Mario Kart DS Hints (DS)

The acclaimed Mario Kart series has gone wireless, letting players race and battle with up to eight karts at once, regardless of whether everyone has a game card. An all-star cast that includes Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Wario, Bowser and Toad will round out a truly all-star lineup of more than 30 courses, drawn from every Mario Kart game. Additionally, these very popular characters have certain advantages and disadvantages, and players need to choose carefully who they want to race with, against all of the different types of competitors.

Players will tour courses from Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, not to mention brand-new tracks and arenas. With all the crazy items and frantic speeds players have come to expect, this game is a Mario Kart fan's dream. The title has a new dimension of fun, since competitors can battle others around the world, by connecting to Nintendo's new wireless gaming service, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Although it had different release dates, like November 2005 for North America and Europe as opposed to December 2005 for Japan, the game gained critical acclaim for offering players the same fun adventure found on all of the other titles in the Mario Kart series.

Critics praised the title for the individualization of its characters and for the diversity of tracks on which players could race one another. Moreover, the wacky weapons the karts are fitted with provide an even more enjoyable experience.


HINTS

Skip credits
Press Select + Start to skip the credits to the congratulations screen.

Inflate balloons faster
Instead of holding Select, blow into the microphone.
If you stop or go very slow in balloon battle, you can blow up your kart's balloons. However, there is a limit on the top right. If you hold Select it will fill your balloon, but if you blow into the mic it works better. If you whistle into the microphone it works even faster.

When playing in Balloon Battle mode, on the top screen you may see four yellow balloons, in the top right corner. Everyone starts out with one balloon on their Mario Kart. After the "3, 2, 1, Start!" countdown ends, instead of going towards the mystery boxes, stay in place and hold the Select button to fill up a balloon.
Note: You may only have up to three balloons at a time on your kart.

Here's a Japanese ad for this game: