Gaming to Go: Mario Kart DS (page 3)

Mario Kart DS still commands a decent price on sites like Amazon and eBay, so any of the sad few who haven't played it yet might not find enough incentive here to finally break out their wallets. Still, any one who plays the game as often as I do can vouch for the price tag, as few other DS games are so enjoyable whether I'm alone or geeking out with friends.

Perhaps that's the most remarkable thing about it — even though I've fought my way through every cup and blazed a trail on every track, I still grab Mario Kart DS whenever I head out for the day. It's fun, fast, and truly indicative of the strengths of a portable system. What else can you ask for?

Ready for the stats?

Sleep time: Thankfully, the game pauses when you close the lid. The world would be a far darker place if it didn't. Can you imagine having to jump immediately back into a 150cc race?

Load time: A little over thirty seconds to start a grand prix, though you can probably trim it a bit by skipping the track introduction cinematic.

Play time: Usually around two or three minutes, though it does depend on the track size and how often you get hammered by items. I still shudder when I think of how many blue shells came my way last time I raced.