Mario Kart DS Hints VI (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

Snaking

Snaking is the art of getting boosts on straightaways by turbo sliding. First, get to one side of the track, then, turbo slide to the other side of it. Before you get there, begin holding the opposite direction. For example, if you are turbo sliding to the right, hold Left. Once you are turbo sliding roughly in a straight line, begin tapping Left and Right until gold sparks start shooting from your tires. Then, stop turbo sliding. If done correctly, you will get a quick boost.

Although this sounds long, you need to be able to do it very quickly, or you will reach the end of the straightaway before you get the boost. Moreover, make sure you stop turbo sliding when the gold sparks shoot from your tires, and not when the blue ones do.

Quick start

During the initial countdown, hold down the gas (A) from about a half of a second to a second after the number "2" appears. You will gain a huge boost when the race starts. You may have to practice to get the correct timing.

When the race starts, do not hold the gas (A) until the number "2" disappears. However, this technique requires lots of practice. You can try holding A just before the "2" disappears, but that will need more exercise.

Here's a Japanese ad for this game: