Even though Microsoft purchased Rare from Nintendo outright a few years back, the British developer is still releasing titles on both the GameBoy Advance and DS. Diddy Kong Racing was a fan-favorite among Nintendo 64 owners and was always in everybody’s rotation for multiplayer sessions. Now, as the game makes its return, Rare has implemented new online modes, new DS touch features, and a few new surprises into the mix. So does the Rare magic that charmed us so many years ago stand the test of time? Keep reading for the complete details.

Facts and Features

• Remake of the popular N64 title
  
• Multiplayer modes both online and off
  
• Race with karts, airplanes, and hovercrafts
  
• Tons of unlockables
  
• Many characters to choose from
  
• New touch features

As you start getting into Diddy Kong Racing DS you can’t help but to be impressed by how well the presentation, gameplay, graphics, and sound have held up over the years. Most games from the N64/PSX era are best left forgotten, but DKR DS is a prime example of how talented developers were able to make great games even with humble 3D processing hardware. Instead of just bringing the title as is to the DS, Rare made some tweaks and changes to incorporate DS hardware features into the gameplay. Some of these changes have proven to be good; others have proven to be a mess.

As you begin each race, either online or offline, you’ll need to make use of the touch screen to earn your starting boost. If you’re using a car, you’ll need to rapidly drag your stylus repeatedly across the touch screen to rev up your boost. With the airplane you’ll make circular movements, kind of like you would wind a prop. Finally, if you’re using a hovercraft, you blow into the microphone to generate a wind boost off of the starting line. The problem with these boost tactics is that it feels totally gimmicky and unintuitive. There’s nothing all that fun about rapidly dragging your stylus across the touch screen only to quickly drop the stylus to get your fingers back on the buttons once the race starts. Sadly, this is an instance where the new Rare incorporated a complicated and wonky gameplay idea into a game that was praised for its simplicity in the first place.


By land, air, and sea, Diddy Kong is ready to dominate the race track.

Once you get past the silly starting boosts, however, the racing action is still top-notch and addictive. Each vehicle type controls in a very unique manner, but each is also responsive and fun to master. Thankfully the core gameplay of DKR itself was left untouched.

There are several game modes to experience in Diddy Kong Racing DS. The Adventure mode has you progressing through the game in a sort of story-driven fashion that links races and events together through missions. The world map is broken up into areas, each with its own set of courses. As you complete courses and challenges, you’ll be awarded with balloons. By earning more balloons, you’ll be granted access to the courses in additional areas. The overall progression is enjoyable and will have you jumping at any and every opportunity to earn a balloon. Over time you’ll also earn money that can be used to upgrade your vehicles which will give you a valuable edge over the competition.