Cheat Index - Mario Kart: Double Dash GameCube Review

1992 brought the world of videogames a whole new phenomenon: addictive, arcade-style racing with some of the industry's most identifiable characters. It was Nintendo's Super Mario Kart for the SNES console, and it redefined what you could do with the racing genre. With its then-impressive Mode 7 visuals, clever level designs, and deep multiplayer hooks, the franchise went on to be often imitated but never duplicated. It is still regarded as one of the best videogames ever created by many, including the editors here at IGN.

Within five years Nintendo was ready to kick off the 3D revolution, which brought us the N64 and, naturally, a successor to the great SNES racer: Mario Kart 64. It brought the franchise into 3D and heated up the multiplayer circuit with four-player support. It was something new and, although not perfect, it delivered most of what fans were looking for. It went on to great success, and is still one of the top-selling racers of all-time.

As far as home consoles go, we haven't seen our beloved Mario Kart in over a half-decade. Apparently Nintendo wanted to hold off on any sequels until it had hardware powerful enough to deliver a true upgrade; and so Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is being ushered in this holiday season, exclusively for GameCube. It features a definite visual upgrade, a few new gameplay modes to boot, and LAN support in place of full-blown online functionality.

With the GameCube in dire need of top-tier software, we have been counting on it to revive the legendary franchise with new vigor and bring the console yet another surefire reason to be owned by all self-respecting gamers. However, this is not quite the case. Double Dash!! is an assuredly fun multiplayer racer that only makes small gameplay advances over the already-3D Mario Kart 64. Truly, it is a more graphically impressive version than its predecessor, but it is also a simpler one in some respects, proving that Nintendo still believes a more complex game is not necessarily a more entertaining one.

Those intentions may be good at heart, but the end result in Double Dash!! is second-rate. It's the kind of cookie-cutter sequel that Nintendo said it didn't want to create. This applies more to the hardcore fans of the series, though. Those that have played little of the franchise or those too young to remember it will find it to be a solid multiplayer title. It is, in fact, a fantastic title for the younger crowd. As well, despite our nostalgic disappointments, it's still one of the best kart racers available and one of GameCube's better exclusive offerings this holiday season.

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