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Hint #1 - My Friend, The Computer
Sometimes, activating computer opponents can be a benefit. In Vs, if you've learned the art of drafting (driving in another player's slipstream),
turning the computer drivers on (and setting them to Easy, or whatever difficulty you want) will give you some additional opponents to draft off of.
In Balloon Battle and Shine Runners, computer-controlled drivers may even help you eliminate your human opponent quicker.
Hint #2 - I'm Dreaming Of A Blue Spiny
One of the rare items you can pick up from a Question Mark Block is the Spiny Shell which, when activated, lock onto the driver who is currently in
the lead. One strategy is to stay in second place until the end of the race, and then pass into the lead. Another is to watch the items the other
drivers pick up and, if one gets a Spiny Shell, immediately hit the breaks to fall to second place before it is launcher. If you find yourself in a
short lead and can't fall back before it's launched, get as close to the second place driver (and the third place driver, too, if possible) when it
hits. If you get close enough, they'll get hit by the blast as well.
Hint #3 - Cover Your Behind
Some items (check out the Mario Kart DS Walkthroughs) can be dragged behind
your kart before being dropped or thrown forward. Particularly in Vs mode, it's a good idea to always be dragging an item behind you when you're in
the lead. It won't protect you from a Spiny Shell (which can fly over it), but it can protect you from Red Shells, Green Shells, Triple Red Shells,
and Triple Green Shells that are shot at you. Remember, everyone behind you ius gunning for your position, after all.
Hint #4 - Take A Brake Today
There are three ways to stop/slow down in Mario Kart DS. You can always hit the brake (the "B" button), which is the quickest way to slow down,
but the slowest way to start back up (don't press it too long, or you'll begin to drive in reverse). If you just want to slow up a little bit, just
take you foot off the gas (stop pressing the "A" button) for a few seconds, and you'll have better steering control. Want something right about in the
middle? Try hitting the brake and gas ("A" and "B" buttons) together. You'll slow up into a stationary position, revving your engines.
Hint #5 - Inflate With Caution
In Balloon Battle, you can't inflate your spare balloons while you've got your foot on the gas (while you're pressing the "A" button). Know where
your opponents are and what direction they're headed in before you start inflating your balloons, and don't take your eyes off them in case they turn
around. Be sure that you've gotten to a safe location, and then blow the balloons up quickly!
Hint #6 - Last Second Grabbies
In Shine Runners, when a countdown reaches zero, the person with the most Shines wins. If it's a tie, a new countdown begins. Players always act
more decisively if their opponent has more, but not as much so when there's a tie, assuming they have time to spare. If there's a free Shine, block
your opponent from getting there and, if you can, grab it at the last second.
Hint #7 - Welcome To The Edge
The Nintendo DS board is the only board available in the Single-Card Download versions of Balloon Battle and Shine Runners where you can literally
drive off the edge of the board. Know where you are at all times and be very, very careful when using mushrooms!
Hint #8 - Oh, Mario, You And Your Pipes!
Be aware that the pipes in the Pipe Plaza board (Balloon Battle and Shine Runners) don't go the same direction each time. If you go into Pipe A,
you come out Pipe C, but if you go back into Pipe C, you come out of Pipe D. If you enter Pipe D, you exit from Pipe B, and if you head back into Pipe
B, you emerge from Pipe A. In other words, learn the pattern if you want to know where you'll be coming out from.
Hint #9 - Bouncey Bouncey
The Tart Top board used in Balloon Battle and Shine Runners has a few unique features. In the center, a rainbow-colored speed boost strip
surrounds the center of the board and jumps you over the cherry in the center up to (if you're aimed right) the Question Mark Blocks; you don't have to
go straight up if you don't want to, you can also angle extremely left or right and be shot a third the way around the board. There are also several
creme puffs around the board that will bouce you off, usually leaving some cream on your upper screen for a few seconds as a souvenir. You can be
bounced off these by accident, or use them to your advantage as a way of avoiding enemies (& their attacks) or changing direction quickly.
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