Though Mario Kart DS may look like a step back for the series, with graphics reminiscent of its Nintendo 64 counterpart, it actually represents a huge leap forward, both for the series and for Nintendo.

Mario Kart DS is the first game to go online using Nintendo WiFi, a new service that makes online gaming a breeze. Using a wireless router, you can connect your DS to the Internet and race Mario Kart fans from all around the world. No router? No problem! Nintendo has also introduced the Nintendo WiFi USB Connector, which plugs directly into your computer's USB port and creates a wireless hotspot for up to 5 DS systems. The USB Connector only costs $34.95 USD and can only be purchased from the Nintendo Online Store. Once you have connected, Nintendo WiFi randomly finds three other players for you to race against. Unfortunately, there is no way to chat with the other players or add them to a Friends roster.

This online feature is amazing, but what good is online play if the game is no good? Luckily, you don't have to worry about that, because Mario Kart DS delivers one of the most exhilarating Mario Kart experiences ever! Each kart's unique stats differ greatly and, unlike many other handheld racing games, you can actually feel this while playing. The standard Speed, Acceleration, Weight and Handling stats are included, but Nintendo introduces a new one: Items. Now, the items you get during a race not only depend on what place you are in, but also your kart's item rating. For example, a kart with a low item rating will not be seeing many spiny blue shells, even in last place, but a kart with a high item rating will be pulling up triple red shells while sitting in the number one spot. Nintendo's perfectly balanced item system makes it possible for you to come back from last place to a first place finish.

A new aspect has also been added to drifting; while drifting around a corner with the R button, by repeatedly pressing left and right on the D-pad you can get your tyres to spark. With red sparks flying, when the R button is released you get a mini speed boost. Many players have said that this mini boost, or MB, has made online play unfair, as more experienced players will perform what is called snaking. By drifting back and forth on straightaways, you can repeatedly get mini boosts and put yourself far ahead of the competition. Unfortunately this isn't the only problem with online play - gamers are constantly disconnecting before the end of the race to avoid having a loss added to their record.

16 new tracks are introduced and 16 classic tracks return, 4 from each game in the series, including Choco Mountain from Mario Kart 64 and Baby Park from Double Dash. Each track, in typical Mario Kart fashion, contains secret shortcuts and clever obstacles. One of my favourite new tracks, Waluigi Pinball, has you racing through a giant pinball machine. Unfortunately, not all tracks are available during online play; any track that requires extra processing for graphics or obstacles has been excluded, because it can cause lag online. Courses are not nearly as stunning as tracks from other recent handheld racers such as Ridge Racer for PSP, but they do give off that classic Nintendo vibe of being creative, fun and definitely full of surprises.

In addition to the classic items like red and green shells, bananas and stars, three new items have been introduced. Boo, Bullet Bill and Blooper have made their way into the Mario Kart item boxes. Boo causes your kart to become invisible for a short time, making you impervious to all enemy attacks, while stealing an item from another player. Bullet Bill transforms your kart into a Bullet Bill and sends you screaming through the track on autopilot, knocking any enemies out of the way. Blooper, the squid, squirts ink on all players in front of you, obscuring their view of the track. For in-game play, karts that have been 'blooped' slow down and swerve back and forth for a while, but when an actual player is blooped, random ink spots cover your top screen for a while, making it very difficult to navigate around the track. By driving over a boost pad or using a mushroom, the ink slides off your windshield and your view becomes clear again.

The music is, as expected, upbeat for most tracks, with a few gloomier songs for courses like Luigi's Mansion and Bowser's Castle. Voices tend to get a bit repetitive and even annoying at times; when battling for first place with another character, a constant "yay" from Luigi or growl from Bowser can really get on your nerves.

An interesting new addition to the game is the Mission Mode, where players complete certain tasks, all leading up to a boss battle. Tasks include collecting coins in a set amount of time, driving through numbered gates quickly or collecting item boxes. At the end of each set of tasks, there is an epic boss battle, a Mario Kart first. Bosses each have weaknesses for players to exploit, each requiring you to utilise a different item, making this inventive new addition to the game a real plus. As far as lifespan is concerned, I could play MK DS forever! Not only are there five different modes including Grand Prix, Battle and Mission, but with an endless supply of people to race all around the world, how could you ever get tired of such a wonderful experience? If any game ever deserved an 11 for its lifespan, Mario Kart DS is the one!

Mario Kart DS delivers one of the most exciting racing experiences for the DS so far and it's a game that will be played long into the future of Nintendo's latest handheld. Not only does it have great long-term playability thanks to a host of modes and full online play, but you can pick it up whenever you have a few extra minutes while waiting for a bus or on a short car trip. If you are a fan of racing games, the Mario family, or Nintendo in general, you should definitely pick up a copy of Mario Kart DS, and if you're not a fan, you should check it out anyway, because this is one game that cannot fail to please!

Reviewed by Nick Reppert for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).