This game is truly amazing and is one large step for nintendo into the online world......
First off, if you truly want to expand this game replayability, you will need to get DSL and a 2wire homeportal, which is what I'm using or nintendo Wireless adapter. That way, you can play the multiplayer mode from the start. The game the game is completely well structured and has a easy accessible menus. At the start screen, you have Single player mode, multiplayer mode, WFC connection mode for online playing, options, and records. The single player is basically the same as the previous mario kart games of single player mode only you have 16 new levels, while the other 16 is classic game levels, you can play multiplayer with computers, and you also have a mission mode. In mission mode, it's more like having a training mode to increase your ability and skills in mario kart DS. It has small little missions to complete, then you have to face the boss. The bosses are mainly the bosses from super mario 64 bosses only you must defeat them in a whole entirely different way. You only have 6 missions to complete, mission 7 you must unlock. As usual, you have the championship cup that you must play to unlock things from the game such as new characters and the use of all the racing tracks. The CC will start from 50, then the speed increase in the karts and the computers are a little difficult when it reaches 100, and you have the 150 and the 150 mirror CC. After you have done that, you have the options of getting even more good by trying to get better rankings in the cups. You have ranking E, D, C, B, A, *, **, and ***. The three stars is the highest you will have in any cup. The more star's you get, the better because once you get stars from the 100 CC, it will show how what you average in the online mode. If you have one star over your name, it means you are good but not perfect. If you have two stars, it means you superb, but can be beat with the right techniques. Then you have the three star's which means you are the best and will be very tough to beat. Now on to multiplayer.
In multiplayer, you can play all the level you unlock and played. You only have the battle option on the multiplayer mode, not the online mode though. In multiplayer mode, you can choose either use a single cart mode which means you only need one cart and the other people who is near you can download the multiplayer from your cart. But the only person the people who don't have the game can only use shy guy. And they can only play the level the person who have the cart wants to play. But in the other multiplayer mode when everyone has the game, they can choose the character's they unlock and choose the level they desire. They also have a battle mode where you can play in a arena and battle it out in a shine mode or the balloon mode. The balloon mode takes advantage of the ds microphone and you can blow in it to inflate your balloons faster. Shine mode is when you must collect shines and hope that you don't get disqualified by having the least shines. You can knock shines out of your opponent and steal theirs, but they can also do the same to you. Both modes can also be played in the single player mode where you can play against the computer. I think that raps up the mulitplayer mode. Now it's time for the online mode.
Little could be said about online mode, but it is still worth the wait of and nintendo did a well job on it. The online mode has been stripped down from the multiplayer mode. You only have I believe 16 level you can play on and some of the fun ones were left out. Battle mode was taking away and you a basically left with a standard online multiplayer game. And you can only play against four people where in multiplayer, you can play against eight. But it did not stop the online mode from being more funner from the the multiplayer mode. When connecting, you must setup a access point so you can connect online. As I said earlier, you will need a 2wire homeportal or any wireless connection you are using, or you can buy nintendo's wireless usb adapter. Once you have set up your online account and everything, you can finally connect. You have four modes to choose from: Friend, Rival, Regional, and Worldwide. When you connect online, you then recieve a friend code which is located when you as soon as you click the WFC connection on your main menu. It would give you the option of storing other peoples friend codes. Your friend code should be right there. Once you have another person friend code to your friend list, you can get online and play against them. Rivals is when you are searching for someone who is on your level of skill in playing mario kart. Regional is searching someone in your country. And Worldwide is searching for someone across the planet. And that about's wraps up the online mode.......
Gameplay: The controls is very responsive. The computer on the other hand seem to move in one path then actually get out of a way of a shell or a banana. And for some reason, the pass you up like they have a mushroom, but they don't. Each character has his or her own types of kart. The heavier it is, the faster is go and the more hard for you to control. And the lighter it is, the faster acceleration it has and the longer for a mini boost will last. Speaking of mini boost, you can jump and use it. By jumping and turning, you will start a mini boost. And when you press left and right, your mini boost will be ready. Once you release R, your mini boost will ignite. There is also a few new items such as bullet bill and blooper.
Graphics: They are much better looking than the N64 version, but lesser looking than the GC version. But they are crisper and cleaner on the small screens the have.
Sound: It's nintendo music so of course it's good. Every one has their voice. Mario kart has some tunes from previous mario kart games and they have new ones that is remixed from some of the other mario games out.
Value: I think thanks to the multiplayer that this game will have month's and month's of gameplay left for it. Once the single mode is complete, you may want to also play the time trail too so the multiplayer is also keeps the value of it up.....
Overall: This is the best kart racing game I played, period. So I will say this, if you have a DS now, WHY THE HELLL DO YOU NOT HAVE THIS GAME YET. QUIT READING AND GO BUY IT NOW. Thank you for reading my review.......