Nov. 18, 2005
Mario Kart DS Dominates
Nintendo's Goodie Should Be On Everyone's List This Year
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Interactive Read The Label Parents: before you buy the game, check the rating on the box!
The final WFC option available is the Nintendo Wireless USB Connector, a small USB wireless adapter that will connect to your broadband (DSL or cable) Internet connected Windows XP computer and allow your WFC enabled game to hit the Internet by way of your PC. It is about the size of an adult thumb and requires you install the software onto your Windows XP computer. After the software is installed on your computer, you simply tell the WFC game to look for that adapter instead of a wireless network. I had this setup running very quickly and was racing online inside of 90 seconds, and not just because I am a tech geek. The setup was very straightforward, and very easy; if you can install software and plug a USB device into your computer, you can do this.
Right now, the downside is that the only place to purchase this is online at Nintendo's website. Based on the demand for this product, this may change and be offered in retail stores, but that's the news I was given at the time of this review. With the ease of seting up the Wireless USB connector versus fighting with my home network, I hope Nintendo releases the Wireless USB Connector to retail. At worst, it's another option for the gamers to use.
So to sum up the WFC connectivity options:
To sum up Mario Kart DS: it's this season's "Killer App" for the Nintendo DS. It has the solid game play, easy to use controls, intense cartoon-combat racing action that Mario Kart veterans have been waiting for while still being very accessible to newcomers to the genre. Add smooth, fast paced Internet competition to the mix, and you have no end to the challenges that await you. Unfortunately, some of those challenges might involve setting up your personal wireless network to work with Mario Kart DS. Still, with other ways available to go easily online and turbo to the top of the leader board, new tracks along with tracks from previous Mario Karts and plenty of single player goodness to unlock, Mario Kart DS, rated E for Everyone, should be at the top of every DS owner's purchase list this holiday season.
By Alejandro K. Brown
© MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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