ario Kart has held a special place in gamers’ hearts since the 16-bit era, and has always delivered well-made variations on its simple, fun, and power-up laden racing formula. If you’re the type that longs for the days of video game racing before vehicle physics came along and ruined everything, you’re probably already a fan. Although this game certainly won’t win over those who feel that it’s become a bit dated over the years, Mario Kart DS goes out of its way to please the faithful, and adds a varied and excellent selection of multiplayer modes to boot.

While Mario Kart doesn’t offer the high-speed thrills of games like Midnight Club and Project Gotham, it’s an excellently crafted title for those that prefer a more sedate brand of driving. As always, the tracks are cleverly designed, the control is dead solid, and the action relies heavily on the use of power-ups and weapons. The DS functionality is minimal, but this is one of the first games where I found the real-time map on the bottom screen to be extremely useful. For example, when another player launches a squid attack that sprays the top screen with ink, it’s actually possible to steer for a few moments by using the map display. Also, you can sometimes avoid a long-range shell attack by tracking it’s movement below and taking evasive action.

As far as multiplayer, this game has you covered in spades. Whether via wireless LAN play or hooking up to Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Internet network, you’ll be able to go toe-to-toe with up to eight friends in your area or across the world. I really like that the LAN option allows you to play a stripped down version with only one cartridge. Even more exciting for the hardcore fans, the game features retooled tracks from the SNES, GBA, and GameCube versions. While I’d love to see the series move forward, this title is an excellent tribute to it heritage.