Characters | Tracks & Cups | Battle Mode
AboutMario Kart Double Dash was the much long awaited sequel for the Gamecube. Original videos of this game saw Mario and Luigi in their karts solo. This video was only made to show the graphical powers of the gamecube since the next time we heard about the game, 2 characters were shown in a single kart.
The idea was simple, select any 2 characters from 20 and then select your kart. But this basic idea opened up a whole world of possibilities since some characters wouldn't fit into some of the karts. MKDD also brought back the special item system that appeared in the original, each defualt pair of characters would have their own specific item, some more rare than others but all just as deadly. A new scoring system was also announced for this game meaning only 8th place didn't score any points. Also with no continues meant if you messed up on a track you couldn't go back for a second try.
This version of Mario Kart also allowed up to 16 people to play at a time. To do this you would require 4 GCs, 4 copies of the game, 4 teles, 16 controllers and a whole bunch of wires, but it was possible. With 2 characters in the kart each person would control a single character and while one would drive the other couple despense the weapons. This idea was crap. I've played it 2 in a kart and it's not the greatest experience. If you were in the back you were bored, and if you were in front you were worried that your friend was bored.
Mario & Luigi
Weight: Middle
Special: Fireballs
Karts: Red Fire & Green Fire
Mario & Luigi, brothers in arms. The all rounders and completley average in every way. Their karts were nothing special, average speed, average acceleration and average weight. Their fire balls would split up into 5 and then bounce of down the course. Thats about it, preaty boring really.
Peach & Daisy
Weight: Middle
Special: Heart
Karts: Heart Coach & Bloom Coach
Daisy made a welcomed return to the Mario games in Mario Party 4 and now she is driving with the elite. Their kart was also very average but their special weapon was very different. It could only be really picked up when in the lower ranks and it was the only purley defensive weapon in the game. As the 2 hearts would circle the coach, any item that you hit would be absorbed and yours to use.
Yoshi & Birdo
Weight: Middle
Special: Egg
Karts: Turbo Yoshi & Turbo Birdo
Another typically average pair. The Turbo Yoshi is a much loved kart by many with the over sized Yoshi head on the front, but the special item was of much interest to many. The egg could be easily got in high places, even at first place this item would pop-up more times than a banana. When fired it would home in just like a red shell, but when its target was neutrilised 3 random items would appear. Mostly bananas and mushrooms, but the odd Bob-omb or Star would appear too.
b.Luigi & b.Mario
Weight: Light
Special: Chain Chomp
Karts: Goo-Goo Buggy & Rattle Buggy
I hate the babies, just wanna make that clear. b.Mario had already had a staring role in SMW2 and other Mario sport games, but b.Luigi was a virtually unknown. Being light meant their karts were light, having fast acceleration but a low top speed. The special of these 2 was unknown for quite a while. Many believed that they had some sort of goo (vomit) that would slip up other racers (like a banana). But later it was announced as the Chain Chomp (don't ask me why). The Chain Chomp would drag the babies around the course at some speed and knock out any unfortunate drivers in the way.
Koopa Troopa & Paratroopa
Weight: Light
Special: Triple Shells
Karts: Koopa Dasher & Para Wing
Koopa Troopa was a much missed character. A favourite in SMK but was replaced with Wario to balance the weight classes in MK64 and in MKSC. Returning in MKDD and teaming up with his airborne buddie Paratroopa. Their karts where also light like the babies but were prefered since they didn't look like prams. The big shock was that they had triple shells (Red & Green) for their special. Why they were taken away from the regular weapon list is unknown but it did make a very suitable weapon for this duo.
Bowser & Bowser Jr.
Weight: Heavy/Light
Special: Bowser Shell
Karts: Koopa King & Bullet Blaster
The first of the mixed pairings. The Koopa King was liked by many being the heaviest in the game and having the highest top speed while the Bullet Blaster may be dangerously light it still has the best speed & acceleration (excpet for the parade kart). The shell is feared by many (espically in Baby Park) , easily got in high places this giant shell would bounce randomly around the track being unstopped by anything. After a while its momentum would run out, but then it would just sit their, still threatening passers by.
Donkey & Diddy Kong
Weight: Heavy/Light
Special: Giant Banana
Karts: DK Jumbo & Barrel Train
He's bigger, faster and stronger too. The barrell train is a favourite amongst many Time Trial fans, in going solo around the track it's like a bat out of hell with middle weight strong top speed and decent acceleration. The giant banana (another danger in Baby Park), would sit staring at you with a glear of discontempt. When one unfortunate driver would hit, 3 smaller banans would take it's place to create further destruction.
Wario & Waluigi
Weight: Heavy/Middle
Special: Bob-omb
Karts: Wario Car & Waluigi Racer
Waluigi (another noob to Mario Kart) has appeared in many other Mario sporting games like Daisy, but with this partnering system it was obvious he would be in this game. Wario's kart was similar to DK's in stats, but for more stylish; and while many prefer the look of Waluigi's kart, the handling was far too slippy to make up for it. The Bob-omb was a great weapon when dropped behind you, but if you throw it forward then by the time you catch up with it it would blow up in your face.
Toad & Toadette
Weight: Light
Special: Golden Mushroom
Karts: Toad Kart & Toadette Kart
Many were shocked, shocked and stunned when Toad did not appear in the starting line up. A favourite by many in previous MK games due to his great speed led to obvious fact that he (and his partner) would be unlockable. MKDD wass the debute for Toadette and she has gone on to make several appearences in other games, but non important. The Golden Mushroom was a regular item from MK64 and MKSC, but a suitable special for these two, giving you infintie speed boosts for a short period of time.
King Boo & Petty Pirahna
Weight: Heavy
Special: Random
Karts: Boo Pipes & Pirahna Pipes
A big dissapointment to some MK fans. Many suspected that additional characters were unlockable but people were expecting more. Their karts were intresting as the Boo Pipes would allow you the stats of a light kart for the heavy drivers, but their special was disbuted. With their ability to get any special item, many thought it ruined that idea of having character specific items. Many thought that a goo (similar to the babies remour) would be more suitable, but this is what they got instead.
Tracks & CupsOffering 16 tracks came as a slight dissapointment to some fans who wanted more. Many expected 20 when a 5th cup was announced, but that turned out to be the All Cup Tour, 16 tracks in one long cup.
Mushroom Cup
Lugi Circuit: The default track. Luigi always starts the game with a simple track that offers a simple loop with nothing fancy. A Chain Chomp may worry you but your only in trouble if your daft enough to drive into it.
Peach Beach: Set on Delfino Isle and also the scene from the parade at the end of a cup (and Daisy Cruiser can be seen in the background too). The beach is covered with Cataquacks on patrol ready to flip any driver who hits them.
Baby Park: Many thought this track would suck. It's a small loop that can easily do done in 15 seconds without any speed boosts. But the threat of shells, bananas and item boxes becomes apparent when only 2 of the 7 laps are done.
Dry Dry Desert: This track does suck, but I suppose I must say something. It's set in a desert and their isn't much water. Also watch out for numerous traps including quicksand, pokeys and a tornado. Why this track is so bad I don't know, it just is.
Flower Cup
Mushroom Bridge: The first track to feature proper road vehicles to make road kill out of you. The shortcut over the bridge is very useful but it's not really worth the risk most of the time.
Mario Circuit: Like a traditional Mario game it's not the track that you should worry about, but the enemys. A Chain Chomp teatherd but it can still reach the track, Pirahna plants guard the edge in various locations to bite poor drivers and Goombas guard the road towards the end.
Daisy Cruiser: Both hated and loved this is a good solid track. Set on a boat many obstacles are set to put you off including a swimming pool, dinner tables and life preservers. Also watch out for the short cut thats not really a short cut.
Waluigi Stadium: Wario Stadium was a favourite from MK64 and it is reincarnated with new managment. This dirt track is home to a bumpy track with spinning flames, sliding walls like pirahna plants and jumps a plenty.
Star Cup
Sherbert Land: The snow track (but not as fun as the 64 version). From the start skating Shy Guys try to knock you into a lake of ice. After a relatively simple part a large area opens before you were the mere touch of an ice statue will freeze you solid.
Mushroom City: More cars threaten you here on this maze like track. Many alternative routes offer you quicker paths but less items. But we all know aobut the pink road, don't we?
Yoshi Circuit: A track shaped like Yoshi, do I need to say more?
DK Mountain: One of the tracks shown way back on an MKDD demo. A giant barrel canon blasts you to the top of the mountain which you must drive down so you can get blasted back up again.
Special Cup
Wario Coliseum: Not satisfied with his dirt track in MK64 he bought a new all metal track. With the longest lap in the game you only go round it 2 times. many short jumps, little bumps and tight turns all threaten to knock you off course.
Dino Dino Jungle: Many would rather of had a ghost themed track than this. It's not all bad, just a bit cartoony. But this track does have the difficulty to be in the Special Cup with a narrow bridge, gysers to send you sky high and a happy dinosaur who tries to stomp you flat.
Bowser Castle: One of my favourites. This dark track of near doom has the most obsticles in any one track. FIre jumps from the ground, fire spins around on a poll and fireballs are shot at ya (get the idea?).
Rainbow Road: Look at the preatty colours. This sky high track is always a favourite of mine and this one is no exceeption. Many multi-coloured objects hang in the sky and the many turns of the track try to throw you into the city escape that flils the ground below.
All Cup Tour
The 5th cup. Many thought this was a proper cup, but it became something new. All 16 tracks in a random order (except Luigi Circuit that was always first and Rainbow Road that was always last) easily taking over half an hour for average players ment this was the ultimate test of karting stamina. 160 points to the champion and the Parade Kart to the victor of this challange in Mirror Mode.
A first for the Mario Kart series in that this had 3 different battle modes and 6 areans to play on. Also special items could be gotten by anyone in Battle Mode which made for far more intresting gameplay.
Balloon Battle
The traditional battle mode. You each have 3 balloons, if you are hit then you loose one, simple. This version had the added twist of being able to steal someone's balloon by driving into them quickly with a mushroom or star.
Shine Thief
Capture the flag basically. If you have the shine when time is up then you win. But of course other people are always trying to ram into you to steal it.
Bob-omb Blast
All you have is bombs, thats it. You can hold up to 5 bombs per character and the object is to simply blow each other up. If you hit someone you gain a star, if you are hit you loose a star.
Cookie Land
A simple arena. The arena is shaped like a cookie (in that its a circle) with 3 banana shaped walls and small circle wall in the middle. The only good thing about this track is that it is small making for some good tight battles in 3 or 4 player.
Block City
Block Fort was great, this is alright. Their are many places to run and ahead and also a few dead ends to trap or be trapped in. A path through one of te blocks is a good place to go and hide and the low walls are excellent for throwing bombs over.
Luigi's Mansion
Considered one of the best battle areans in the game, it's most definately the biggest. 3 floors to explore and hallways connecting them all. Items are well spread out to make this arena more of a tactical playing field.
Nintendo Gamecube
You're on a GC. That's about it. This is my personal favourite for Bob-omb blast as their is nowhere to hide. Items are easy to get and there is no escape.
Pipe Plaza
A fun arena. 4 pipes in one of the walls interconnect each other and so entering one can bring you somewhere new (about 5m away). Maybe if the pipes were spread out a bit more then this could of been great.
Tilt-A-Kart
Set on an 8-bit image of Mario jumping, this wall free arena tilts on occasion sending item boxes and drivers into the void below.
by Charzendat