a secret to reveal it.
Did you know?
Trivia
- It was the first Mario Kart with online play, through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
- It was the first Mario Kart to split its cups into Nitro (new) and Retro (classic) tracks.
- Snaking, chaining mini-turbos down straights, became a notorious online tactic.
- It sold more than 23 million copies.
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