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Mario Kart: Double Dash! is a racing game released on Nintendo GameCube on November 17, 2003, developed and published by Nintendo. This is the 4th game of the now famous Mario Kart series, after Super Mario Kart on SNES, Mario Kart 64 for Nintendo 64 and Mario Kart Super Circuit for Game Boy Advance. Although taking the large majority of gameplay elements from its predecessors, Mario Kart Double Dash! proposes to play with two characters on one kart.

The list of selectable pilots is much broader in that opus compared to the previous ones. We have thus the choice between 16 characters at the very beginning, with the addition of 4 hidden characters. The player also has the choice of vehicle. Thus there are no longer only karts but other crazy means of transportation, such as baby carriages, barrels, or small cars. These vehicles are classified according to their weight. As a result the type of vehicles selectable will be determined by the two chosen characters. Bowser, Wario and Donkey Kong could only use heavy vehicles, Mario, Peach, Luigi, Daisy, Yoshi, Birdo and Waluigi use medium vehicles, and Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Koopa, Paratroopa and Diddy Kong light vehicles. Each vehicle has its own characteristics (speed, acceleration, etc').

Therefore, the big novelty of Mario Kart: Double Dash! is obviously the presence of two characters on the same kart or vehicle. One is at the front and drive while the other is located at the rear and use the objects collected in the colored blocks scattered throughout the circuits. In terms of items, weapons, and bonuses there are naturally banana peels, red and green shells, lightning, boost mushrooms, the star of invincibility, the false items boxes and the powerful blue shell. Each character can pick up, however, special weapon or bonus. For example, the Mario brothers can use fireballs, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong can throw a giant banana, the two babies can be dragged by a Chomp that ravages everything in its path, etc' These special bonuses are picked up randomly from the colored item boxes and are defined according to the character which is to the rear of the vehicle.

True to the spirit of Mario Kart, there is also in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! the four Grand Prix: Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Star Cup, Special Cup (this one has to be unlocked), each composed of four circuits. The levels of difficulty depending on the engine capacities are also present: 50cc, 100cc and 150cc. Among the solo modes there is naturally the time attack mode.

In the Multiplayer modes there is of course versus mode up to 4 players. The number of players can also climb to 16 by connecting several GameCube. The grand prix mode is playable by only 2 players. As the races take place with two characters per Kart, it is possible to cooperate, a player driving the vehicle and the other using the bonus. It is also possible, as in solo modes, to switch roles at any time.

There is also the famous battle mode. This time, there are 3 different games: the balloon battle mode in which you have to try to hit your opponents by using weapons in order to make them lose their ballon, and 2 other modes. In the first new mode you have to catch a Shine Sprite and maintaining possession of it for a time period without being hit by enemy attacks. And in the Bob-Omb battle mode, the players have to throw bombs on the others in order to score points. The winner is the first to get 4 points.

Mario Kart: Double Dash! differs somewhat from the other episodes of the Mario Kart series, with its system of two people per vehicle. Some believe that it is a good idea, others not. Nevertheless, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! still offers entertaining and enjoyable races.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! reviews