Editing Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

{{Infobox

|released={{releasedate|Japan|November 7, 2003|Europe|November 14, 2003|USA|November 17, 2003|Australia|November 19, 2003}}

|genre=[[Mario Kart (series)|Racing]]

|modes=Single player, multiplayer

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

|media={{container|gcn=1}}

|input= {{input|gamecube=1}}

'''''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''''' is a racing game developed and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]. It is the fourth installment of the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]] overall. This game marks the debut of [[Toadette]]. This game is the first and currently only game in the series that features the ability for two players to ride on a kart aside from the ''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' series (hence the game's title): one to drive and one to use items.

As with every new ''Mario Kart'' game, ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' shows 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 ''Mario'' series 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 more 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]].  

Items are the main element presented in every ''Mario Kart'' game, and ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' is no exception. These are obtainable via [[Item Box]]es, where characters can receive any standard [[Item]] or a [[Special Item (Mario Kart: Double Dash)|Special Item]]. The latter is an item that a specific pair of characters can receive, while all others cannot. Additionally, Power-ups dropped on the course will instantly effect the kart that would pick on it as a Banana, a Koopa Shell or a Mushroom or Star. The effects of certain items have changed considerably as well.  

Another notable change featured in the game is the point system given to the racers after a competition in Grand Prix mode. From ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', this new system is used for the newer ''Mario Kart'' installments that were developed after this one. Also, players cannot retry a failed race in Grand Prix mode, as opposed to ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''. Users have to continue racing until finishing a cup to see the overall results. The following chart shows the difference of the point spreads from previous games to ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''.

 

 

{| border="1" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 align="center" style="background:#fffcfc;text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse" width=80%

! colspan=9 style="background:#fff5f5;text-align:center" width=84% | Point Spread Comparisons

! style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center" width=14% | !! style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;" width=4% | 1st !! style="background:#fff9f9;text-align:center" width=4% | 2nd !! style="background:#fff9f9;text-align:center;" width=4% | 3rd !! style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center" width=4% | 4th !! style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;" width=4% | 5th !! style="background:#fff9f9;text-align:center;" width=4% | 6th !! style="background:#fff9f9;text-align:center;" width=4% | 7th !! style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;" width=4% | 8th

|SMK + MK64 + MKSC

|style="background:#f0fff0"| 9 ||style="background:#ffffe0"| 6 ||style="background:#ffffe0"| 3 ||style="background:#ffffe0"| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0

|MKDD

|style="background:#f0fff0"| 10 ||style="background:#ffffe0"| 8 ||style="background:#ffffe0"| 6 || 4 || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0

Because of the team mechanic, ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' includes a wide number of playable characters, all of which have appeared in previous ''Mario'' games, with the exception of Toadette. The game features eleven newcomers, the most introduced in any ''Mario Kart'' game to date. 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.

 

File:BabyDD.png|'''{{color-link|Baby Mario|blue}}*''' <br> and <br> '''{{color-link|Baby Luigi|blue}}*'''

File:Koopaparatroopa.jpeg|'''{{color-link|Koopa Troopa|blue}}''' <br> and <br> '''{{color-link|Paratroopa|blue}}*'''

File:Donkey Kong and Diddy - Mario Kart Double Dash.png|'''{{color-link|Donkey Kong|red}}''' <br> and <br> '''{{color-link|Diddy Kong|blue}}*'''

File:Bowser and Bowser Jr - Mario Kart Double Dash.png|'''{{color-link|Bowser|red}}''' <br> and <br> '''{{color-link|Bowser Jr.|blue}}*'''

File:Normal wariowaluigi.jpeg|'''{{color-link|Wario|red}}''' <br> and <br> '''{{color-link|Waluigi|green}}*'''

 

File:Toad and Toadette - Mario Kart Double Dash.png|'''{{color-link|Toad|blue}}''' <br> and <br> '''{{color-link|Toadette|blue}}**'''

File:Petey Piranha and King Boo - Mario Kart Double Dash.png|'''{{color-link|Petey Piranha|red}}*''' <br> and <br> '''{{color-link|King Boo|red}}*'''

 

<nowiki>*</nowiki> - <small>indicates a new character to the ''Mario Kart'' series.</small><br>

<nowiki>**</nowiki> - <small>''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' is Toadette's first appearance in the overall [[Mario (series)|''Mario'' franchise]].</small>

 

!style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;" | Toad and Toadette 

|Win the 100cc [[Special Cup]].

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Petey Piranha and King Boo

|Win the [[Star Cup]] in Mirror Mode.

 

|caption1=Typical gameplay in ''Double Dash!!'' with [[Lakitu]] counting down. To get a rocket start, the player must press the button at just the right count of two to get a rocket start.

|caption2=[[Toadsworth]], driving in the [[Parade Kart]] during the award ceremony at [[Peach Beach]].

|width2=200

In addition to the twenty playable drivers, numerous other ''Mario'' series characters play supporting roles in the game as well. [[Lakitu]] reprises his role as the referee of the game, meaning that he signals the start of each and every race and battle with his signature starting lights, alerts players when they complete a lap around the track, tells the drivers when they're going in the wrong direction, waves the checkered flag to finish the race, and returns drivers to the track if they land themselves in a dangerous predicament (i.e. falling off the track). Other characters who make cameos include [[Shy Guy]]s, [[Piranha Plant]]s, [[Cataquack]]s, and [[Dinosaur]]s. [[Toadsworth]] drives the winners of a cup around [[Peach Beach]] in the [[Parade Kart]]. [[Pianta]]s and [[Noki]]s from ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' cheer the racers on in some race courses and join them at the award ceremonies.

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

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

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

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

|[[File:SinglePlayControls-MKDD.png|200px]] [[File:CoopPlayControls-MKDD.png|200px]]

|The controls for single play, and co-op play, respectively.

* {{button|gcn|A}} - Accelerate/[[Rocket Start]] (Start of race)

* {{button|gcn|B}} - Brake/Reverse

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

* {{button|gcn|L}}/{{button|gcn|R}} - [[Drift]]/Powerslide (Hold)/[[Mini-Turbo]] (Release)

* {{button|gcn|X}}/{{button|gcn|Y}} - Use item/Stop Item Roulette/Sound horn

* {{button|gcn|X}}/{{button|gcn|Y}} + {{button|gcn|Stick}} - Throw item forward or backward

* {{button|gcn|Z}} - Switch characters

* {{button|gcn|Start}} - Pause/Resume

* {{button|gcn|A}} - [[Double Dash!!]] (Start of race)

* {{button|gcn|A}}/{{button|gcn|B}}/{{button|gcn|X}}/{{button|gcn|Y}} - Use item/Stop Item Roulette/Sound horn

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

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

''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 [[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!#Time Trial|Time Trial]] mode, where only one is required. 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!!''.

*'''50cc''' - Easy. The minimum top speed is low for all karts and CPU racers have a very limited selection of items. Any kart will take 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 use [[Red Shell#Mario Kart series|Red Shells]] to shoot it to the player in front of them. Lightweight karts are never in the top positions.

*'''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 characters race in mixed teams. CPU-controlled heavyweight karts usually take the top positions, with middleweight cars very rarely taking the top positions. The CPU's will now begin to cheat using the rubber band hidden feature (They will only use this feature if they are in Hard or Very Hard difficulty).  

*'''Mirror''' - Very Hard. Similar to 150cc engine class, however all racecourses are mirrored. CPU-controlled heavyweight karts usually take the top positions, with middleweight cars very rarely taking the top positions.

 

There are mainly four cups in Grand Prix mode, each one with four stages to race. These cups bear their difficulty levels as well as the racecourses within. The most basic is Mushroom Cup with simple courses and few gimmicks.''Special Cup'', on the other hand, contains long and gimmicky racecourses. All the courses have three laps, except Baby Park, which has seven because of its short length, and Wario Colosseum, which has two due to its great length (unlike in ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', where Wario Stadium had three laps).

 

Special Cup is an unlockable cup. It is unlocked when players beat 100cc Star Cup.

|[[File:SherbetLandIcon-MKDD.png|150px]]<br>[[Sherbet Land (GCN)|Sherbet Land]]

|[[File:WarioColosseumIcon-MKDD.png|150px]]<br>[[Wario Colosseum]]

|[[File:MushroomCityIcon-MKDD.png|150px]]<br>[[Mushroom City]]

|[[File:DinoDinoJungleIcon-MKDD.png|150px]]<br>[[Dino Dino Jungle]]

|[[File:BabyParkIcon-MKDD.png|150px]]<br>[[Baby Park]]

|[[File:RainbowRoadIcon-MKDD.png|150px]]<br>[[Rainbow Road (GCN)|Rainbow Road]]

A fifth cup, the [[All-Cup Tour]] is the conglomeration of all the cups in the game. It is unlocked after players beat the Special Cup in 150cc. The 16 courses are played through one after another in random order, with the exceptions of Luigi Circuit always appearing first and the Rainbow Road always appearing last. This cup does not appear in other racing modes.

In GP Mode, two players can join a race, as themselves or in Co-op play. Players can play Grand Prix mode with two players in different karts or in co-op mode for two to four players.

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 will register their records available. When a race starts, the characters will have two [[mushroom]]s in hand for speed boost. The best time elapsed in a lap and a race on a specific track will be 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)|Ghost]] from the current Ghost data or the Staff Ghost within the stage. Otherwise, if a race is failed, the Ghost data will not be 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]].

 

A traditional mode that has presented throughout all ''Mario Kart'' games. Two to four players can compete against themselves using a variety of items (including all the special items) on the new battle arenas found in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''. Unlike ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', the players no longer transform into [[Mini Bomb Karts]] and/or [[Bob-omb|Bob-ombs]] after being taken out, and instead just vanish.

*[[Tilt-a-Kart]] (Unlockable)

In Battle mode it is possible to play in three sub-modes:

*'''Balloon Battle:''' 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 [[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.

*'''Shine Thief:''' In Shine Thief, players must get a [[Shine Sprite]] dropped on the course and keep in hand until time runs out; on the other hand, players who couldn't take the treasure can use the items against whom got the Shine to lose it. Using a Mushroom, a Star or a slide-attack (Co-op Play), the Shine can be stolen. The Battle mode Shine Runners from ''Mario Kart DS'' was based on this sub-mode. 

*'''Bob-omb Blast:''' 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 will lose stars. For two players, competitors need three stars to finish the battle, while for three or four players, they need four.

{| border="1" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 align="center" style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse" width=84%

! colspan=2 style="background:#fff5f5;text-align:center" width=84% | Unlock Criteria

!style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;" | Luigi's Mansion

|Win the 150cc Mushroom Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Tilt-A-Kart

|Win the Flower Cup in Mirror Mode.

Versus (for two to four players) allows to racers to select their characters and karts, and compete among them on the tracks. It's 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:

*'''Number of Laps:''' The number of laps set over all tracks, ranging from one to nine. If one lap is chosen, the beginning of the race will start as a Final Lap with Final Lap Fanfare Music.

**'''Basic:''' Powerful items as lightning or stars are hardly obtainable.  

**'''Frantic:''' Items such as bananas or green shells are absent.

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!!]].

 

Notice the table seen below excludes Time Trial because Time Trial is only for single player.  

{| class="collapsible" align=center width=80% border=1 style="background:aliceblue; border-collapse:collapse; text-align:center"

|- class="collapsible"

|- bgcolor=lavender style="width=20%"  

!(P1-P2)

|[[File:check mark.svg|13px]]

!(P1-P2) vs. P3

|[[File:X mark.svg|13px]]

|[[File:check mark.svg|13px]]

!(P1-P2) vs. (P3-P4)

|[[File:check mark.svg|13px]]

==Karts==

{|align=right width=30% border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse;"

! colspan=3 |Selecting a kart by characters' size

|- bgcolor=whitesmoke

| colspan=2 | Weight Pairings

| width=40% | Kart Selected

|- bgcolor=lightsteelblue

| style="color:blue" | Light

| style="color:blue" | Light

| style="color:blue" | Light Kart

|- bgcolor=honeydew

| style="color:green" | Medium

| bgcolor=lightsteelblue style="color:blue" | Light

| rowspan=2 style="color:green" |Medium Kart

|- bgcolor=honeydew

| style="color:green" | Medium

| style="color:green" | Medium

|- bgcolor=seashell

| style="color:red" | Heavy

| bgcolor=lightsteelblue style="color:blue" | Light

| rowspan=3 style="color:red" |Heavy Kart

|- bgcolor=seashell

| style="color:red" | Heavy

| bgcolor=honeydew style="color:green" | Medium

|- bgcolor=seashell

| style="color:red" | Heavy

| style="color:red" | Heavy

 

*<font color=blue>'''Light:'''</font> Lightweight karts show a nice 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.  

*<font color=green>'''Medium:'''</font> Medium-weight vehicles show average top speed and acceleration. Some karts within this group have slightly varied stats, though.

*<font color=red>'''Heavy:'''</font> Heavyweight karts have the highest level of weight among the karts, capable of knocking away light and medium-weight vehicles. Many of these show high top speed, although their acceleration and off-road are fairly poor.

 

Each combination of characters will also determine the class of kart that will be used for the race. The table to the top right means the resulting vehicle according to the size of the characters.

An exception to this rule is the Parade Kart, where all the characters, regardless of weight, can drive on it. It is unlocked by completing All-Cup Tour in Mirror Mode.

 

====Kart stats====

File:GooGoobuggy.jpg|'''[[Goo-Goo Buggy]]'''<br>Speed: 1<br>Acceleration: 5<br>Owner: Baby Mario<br>Weight: 2<br>'''LIGHT

File:Parawing.jpg|'''[[Para-Wing]]*'''<br>Speed: 1<br>Acceleration: 5<br>Owner: Koopa Paratroopa<br>Weight: 2<br>'''LIGHT

File:Wario car.PNG|'''[[Wario Car]]'''<br>Speed: 4<br>Acceleration: 2<br>Owner: Wario<br>Weight: 4<br>'''HEAVY

File:Piranhapipes.jpg|'''[[Piranha Pipes]]*'''<br>Speed: 4<br>Acceleration: 2<br>Owner: Petey Piranha<br>Weight: 5<br>'''HEAVY

File:Boopipes.jpg|'''[[Boo Pipes]]*'''<br>Speed: 2<br>Acceleration: 4<br>Owner: King Boo<br>Weight: 5<br>'''HEAVY

File:Paradekartart.jpg|'''[[Parade Kart]]'''<br>Speed: 4<br>Acceleration: 3<br>Owner: N/A<br>Weight: 4<br>'''ANY WEIGHT

 

! colspan=2 style="background:#fff5f5;text-align:center" width=84% | Unlock Criteria

!style="background:#fff7f7;text-align:center;" | Green Fire

|Win the 50cc Mushroom Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Bloom Coach

|Win the 50cc Flower Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Para Wing

|Win the 50cc Star Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Bullet Blaster

|Win the 50cc Special Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Rattle Buggy

|Win the 100cc Mushroom Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Waluigi Racer

|Win the 100cc Flower Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Toad Kart

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Turbo Birdo

|Win the 150cc Flower Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Barrel Train

|Win the 150cc Star Cup.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Toadette Kart

|Win the Mushroom Cup in Mirror Mode.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Piranha Pipes

|Win the Star Cup in Mirror Mode.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Boo Pipes

|Win the Special Cup in Mirror Mode.

!style="background:#fff7f7;" | Parade Kart

|Win the All-Cup Tour in Mirror Mode.

=====Actual stats=====

The stars shown on the vehicle selection screen are slightly less precise than the actual values used by the game; Speed and Weight each have 9 distinct values rather than 5, and Acceleration has many values that don't necessarily line up with the menu stats at all. Furthermore, there's a hidden Off-Road stat that determines a vehicle's top speed in most off-road terrains, such as grass. Weak off-road patches, like the yellow sand in Dry Dry Desert, reduce the kart's top speed by a fixed ~8.0 mph (13 km/h). While karts don't have individual Mini-Turbo values, all small karts' Mini-Turbo boosts last 1/2 second, all medium karts' 1/3 second, and all large karts' 1/6 of a second.

 

<center>

{| class="wikitable sortable" width=75% align=center

! Vehicle !! Top Speed !! Off-Road !! Acceleration !! Weight !! Top Speed (mph, km/h) !! Off-Road 1 (mph, km/h) !! Off-Road 2 (mph, km/h) !! Accel Time (s)*

| Red Fire || 5 || 5 || 4 || 5 || 56.4, 90.8 || 48.3, 77.7 || 32.2, 51.8 || 2.80

| Green Fire || 7 || 4 || 3 || 4 || 57.2, 92.1 || 49.1, 79.0 || 31.0, 50.0 || 3.22

| Heart Coach || 4 || 6 || 6 || 5 || 55.9, 90.0 || 47.9, 77.1 || 33.4, 53.8 || 2.42

| Bloom Coach || 6 || 4 || 5 || 3 || 56.8, 91.4 || 48.7, 78.4 || 31.0, 50.0 || 2.58

| Turbo Yoshi || 4 || 5 || 6 || 6 || 55.9, 90.0 || 47.9, 77.1 || 32.2, 51.8 || 2.42

| Turbo Birdo || 6 || 4 || 4 || 7 || 56.8, 91.4 || 48.7, 78.4 || 31.0, 50.0 || 2.96

| Goo-Goo Buggy || 2 || 9 || 9 || 2 (1 in Battle Mode) || 55.1, 88.7 || 47.1, 75.8 || 37.0, 59.5 || 1.61

| Toad Kart || 3 || 9 || 8 || 2 || 55.5, 89.3 || 47.5, 76.4 || 37.0, 59.5 || 1.70

| Toadette Kart || 1 || 9 || 9 || 2 || 54.7, 88.0 || 46.7, 75.2 || 37.0, 59.5 || 1.61

| Koopa Dasher || 2 || 8 || 8 || 3 || 55.1, 88.7 || 47.1, 75.8 || 35.8, 57.6 || 1.63

| Para-Wing || 1 || 8 || 9 || 3 || 54.7, 88.0 || 46.7, 75.2 || 35.8, 57.6 || 1.58

| DK Jumbo || 8 || 2 || 2 || 8 || 57.6, 92.7 || 49.5, 79.7 || 28.6, 46.0 || 3.66

| Barrel Train || 8 || 7 || 3 || 5 || 57.6, 92.7 || 49.5, 79.7 || 34.6, 55.7 || 3.37

| Koopa King || 9 || 1 || 1 || 9 || 58.0, 93.3 || 49.9, 80.3 || 27.4, 44.1 || 3.90

| Bullet Blaster || 8 || 1 || 4 || 1 || 57.6, 92.7 || 49.5, 79.5 || 27.4, 44.1 || 2.84

| Wario Car || 7 || 3 || 1 || 7 || 57.2, 92.1 || 49.1, 79.0 || 29.8, 48.0 || 3.72

| Waluigi Racer || 5 || 9 || 5 || 6 || 56.4, 90.8 || 48.3, 77.7 || 37.0, 59.5 || 2.69

| Piranha Pipes || 8 || 7 || 2 || 9 || 57.6, 92.7 || 49.5, 79.5 || 34.6, 55.7 || 3.63

| Boo Pipes || 2 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 55.1, 88.7 || 47.1, 75.8 || 37.0, 59.5 || 1.57

| Parade Kart || 7 || 3 || 4 || 7 || 57.2, 92.1 || 49.1, 79.0 || 29.8, 48.0 || 2.86

<small>* Acceleration measured as time taken to get from a standstill to 70% of maximum speed. All tests were done at the same exact starting time on the same course. Margin of error ±0.02 seconds.</small>

</center>

==Staff Ghosts==

This game introduces the possibility to race against Staff Ghosts, Ghosts created by Nintendo as the main ghosts of the course. They can be unlocked by achieving a certain time on the respective course. Below is a table showing all Staff Ghosts and their respective times.<ref>[http://www.gamesradar.com/mario-kart-double-dash/cheats/]</ref>

{| border=1 style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse" width=70% align=center

|- bgcolor=#fff7f7

!width=10% rowspan=1|Course

!width=5% rowspan=1|Unlock Time

!width=5% rowspan=1|Time

!width=20% colspan=2|Characters

!width=10% rowspan=1|Kart

!Luigi Circuit

|01:29.000

|01:26.277

|Luigi

|Mario

|Red Fire

|01:23.000

|01:20.404

|Peach

|Daisy

|Heart Coach

|01:14.000

|01:11.108

|Baby Mario

|Baby Luigi

|Goo-Goo Buggy

|01:53.000

|01:50.755

|Birdo

|Yoshi

|Turbo Yoshi

|01:34.000

|01:31.458

|Koopa

|Paratroopa

|Koopa Dasher

|01:44.000

|01:41.384

|Mario

|Luigi

|Red Fire

|01:55.000

|01:52.207

|Daisy

|Peach

|Heart Coach

|02:02.000

|01:59.658

|Waluigi

|Wario

|Wario Car

|01:28.000

|01:25.904

|Baby Luigi

|Baby Mario

|Goo-Goo Buggy

|01:53.000

|01:50.663

|Paratroopa

|Koopa

|Koopa Dasher

|02:02.000

|01:59.886

|Yoshi

|Birdo

|Turbo Yoshi

|02:15.000

|02:12.639

|Donkey Kong

|Diddy Kong

|DK Jumbo

|02:24.000

|02:21.106

|Wario

|Waluigi

|Wario Car

|02:03.000

|02:00.908

|Diddy Kong

|Donkey Kong

|DK Jumbo

|02:47.000

|02:44.690

|Bowser

|Bowser Jr.

|Koopa King

|03:19.000

|03:16.476

|Mario

|Peach

|Red Fire

|image2=Mkdd double item box.jpg

|width2=100

Traditional items from ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' through ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' appear in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' with a bunch of new power-ups to change a race drastically, such as stealing the opponent's place or item by using a Mushroom or reducing the racers to small size with the rare Thunderbolt. The rear character obtains a determinate item by running into an [[Item Box]]. However, [[Double Item Box]]es give items to both the rear character and driver. The variety of items depends on the kart's place. Leader racers tend to receive basic items such as Bananas or Green Shells, while those going under fourth place can receive rare items like a Star or a Spiny Shell.  

 

*'''[[Green Shell#Mario Kart series|Green Shell]]''' – When shot, Green Shells go in a straight line, bouncing off the track walls and knocking into anything it touches, such as an item or another kart. It can be shot forwards or backwards.

*'''[[Red Shell#Mario Kart series|Red Shell]]''' – Red Shells home in on the nearest kart. It can be thrown backwards as well. However, when shot backwards, it acts like a Green Shell. Red Shells cannot bounce, however, and they break if they hit a wall.  

*'''[[Spiny Shell (Mario Kart)#Mario Kart: Double Dash!!|Spiny Shell]]''' – When shot, the Spiny Shell heads to the kart that is in first place. Once it hits the kart, it creates a blue explosion. The characters in the kart lose any items if hit and are sent flying directly upwards. Other karts can get hit if they are in the blast radius. This item does not appear in Battle Mode.  

*'''[[Super Mushroom#Mario Kart series|Mushroom]]''' – A Mushroom gives the kart a brief boost of speed. If used properly, it can be used to take shortcuts and to steal (or drop) items from another kart.

*'''[[Super Mushroom#Mario Kart series|Triple Mushrooms]]''' – A bunch of three Mushrooms that give the drivers three boosts of speed. If characters who hold the Mushrooms get hit by an item, some of the Mushrooms fall get dropped and they end up with only one Mushroom left.

*'''[[Banana#Mario Kart series|Banana]]''' – When placed, a Banana peel stays on the track until a kart touches it, causing it to spin out. Bananas can be used as shields to break homing items such as Red Shells; however, they can not be dragged behind the kart like in past games, making this technique harder to execute than before. It can either be thrown forward or dropped backward.

*'''[[Star (item)#Mario Kart series|Star]]''' – When applied, the kart that used it becomes invincible against any item. It also boosts the speed and handling of the kart, and negates the effect of terrain that would otherwise slow the cart, for example, the shallow water on the Peach Beach track. The kart is also capable of knocking out any rival kart and stealing their items just by driving into them.

*'''[[Thunderbolt (item)#Mario Kart series|Thunderbolt]]''' – When used, the Thunderbolt shrinks, slows, and removes the items of all rival karts. If shrunken, drivers hit by an item while holding an item will drop said item.  

*'''[[Fake Item Box]]''' – At first sight, it looks like a normal Item Box, but upon closer inspection it is red with an inverted ? symbol. When used, it stays on the track until a kart hits it and spins out. The only way to get rid of these blocks is to run into it, so it can not be used to block homing items. Otherwise, this item eventually vanishes.