Mario Kart Double Dash

(Nintendo 64)
Released: December 5, 1998. Reviewed: December 13, 1998.
Re-Reviewed: April 27, 1999

Pluses:

Double characters - adds more strategy, especially with their special items. Go Yoshi and Koopa!

Items - more balanced in terms of power and dispersal, which increasingly helps those that are most progressively behind. Further enhanced by the fact they can't be hung out the back for protection. The ability to steal items from other karts and pick dropped items from off the track compensates.

Only one life - stops the cheating (retire from a race and re-race it) and makes the game far more challenging.

Hopping - it's gone. That's good! Forces better driving.

Options - settings to reduce (and even increase) item frequency, and number of laps. Amazing! Pity there's no controller config to change the slide button.

Bombs - no more! But there are other hazards (that at least can be seen and not randomly roving the roads when you're careering out of a series of massive slide turns!!!).

Graphics and animation - derr!

Minuses:

Control - feels too sluggish

Tracks - not technical enough (though, still to unlock special cup)

Sliding - have to press fully the shoulder button Speed - not fast enough, even on 150cc mode

Gameplay - too much item mayhem and not enough racing

Summary:

While it's still early days, clearly it disappoints. But as with many people, was probably expecting too much. Even so, I did still expect a clear advancement on MK64. But with the extra item usage, reduced premium and reward for driving skill and simpler tracks, it just feels dumbed down too much and doesn't cater for MK masters. Same with the driving model itself. Doubt I'll even bother with the Time Trials.

Thanks to Target Simo for the early acquisition of the game.

The UKKK - Friends with the Urinator