MARIO KART DS: THE BEST INTRODUCTORY MARIO GAME
by L-ONE-X
It’s more than just a handheld spinoff. It’s possibly the best way to experience the Mario
Franchise for the 1st time.
Mario Kart DS came out in roughly the “mid era” of the Mario Franchise (well at least as I’m
writing this) it’s also what I consider a “Greatest Hits” to one of the most beloved times in
gaming history and, in my opinion, the end of classic Mario (I know, that’s gonna be a
stretch for many people but bear with me! I have my reasons).
So if someone were to ask me “Why do people like Mario so much?” I would hand them
Mario Kart DS. But why wouldn’t I simply show them one of the original games? Here’s my
explanation:
The gameplay for the platformers is self-explanatory. You literally jump from platform to
platform and maybe there are a few items to collect along the way. The 3D platformers are,
for the most part, the same (albeit significantly expanded upon), the party games are, again
self-explanatory, but the kart racing games are a chance to see the world of Mario through a
different perspective. So when a person who can’t understand the love behind such an old
and basic franchise like Mario asks what the big deal is, the best thing to do (in my opinion)
is take them through the worlds and ages that we all grew up with and rather than fishing out
the games and quickly switching from game to game (or YouTube clip to YouTube clip) just
take out that old DS, boot up Mario Kart DS and go through a quick, concise and cohesive
tour of all those classic levels while having a blast racing classic characters we know and
love.
The true beauty of this game is, just like original Mario games, the simplicity. You just
press one button to accelerate, left/right to turn and another to use items. That’s 4 buttons.
Sure, if you want to master the game you will have to learn about breaking, jumping & power
slides but if you just want to stroll down memory lane, those 4 buttons are all you need. And
that’s why this game would be the perfect way to show someone why we love Mario.
This article may be smaller than most but I feel, just like Mario Kart DS, it needs to be short
and sweet to get the point across.
Wahoo! You are a Super Reader! But the adventure doesn’t stop here… There’s more of this project in another castle! This article is just one level in an entire Super Mario Multiverse, a galactic collaboration between writers around the world sharing a bit of our hearts and memories about our favorite Mario games. Visit the Center of the Multiverse to see more:
