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Too simple to be fun.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 10
Date: December 31, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I just recently played double dash and I found that it had a lot of good points and new ideas added in. On the other hand the few bad points from the old versions were made even worse. Mario Kart has always been a game where the person behind always had a decent chance of coming back from behind so you were never totally safe in first place. In DD(double dash) the game is now ridiculous in this area. I found you stand a better chance not being in first until the very end of the races. They nerfed sliding, which used to be something that could give an experienced player an edge. Now all you have to do is hold down R and I found very few turns where you could effectively use the boost from it. The two racers per kart is cool but I know my jaw didn't drop to the floor. Multiplayer is ok if you just want the balloon mode and consider the other two modes as extra. The one thing that killed the multiplayer and racing mode for me was the painfully simple level design. The brand new block fort level now has no extra levels to drive on. It is just a big square with 4 other squares inside it to drive around. The "gamecube" arena, which replaces the skyscraper arena from the 64 version is now just a circle. You can't fall off at all. The bottom line is that while the 64 version was fun for all ages, DD will only be fun if you are 12 or younger. It is gameplay not graphics that make the game, so dig out your N64 and you will have much more fun than this dissappointment of a sequel.

A dissapointment

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: February 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Most of the reviews I read for this game were all raves. However, it is my experience that they took the things out that were best about mario cart. Example: red shells do not hit the sides anymore, as long as you shoot them they will hit their target. This allows no skill or restraint for using them and just tend to be cheap altogether. Also, the idea that you drop your items when you spin out also proves to be very frustrating. But the main point is that this game is not worth the money that is required for you to put up for it.

Who can say, game hasn't arrived yet.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 24
Date: November 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I imagine this is a good game, but I can't say right now because it still hasn't even shipped. It looks great so I'd say buy the game, just not from Amazon.

Incredibly boring tracks."2 riders" idea adds almost nothing

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: January 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Ok I just want to let you people know that in terms of gameplay, this is kart racing at its best. But the most important part of any racing game by far in my opinion is the tracks you have to race on. They have to be interesting and well designed. The tracks are what made MK64 so fun, they were well designed, long, creative, etc.... I expected a LOT better from Double dash. Theres probably about a total of 4 or 5 decent tracks in this game. Not very impressive! Very few shortcuts, boring design, nothing special at all.

And as far as the 2 riders idea, its so overhyped its rediculous. Ok, so instead of seeing a banana peel flying from your cart..... um... you see another character throwing it? Each player has their own special item, but that doesnt really matter, its pretty much choosing which special weapon you like best. And switching drivers and riders in mid-race does absolutely nothing.

I just wanted to warn the people who like awesome tracks in their racing games, and that this 2 rider idea adds nearly nothing to the game at all. Big stepdown from Mario Kart 64.

not what i expected

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: January 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I liked Mario Kart. I LOVED Mario Kart 64!! and had great hopes for this one. only to be somewhat disappointed. it looks great, sounds like mario kart, and is all very familer. but the gameplay is sub-par. The kart control is non existent, the double team is nothing, and the weapons are littered everywhere, making it fustrating as ...! it involves very very little racing and lots of luck. battle mode is lame too. the most annoying thing is then inability to 'hop', i wish they would have left some of the old control in this title. and left out lots of the obstacles. fun, but not the best Kart.

Awful...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 16
Date: August 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Let me first say that I've always been a huge Nintendo fan, and I am in no way biased against Nintendo or the "childish" image they have been given. That said, I have to be honest: this game sucks. I really can not figure out why everyone seems to love it. The graphics are pretty bad for the GameCube and are not very detailed at all (the steering wheels are octagonal, characters are just really shiny instead of having any detailed textures, etc.), the gameplay is boring and gets old very fast, and the music is annoying, synthesized, repetitive crap. It seems to me that the developers were just lazy here, the poor graphics are a testament to that. I haven't seen characters without fingers since the N64 days. But hey, if you know it'll sell no matter what, why put any effort into it, right? When I bought it, I figured at the very least it would have fun multiplayer as in previous Mario Kart titles, but I was wrong. I went to a friend's house and we both got tired of the multiplayer modes within 10 minutes. First-party Nintendo games have a history of being excellent, but I feel really let down by this one. Do yourself a favor: save some money, dust off your N64 and keep on playing the Mario Kart for that.

Sometimes It Just Ain't Enough

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: November 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I would love to "love" Mario Kart:Double Dash, I really would. I have extremely wonderful memories of playing Mario Kart on SNES for hours on end when I was young...but those days are gone. Mario Kart:Double Dash is an extremely fun and well made game, and I would really put forth that I "really like" Mario Kart...and I would also put forth it is the best of the series thus far. The graphics are typical Mario; they won't "wow" you but are cute, happy, and all those things Mario needs to be. The control is Nintendo quality, and the addition of the extra characters certainly is refreshing (although Diddy Kong, and the baby Marios should have been left way back in the planning stages). Some of the levels are downright brillantly created. Just take a drive DK Mountain, Wario's Colleseum, or Baby Park and see what I mean. Simple stuff like the addition of selectable karts also is fun, especially for younger players. Older players tend to pick characters and kart for the long haul, but little kids will find the selection process a blast. The newly added Bomb-omb Blast battle mode is fantastic, and the multiplayer mode stays intact as a staple of Mario Kart goodness. So what's wrong with Mario Kart? Well, let me tell you something right now...it is without a doubt one of the most insane and ridicious games ever made. The main pitfall of the game is the extremely random item collection. Way back when (during those dark SNES days) when a player landed a lighting bolt, that rare elusive item you'd only read about in the instruction manual...it was something. Double Dash (for some reason or another) hands those suckers out like they are going out of style. Ditto for the spiked shells. You can also rest assured that when you near that finish line you've got a red shell, spiked shell, or flying banana peel aimed right at you. While I enjoy a good challenge, when a game like this become predictably ridiculous, it shows poor game design. Something that is NOT Nintendo. In previous Mario Karts, CPU characters have always had the upper hand. This incarnation is no different. It's not unreasonable to hit an enemy with a red shell then switch drivers and use three mushrooms and still be lagging behind. Which leaves most races up to chance and not to actual skill. In the end Mario Kart:Double Dash is a fun game with some major issues. It isn't about changing the world of gaming, it's about that good ol'Nintendo fun.

Doesn't Add Much

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 11
Date: December 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is cute, and the graphics are awesome, but it doesn't really add much. Mario Kart 64 is better overall, even if it doesn't look as good.

Double Dash allows you to have two characters in the kart, yes, but that doesn't really make much difference. In Mario Kart 64, you could throw items at the other racers; in Double Dash, the character in the back of the kart throws the items. Big deal.

There is a two-player mode that allows one player to drive while the other throws things. It's pretty pointless -- throwing the items is not only boring when it's the only thing you have to do, but it's also very disorienting to look at the screen and see the kart moving when you're not controlling it.

Double Dash has 16 characters, while 64 had only eight; but since the eight additional characters have the same abilities the original eight had (i.e., Peach and Daisy both have the same abilities and are basically just different-colored versions of the same character), it's really not much of an advantage.

On the whole, you'll be getting a more entertaining game if you buy a used copy of "Mario Kart 64."

What happened to the BATTLES?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: January 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Being a HUGE fan of Mario Kart 64, I was excited to purchase the new Gamecube version. But what I couldn't wait to play the most were the BATTLE stages. My friends and I have so much fun on the "64" version so I thought for sure that the new gamecube battle arenas would be even more advanced and exciting to play.
Boy, was I wrong.. It is very disappointing. There is really nothing special to the new battle arenas. Why couldn't they make just ONE good arena? I would have been happy.. They are all mainly flat and boring.
Double Dash is even more cartoonish than "64". It has very vibrant colors and good graphics. All of the tracks seem short to me. I haven't uncovered any special features yet, so I hope to be surprised to find great shortcuts and added tracks as I continue to play.
It is very challenging in 150cc mode and they added the new twist of putting another character to your kart. Overall, I still have lots of fun playing it even though at this point I still like "64" a bit better.
The "bonus disc" is fun.. It has little games for you to play and preview..It gives you an idea of what other games you might like to purchase. It is a treat to play the variety of games on the disc. Pick it up with the "bonus" if you are able.

A bit overrated...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: November 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The new Mario Kart was definitely aimed for a younger audience. First, there is the "kiddish" music. While previous musical tracks from Mario Kart got you into the competition, this game's music makes the game seem more like Baby Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Second, the simplistic and limited number of race tracks. There are only 16 tracks (after unlocking Special Cup), and after a while of racing all of them, they get kind of boring. The tracks are simple, and there are not very many hidden shortcuts to discover, which would make the replay value of these race tracks increase. Because of the gamecube and Nintendo's capabilities, one would expect a bit more complicated and funner tracks. Even the Special Cup tracks were a bit disappointing. The N64 Special Cup tracks were fun and difficult, but they simplified all the tracks in this game for the younger audience.

Third, the graphics. The graphics are very colorful and vibrant and make the tracks and the game in general look very fun. The characters all look great, and overall, Nintendo did a good job of making this game very flamboyant.

Fourth, the battle arenas. The battle arenas (along with the tracks) are also very simplistic (especially the Gamecube arena...). There isn't really anywhere to hide (a fun thing about the N64 version) or any great stand-out features of any of the arenas. The arenas were made very simple so that the younger audience would be able to emerse themselves in a quick, all-out battle royale against their fellow peers.

Fifth, the battle modes. There are a few battle modes to choose from (including the classic balloon match), but the most annoying mode is the bob-bomb match. In the bob-bomb match, what happens is the match starts, bombs fly everywhere, and in about 10-15 seconds, its over. The person who wins usually wins out of sheer luck. Not much skill is involved to win, just luck. The same goes with the Shine-Thief battle. You just have to hope that your opponent doesn't get any red shells.

Sixth, the computer A.I. In 50cc, and 100cc (easy and normal, respectively), the computer players are too easy. Another valid specification of MK:DD!! for the younger audience. This audience wants to be able to feel good about themselves when they win the cups and not get frustrated and throw their controllers across the room when they don't. But, as for 150cc (EXTRA EXTREMELY HARD), the A.I. makes a quantum leap and becomes extra difficult. In order to win, you need sheer luck with what items you get, because it seems that every single computer opponent is out to get you. Only certain characters can achieve 1st or 2nd place with less difficulty as well as certain karts, so the player must choose wisely. 150cc was probably Nintendo's way of compensation for the more mature audience that is looking for more of a challenge.

And lastly, the innovative two-characters-per-kart system. What a good way to promote teamwork! This style of playing is very fun, and features a break from the normal one-person-per-kart limit. This would definitely catch the attention of the younger (as well as the older) audience. But one thing I discovered, though, is that this tends to aggrevate the teammates, as they tend to 'scapegoat' one another when one of them messes up and costs them the 1st place spot.

Overall: This game is all right, but I think the younger audience would enjoy it more than the mature audience. This game would be a great party game, but don't count on it to provide hours and hours of entertainment (it took me two days to unlock everything). But don't hesitate to buy it for the little ones.

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