Editing Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

{{italic title}}

|title=Mario Kart: Double Dash<nowiki>!!</nowiki>

|image=[[File:Mario Kart Double Dash!!.jpg|255px]]

|developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]]

|publisher=[[Nintendo]]

|release={{flag list|Japan|November 7, 2003|Australia|November 14, 2003<ref>(November 14, 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20031202222005/http://www.nintendo.com.au/nintendo/news/index.php DASH INTO STORES NOW!!] ''Nintendo Australia''. Retrieved May 27, 2024.</ref>|Europe|November 14, 2003|USA|November 17, 2003<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2004/040129e.pdf CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Consolidated Subsidiaries]. ''nintendo.co.jp''. Retrieved April 5, 2020.</ref>|South Korea|2003<ref>[http://scanlines16.com/collection/mario-kart-double-dash-kor/ ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' (KR)]. ''Scanlines16.com''. Retrieved April 29, 2018.</ref>}}

|genre=[[Genre#Racing|Racing]]

|modes=Single-player, multiplayer

|ratings={{ratings|esrb=E|pegi=3|cero=A|usk=0|acb=g}}

|platforms=[[Nintendo GameCube]]

|format={{format|gcn=1}}

|input={{input|gcn=1}}

|serials={{flag list|Japan|DOL-GM4J-JPN|South Korea|DOL-GM4E-KOR|USA|DOL-GM4E-USA|Europe|DOL-GM4P-EUR}}

'''''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''''' is a [[Genre#Racing|racing]] game developed and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] and the fourth main entry in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]]. It was released in November 2003 worldwide, being released in Japan first and later being rereleased as a [[Player's Choice]] title in Australia and New Zealand.<ref>Vuckovic, D. [https://www.vooks.net/mario-kart-double-dash-now-players-choice/amp/ Mario Kart Double Dash now Players Choice]. ''Vooks''. Retrieved January 9, 2022.</ref> The game, while retaining many aspects of the previous ''Mario Kart'' games, such as selecting a [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] character as the player's driver and the familiar item-based weaponry that the series employs, introduces a feature that is unique to this entry in the ''Mario Kart'' series: the two-person karts, hence the title of the game. Two characters handle a single kart, where one character drives and the other uses items, and they can switch positions at any time if necessary. This is the only game in the franchise where two players can play cooperatively in one kart, with each player handling a single character, though the option to play in separate 2-person karts for each player is still available. In addition, the game introduces [[Special Item (Mario Kart series)|Special Items]], items that are exclusive to a pair of characters. The game is one of the few games to take advantage of LAN Mode via the [[Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter]], which allows up to sixteen players to participate in a single race.

''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' is the first ''Mario Kart'' game in the series to employ 3D graphics for characters and items, as opposed to ''Mario Kart 64'' using pre-rendered sprites to display these objects. The game also introduces a larger variety of karts to select from depending on the character combo's weight class rather than the standard [[Pipe Frame|go-kart]] being the sole vehicle all racers use, and this variety of vehicles has been retained in all the ''Mario Kart'' games since.

As with every new ''Mario Kart'' game, ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' incorporates several new features, granting a new style of playing for the users. Apart from that, there are two characters per kart; the number of playable characters was increased to join the race. As implied in various ''Super Mario'' franchise games, ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' contains many elements to unlock as well. By beating the cups available in every engine level, the player unveils other hidden levels, [[kart]]s, and other playable characters in the game. Furthermore, there is a very dynamic selection of karts: every kart has specific stats that distinguishes from the others, as well as capturing their respective character's style; for instance, [[Mario]]'s kart, the [[Red Fire]]. In the first three games, there was only one kart that the players could use, which was what ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' and games after this would eventually call the [[Pipe Frame]].

When breaking [[Item Box]]es, characters can receive any standard [[List of items|item]] or a [[Special Item (Mario Kart series)|Special Item]], a new type of item unique to a specific pair of characters. Additionally, items dropped on the course, including Bananas, Shells, Mushrooms, and Stars, instantly affect the first kart that touches it. The effects of certain items have changed considerably as well.

{|class="wikitable"style="text-align:center;max-width:60em;margin:1em auto"

!colspan="9"style="background:#e0e0e0"|Point spread comparisons

However, more than the new point system, ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' also added important features that would become mainstays of the future ''Mario Kart'' titles. For example, before the start of every race, a short overview of the track, lasting a few seconds, shows all of the big features of the track, such as obstacles, scenery, and the characters at the [[Finish Line (object)|finish line]]. Also, the countdown to the start of the race lasts for one second longer; in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', the countdown is "3, 2, 1, START," (with the start signal being horizontal instead of vertical, its red lights turning on from left to right, and all lights turning green on "START") while in the first three games, it is represented by three lights and three counts (in ''Super Mario Kart'' and ''Mario Kart 64'', the first two lights are red, while the third light is green or blue, respectively, while in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', the first two lights are yellow and the third light is blue; the lights also turn on from top to bottom). Also, when the player crosses the finish line to begin the next lap, [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu]] will appear either on the left side or the right side of the player depending on the direction of the final turn of the course to the finish line, holding the lap count signs (if the race finishes with a left turn, Lakitu will appear on the right side of the player; if the race finishes with a right turn, Lakitu will appear on the left side of the player). Also, when the player goes into the last lap of the race, the background music increases its pitch by a semitone.

[[File:CharacterSelect2-MarioKartDoubleDash.png|thumb|250px|The character select screen, with all characters unlocked. Here, Koopa and Bowser have been selected.]]

Because of the team mechanic, ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' includes twenty playable characters, with nine returning characters and eleven newcomers. New characters include [[Princess Daisy|Daisy]], [[Birdo]], [[Baby Mario]], [[Baby Luigi]], [[Koopa Paratroopa|Paratroopa]], [[Diddy Kong]], [[Bowser Jr.]], [[Waluigi]], [[Toadette]], [[Petey Piranha]], and [[King Boo]], with Baby Luigi, Toadette, and King Boo also making their overall playable debuts, and Toadette making her first appearance in any game. It is also [[Koopa Troopa]]'s first playable appearance in the series since ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''. This is the only ''Mario Kart'' game to feature more playable characters than it does race courses. Characters are divided into three classes depending on their weight: <font color=blue>Light</font>, <font color=green>Medium</font>, and <font color=red>Heavy</font>. There are eight default teams and two unlockable teams, a total of ten teams and twenty individual characters which can be combined in any way, giving 190 possible character combinations. Pressing {{button|gcn|L}} and {{button|gcn|R}} together before selecting any character chooses a random pair of characters and a random kart to play as. In multiplayer mode, it randomizes everyone's character and kart.

 

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Mario.png]]<br><big>'''[[Mario]]'''</big>

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Luigi.png]]<br><big>'''[[Luigi]]'''</big>

|colspan=2 style="height:250px"|[[File:MarioLuigiDD4.png|300x250px]]

|'''{{color|green|Medium}}'''

 

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:PeachIcon-MKDD.png]]<br><big>'''[[Princess Peach|Peach]]'''</big>

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Daisy.png]]<br><big>'''[[Princess Daisy|Daisy]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

!colspan=2 style="background:#EAECF0"|Default kart

|[[File:HeartCoachIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Heart Coach]]

 

{|border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 margin=0 padding=0 style="border:1px solid black; border-collapse:collapse; height:100%" width=100%

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Yoshi.png]]<br><big>'''[[Yoshi]]'''</big>

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:BirdoMKDD.png]]<br><big>'''[[Birdo]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

|colspan=2 style="height:250px"|[[File:MKDD Yoshi and Birdo Artwork.png|300x250px]]

|'''{{color|green|Medium}}'''

|[[File:TurboYoshiIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Turbo Yoshi]]

 

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Baby Mario Icon.png]]<br><big>'''[[Baby Mario]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:BabyLuigiMKDD.png]]<br><big>'''[[Baby Luigi]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

|colspan=2 style="height:250px"|[[File:BabyDD.png|300x250px]]

|'''{{color|dodgerblue|Light}}'''

|'''{{color|dodgerblue|Light}}'''

|[[File:GooGooBuggyIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Goo-Goo Buggy]]

|[[File:RattleBuggyIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Rattle Buggy]]

 

|style="display:inline-block; background:white" width=320px|

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Koopa.png]]<br><big>'''[[Koopa Troopa|Koopa]]'''</big>

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Paratroopa.png]]<br><big>'''[[Koopa Paratroopa|Paratroopa]]'''</big> ^{<small>(new)</small>}

|'''{{color|dodgerblue|Light}}'''

!colspan=2 style="background:#EAECF0"|Default kart

|[[File:KoopaDasherIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Koopa Dasher]]

 

{|border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 margin=0 padding=0 style="border:1px solid black; border-collapse:collapse; height:100%" width=100%

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD DK.png]]<br><big>'''[[Donkey Kong]]'''</big>

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Diddy.png]]<br><big>'''[[Diddy Kong]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

|colspan=2 style="height:250px"|[[File:Donkey Kong and Diddy - Mario Kart Double Dash.png|300x250px]]

|'''{{color|red|Heavy}}'''

|'''{{color|dodgerblue|Light}}'''

|[[File:DKJumboIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[DK Jumbo]]

|[[File:BarrelTrainIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Barrel Train]]

|}

 

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:BowserMKDD.png]]<br><big>'''[[Bowser]]'''</big>

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:BowserJrMKDD.png]]<br><big>'''[[Bowser Jr.]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

|colspan=2 style="height:250px"|[[File:Bowser and Bowser Jr - Mario Kart Double Dash.png|300x250px]]

|'''{{color|red|Heavy}}'''

|'''{{color|dodgerblue|Light}}'''

|[[File:KoopaKingIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Koopa King]]

|[[File:BulletBlasterIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Bullet Blaster]]

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Wario.png]]<br><big>'''[[Wario]]'''</big>

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:MKDD Waluigi.png]]<br><big>'''[[Waluigi]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

|colspan=2 style="height:250px"|[[File:Wario and Waluigi - MKDD.png|300x250px]]

|[[File:WarioCarIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Wario Car]]

|[[File:WaluigiRacerIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Waluigi Racer]]

|colspan=2|[[File:BobombIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Bob-omb]]

!style="background:red;color:white"|'''Unlockable characters'''

|colspan=2 style="display:inline-block; background:white; min-width:320px; max-width:645px"|

{|border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 margin=0 padding=0 style="border:1px solid black; border-collapse:collapse; height:100%" width=100%

|colspan=2 style="display:inline-block; background:white; min-width:320px; max-width:645px"|

{|border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 margin=0 padding=0 style="border:1px solid black; border-collapse:collapse; height:100%" width=100%

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:PeteyIcon-MKDD.png]]<br><big>'''[[Petey Piranha]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

!width=50% style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:KingBooIcon-MKDD.png]]<br><big>'''[[King Boo]]'''</big>^{<small>(new)</small>}

|'''{{color|red|Heavy}}'''

!colspan=2 style="background:#EAECF0"|Default kart

|[[File:BooPipesIcon-MKDD.png]]<br>[[Boo Pipes]]

|colspan=2 style="text-align:center"|{{MKDD special items}}<br>All (excluding green fireballs and Birdo's egg)

|colspan=2|Win the Mirror [[Star Cup]]

===Supporting characters===

|align=right

|direction=horizontal

''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' has various controls for racing and menus. Each button on the controller represents a different ability while the player is racing or battling.

*{{button|gcn|Stick}} - Move

*{{button|gcn|A}} - Accept option/Save Game (at the Options Screen)

*{{button|gcn|B}} - Go back

*{{button|gcn|L}}+{{button|gcn|R}} - Random selection (at the character select screen)

*{{button|gcn|Start}} - Open Start Menu (at title screen)

===Race controls===

*{{button|gcn|A}} - [[Rocket Start#Double Dash|Double Dash]]

*{{button|gcn|L}}/{{button|gcn|R}} - [[Slide Attack]]

*{{button|gcn|Z}} - Switch characters (both players must hit the switch button at the same time)

==Courses and game modes==

''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' contains sixteen new racing courses added, along with six new battle courses. Each racecourse contains its own difficulty and gimmicks. Up to four players can play in all the modes, excluding [[#Time Trial|Time Trial]] mode, where only one is permitted. In addition, the users can play independently or in [[#Co-op Play|cooperative]] mode, a unique style of gameplay only featured in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''

===Grand Prix===

*'''50cc''' - Easy. The minimum top speed is low for all karts and CPU racers have a very limited selection of items. Any kart takes the 1st and 2nd place positions.

*'''100cc''' - Normal. The minimum top speed is fairly average, while CPU drivers have a wider selection of items: they may throw [[Red Shell#Mario Kart series|Red Shells]] at players. Lightweight karts are almost never in the top positions (when controlled by CPU).

*'''150cc''' - Hard. The minimum top speed in the karts is high, and CPU drivers have a wider selection of Items, most notably, the [[Spiny Shell]]'s addition. In this level, CPU drivers can take down players using the items against them. Additionally, all the characters race in mixed teams. CPU-controlled heavyweight karts usually take the top positions, with middleweight cars very rarely taking the top positions (when controlled by CPU).

*'''Mirror''' - Very Hard. Similar to 150cc engine class, however, all the tracks are mirrored. CPU-controlled heavyweight karts usually take the top positions, with middleweight cars very rarely taking the top positions (when controlled by CPU). This engine class is not unlocked until players beat the All-Cup Tour in 150cc.

There are mainly four cups in Grand Prix mode, each one with four tracks to race. These cups bear their difficulty levels as well as the race courses within. The most basic is Mushroom Cup with simple courses and few gimmicks. Special Cup, on the other hand, contains long and gimmicky race courses. All the race courses have three laps, except Baby Park, which has seven because of its short length, and Wario Colosseum, which has two because of its long length.

Special Cup is unlocked when players beat 100cc Star Cup.

{|border=1 style="text-align:center; border:1px solid black; border-collapse:collapse"

!style="background:#DEDEE0"|[[File:MushroomCupLogo MKDD.png]]<br><big>'''[[Mushroom Cup]]'''</big>

|style="display:inline-block; background:white"|

{|border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 margin=0 padding=0 style="border:1px solid black; border-collapse:collapse; height:100%; max-width:400px" width=100%

!colspan=2 style="background:#DEDEE0"|<big>'''[[GCN Luigi Circuit|Luigi Circuit]]'''</big>

|width=66%  style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:LuigiCircuitLogo-MKDD.png|104x52px]]

|width=66%  style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:PeachBeachLogo-MKDD.png|104x52px]]

|width=33% rowspan=2 style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:PeachBeachMap-MKDD.png|64x128px]]

|colspan=2 style="background:black"|[[File:MKDD-Music-PeachBeach-DaisyCruiser.oga|190px]]

|style="display:inline-block; background:white"|

{|border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 margin=0 padding=0 style="border:1px solid black; border-collapse:collapse; height:100%; max-width:400px" width=100%

!colspan=3 style="background:#DEDEE0"|<big>'''[[GCN Baby Park|Baby Park]]'''</big>

|width=66%  style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:BabyParkLogo-MKDD.png|104x52px]]

|width=33% rowspan=2 style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:BabyParkMap-MKDD.png|64x128px]]

|style="background:white"|[[File:BabyParkIcon-MKDD.png|128x92px]]

|colspan=2 style="background:black"|[[File:MKDD-Music-BabyPark.oga|190px]]

!colspan=2 style="background:#DEDEE0"|<big>'''[[GCN Dry Dry Desert|Dry Dry Desert]]'''</big>

|width=66%  style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:DryDryDesertLogo-MKDD.png|104x52px]]

|width=33% rowspan=2 style="background:#EAECF0"|[[File:DryDryDesertMap-MKDD.png|64x128px]]

|style="background:white"|[[File:DryDryDesertIcon-MKDD.png|128x92px]]

|colspan=2 style="background:black"|[[File:MKDD-Music-DryDryDesert.oga|190px]]

 

|style="display:inline-block; background:white"|

{|border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 margin=0 padding=0 style="border:1px solid black; border-collapse:collapse; height:100%; max-width:400px" width=100%

!colspan=2 style="background:#DEDEE0"|<big>'''[[GCN Mushroom Bridge|Mushroom Bridge]]'''</big>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

!colspan=2 style="background:#DEDEE0"|<big>'''[[Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart: Double Dash&#x21;&#x21;)|Bowser's Castle]]'''</big>

 

!colspan=2 style="background:#DEDEE0"|<big>'''[[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Double Dash&#x21;&#x21;)|Rainbow Road]]'''</big>

 

 

A fifth cup, the All-Cup Tour is the conglomeration of all four cups in the game. It is unlocked after players beat the Special Cup in 150cc. All sixteen courses of the game are played through one after another in random order, with the exceptions of Luigi Circuit always appearing first and Rainbow Road always appearing last. This cup does not appear in other racing modes.

 

 

In Time Trial, a single player races courses over a set number of laps to record the fastest completion time. Before racing, adding the player's name entry registers their records available. When a race starts, the characters have two [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]]s in hand for speed boost. The best time elapsed in a lap and a race on a specific track is saved after completing the race. Once a race is completed on a course, the user is able to compete against either their [[Ghost (Mario Kart series)|Ghost]] from the current Ghost data or, once unlocked, the Staff Ghost within the stage. Otherwise, if a race is failed, the Ghost data is not saved. The Ghost data recording can be disabled in the Options screen menu. Each Ghost save is worth five blocks on the GameCube Memory Card.

 

 

The following ghosts were recorded by members of the game's staff. Generally, the driver is the same character that the course is themed after according to the course's internal name, while the rider is their pair and the kart is the default-unlocked one shared between them; the exceptions are [[Baby Park]], which is named after [[Baby Luigi]] internally yet has him as the rider while [[Baby Mario]] is the driver, [[GCN Dry Dry Desert|Dry Dry Desert]] and [[GCN Sherbet Land|Sherbet Land]], which do not have character theming, and [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Rainbow Road]], which also lacks character theming and also has an atypical pair of [[Mario]] and [[Princess Peach|Peach]] on the [[Red Fire]]. [[Bowser Jr.]] is the only default character to not be a driver in any staff ghost, [[Bowser]] is the only one to not be a rider, and Mario and Peach are the only ones to have the same role twice, once with their respective standard partner and once with each other.

 

 

In [[Battle Mode]], two to four players can compete against each other using a variety of items (including all the special items) on courses made specifically for battles.

 

|align="left"|The classic battle style which consists of popping opponents' balloons to score, using the items from the Item Boxes. In ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', the players can even "steal" balloons from their rivals, using a [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]] to dash into them or hitting with a [[star]]. This new feature has been kept for future ''Mario Kart'' games. In Co-op play, the rear player can also take away opponents' balloons while doing a Slide Attack. Unlike ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', the players no longer transform into [[Mini Bomb Kart]]s or [[Bob-omb]]s after being taken out, and instead just vanish.

|align="left"|In Shine Thief, players must retrieve a [[Shine Sprite]] dropped on the course and keep it in hand until time runs out. On the other hand, players who did not retrieve the treasure can use items against whoever has the Shine to force them to drop it. If using a Mushroom, a Star or a Slide Attack (Co-op Play), a Shineless player can steal the Shine directly from its owner. The Battle mode [[Mario Kart DS#Shine Runners|Shine Runners]] from ''Mario Kart DS'' was based on this sub-mode. 

|align="left"|Characters use [[Bob-omb]]s to hit their opponents and score stars to win. The bombs can be obtained by running over an Item Box, which only contains Bob-ombs. Every character can hold up to five of these explosives, and can throw them forwards or drop them backwards. Any kart that makes contact with an opponent's bomb or gets blown up by the explosion loses stars. For two players, competitors need three stars to win the battle, while for three or four players, they need four.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Versus (for two to four players) allows racers to select their characters and karts, and compete among themselves on the tracks. It is also possible to play in versus mode through a LAN connection where more than four players can join a competition. Additionally, there are some versus options found in the Option menu to change the mode's gameplay:

*'''Items:''' The variety of items given to the racers can be changed to:

**'''Frantic:''' Basic items such as [[Fake Item Box|Fake Items]], [[Banana]]s, and [[Green Shell]]s are rarely obtainable.

 

Supporting the main feature in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' upon two-racers-one-kart, Cooperative Play (also said Co-op Play) lets two players control their respective character in a kart, one being the driver and the other as the item thrower. While playing in Co-op mode, the players' characters can perform special moves that a single player cannot make. The rear character can perform a Slide Attack to steal an item from their rivals while messing up the rival's vehicle's controls. Both players can even double the power of the [[Rocket Start]] by pressing the {{button|gcn|A}} button at the same time. This special boost is the [[Rocket Start#Double Dash|Double Dash]].

 

|{{color|red|P1}} & {{color|red|P2}} vs {{color|green|P3}} (& {{color|green|P4}} if doing 4 players)

 

*'''Speed:''' The level of top speed when the kart goes forward.

*'''{{color|dodgerblue|Light}}''': Lightweight karts show good acceleration but poor top speed and low weight. They can be easily bumped away by heavier karts. They do not lose a lot of speed when they go off course, but their turning is too wide.

As shown from the image, each combination of characters also determines the class of kart that is used for the race. The Parade Kart, unlocked by completing All-Cup Tour in Mirror Mode, however, can be driven by any combination of characters.