Nintendo is all about reinventing the wheel the place it may possibly – and that perspective follows by way of even to extra easy, easy genres – like racing video games. This has labored for good and for unwell – a part of the explanation why we’re nonetheless ready on extra F-Zero is presumably as a result of builders have been unable to provide you with an earth-shattering, genre-shaking idea for the collection. They don’t wish to simply make ‘one other F-Zero’, so the franchise has been trapped in a chronic pit cease.
Mario Kart, nonetheless, is comparatively bullet-proof. Nintendo is aware of it wants no less than one among these on each technology of {hardware}. It’s probably the most iconic Mario issues; even the Hollywood film goes to nice pains to get in a kart racing detour. As half and parcel of that, it’s truthful to say that Mario Kart has typically been a gently iterative collection – new tracks, new objects, new modes – however not often shaking issues up on a basic stage. But… then there’s Double Dash.
Double Dash turns 20 at present, having first been launched in Japan on November 7, 2003. Double Dash is, I’d argue, the one entry within the Mario Kart collection that actually embodies the perspective that drives most of Nintendo’s different franchises, experimental in a approach that including hang-gliders and such over the next years not often will get near.
If you’re so younger you by no means performed the unique (which at 20 is now depressingly seemingly), Double Dash added a co-operative twist to the karting affairs. Basically, you wouldn’t simply choose, say, Mario – you’d choose Mario and Peach. The concept is that one character will drive the kart whereas one other might be in command of the objects – however that is way over a easy gimmick.
I imply, don’t get me incorrect – this can be a gimmick. But it’s a bloody good gimmick, a Nintendo-at-its-best gimmick. The two characters can swap locations on the kart with a button press, and each one of many characters within the sport has distinctive properties that have to be thought of – their weight, their skill to regulate the kart – and so forth.
This system initially looks like a enjoyable method to device round creating foolish pairings of characters who may not go so nicely collectively – nevertheless it shortly turns into a strategic delight. Item administration issues in each Mario Kart title, however in Double Dash it feels extra partaking and complicated by a large margin. There’s a depth to selecting your racing duo, however then additionally an equal quantity of thought that must be poured into deciding methods to deal with races.
This will get higher nonetheless – and better of all, for my part – with two gamers answerable for one kart. The similar guidelines apply – one handles objects, one drives – nevertheless it made for shriekingly good multiplayer classes – and it’s the kind of factor that I think about can be an absolute hoot on-line. Double Dash included LAN play, permitting you to hyperlink a number of GameCube titles collectively – however for Nintendo, on-line wasn’t a factor then. I think about Double Dash multiplayer on-line and it truthfully sends my coronary heart a-flutter a little bit bit. I need it.
At 20 years outdated, I’d be mendacity if I stated Double Dash hasn’t been left within the mud by different facets of the Mario Kart collection. In the Switch model of Mario Kart 8, with nearly 100 tracks, we now have the definitive Mario Kart expertise – however that’s kind of the purpose. It’s why, in 2023, Double Dash’s attraction hits all of the more durable – as a result of it’s completely different, and stands aside.
Or to place it one other approach – with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in-hand, I truthfully don’t see a lot level in going again to play many, if any, of the opposite Mario Kart video games. The newest entry is the final word improve on these titles. But Double Dash is completely different. It nonetheless stands aside, nonetheless stands distinctive – and remains to be sensible. How a couple of port, Nintendo?
