Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has got to a lot to prove. The original Super Mario Kart on the SNES is still lauded by many as one of the best driving games--and one of the best multi-player games--ever made, but Mario Kart 64 had a less unanimous welcome.

Thankfully, Double Dash!! has got everything right--indeed this is probably the best first-party sequel so far for the GameCube: the graphics are excellent, the power-ups are more insane than ever and most importantly the handling of the karts is excellent, with the powerslide of the SNES original all-important once more.

The big new gimmick for Double Dash!! is the fact that there are customised karts for you to drive, all of which can seat two characters. This ensures a surprising amount of tactical depth as you can switch the characters around mid-race in order to access each one's unique special weapons. As ever with Nintendo games, the gameplay is perfectly balanced so that the use of power-ups never overshadows the need to be a skilful driver. Indeed, the improved AI of the computer players is immediately noticeable as they move around the tracks in a highly intelligent manner, moving out of your way and blocking you off when necessary.

Of course the real draw with any Mario Kart game is the multi-player mode and this is as insanely enjoyable as ever in either race or battle mode. Indeed it's better than ever as you can now have up to 16 people playing at one time if you link up your GameCubes using broadband adapters. --David Jenkins

The review by "Olsta" that seems first up when I log on, sums up the nature of this game.

Nintendo will eventually release the Wii version so you can steer with the Wiimote. In the meantime this version is a great way to enjoy a truly great game for all the family. As with all Gamecube games on disc you need the Gamecube controllers (Not the Wii Classic one) and a Gamecube memory card if you want to save progress and points. Memory is not necessary to play when the family just load it up for an hour of fun! I got a set of Gamecube wireless controllers to keep the wirefree environment (Madcatz ones), and invested in an original Gamecube memory card due to forums indicating problems with third party ones. We have had no problems using this on the Wii and would recommend it as a good buy until the Wii version comes out at a sensible price, (if there is such a thing!). I think you will only get them secondhand now from around ??15 - Brilliant value in my opinion.

This game truly is spectacular. It is most underappreciated and has not been truly taken into consideration of other gamers. Multiplayer fun is what this game is all about. 2 - 8 players of multiple fun (whilst 5 - 8 players can only be played on system link), you'll have a barrel of laughs whilst catching up on the fun experience that created Mario Kart.

Graphics - 10/10, perfectly animated cartoon style graphics
Multiplayer - 10/10, completely flawless
Lastability - 10/10, this game will be a classic, lots to do even when completed story mode and gone through the game.

Ive spent countless hours playing this game on my gamecube, its a fun game. Multiplayer gaming doesnt get any better! It loads up fast, the graphics are still great for todays standards, for the money you spend here, it is a great buy!

I must admit I dont play it as much now, because I got a Wii for a fiver, if you dont believe me, read my guide on gadgets4u()(.)()tk on the web, simply remove the ()

Don't know if many people know this but I bought a used gamecube console off a friend and had mario kart double dash as one of the games that came along with the package our little boy loves this game but had problems loading it and found it had a crack in it searched all over for another then went to toys r us and found it had been reduced to ??4.99 brand new and still in packaging I say give it a go there first before you spend more than you need to it was about 6 weeks ago when I got ours.

If you are not much into thinking games then this game is for you as its fun and really easy to get the hang of. Great to play with more than one player. It has all the fun of the original SNES game and will appeal to the "retro" gamer and gamers of all ages! The sounds/music and daft aspects of the game make it for me. However, this game is rather short and thats the only thing that lets it down.