racing game developed published nintendo released nintendo handheld game console november north_america november australia november europe december japan april south_korea game fifth installment mario series video games playable nintendo connection online service service terminated games playable service like games series features characters mario series pits race tracks based locations mario series game received receiving score metacritic praise focused game graphics gameplay criticism targeted repetitive single player mode received awards including gamespot ign best handheld game award ign best selling game month release held position following month overall best selling game nintendo march million units sold worldwide gameplay racing game player races characters choose racing battling screen offers person perspective player shows race current standings items carried map course screen overview entire course bird eye view players immediate vicinity including nearby course hazards item boxes incoming attacks course features item boxes player drive receive randomly selected item player use gain advantage items allow player attack slow items speed player pass easily game modes game features single player game modes time trial battle mission grand prix modes require player choose engine class mirror classes serve difficulty levels higher engine class faster addition mirror mode unlocked use engines tracks flipped horizontally grand prix mode player competes seven computer controlled series courses unlike previous games featured playable cups features total cups shell lightning cups consisting entirely tracks drawn previous entries mario series cup tracks grand total cup completed rating given based times positions ranging stars like double dash players received points finishing position time trial mode player finish course quickly possible mushrooms depending fastest time saved ghost copy player performance player race later mode player races track choosing computer controlled opponents local multiplayer mode played individually teams separates blue team red team multiplayer players control team placed addition number races played scoring system modified battle mode features game modes allow player play individually teams player pop balloons opposing players attacking steal balloons participant starts battle balloon inflated times multiplayer human player loses balloons game turns ghost ghost player place item boxes battle played single player match ends results announced human player balloons second scenario player collect object super mario sunshine player attack away fewest eliminated game time single player human player eliminated round game ends results player complete missions objectives range collecting coins attacking enemies mission player controls character seven levels missions completing mission player performance given grade stars letters missions level complete player complete boss mission advance level levels complete rank star obtained mission seventh level unlocked game features multiplayer mode players race download play feature multi card wireless connection supported online play nintendo connection players play playing online participants race battle mode available playing online connection features available wii version multiplayer features emulated development nintendo announced planned release game nintendo releasing gameplay video footage time company offered game public play time game developers conference game wireless feature showcased produced worked game runs consistent frames second uses characters environments iteration support online play remarked halo series games feature online play noted people use feature halo games hardcore gamers wants online technology time right happen continuing tradition introducing new gameplay mechanic game series support players time game new series game includes single player require human participants game nintendo developers tested features took advantage device considered letting players place items track instead developers found confusing game making difficult control place items racing able draft gain speed boost momentarily feature previously video game places stronger focus feature provides visual cue drafting interview notes included tracks previous games players played original super feel familiar iteration series game soundtrack composed composer voices reception released nintendo nintendo north_america november australia november europe november japan december korea april nintendo later revealed sold bundled new red colored nintendo starting november flag wrist racing inspired new red handheld game released critical acclaim hold score metacritic praise focused game graphics gameplay criticism targeted repetitive single player mode received editors choice awards gamespot ign game nominated gamespot best awards including best driving game winning game received best handheld game award ign gave game awards best racing driving game reviews praised game living standards set predecessors finding game online shortcomings annoying gamespy believed single player mode local wireless gameplay noticed best features past games work new features calling end result impressive game hit nintendo best game mario series play shared sentiment remarked game shattered expectations making best racing game released handheld believed lives legacy inventive courses stellar multiplayer replay value class appreciated game unique use nintendo features microphone wireless gamesradar named best game time beating white 2nd wars 3rd finding hard imagine nintendo game better ign lauded gameplay depth design gamespot called game significant step forward mario series partly series feature online play game revolution remarked game goes distance single player multiplayer modes complimented surprisingly compelling package describing portable racing game par appear console video game magazine gamepro pleased variety courses modes multiplayer options offered game play nintendo fan nintendo owner purchase computer video games described complete game despite graphical shortcomings eurogamer enjoyed game multiplayer mode calling genuinely practical play people british publication criticized game simply mario concept little video game website disappointed fairly repetitive single player mode cheap computer players game nintendo advantage console feature end debut week united_states people purchased game logged play people internet best selling handheld game debut month november united_states 10th best selling game best selling nintendo game year japan game sold copies week sold units july copies january making sixth best selling game nintendo console release march sold million units worldwide
Mario Kart DS