Improve at Mario Kart DS
This will help improve your racing ability in Mario Kart DS, and make you beat your opponents.
Steps
- Start unlocking characters and karts.
- Learn to get a perfect start. There are three ways that you can do this, but the most important way is to hold the A button as soon as two gets as large as possible. If you hold it too early, you'll stall and puff smoke, so be careful. You know if you have a perfect start because your character will accelerate.
- Learn to do Mini Turbos. To do this, wiggle the Control-Pad left and right while drifting twice. (You don't need to wiggle the Control-Pad fast. Try to do these around every corner.)
- If you have a router, go on Nintendo WFC and play more advanced opponents.
- Learn to Snake. Snaking is performing Mini Turbos on a straight road. This helps your catch ahead immensely. (If you want to be a snaker, practice on the Figure 8 Circuit, because it has wide roads.)
- Use your power-ups wisely. For instance, use Mushrooms to boost across grass or dirt.
- Learn to dodge a Red Shell. You can do this by dragging things behind you by holding the Left Trigger. This does not work with dragging fake boxes behind you. Drag a Green Shell, Banana, Triple Bananas, or Red Shell.
- You CAN dodge a Blue Shell. Let's say a blue shell was just fired from a racer in 4th place. You'll hear the 'whooshing' sound a blue shell makes as soon as it is launched. You should get yourself ready or start to position yourself for a powerslide depending on how far ahead you are from that racer. The blue shell noise should dissipate briefly. As soon as you hear it again, you should begin your powerslide, or already have the blue sparks appearing. The blue shell noise should begin to pulsate rapidly. By now, you should have the orange sparks. Be ready to release them at no more than a moment's notice because that is what you will have. This is where it gets tricky. The blue shell should be directly overhead by now. You'll be able to see it hovering at the top of your DS screen. Using your peripheral vision, you should be able to see the blue shell suddenly stop at the top of your screen and then begin its descent to the ground. At this point, let go of the 'R' trigger. Press it again to jump and lean into the natural direction of your powerslide. With the proper timing and a little luck, you will successfully dodge the infamous blue shell. Don't let it get to your head though. Just because you did it once, doesn't mean you'll be able to do it again with the same results. Besides, the race isn't over yet! You can also watch the video in Sources and Citations.
- Learn to draft behind your opponents. Staying directly behind a driver in front of you for a few seconds will help speed you up a lot. You will see white lines around your driver while you are doing this, signifying the wind is passing above you. Be careful that they don't drop a banana in your face!
- Find secret shortcuts by looking at the overall map on the bottom screen. There's a good one on Bowser's Castle! Try to find it.
- If you have a Boo, look at the bottom screen to see what good items your opponents have, then steal them.
- When you activate your Star power-up, be sure to cut through grass, flowers, or any terrain that slows you down. It is also useful to hit your enemies when your Star power-up is activated.
- Fire your shells at the right time. Fire your Red Shell when you are sure that your enemy in front of you isn't dragging anything behind them that could defeat your Red Shell. If they are dragging a box, feel free to shoot it at them, because the boxes can't stop a Red Shell. Fire your Green Shell behind you when your opponent is trying to Draft behind you.
Tips
- On DK Pass, there is a rolling snowball on the road next to several power-ups, followed by a right turn. Then there is a snowy hill on your left. Go up the hill, and you will find a hidden box. This box will give you Single or Triple Mushrooms or a Red Shell or a Star power-up even if you are in first place.
- In Sky Garden, with a Mushroom (or any speed boost), before you get to the Boost Pad with the Item Box, fly through the wooden boost.
- There is also another shortcut in Delfino Square, after you cross the bridge without the Dash Pads, look for two crates, and then look at your touch screen to see there is a small alley going through, it will save you a few seconds (it's best to use a mushroom in the alley because there is a small patch of mud).
- Make a cool emblem to show off while playing Nintendo WFC.
- The blue shell homes in on whoever is in the lead at launch, so sometimes it appears to hit someone in second or third, etc.
- Drop bananas on narrow roads, at the top of the loop on Rainbow Road, through the water on Cheep Beach, on the middle of jumps, or on the rotating pipe at Bowser's Castle, etc.
- In DK Pass just after you drive past the cliff and before the track starts going downhill, there is a ? box on a high snowbank on the left. Get this box, as it will give you either one or three Mushrooms or a Star - no matter what place you are in.
- In Sky Garden, close to the finish two clouds create a shortcut that allows you to bypass the last green net bridge. Normally the pink cloud slows you down so you cannot bridge the small gap between them - but by using a Mushroom, or jumping the gap by pressing R at the right time can carry you across them.
- To jump over the water gap on Yoshi's Circuit without any speed boost, use the Dry Bones Standard Kart, or the Dry Bomber Kart.
- Getting hit by any shell just before you get Blue Shelled will temporarily make you immune, and the Blue Shell won't hurt you.
- Once you have unlocked everything (you can tell by the new main screen), when going for speed, I have found the most success by using Waluigi and the R.O.B. Standard Kart. Although this kart is fast, it is not as quick as R.O.B.'s other karts, but you can get much better items with this Standard Kart, although if you want handling, use Bowser in Egg 1 or Toad in Dry Bomber.
- You get better items when you are farther away from first place.
- To help get catch up on Delfino Square, use a Mushroom to jump the water gap to the dock from the spot with the grass and trees to the left of the rock bridge. (Not the bridge with the Dash Pads on it)
Unlockables
- To unlock DryBones, get a gold trophy in every cup in the 50cc Nitro Grand Prix.
- To unlock Daisy, get a gold trophy in every cup in the 50cc Retro Grand Prix.
- To get the third kart for all the characters, get a gold trophy in every cup in the nitro Grand Prix on 100cc.
- To unlock Waluigi, get a gold trophy in every cup in the Retro Grand Prix on 100cc.
- To choose from 7 karts for each character, get a gold trophy on every cup on the Nitro Grand Prix on 150cc.
- To get 150cc mirror mode, get a gold trophy for every cup in the Retro Grand Prix in 150cc.
- To unlock R.O.B. as a racer, get a gold trophy on all cups in either Mirror Mode Grand Prix (Nitro/Retro).
- To unlock mission 7 in mission mode, get at least a one-star ranking in all the missions in missions 1-6.
- To choose from all karts for each character, get a gold trophy in every cup in the 150cc mirror that you didn't use to unlock R.O.B.
- To get the alternate title or ending screen, get gold trophies on all cups and on all difficulties (including Mirrors).
Warnings
- By pressing the L Button instead of the X button for using the Items reduces pressure and aching of the thumb.
- Avoid blue turtle shell. When you see that someone has a blue turtle shell, if you are in first and are close enough to the opponent in second place, you can stop driving and wait until they go in front of you. Usually it works, but you may want to stay close to third place in case it's already latched onto you so then you can take third down with you.
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