Race the Mushroom circuit

Mario is a veteran of the circuit. View larger.

Choose your favorite character. View larger.

Peach is a master drifter. View larger.

Select the Kart you want. View larger.

Bowser is the bruiser of the track. View larger.

Watch your position in the pack. View larger.

Game Modes: At Least Five Ways to Play
Whether you prefer to race by yourself or to mix it up with friends, Mario Kart DS is a game with something for everyone. Features five different game modes, these include a 'VS' and 'Battle' mode that are available in multiplayer for up to eight players via local wireless connection while all modes are available singleplayer. See a complete list and description of the play modes below:

• Grand Prix Mode: In Grand Prix Mode, the driver who earns the most points at the end of a four-course cup is the victor. Mario Kart DS features eight different cups, with each cup featuring four different tracks.
• Time Trial Mode: Your objective in Time Trial Mode is to get the fastest time that you can on a single track. . You can save your best runs as ghost data and share them with a friend.
• VS Mode: A competitive mode that can be either singleplayer. or multiplayer. In the singleplayer. version you'll race against computer-controlled karts, while in multiplayer you'll race against human opponents who play using their own Nintendo DS systems.
• Battle Modes: Mario Kart DS contains two battle modes.
• Balloon Battle Mode: Your goal is to pop your opponent's balloons by attacking/stealing them by colliding into an opponent via a mushroom boost, before your own balloons are popped.
• Shine Runners: In this mode the driver who collects the most Shine Sprites is the winner.
• Mission Mode: In this mode you are given sets of specific missions that you must clear in order to move on to the next set of missions. What could wait at the end?

Wireless Communication: Even More Ways to Play:
Mario Kart DS features three different forms of wireless game play: two kinds of local wireless game play and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection online game play. Mario Kart DS offers two different options for LAN Wireless game play: DS Download Play, in which only one player has Mario Kart DS and all players have Nintendo DS systems, and Multi-Card Play, in which all players have Mario Kart DS and Nintendo DS systems.

DS Download Play
As with all DS Download multiplayer games, the DS Download Play in Mario Kart DS requires that only one player has a copy of the game. Unlike past DS games, however, DS Download Play in Mario Kart DS allows multiple players who have the game card to play with multiple players who do not have the game card. DS Download Play offers the following features:

• 2-8 player simultaneous wireless game play.
• A choice of multiplayer racing, Balloon Battle, or Shine Runner modes.
• Players who own Mario Kart DS can choose their own characters and use personalized icons, while players who do not own Mario Kart DS must play as Shy Guy and cannot use personalized player icons.
• Track selection is limited to eight tracks for racing and three arenas for Balloon Battle and Shine Runner modes.
• DS Download Play is limited to the 100 cc engine class

• 2-8 player simultaneous wireless game play.
• Your choice of multiplayer racing, Balloon Battle, or Shine Runner modes.
• Players can choose from different engine classes.
• No limits on character choice.
• No limits on track choice.
• Player's win/loss ratio is saved and tracked.
• Players who race locally are automatically added to each other's friend roster and then can race via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
• Players can trade ghost data wirelessly, allowing them to race against each others' best times.

• 2-4 players racing simultaneously.
• Choice of playing with:
• Friends only (players registered as Friends)
• Rivals (players with similar skills)
• Recent opponents
• Regional racers (players in their country)
• World racers (players anywhere in the world)
• No limit on course choice, but each player votes for a course and the course with the most votes wins (in case of a tie, the course is chosen randomly)
• No limit on character choice
• Players can create and use personalized player icons

Customer Reviews Average rating - 5.0

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-12-01
Content: Although I've not played this game myself, my son loves it. We enforce time limits on how long he can play on his DS-- which is a good thing as I think Mario Kart is addictive. =-)
Summary: My son loves this game

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-28
Content: Just purchased this item for my son but I find myself fighting him for the DS to play it. Great graphics, entertaining stages (though many are similar to the rest of the Mario Karts). Definitely worth the investment..I highly recommend! A+
Summary: Great Game! Another Winner by Nintendo!

Rating - 4 Date: 2008-11-24
Content: I bought this for my 8 year old son and he loves the game. However, he complains that it gets stuck and we believe it is defective because sometmes it works and sometimes it doesn't. His nintendo DS is new and he doesn't have any problems with any of his other games. We will think twice before ordering games from this source again. so I rate it 4 stars for the game itself but 2 stars for quality of product.
Summary: great game

Rating - 4 Date: 2008-11-23
Content: This was a present given to a grandson. It was well received and he plays with it with glee
Summary: Mario Kart DS

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-05
Content: Just because a ton of folks heaped praises on Mario Kart before me is not stopping me from tossing in my two cents. This game is fun and addicting! It is a must purchase to add to your DS game collection.
The graphics are a blast, the sound effects are quite complimentary to the game atmosphere, and the game play is all consuming.

Buy it, own it, enjoy it! Have fun.
Summary: This Game Is Great!