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Basic Setup
1. With the power off, the host loads the game cartridge into their Nintendo DS system.
2. The host powers their system on, then taps on the "Warning" screen and then on the graphic for the game.
Downloading
1. When the main menu loads up, the host taps on "Multiplayer" (the middle full-width bar).
2. The host taps on "Create Group" near the bottom of the screen.
3. The host then taps on the box marked "SIMPLE" (the bottom of the two boxes).
4. The guest(s) will power on their Nintendo DS system.
5. The guest(s) tap on the "Warning" screen and then on the "DS Download Play" button.
6. When the graphic bar appears saying "Mario Kart DS", the guests tap on it.
7. The guests' DS systems will ask "Would you like to download this software? Tap "Yes".
8. When the host's DS says that all guests trying to connect are connected, the host taps "Cut Off" near the bottom of the screen.
9. The guest will not be able to tap any of the options on their screen at this time; they are for viewing only.
Game/Feature/Options Selection
The host will select which of the three games are played: Vs, Balloon Battle, or Shine Runners
1. Vs (the host taps on the bar labeled Vs)
1a. In-Game Description: Use your brilliant driving techniques to race past your opponents!
1b. During the upcoming driver and vehicle selection phase, if the host does nothing for 5 seconds, the game will select Mario and the Standard MR kart.
1c. First, the host selects a driver by tapping on them. Guest(s) will have Shy Guy.
1d. Then, the host selects their vehicle by pressing left and right on the direction pad and then selecting with the "A" button.
1e. Next, the main Options menu will load.
1f. Te select any of the following settings, the host must highlight it by tapping on it's name or pressing up and down on the direction pad
1g. To adjust the currently slected setting, the host can tap on the yellow arrows or press left or right on the direction pad
1h. The CPU Kart Difficulty can be set to Off (no computer drivers), Easy, Normal, or Hard.
1i. The Course Selection can be set to Choose, In Order, or Random.
1j. The Rules for victory can be set to Free (race by race), Win(s) (the first to 1-10 wins), or Races (the most wins after 1-32 races)
1k. The Team option can be set On or Off. If it's set to On, each player uses the "L" and "R" buttons to select their team.
1l. Team settings are only applicable if there are at least three players playing.
1m. Once all options are set, the host taps "OK" at the bottom center of the lower screen.
2. Balloon Battle (the host taps on the bar labeled Balloon Battle)
2a. In-Game Description: Burst your opponents' balloons with items! If all your inflated balloons burst, you lose! Blow into the mic to inflate your balloons!
2b. During the upcoming driver selection phase, if the host does nothing for 5 seconds, the game will select Mario.
2c. First, the host selects a driver by tapping on them. Guest(s) will have Shy Guy.
2d. Next, the main Options menu will load.
2e. Te select any of the following settings, the host must highlight it by tapping on it's name or pressing up and down on the direction pad
2f. To adjust the currently slected setting, the host can tap on the yellow arrows or press left or right on the direction pad
2g. The CPU Kart Difficulty can be set to Off (no computer drivers), Easy, Normal, or Hard.
2h. The Rules for victory can be set to Free (race by race) or Win(s) (the first to 1-10 wins)
2i. The Team option can be set On or Off. If it's set to On, each player uses the "L" and "R" buttons to select their team.
2j. Team settings are only applicable if there are at least three players playing.
2k. The playable board is selected randomly.
2l. Once all options are set, the host taps "OK" at the bottom center of the lower screen.
3. Shine Runners (the host taps on the bar labeled Shine Runners)
3a. In-Game Description: Collect more Shines than anyone else! Steal opponents' Shines to add to your total. Those with less Shines get booted over time.
3b. During the upcoming driver selection phase, if the host does nothing for 5 seconds, the game will select Mario.
3c. First, the host selects a driver by tapping on them. Guest(s) will have Shy Guy.
3d. Next, the main Options menu will load.
3e. Te select any of the following settings, the host must highlight it by tapping on it's name or pressing up and down on the direction pad
3f. To adjust the currently slected setting, the host can tap on the yellow arrows or press left or right on the direction pad
3g. The CPU Kart Difficulty can be set to Off (no computer drivers), Easy, Normal, or Hard.
3h. The Rules for victory can be set to Free (race by race) or Win(s) (the first to 1-10 wins)
3i. The Team option can be set On or Off. If it's set to On, each player uses the "L" and "R" buttons to select their team.
3j. Team settings are only applicable if there are at least three players playing.
3k. The playable board is selected randomly.
3l. Once all options are set, the host taps "OK" at the bottom center of the lower screen.
Game Controls / How To Play
The following information pertains to all three Battle modes: Vs, Balloon Battle, and Shine Runners.
1. Basic controls: "A" button - press and hold the "A" button to go forward (gas pedal)
2. Basic controls: "B" button - press to break (break pedal) and hold to back up (reverse)
3. Basic controls: "X" button, pt 1 - press the "X" button to activate an item; some items can be held for a while by holding the "X" button
4. Basic controls: "X" button, pt 2 - to throw an item forward, press and hold the "X" button then hold up on the direction pad when you let go of the "X" button
5. Basic controls: "L" button - the "L" button has the exact same functions as the "X" button
6. Basic controls: "R" button - causes your vehicle to "hop"
7. Basic controls: "Y" button - press the "Y" button to switch between an overhead view of your vehicle and an entire-course map
8. Basic controls: tap the touch screen - this has the same effect as pressing the "Y" button
9. Basic controls: Start button - pause the game
10. Basic controls: Question Mark Block - to pick up items, simply drive through a Question Mark Block; usually located in groups
11. Complex controls: Drafting
If you are driving close behind another vehicles, you'll see some blue-green lines appear on your upper screen around your driver. These
are draft lines, and they indicate that you are receiving a speed boost because, being so close behind another kart, they're preventing you from
experienceing wind resistance (you're in their slipstream). If you stay behind them long enough (about 5 seconds straight without a break), you'll get
a free mushroom-quality speed boost.
12. Complex controls: Drifting
If you press and hold the "R" button just before entering a sharp turn, and steer through the turn, the car will slide forward but allow
you to turn without losing any speed. The slide will stop when you release the "R" button.
13. Complex controls: Powersliding
Powersliding is very similar to drifting and starts out the same way. After you've set the direction you're turning in, push left and
right on the direction pad over and over again (while still holding the "R" button and drifting). First, you'll see blue sparks by your wheels. If
you continue, the sparks will become a reddish-orange. When you see the reddish-orange sparks, stop pushing left and right on the direction pad and
let go of the "R" button and you'll get a super speed boost (similar to that of a mushroom). Make sure to stay on the track. If your kart slides off
the track onto grass, dirt, or anything else that can slow your kart down, you'll have to return to the track and start over.
14. Complex controls: Snaking
Snaking is the most difficult skill to master in Mario Kart DS. Where powersliding is used to go around corners, snaking is the same skill
used to get almost continuous speed boosts on a straight path. Snaking takes your kart from the left side of the track to the right side of the track
and back to the left side of the track. The difference in execution is that, while you still turn your kart (effectively) sideways, you immediately
steer it around straight again as soon as the speed boost takes effect, shooting you forward. Like powersliding, you must stay on the
track.
The following information pertains to the Battle mode Balloon Battle only.
1. Each driver will begin with one balloon inflated and four backup balloons (displayed in the top right corner of the upper screen).
2. Each driver can have a maximum of three balloons inflated at any one time.
3. To inflate additional balloons, blow into the Nintendo DS's microphone.
4. Balloons can not be inflated while a player is pressing the "A" button (gas pedal), but the kart does NOT have to stop moving.
5. Any time a driver takes damage, a balloon pops and is gone forever.
6. Damage can be taken by getting hit with an item or by hitting an item, even if it's one placed by the same person that hit it.
7. Driving off the edge of the Nintendo DS board counts as damage.
8. Backup balloons will NOT auto-inflate.
9. If you do not inflate your backup balloons, you will lose after taking damage once.
The following information pertains to the Battle mode Shine Runners only.
1. Each player will begin with no Shines (rounded-point stars) in their possession.
2. When the game begins, a one minute countdown will begin (top right corner of the lower screen).
3. At the end of the one minute countdown, whoever has the most Shines in their possession is the winner.
4. At the end of the one minute countdown, if both players possess the same number of Shines, a thirty second countdown will begin.
5. At the end of a thirty second countdown, whoever has the most Shines in their possession is the winner..
6. At the end of a thirty second countdown, if both players possess the same number of Shines, another thirty second countdown begins.
7. Whenever a player takes damage, they lose one of the Shines they possess.
8. Damage can be taken by getting hit with an item or by hitting an item, even if it's one placed by the same person that hit it.
9. Driving off the edge of the Nintendo DS board counts as damage.
10. When a player loses a shine to damage, the Shine will land on the board in a random location.
11. Shines that can be picked up will be displayed on the map on the lower screen.
12. The number of Shines available will change based on how many players there are.
13. In games with more players, as countdown timers run out, players with the fewest shines will be eliminated.
What To Look For...
... in the Battle mode Vs.
1. On the upper screen, the item you are carrying is located in the black box at top left corner.
2. On the upper screen, the current lap number is displayed in the top right corner.
3. On the upper screen, your current ranking is displayed in the bottom right corner.
4. On the lower screen, the time elapsed will be displayed in the top right corner.
5. On the lower screen, each player's current ranking will be displayed alone the left side (their status bar).
6. On the lower screen, the item each player is carrying is located next to their driver's picture (middle of the status bar).
... in the Battle mode Balloon Battle.
1. On the upper screen, the item you are carrying is located in the black box at top left corner.
2. On the upper screen, the number of backup balloons you have left is displayed in the top right corner.
3. On the lower screen, the time elapsed will be displayed in the top right corner.
4. On the lower screen, each player's current ranking will be displayed alone the left side (their status bar).
5. On the lower screen, the item each player is carrying is located next to their driver's picture (middle of the status bar).
6. On the lower screen, the number of current balloons a player has is diplayed by their driver's picture (right side of the status bar).
... in the Battle mode Shine Runners.
1. On the upper screen, the item you are carrying is located in the black box at top left corner.
2. On the upper screen, the number of Shines in your possession is listed in the top right corner.
3. On the lower screen, the countdown timer will be displayed in the top right corner.
4. On the lower screen, each player's current ranking will be displayed alone the left side (their status bar).
5. On the lower screen, the item each player is carrying is located next to their driver's picture (middle of the status bar).
6. On the lower screen, the number of Shines in a player's possession is listed by their driver's picture (right side of the status bar).
7. Shines will appear on the map on the lower screen when the overhead view map (not the entire course map) is displayed.
Overall Goals
... in the Battle mode Vs.
1. Complete the race as quickly as possible.
... in the Battle mode Balloon Battle.
1. Pop all of your opponents' balloons.
2. Protect your balloons.
3. Be the last player with balloons.
... in the Battle mode Shine Runners.
2. Protect the Shines you've picked up.
3. Prevent your opponents from picking up Shines.
4. Damage your opponents so that they drop any Shines they've picked up.
5. Be the player with the most Shines at the end of every countdown.
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