I was a huge fan of Mario Kart for the SNES and the followup on the N64. Excellent track design, frantic races, good graphics... but most importantly, each game was similar enough to be recognizable, but different enough to be a completely different experience.

I was greatly disappointed with Double Dash. The expanded roster, special abilities, and different karts was a nice touch, as was the strategy that can be obtained through using two drivers... but the track designs are incredibly boring, and pale in comparison to the tracks that could be found in the N64 version. They seem unimaginative and half-assed, almost as if they were done at the last minute. The number of shortcuts are lacking, and what shortcuts do exist either don't give you a worthwhile lead, or are nearly impossible to pull off.

Additionally, while the ability to hold two items at once adds some strategy, the power slide was completely neutered in Double Dash. In the N64 version, the ability to power slide is what separated the casual player from the hardcore player. In Double Dash, most tracks are very power slide unfriendly, and the mini-boost you get from a successful powerslide is fairly insignificant.

The AI in Double Dash is what you'd expect from a game like this. Though at times, you'll be convinced that the computer cheats. You could be in 1st for a majority of a race, only to get hit by 3 blue shells, 2 red shells, then knocked off the course, only to come in 7th place (yes, this has happened to me, several times). Additionally, during the harder races (such as 150cc All-Cup circuit) the same AI opponent will place in second almost ALL the time if you place first. Which means that if you don't place first in almost every race, that opponent will easily beat you.

Graphics are unimpressive for a GameCube title, especially considering what we've already seen from other publishers. Sound is standard Mario Kart fare; synthesized sounding "happy" music that's all too easily forgettable, combined with repetative one-liners from your racer... your ears will leave unimpressed.

Double Dash is still an enjoyable game. But Nintendo set a bar with Mario Kart 64, and Double Dash doesn't even come close to surpassing it. If you've never played Mario Kart 64, you may enjoy Double Dash. If you did play Mario Kart 64, whether you'll enjoy Double Dash depends entirely on your ability to tolerate recycled games that offer up hardly anything "fresh" or "different."