Mario Kart DS Hints VII (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

Better items
Karts that are losing (for example in seventh or eighth place) will get better items than the ones in first, second, and third place. Examples of these better items include golden mushrooms (or a triple mushrooms), stars, or lightning bolts.

Protecting without dodging
When you get triple turtle shells, each one will deflect an item.
Note: This does not work with the Bullet Bill.

Easy wins
It is almost possible to win a race by holding a banana, turtle shell, or fake item box behind you when an enemy sends a green or red shell your way. The item that you hold will take effect as a shield when the opponent's shell comes to you.

Here's a Japanese ad for this game: