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Mario Kart DS - IGN review

I would have bought the game regardless. I've bought every mario kart game ever made...

but god damn am I psyched right now... gonna hit gstop after work on tuesday and smack yo candy asses to wednesday.

and for real, anyone picking this up in milwaukee, wi on tuesday let me know and depending on the store, maybe we can hook up for some battle mode.
 
borghe said:
I would have bought the game regardless. I've bought every mario kart game ever made...

but god damn am I psyched right now... gonna hit gstop after work on tuesday and smack yo candy asses to wednesday.

and for real, anyone picking this up in milwaukee, wi on tuesday let me know and depending on the store, maybe we can hook up for some battle mode.
Click to expand...

Minnesota, but I'll gladly smack you down in a race. :)
 
I am skeptical that this game can be better than SMK. However if it is, then I will have to buy a DS for this game alone and play it online with my cousin in the UK.
 
SpeedRazor said:
Leaked? You mean the software they put up on their press site?
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It wasn't a leak? :lol

Then I can't explain Nintendo's answer... I guess they just want to sell more of their own dongle.
 
Fuzzy said:
I'm in Canada and it'll be on sale for $40 CAD on Thursday. I'm cheap enough to wait to save $10 CAD.
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Fuck waiting until Thursday!!!

Zellers has it for $39.97 all week!! They'll be getting it in on Tuesday!!
 
bionic77 said:
I am skeptical that this game can be better than SMK. However if it is, then I will have to buy a DS for this game alone and play it online with my cousin in the UK.
Click to expand...
good luck with that.
 
jj984jj said:
But I'm lucky to be in Canada where Reggie says the dongle should come out with Mario Kart due to the lack of hotspots up here.
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Not should, is.

Walmart has it plastered on the retail displays in-store as being available at the same time as MK.

Online MK, here I come!!
 
Spike said:
Fuck waiting until Thursday!!!

Zellers has it for $39.97 all week!! They'll be getting it in on Tuesday!!
Click to expand...

Better not be joking! I can't wait to play GAF online.

Edit: I just confirmed price, now I just hope the game comes in Tuesday.
 
Error2k4 said:
unless his cousin is the only friend on his friend list, he can't choose to race against him... or am I mistaken?
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afaik as long as you both have eachother on your friends list, u can play against eachother anytime?
 
Error2k4 said:
unless his cousin is the only friend on his friend list, he can't choose to race against him... or am I mistaken?
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I don't think it'll be too hard to race against specific people if you are both looking to go against each other. When it searches for people to connect to it'll only connect to other friends trying to connect to him, so if they are both trying to connect to each other at the time time it should be fine. It's very annoying though.
rod said:
afaik as long as you both have eachother on your friends list, u can play against eachother anytime?
Click to expand...
You can't choose which friends you want to play with.
 
jj984jj said:
I don't think it'll be too hard to race against specific people if you are both looking to go against each other. When it searches for people to connect to it'll only connect to other friends trying to connect to him, so if they are both trying to connect to each other at the time time it should be fine. It's very annoying though.

You can't choose which friends you want to play with.
Click to expand...


so the point of a friends list is...what?
 
Gorgie said:
Better not be joking! I can't wait to play GAF online.
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I've got the Zellers flyer in front of me. This week, MK is on sale for $39.97 from $44.97.

Also, Metroid Prime Pinball sells for $39.97 everyday at Zellers. Much better than the $49.99 everywhere else is charging!

Zellers FTW!!!!
 
rod said:
so the point of a friends list is...what?
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Your asking me? :lol

That's why Craig explains that this game isn't really about it's online mode. It's the single player game that REALLY makes it worth buying. For once, multi-player is just a very nice portion of Mario Kart, but not all it's worth getting for.
 
Online sounds pretty shitty. Why did you have to fuck up Mario Kart online Nintendo? IT COULD'VE OWNED!

Now I just gotta pray they dont fuck up Smash Online, or there will be hell to pay.
 
Ganondorf>Link said:
Online sounds pretty shitty. Why did you have to fuck up Mario Kart online Nintendo? IT COULD'VE OWNED!

Now I just gotta pray they dont fuck up Smash Online, or there will be hell to pay.
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At least it has online. It's better then nothing imo. The game wasn't original being built for online, just single-cart wireless play, so this isn't that bad. I'm sure they are planning SSBR online from the start so it'll be better, and the inevitable Mario Kart Revolution will probably also fix the lacking online mode in MK DS.
 
rod said:
so the point of a friends list is...what?
Click to expand...

From IGN:


Mario Kart DS does not allow for specific match-ups. Let's say I want to play my friend MrKori and only MrKori in a one-on-one race. The only way I can do that is if I make sure that he's the ONLY person on my Friend's List (meaning, I've physically deleted everyone else), and he's logged on and searching at the same time under the "Friends" search setting. You also can't force a two or three player race. The server will automatically give up and let two or three players race if it can't find a third or fourth player to match up, but players don't have the option to go ahead without the additional racers.
Click to expand...

Seems kind of dumb. So everytime I want to play someone I know overwifi, I have to physically delete everyone else on my list?
 
um


so 1on1 races=no?


and what about if i have 3 friends on my list, and those 3 people also have me on theyre list and at the same time, we all choose to race eachother, will that work?
 
told ya rod

is there anyway I can race against gaffers? what do I have to do for that?
 
Especially since it's the flagship title for online gaming on the DS. Maybe Nintendo should had waited for Metroid
 
shuri said:
Especially since it's the flagship title for online gaming on the DS. Maybe Nintendo should had waited for Metroid
Click to expand...
AC: WW for online > MK: DS for online.
 
It sounds like this game could have been an 11 if the online functions were not so relatively crappy. I really can't get over the idea of not allowing you to specify matches with people on your friends list - uh, that's why there is a friends list guys!

I'm pretty bummed at the poor online implementiation, as has been said this is the flagship WiFi Connection title. However, the game itself sounds grand, and of course local wireless play should rock the roof to the moon and back.
 
Methinks with this and other DS/GBA titles coming out that I need to get a DS, if nothing else...for the 12 hour trip I will fly to London/Spain this upcoming semester etc. Woot!~ :D
 
Nintendo still sucks at online. They seem so far behind in the online arena. Get your shit together Nintendo.

Otherwise, sounds like a good game. Too bad I won't be getting it for the online mode anymore. Too much of a shoddy implementation.
 
Mrbob said:
Nintendo still sucks at online. They seem so far behind in the online arena. Get your shit together Nintendo.

Otherwise, sounds like a good game. Too bad I won't be getting it for the online mode anymore. Too much of a shoddy implementation.
Click to expand...

Shoddy is the wrong word; It is simple.

It is, of course, too simple, but simple works for what they are trying to achieve. They want people who don't usually go online going online, and the less complications the better.

However, not being able to pick who you play with is idiotic, but kids won't even know it could happen.
 
Mrbob said:
Nintendo still sucks at online. They seem so far behind in the online arena. Get your shit together Nintendo.

Otherwise, sounds like a good game. Too bad I won't be getting it for the online mode anymore. Too much of a shoddy implementation.
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It's not "too bad." After all, we want players with skills against which to compete. Just kitten.
 
Memles said:
Shoddy is the wrong word; It is simple.

It is, of course, too simple, but simple works for what they are trying to achieve. They want people who don't usually go online going online, and the less complications the better.

However, not being able to pick who you play with is idiotic, but kids won't even know it could happen.
Click to expand...

That is all fine and dandy, but not putting in all the game modes and maps is shoddy implementation. You can also give gamers settings without being too complicated. Xbox Live has a feature called Optimatch where it launches you into a online game right away. Or you can choose your own settings if you wish. It isn't too tough. Even for a kid.

Besides, kids will be the first ones disconnecting when they lose.
 
Mrbob said:
That is all fine and dandy, but not putting in all the game modes and maps is shoddy implementation.
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I will give you all of that (I have little faith in the youth of today, so I'm cynical about their ability to discern things) except that little section there. The lag caused by the rest of those tracks would have been detrimental to the service, and the lack of Battle Mode exists because the entire thing hinges upon holding down the item button and letting go at a moment's notice...something that can't be done online due to lag issues. I'd rather have a stable online mode now, then have the game delayed to add Battle Mode and 12 courses. That would have been a long delay.
 
im scared to ask but...please tell me there is online GP

no online battle mode, i can take it. no picking select friends, ok, fine


but please tell me there is online GP..
 
rod said:
im scared to ask but...please tell me there is online GP

no online battle mode, i can take it. no picking select friends, ok, fine


but please tell me there is online GP..
Click to expand...

Yes.





















I mean, No.


















Actually, I have no idea.
 
You all dont even own the game and your over whining about the online gameplay.. Yes its limiting but the chances of you having someone else on your friends list.. CHOOSING THE FRIENDS OPTION at the same time you and your cousin are looking for a game are so fucking slim unless you literally have 15+ people online at the time and arent already in 4 race matches and are choosing the friends search option like you are

Calm the hell down
 
Eh, you can hold 40 friends I think, can't you? If you have friends at School / Uni / Work, you'll decide to get together at a certain time. If you have online friends, like in here, you'll be able to see them online, or whatever. For just pure, "I think I'll have a race" racing, Rivals will certaintly be your best shot.

How does Rivals work anyhow? Just Win/Loss ratio? Is it Worldwide + Ratio, or Region + Ratio?
 
I don't see why you would want to play a 1 on 1 race anyway though. Typically in MK games, multiplayer without at least 4 players feels empty and can get very unbalanced (I remember purposely dropping behind my friend in MK64 on the last lap of a race so I could get a lightning bolt, since the better items go to the trailing player.) So I think it should still be pretty cool.
 
PezRadar said:
You all dont even own the game and your over whining about the online gameplay.. Yes its limiting but the chances of you having someone else on your friends list.. CHOOSING THE FRIENDS OPTION at the same time you and your cousin are looking for a game are so fucking slim unless you literally have 15+ people online at the time and arent already in 4 race matches and are choosing the friends search option like you are

Calm the hell down
Click to expand...


Um, what?
 
kablooey said:
I don't see why you would want to play a 1 on 1 race anyway though. Typically in MK games, multiplayer without at least 4 players feels empty and can get very unbalanced (I remember purposely dropping behind my friend in MK64 on the last lap of a race so I could get a lightning bolt, since the better items go to the trailing player.) So I think it should still be pretty cool.
Click to expand...

That's true, mario kart is never really good with less than 3 players anyway. (be they human or computer controlled)
 
kablooey said:
I don't see why you would want to play a 1 on 1 race anyway though. Typically in MK games, multiplayer without at least 4 players feels empty and can get very unbalanced (I remember purposely dropping behind my friend in MK64 on the last lap of a race so I could get a lightning bolt, since the better items go to the trailing player.) So I think it should still be pretty cool.
Click to expand...

Man to man race is the ULTIMATE grudge settler. "I'm better than you in MKDS you N-tard!" "Screw you asswipe lets take it to Bowsers Castle!" Whoever wins absolutely no bitching about "Well so and so hit me with a blue shell and if it wasn't for that I would of smoked your ass!".

Grudge matches may not be what Nintendo wants to promote but they should include that option in the next iteration regardless. For a first generation Nintendo online game I think they did ok but the sequel should be damn near flawless.
 
capslock said:
Um, what?
Click to expand...


Confusing yes i know, but people are saying they will never get to 1v1 someone they pre planned a race with over lets say AIM, when they probably will. Cause when you go to the friends option in the game and choose it to look for a race, it will only match other friends on your list that are doing the EXACT same thing you are at that EXACT same time. Likely itll just be you and your friend on AIM wanting to 1v1, as others probably wont be online or be stuck in some 4 race match at the time or searching for a regional game as opposed to "Friends"
 
Cant people just leave their friends list empty...and when they want to play someone specific...they can add them right then? Doesnt sound too bad to me.
 
yanhero said:
Cant people just leave their friends list empty...and when they want to play someone specific...they can add them right then? Doesnt sound too bad to me.
Click to expand...

Of course they can. It shouldn't have to be like that though. I'll have to do it for tournaments I plan on entering.
 
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