Diddy Kong Racing for DS not so BIG afterall

The majority of online gaming resources have completed a review on Diddy Kong Racing for the DS. It scored a maximum of 71 from IGN, but other scores are much lower. This funtastic racer seems to be halted by a range of poor decisions on how to use the DS's capabilities.

Review Scores for Diddy Kong Racing DS

* IGN, 71/10 - "Any time you're encouraged to touch the lower screen, you can pretty much assume that it wasn't in the original game and created specifically for the Nintendo DS "remake". It's these new DS-centric elements that point to the fact that this is a first-generation DS game handled by a team that's not quite familiar with the platform ... someone really needs to tell Rare that microphone blowing is so 2005. It wasn't a whole lot of fun when developers did it in the Nintendo DS' early years, and it's still not fun now ... unfortunately the development team focused a bit too much on "DS-izing" the product with completely unnecessary and frustrating touch-screen and microphone challenges that disrupt the racing design."

* Gamespot, 61/100 - "Diddy Kong Racing DS isn't a bad kart-racing game, but its best feature, the racing, is buried underneath so much unnecessary garbage that some people will find it nearly impossible to enjoy. Had Rare stripped the island setting, toned down the tedious collecting, and tweaked some other minor issues, the game would have been better with less. Instead, it chose to add more and more content, and the game suffers for it. Some of the new additions, such as online multiplayer and the various customization features, make the game more enjoyable, but many of them, particularly the touch-screen controls, make it worse."

* Gamesradar, 60/100 - "Diddy Kong Racing wants so damn hard to be the next Mario Kart that it hurts our eyes to play it for long periods of time. The racing itself is totally fine (if a little slow), but this simple pleasure is smothered in monotonous collecting and mindless wandering ... For those who remember the Nintendo 64 version from 1997, this is mostly the same game. Back then it wanted to be the next Mario Kart 64, but obviously wasn't. Now, the only thing that's been done to bump its stature is moderate touch screen silliness."

Very lousy game. It came out after Mario Kart DS so they should have at least matched that game's quality. It looks more like a game that a student made in high school.

its funny because one of my friends is trying to sell me big time on this game..

I waked away less than impressed. As unbalanced as mariokart ds was.. i still think it looks and plays much better than diddy kong.

I dont really dig on mariokart64 too much either.. Maybe on 64 diddy kong was better than mario kart.. But as far as their DS counterparts.. I have to say mario kart seems a lot better to me

Another game that proves the PSP is the better system.

Really thought this was supposed to look a lot better than it does but oh well, I guess the game has other lagging issues from this post and everyother place I have read info about this game.

I don't know if I'm sick or smthg but I really like this game and find the graphics one of the best on the DS. I just don't like the baloon collecting part in this game but the rest is just fine

i dont think the ds is getting old. or the PSP is a better system.

I just think with mario kart DS this game was not needed.

DS has PLENTY intriguing games. I wont make a list like many other people do when they try to "defend" their system. If you do your research tho I am sure you can find plenty of games worthwhile on the DS. Many of them Online enabled and good.

A 10 year old port of a N64 game is not the reason to say DS is a bad system.

the racing was okay in the game. i hate how they changed the island's look and the elephant genie's voice. collecting that crap coins sucked too.

The touch screen baloon thing sucks, but the racing is still good

i hate donkey kong anyway and didn't care much about the n64 game (let alone i never knew it existed) i would rather spend my time and money playing lunar knights instead

What you play to Donkey Kong Country Series!.

I think this game was really good. The only thing that Rare screwed up on was the third challenge in which you had to race with the touch screen. That is one of the worst idea's I've ever seen. Just because the DS has a touch screen it does not mean you have to use it. The game would of been perfect without the touch screen addition.

Originally Posted by Silversand

Another game that proves the PSP is the better system.

What! not wanting to start a console war here but the Nintendo DS is way better than the PSP for many reasons:
1.touch screen makes you in the game and more fun
2. Games are better like Mario Kart, Resident Evil DS, Super Mario 64, Lunar Knights, Clubhouse games, Digimon World DS, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, Elite Beat Agents, and all other wi-fi games and download play games. PSP doesn't have that much good gamez out, I have a PSP and want to get rid of it(for a reasonable price)
3. Small and not as heavy as PSP
4. Not as easy to fingerprint/damage as PSP(screen on DS protected when closed shut...PSP is not flippable)
5. Nintendo DS is also sold out, meaning it is on demand(better system)
6. cheaper and not pricey as PSP
7. one game(didy kong racing) that suks doesn't prove DS to suk, besides, PSP has some crappy a*s gamez also
8. DS can have functions like psp when utilized with mod products
9. saving game files do not require memory stick, since games save on the game card itself
10. PSP may have better specs but its how people enjoy the system that really counts,meaning that people enjoy the DS more

lets face-it... psp sucks!(well not that much...but it still suks!)

I had Mario Kart DS and find it a great game.. Initially is quite looking forward to this game.. But after hearing and reading the comments and reviews from friends and websites, guess I can save myself some cash..

Originally Posted by xshinox

the racing was okay in the game. i hate how they changed the island's look and the elephant genie's voice. collecting that crap coins sucked too.

They made Taj sound like a child molesterer!

However, if you can listen to Taj's voice without running away or vomiting, it's actually a very fun game!

I'm glad I "legally purchased" it, and didn't download it. That would be wrong