Mario Kart DS 2005

Is it still worth playing?

Nintendo EAD's 2005 kart racing game for the Nintendo DS, in which you race as a Mario series character against seven others. Item boxes on each course grant random items, some to hinder rivals and some to boost your kart. The roster starts with eight characters and four more unlock, and each has three karts that differ in top speed, acceleration and handling. There are 32 courses in eight cups, half of them new and half tracks from earlier games. Modes are Grand Prix, Time Trial, Versus, Battle and Mission, with 50cc, 100cc and 150cc engine classes acting as difficulty levels, and a mirror mode unlocks after play. It was the first Mario Kart with online play, over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which ended in May 2014. On a handheld today you have plenty to do, with courses from earlier games and a Mission mode beside the Grand Prix.