4.5/5 ★ – Govial_Jiraffe's review of Mario Kart DS.

Don't let this game's age fool you. I enjoy Mario Kart 8 as much as the next guy, but I still stand by this game's side and will return to it every now and then. It's got a very solid selection of maps and characters to choose from, and a good amount of karts too! The game feels super tight to play, and things like drifting may take some getting used to, but are a bit more rewarding than MK8 in their boost, which makes it feel satisfying. Overall, the game feels less.... floaty? Compared to MK8. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that the visuals and music are good... Nintendo usually treats Mario well there, and this is no exception. This Mario Kart also features a variety of single-player missions, which I REALLY appreciate. It gave me something to work towards when I didn't feel like doing traditional races. It even included boss battles!! Multiplayer works as you'd expect, but the fact that your friend can play even if they don't have a cartridge is amazing. And the battle modes are present and very fun, too. (Random side note: why is this the only Mario Kart game where the characters do a lil' dance when using the star? Bring back our silly little dances, Nintendo!) Good game. Do play.