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Got Game? Wilma Jandoc |
Mario stays on course
When game makers come up with an idea that turns out to be a hit, it's almost a given that said game will become a staple on future consoles. Slight changes in the tried-and-true formula keep longtime fans on their toes and keep interest in the game high.
Nintendo's Mario Kart series is one that has aged well, as its latest incarnation, Mario Kart: Double Dash, for the Gamecube, shows.
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Platform: Nintendo GamecubeManufacturer: Nintendo
ESRB rating: E (Everyone)
Grade: B
The basics are the same as before: Three engine sizes (50 cc, 100 cc and 150 cc) and three cups (Mushroom, Flower and Star) with four courses each are available in the beginning. Win the gold in different engine sizes and cups to unlock more features -- among them the usual Special Cup, with more difficult courses, and Mirror mode, which flips the tracks as if they were being reflected in a mirror.
Double Dash also has new go-karts and characters among the secrets waiting to be unlocked.
Boxes are placed along the courses, containing items such as turtle shells, mushrooms for speed boosts, and invincibility stars to leave opponents eating your dust.
The game's main new aspect is that each kart now has two riders: a front driver and rear passenger that can be switched on the fly by pressing the Z button. Both can hold items, but only the one currently in the rear can use them by pressing the X or Y button.
This two-rider aspect naturally leads to a new co-op mode in which two players control the characters in one kart. The driver and passenger can switch by having both players press Z simultaneously.
In co-op, kart duties are shared. This makes it easier on both players: The driver can concentrate more on driving while the passenger can keep an eye out for some obstacles -- especially the dreaded red homing attack shells -- and using items at the proper time.
The passenger can also execute a slide attack on another kart by pressing the L or R button. If the attack hits, the opponents' kart is thrown off balance, and you can steal whatever item that kart had.
For a person whose Mario Kart skills are not all the best, the co-op mode is a godsend. Keeping track of the rear isn't as boring as it sounds, and it entails just as much action and coordination as driving does.
The multiplayer battle mode also has a few changes. In addition to the original Balloon Battle, two new types are available: Bob-omb Blast, in which all item boxes contain bombs (or Bob-ombs, as they're called in the Mario universe), and Shine Thief.
In Bob-omb Blast, you simply blast your opponents for points, but that isn't as easy as it sounds: If you already have points racked up and an opponent hits you, you will have one point taken away while the other player gains a point. The first player to reach four points wins.
And since you can't get hurt by your own bombs, this especially makes for some chaotically fun fights as you go around blowing up everyone indiscriminately.
Shine Thief is a "king of the hill"-style game in which one player carries the "shine." Hang onto the shine for a certain amount of time without getting hit, and that player wins.
One change in controls is that the L and R shoulder buttons no longer make the kart hop while doing a slide. This makes your turns slightly wider and may sometimes mean the difference between staying on course and falling into an abyss in, say, Dino Dino Jungle.
But the only real gripe I have about Double Dash has more to do with the button configuration on the Gamecube controller. The X and Y buttons are just above the A button (the "gas pedal") on the right side. Just try to keep your thumb on A while reaching up with your index finger to the X or Y to use items -- it's a feat even the most dexterous will have difficulty with for long periods of time.
"Double Dash" will probably be easy to master for experienced karters. It does save the top time for each course in grand prix mode, so you might want to replay just to try to beat your prior time. Otherwise, it retains the aspects that make Mario Kart a great party game long after you've gotten the gold in all the courses.
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Wilma Jandoc covers the universe
of video games, anime, and manga for
the Star-Bulletin. She can be e-mailed at
wjandoc@starbulletin.com
