Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Mario Kart: Double Dash is a must-try kart racing video game from Nintendo. The game was released in 2003 and is exclusive to the GameCube game console. It is the fourth installment in the Mario Kart franchise and the first to use graphical 3D polygons for the racers, as opposed to sprites, to create a realistic experience for the player. Inheriting gameplay from its predecessors, Double Dash allows you to control characters from the hit Mario series to participate in fierce Mario-themed races.

The game introduces notable new features for the first time, including support for up to two players to control a kart simultaneously, one driving the vehicle and the other controlling item usage, and the process is interchangeable. The game received rave reviews from the gaming community for its improved graphics, new features, video game aesthetics, and innovative track design. In total, Double Dash grossed 7 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling GameCube game of all time behind Super Smash Bros Melee.

Gameplay

Double Dash lets you participate in dramatic kart tracks with other players while controlling characters from the hit Mario series. You can choose from 20 different characters, divided into 10 pairs, to participate in team races. Each team will have access to special items explicitly designed for them, such as Mario and Luigi with Fireballs, Peach and Daisy with Hearts, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong with Giant Bananas, Bowserand Bowser Jr. with Bowser Shell, Wario and Waluigi with Bombs, Yoshi and Birdo with Egg, Toad and Toadette with Golden Mushroom, among other items. In particular, Petey Piranha and King Boo are special teams with the ability to use any special items from other opponents.

The game's home screen displays the current rank in a race, the player's kart's current speed, and upcoming weapons on the track to collect. These items will randomly appear on the track for you to use to hinder other racers and gain an advantage. Seashells and bananas help you attack other racers to slow them down, while star power-ups will make your racecar invulnerable to opponent attacks. The special feature of this game is that you can drop your special weapon when attacked by opponents. Therefore, always pay attention to avoid the attacks of the enemy.

The game has also improved the powerslide feature, a technique that helps players navigate around turns, to provide a smoother gameplay experience. When drifting, you can tilt the joystick to create blue sparks around your kart, giving your car a temporary boost. In addition, when the races have just started, you can coordinate with your teammates and press A to use the Double Dash feature, which helps to accelerate your car quickly.

Exciting Game Modes

Double Dash offers 4 familiar modes you can find in previous franchise games, including Grand Prix, Time Trial, Versus, and Battle. Grand Prix mode is where you will use vehicles of 3 different engine sizes: 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc, to participate in 3-round races with 7 other AI-driven teams. Your ranking after each round will be applied to the next round, and the three winning teams will receive bronze, silver, and gold trophies. Next, Time Trial is a mode that allows you to test your skills, where you can choose any of the 16 tracks and pass them in the fastest time possible to set up new records.

Versus is the mode that allows you to enjoy fun together with your friends. Choose any track you want and race with up to 3 opponents, with customizable rules like changing item frequency or the number of laps in each race, to participate in challenging races and entertainment. Finally, Battle is the most intense mode, where you'll be fighting, rather than racing, against three human-controlled opponents using items scattered throughout the arena.