Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

This article is about the Nintendo GameCube game. For the Macromedia Flash program, see Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (guide).

"Double Dash!!" redirects here. For the co-op move of the same name, see Rocket Start.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
For alternate box art, see the related gallery.
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform	Nintendo GameCube
Release dates	November 7, 2003 November 14, 2003 November 14, 2003 November 17, 2003 December 20, 2003
Languages	English Japanese French (Europe) German Italian Spanish (Europe)
Genre	Racing
Ratings	ESRB: - Everyone[?] CERO: - All ages[?] PEGI: - Three years and older[?] USK: - All ages[?] ACB: - General[?]
Modes	Single player, multiplayer
Format	Nintendo GameCube: Optical disc
Input	Nintendo GameCube: Nintendo GameCube Controller
Serial codes	DOL-GM4J-JPN DOL-GM4E-KOR DOL-GM4E-USA DOL-GM4P-EUR

“Team Up for Twice the Fun!”

—Game tagline

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and the fourth entry in the Mario Kart series. It was released worldwide in November 2003, released in Japan first, and later rereleased as a Player's Choice title in Australia and New Zealand. The game, while retaining many aspects of the previous Mario Kart games, such as selecting a 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; one drives and the other uses items, and they can switch positions at any time if necessary. This is the only game in the franchise in which two players can play cooperatively in one kart, with each player handling a single character. However, the option to play in separate two-person karts for each player is still available. In addition, the game introduces Special Items, items that are exclusive to a pair of characters. The game is one of the few games to utilize 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 go-kart being the sole vehicle all racers use, and this variety of vehicles has been retained in all the Mario Kart games since.

Gameplay

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, karts, 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 Boxes, characters can receive any standard item or a 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.

Another notable change featured in the game is the point system given to the racers after a competition in Grand Prix mode. It resembles a hybrid of the point systems used for Formula One from 1991-2002 (10-6-4-3-2-1) and from 2003 onwards (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1), whereas earlier Mario Kart games use a point system resembling the one used for Formula One from 1962-1990 (9-6-4-3-2-1). Additionally, players cannot retry a failed race in Grand Prix mode, as opposed to the first three games. Users have to continue racing until finishing a cup to see the overall results. This new system is used for all Mario Kart installments since this game. The following chart shows the difference of the point spreads from the previous games to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Point spread comparisons
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th
Super Mario Kart Mario Kart 64 Mario Kart: Super Circuit	9	6	3	1	0	0	0	0
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!	10	8	6	4	3	2	1	0

This is also the first Mario Kart game that can be played in multiple languages, besides English and Japanese, and to feature live-rendered 3D models for the characters and items instead of the pre-rendered sprites seen in previous installments.

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 course, lasting a few seconds, shows all of the big features of the track, such as obstacles, scenery, and the characters at the 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 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.

Controls

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.

Menu controls

• - Move
• - Select option
• - Go back
• - Switch which character starts as driver (after selecting two characters)
• + - Randomly select characters for everyone (if no player has chosen a character)
• - Open Start Menu (at title screen)

Race controls

The controls for single play, and co-op play, respectively in the pause menu.

Single play

• - Accelerate/Rocket Start
• - Brake/Reverse
• - Steer
• / - Drift/Power slide (Hold)/Mini-Turbo (Release)
• / - Use item/Stop Item Roulette/Sound horn
• / + - Throw item forward or backward
• - Switch characters
• - Pause/Resume

Co-op play

• - Double Dash!!
• /// - Use item/Stop Item Roulette/Sound horn
• / - Slide Attack
• - Switch characters (both players must hit the switch button at the same time)

Drifting and mini turbo

Main article: Drift

Drifting prevents racers from losing speed in turns or from going off the course. By keeping the controller's (or ) button pressed, and tilting the stick to either side, racers make the kart begin a turn. While drifting, racers can gain a momentary speed boost by tilting the control stick to either side, opposite to a corner's direction. The kart then starts to produce sparks on its wheels. Doing this two times more, racers make the sparks become orange, then blue. Then, a mini turbo can be released right after the racer lets go of the (or ) button.

This tactic can be used to perform "snaking" (continuous power sliding) and elude homing hazards such as Red Shells.

Rocket Start

Main article: Rocket Start

The Rocket Start in action at Baby Park

A Rocket Start is a speed boost given to a kart when a race starts out. To perform, racers have to press the button to accelerate right when Lakitu's lights turn green or by tapping the button repeatedly while Lakitu counts down.

Double Dash!!

Main section: Rocket Start § Double Dash!!

The Double Dash!! in action at Mushroom Bridge

The Double Dash!! is similar to the Rocket Start. Although it is more powerful, it can only be performed in Co-op play. Both team members can press the button at the same time when Lakitu's light turns green. Upon being done perfectly, the kart bolts farther, leaving out a blue flame as a result. This technique is named after the game's subtitle.

Item steal

Donkey Kong uses the Slide Attack, which can be used to steal items from opposing racers.

Item stealing is snatching a power-up directly from the rival's hands in a kart. There are three ways to steal an item as long as the player's rear character holds no items. Items can be stolen when the rear racer uses a Mushroom or a Star to hit an opposing kart and snatch the item that one of the rivals have. In Co-op Mode, the player's rear character can use the Slide Attack to knock other rivals and take their items away. However, if the rear character knocks a rival kart with two players holding an item, the character can get the rival rear character's item, while the rival driver drops the other item onto the track.

Game modes

Up to four players can play in all the modes, excluding Time Trial mode, where only one is permitted. In addition, the users can play independently or in cooperative mode, a unique style of gameplay only featured in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Grand Prix

In Grand Prix Mode, the player needs to win the cups against computer-controlled opponents. The difficulty level against CPU racers changes in each of the four engine classes, which are the following:

• 50cc - Easy. The minimum top speed is low for all karts and CPU racers have a very limited selection of items. Any kart may take the 1st and 2nd place positions. All characters race in their default teams.
• 100cc - Normal. The minimum top speed is fairly average, while CPU drivers have a wider selection of items: they may throw Red Shells at players. Lightweight karts will almost never be in the top positions (when controlled by CPU). All characters race in their default teams.
• 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 karts 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 karts 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 courses 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.

The Special Cup is unlocked when the player beats the 100cc Star Cup. 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 Grand Prix 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 with two to four players.

Time Trial

In Time Trial, a single player races on a course 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 Mushrooms in hand for speed boosts. The best time elapsed in a lap and a race on a specific course is saved after completing the race. Once a race is completed on a course, the user is able to compete against either their 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.

In Japan, players were able to submit special codes in Time Trial mode as part of a contest. The contest never existed outside of Japan, but the results of the code can still be accessed in all versions of the game.

Battle

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.

Some items in Balloon Battle and Shine Thief behave differently compared to Grand Prix and Versus. Fireballs scatter in groups of three instead of five, a Green Shell will break after hitting a wall four times instead of eight, and the Star invincibility timer is marginally shorter. These changes were likely made to accommodate for the battle arenas being significantly smaller.

Battle mode contains three different sub-modes:

Battle	Description
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. Unlike Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, the players no longer transform into Mini Bomb Karts or Bob-ombs after being taken out, and instead just vanish.
Shine Thief	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 Shine Runners from Mario Kart DS was based on this sub-mode.
Bob-omb Blast	Characters use Bob-ombs 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. Bob-ombs thrown forward explode as soon as they land, whereas Bob-ombs dropped backwards will detonate after about two seconds (or if another driver makes contact first). Any kart that makes contact with an opponent's bomb or gets blown up by the explosion loses stars. However, karts caught in the blast radius of their own Bob-omb are immune. For two players, competitors need three stars to win the battle, while for three or four players, they need four. Slide Attacks are uniquely disabled during Co-op Play, so Bob-omb stealing is impossible.

Versus

Characters racing in Versus mode.

Versus (for two to four players) allows racers to select their characters and karts excluding the presence of computer drivers. Courses can also be raced individually, without needing to play through a full cup. 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 courses, ranging from one to nine. If one lap is chosen, the beginning of the race starts as a Final Lap with Final Lap fanfare music.
• Items: The variety of items given to the racers can be changed to:
  • Recommended: Default way in obtaining certain item by racer's place.
  • Basic: Powerful items such as Lightning and Stars are rarely obtainable.
  • Frantic: Basic items such as Fake Items, Bananas, and Green Shells are rarely obtainable.
  • None: No items to use at all.

Co-op play

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 at the same time. This special boost is the Double Dash!!.

The following table below excludes Time Trial as it is a single player exclusive mode.

Co-op Play Modes
Players	Grand Prix	Versus	Battle
2 vs 2/1 vs 1
2 player co-op
2 vs 1 vs 1

Characters

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 Daisy, Birdo, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, 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. Characters are divided into three classes depending on their weight: Light, Medium and Heavy. There are eight default teams and two unlockable teams (including Toad making his only unlockable appearance in a Mario Kart game), making up a total of ten teams and twenty individual characters that can be combined in any way, allowing 190 possible character combinations. Pressing and together before any player has chosen a character chooses a random pair of characters and a random kart to play as for each player.

Drivers	Weight	Default kart	Special item	Unlock method
Mario	Medium	Red Fire	Fireballs (red)	Available from the start
Luigi	Medium	Green Fire	Fireballs (green)
Peach	Medium	Heart Coach	Heart	Available from the start
Daisy(new)	Medium	Bloom Coach
Yoshi	Medium	Turbo Yoshi	Yoshi's Egg	Available from the start
Birdo(new)	Medium	Turbo Birdo	Birdo's Egg
Baby Mario(new)	Light	Goo-Goo Buggy	Chain Chomp	Available from the start
Baby Luigi(new)	Light	Rattle Buggy
Koopa	Light	Koopa Dasher	Triple Green Shells and Triple Red Shells	Available from the start
Paratroopa(new)	Light	Para-Wing
Donkey Kong	Heavy	DK Jumbo	Giant Banana	Available from the start
Diddy Kong(new)	Light	Barrel Train
Bowser	Heavy	Koopa King	Bowser's Shell	Available from the start
Bowser Jr.(new)	Light	Bullet Blaster
Wario	Heavy	Wario Car	Bob-omb	Available from the start
Waluigi(new)	Medium	Waluigi Racer
Toad	Light	Toad Kart	Golden Mushroom	Win the 100cc Special Cup
Toadette(new)	Light	Toadette Kart
Petey Piranha(new)	Heavy	Piranha Pipes	All, excluding green Fireballs and Birdo's Egg	Win the Mirror Star Cup
King Boo(new)	Heavy	Boo Pipes

Karts

Scan from page 22 of the instruction booklet.

Twenty-one karts are available in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, notable for being the first Mario Kart game to have different kart designs: Each character has an associated kart, plus the Parade Kart. Every kart has three ratings, rated by the number of stars. The maximum amount is five.

• Acceleration: How quickly a kart can achieve its top speed.
• Speed: The level of top speed when the kart goes forward.
• Weight: The weight of the kart.

Just as the characters are classified according to their weights, karts are split into three groups in size with some general characteristics:

• 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.
• Medium: Medium-weight vehicles show average top speed and acceleration. Some karts within this group have slightly varied stats, however.
• Heavy: Heavyweight karts have the highest level of weight among the karts, capable of knocking away most light and some medium-weight vehicles/characters away. Many of these show high top speed, although their acceleration and off-road are fairly poor. They also have tighter turning.

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.

These are the kart stats that are displayed in-game.

Vehicle	Associated character	Class	Speed	Acceleration	Weight	Unlock method