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FAQ/Walkthrough

by bowser194

                             NINTENDO PRESENTS
        __  ___           _          __ __           __     ____  _____
       /  |/  /___ ______(_)___     / //_/___ ______/ /_   / __ \/ ___/
      / /|_/ / __ `/ ___/ / __ \   / ,< / __ `/ ___/ __/  / / / /\__ \
     / /  / / /_/ / /  / / /_/ /  / /| / /_/ / /  / /_   / /_/ /___/ /
    /_/  /_/\__,_/_/  /_/\____/  /_/ |_\__,_/_/   \__/  /_____//____/

             ************************************************
             *           bowser194's Seventh FAQ            *
             *       Mario Kart DS - FAQ/Walkthrough        *
             *                Version 1.25                  *
             *        FAQ Created: November 20, 2005        *
             *       Latest Update: December 31, 2005       *
             *      E-Mail: bowser194(at)gmail(dot)com      *
             ************************************************

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                     ********************************
                     * Section 1 - The Introduction *
                     ********************************

                      Section 1A - Table Of Contents
                     ================================

Section 1 - The Introduction
----------------------------
Section 1A - Table Of Contents
Section 1B - Version History
Section 1C - Introduction

Section 2 - Various Information
-------------------------------
Section 2A - Controls
Section 2B - Characters
Section 2C - Items
Section 2D - Karts
Section 2E - Rankings
Section 2F - Gameplay

Section 3 - The Race Tracks
---------------------------
Section 3A - Mushroom Cup
Section 3B - Flower Cup
Section 3C - Star Cup
Section 3D - Special Cup
Section 3E - Shell Cup
Section 3F - Banana Cup
Section 3G - Leaf Cup
Section 3H - Lightning Cup

Section 4 - The Missions
------------------------
Section 4A - Level #1
Section 4B - Level #2
Section 4C - Level #3
Section 4D - Level #4
Section 4E - Level #5
Section 4F - Level #6
Section 4G - Level #7

Section 5 - Online Play
-----------------------
Section 5A - Information
Section 5B - Setting Up
Section 5C - Playing Online
Section 5D - Troubleshooting

Section 6 - Tactics & Unlockables
---------------------------------
Section 6A - Tips & Tactics
Section 6B - Unlockables
Section 6C - Frequently Asked Questions

Section 7 - Conclusion
----------------------
Section 7A - Closing
Section 7B - Credits
Section 7C - Contacting Me
Section 7D - Copyright

              --------------------------------------------

                       Section 1B - Version History
                      ==============================

Version 0.15
FAQ Size: 43KB
Date: November 20, 2005
Submitted the guide to GameFAQs. As you can clearly see, there is a lot of work
left to do on this FAQ, but there should and will be a lot more completed for
the next update.

Version 0.40
FAQ Size: 89KB
Date: November 25, 2005
I completed more of the Characters section, but I'm still missing R.O.B., who
I'm yet to unlock. Rankings and Gameplay sections were also finished. The
Flower Cup and Star Cup sections are done in Section 3. In Section 4, I've
completed Level 2 of the Missions, and Section 5 was finished completely. I
also added more to the Secrets section as well, and went through the guide,
correcting many of the typos and errors.

Version 0.55
FAQ Size: 117KB
Date: December 2, 2005
Remodelled the Characters and Items sections to be more visually pleasing.
Finally unlocked R.O.B. and typed up his description, so the Characters section
is complete. I've added the first 15 karts, and moved the Frequently Asked
Questions into Section 6. The Special Cup and Level #3 are done, too. Lastly, I
decided to convert to the GameFAQs standard of version numbering.

Version 0.75
FAQ Size: 152KB
Date: December 6, 2005
Large update. The Karts section is complete - all 36 karts have been listed.
Two more cups have been typed up, those being for the Shell Cup and Banana Cup.
In Mission Mode, Level #4 and Level #5 are done, too.

Version 0.90
FAQ Size: 177KB
Date: December 10, 2005
The FAQ is just about done. The tips an tricks sections is complete, and 
everything in the FAQ has been completed except for the Everything has been 
completed except for the Lightning Cup and Level #7 in Mission Mode, which I'm 
trying to improve my scores on before completing this guide.

Version 1.00
FAQ Size: 194KB
Date: December 18, 2005
Having been busy lately, it took a while, but finally, the FAQ is complete! All 
characters, items, and karts have been added, all the tracks and missions have 
walkthroughs, and all other miscellaneous information has been completed. There 
may still be a few future updates to add some little tidbits here and there, 
but for the most part, this is a complete guide.

Version 1.05
FAQ Size: 196KB
Date: December 20, 2005
A quick and small update. Many little tidbits were added here and there, 
including a new Troubleshooting section for online play, a description for Shy 
Guy, more Frequently Asked Questions, and so on.

Version 1.15
FAQ Size: 198KB
Date: December 26, 2005
As expected the Christmas rush of users is here, and with it has come many 
emails that included new strategies, additions, and corrections to the FAQ. 
I've fixed up the track descriptions a bit. Lastly, SuperCheats has been 
granted permission to host this FAQ on their site.

Version 1.25
FAQ Size: 200KB
Date: December 31, 2005
A ton of updates have been made to the FAQ, all from user-submitted emails. 
There's quite a bit of minor changes that have been made, so you may have to 
browse around to find them.

              --------------------------------------------

                        Section 1C - Introduction
                       ===========================

Welcome to my seventh FAQ for the newest edition to the Mario Kart series! Not
only does this game offer a nice variety of playing modes and a mix of various
race tracks, but it also spotlights the first game ever created for the
Nintendo DS with online Wifi play. This alone has made the game extremely
popular, and it also provides nearly infinite replay value.

Along with online play, other small features that are not as obvious to the
casual observer include a new 'Mission' mode, which sends you spiralling 
through 63 different tasks. There is also a wide selection of tracks, ranging 
from the SNES to the GCN and completely new tracks for the DS. There are also 
many unlockables and new characters to be found.

The goal of this FAQ is to assist you in beating the entire game, along with
providing tips and strategies for the tracks and information about connecting
online (which seems to be a major issue). So let's begin.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                   ***********************************
                   * Section 2 - Various Information *
                   ***********************************

In this section, you'll find various information on the items, characters,
controls, and so on. A good section if you want to refer to something.

                          Section 2A - Controls
                         =======================

The controls are similar to previous editions of Mario Kart, but unfortunately
they cannot be changed and you'll find it will become uncomfortable after long
periods of play.

 Control Pad - Use this to turn and select the throwing direction of an item.
    A Button - Accelerate. You'll be holding this the entire race.
    B Button - Brake, or reverse. You probably won't be using this frequently.
    X Button - Throw items. Hold this down to drag the item behind you.
    Y Button - Change the map display.
    L Button - Throw items. This has the same function as X.
    R Button - Drift. This allows you to take the corners without losing speed.
       Start - Used simply to pause the game.
      Select - Not used.
Touch Screen - Navigate through the menus or change the map display.

Also, note that holding A and B at the same time allows you to perform a slower
and sharper turn, useful on sharp corners and certain missions. Thanks to
rollwithem for pointing this out.

               --------------------------------------------

                          Section 2B - Characters
                         =========================

There are 12 playable characters in Mario Kart DS, eight of those playable
right from the beginning. They all vary in weight, which also has an impact on
acceleration, speed, and power. Choose according to your preference.

Starting Characters
-------------------
       Name - Mario
     Weight - Medium
Description - Since the 1980's, Mario has starred in a wide variety of games. 
              Everything from 'Mario Golf' to 'Mario Tennis'. In this game, he 
              is yet again, the star of the show. Mario is the most well-
              balanced, all-around character available for play. A great choice 
              for newcomers to Mario Kart DS.

       Name - Luigi
     Weight - Medium
Description - Since the beginning, Luigi has always played second fiddle to his 
              older brother, but over the years he's had his chances in games 
              like 'Mario is Missing' and Luigi's Mansion. In this game, Luigi 
              races similar to his brother, but his karts offer more control 
              and less drifting ability.

       Name - Peach
     Weight - Light
Description - Usually the reason Mario is always out on a trek is because of 
              Peach, but you'd think after all these years she'd have learned 
              to defend herself! In Mario Kart DS, she offers good acceleration 
              and surprisingly, she doesn't get knocked around very much 
              because of some of her karts are heavy.

       Name - Yoshi
     Weight - Light
Description - Every now and then, Yoshi will pop in a random game to play the 
              common role as Mario's sidekick. This dinosaur is one of the most 
              popular characters in the game, and that may be due to his superb 
              acceleration without sacrificing top speed or control, although 
              he is mediocre in remaining categories.

       Name - Toad
     Weight - Light
Description - The servant to Princess Peach in all Mario games. Toad rarely has 
              much of a role, but has always been a playable character in Mario 
              Kart. Toad has extreme acceleration abilities, but a slower top s
              speed and he'll get knocked around quite a bit.

       Name - Donkey Kong
     Weight - Heavy
Description - The first game he was featured in was 'Donkey Kong' in the 
              arcade, and since then he has evolved into a popular and commonly 
              seen character in party-style Mario games. In this game, DK is 
              great for Drifting and has a well-rounded top speed. DK also has 
              some fairly heavy karts.

       Name - Wario
     Weight - Heavy
Description - Mario's arch-rival, Wario, was first brought into the Mario kart 
              series with the N64 version of the game. He has always been very 
              comparable to DK in terms of weight and speed, and this game is 
              no exception. He seems to have somewhat better control than DK, 
              though.

       Name - Bowser
     Weight - Heavy
Description - If Mario is out on a mission, Bowser has usually been the reason 
              why. For over 20 years, Bowser has kidnapped Peach time and time 
              again, and created havoc throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. In 
              Mario Kart DS, with his insane weight, he knocks anybody out of 
              his path, and also has the fastest top speed, at the sacrifice of 
              acceleration.

Unlockable Characters
---------------------
       Name - Dry Bones
     Weight - Light
Description - Dry Bones was a surprise addition to this game and Mario Party 7, 
              and has never had any important role in any game in the past. 
              Regardless, he's still a great racer in Mario Kart DS, far ahead 
              of his opponents in acceleration and control. However, he does 
              disappoint when it comes to top speed.

       Name - Daisy
     Weight - Light
Description - Daisy is the Princess of the 'other kingdom', and pops up in 
              various party games from time to time. The only game she was ever 
              featured in was Super Mario Bros. for the original Game Boy, 
              where she was the princess Mario attempted to save, instead of 
              Peach. (Thanks to ZephyrSeija for that info.) Daisy is pretty 
              much average in all categories, but usually she's a good choice 
              when it comes to drifting.

       Name - Waluigi
     Weight - Medium
Description - Very similar to Daisy in the sense that he's never had a game 
              featuring him, but he always seems to pop up in party games. Also 
              similar is how his karts are average, usually a bit better or 
              more improved when items come into play. Otherwise, there's 
              nothing special about him.

       Name - R.O.B.
     Weight - Heavy
Description - Your first question is likely to question this character's 
              identity. R.O.B. is actually not a character, but a peripheral 
              for the NES. R.O.B. is extremely heavy, equivalent to the weight 
              of Bowser, and tends to have heavier karts.

Special Characters
------------------
       Name - Shy Guy
     Weight - Light
Description - Shy Guy can only be used in multiplayer mode when players do not
              have their own DS Card. He's very comparable to Yoshi in terms of
              kart weight, speed and acceleration, but exact stats on him are 
              unknown.

               --------------------------------------------

                           Section 2C - Items
                          ====================

There are a total of 17 items that be found in the item boxes scattered around
each track. Each item has a special ability and appears depending on your
position in the race. Each description provides you with the name, states
whether or not the item can be dragged behind you, and when you're most likely
to come across it. Items are listed in alphabetical order for your convenience.

         Name - Banana
    Draggable - Yes
Usually Found - 1st to 5th Place
  Description - The banana was one of the first and also one of the most 
                obvious roadblocks to Mario Kart. They can be dragged behind 
                you and used as a shield from certain items thrown at you, but 
                you can also simply drop them behind you or throw them ahead of 
                you by holding Up on the Control Pad. A fairly effective tactic 
                you might want to keep in mind for races is to drop the banana 
                behind you when there is an opponent trailing you by a short 
                distance. They'll have no time to react to it.

         Name - Blooper
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 3rd to 8th Place
  Description - A new addition to the Mario Kart series, but it isn't very 
                effective. When used, all racers ahead of you have their 
                screens blotted (but not completely covered) in black ink for 
                about eight seconds. Against human opponents, it's only a minor 
                distraction because of the second screen with the map that you 
                can use to navigate. However, computer opponents may swerve out 
                of control and even slow down a bit.

         Name - Blue Shell
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 5th to 8th Place
  Description - A very useful item, simply because it can't be avoided and can 
                change the race completely. When used, this shell will shoot 
                away from your kart at top speeds, then fly over the course 
                until it reaches the player in first place. They cannot avoid 
                being hit, and there is a small blast radius that will cause 
                anyone else who drives through to spin out. It's very uncommon 
                and you shouldn't expect to see it too often, especially if 
                you're near the top.

         Name - Bob-Omb
    Draggable - Yes
Usually Found - 1st to 8th Place
  Description - The Bob-Omb was first introduced in MK: Double Dash for the 
                GCN, but only Wario and Waluigi could get this special item. In 
                this game, however, anybody can get it, and I've found it in 
                many positions in the race, making it even more common. When 
                dropped (or thrown forwards), it will sit there for a few 
                seconds, then explode, creating a large blast radius around it 
                that will make any kart that runs through it spin out. If you 
                run into the Bob-Omb before it detonates, then you'll be caught 
                right in the middle of the blast, so be sure to avoid it if 
                somebody throws it at you.

         Name - Boo
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 5th to 8th Place
  Description - Boo is an extremely useful item that can multitask for you. Not 
                only will it make you invisible (which in turn, makes you 
                immune to bananas and shells), but it will also go after a 
                randomly selected opponent with an item, and bring it to you. 
                If nobody has an item, you'll get nothing. This is a great way 
                to sneak up on someone and nail them with a shell or something 
                similar. Also note that you can drive off-road unhindered with 
                this item in use (Thanks to cubedman990 for that info).

         Name - Bullet Bill
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 5th to 8th Place
  Description - Very similar to Chain Chomp from MK: Double Dash for the GCN, 
                the only difference being that you fly above the course. When 
                you get Bullet Bill, you are sent rocketing through the stage 
                for about 5-7 seconds, knocking out any opponents in your path. 
                Great item, but very rare.

         Name - Fake Item Box
    Draggable - Yes
Usually Found - 1st to 5th Place
  Description - This item is simply an item box without a '?' in it. You can 
                tell it is fake by this and if it doesn't revolve. It will also 
                show up red on the map on your bottom screen. (Thanks to felix-
                m for that info.) When you run into it, you'll flip over and be 
                stopped for a second or two. Using the Fake Item Box is all 
                about strategy. Placing it in the middle of nowhere doesn't do 
                you any good, because it will be fairly obvious that it is 
                fake. However, if you're to put it in an area filled with ? 
                Blocks, somebody may fall for the trick.

         Name - Golden Mushroom
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 5th to 8th Place
  Description - The Golden Mushroom was introduced in Mario Kart 64 for the 
                N64, and was very useful, but only available to Toad and 
                Toadette. However, in Mario Kart DS, anybody can use it, and 
                when you get it, you can continuously press A to get infinite 
                boosts for about eight seconds. Very useful, but only common 
                when you're near the bottom of the leaderboard. Thanks to 
                Naza402 for reminding me of this one, and to Musicman, who was 
                the first to correct an error here.

         Name - Green Shell
    Draggable - Yes
Usually Found - 1st to 8th Place
  Description - Possibly one of the weakest items in the game, the Green Shell 
                really doesn't do anything except bounce around the stage until 
                it finally disappears. The best use it has is to drag it behind 
                you to protect yourself from other items being used against 
                you, or to throw it forwards when there's an item right ahead 
                of you. Otherwise, you'd better have good aim to hit your 
                opponents.

         Name - Lightning Rod
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 5th to 8th Place
  Description - When you get a Lightning Rod, you have complete control over 
                the game. Unleash its power, and all your opponents will 
                shrink, drop any items, and lose speed and weight. Meaning that 
                when you catch up to them, you can knock them off the stage or 
                shoot right by. In the past, opponents used to be able to run 
                over you if you were little, but that doesn't appear to be the 
                case any more. However, you can go from worst to first with 
                this item.

         Name - Mushroom
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 1st to 8th Place
  Description - Using this merely gives you a small boost of speed for about 
                two seconds. During this time you can knock just about anybody 
                out of your way. Try to use this on a straightaway to increase 
                the effect.

         Name - Red Shell
    Draggable - Yes
Usually Found - 1st to 8th Place
  Description - Unlike its counterpart, the Green Shell, this can be fired and 
                it will act as a homing device on the character ahead of you 
                and hit them. This is a very common and very useful item, more 
                so than a Green Shell. You can also drop them behind you, but 
                refrain from doing so because it's a waste - unlike in previous 
                versions of the game, the Red Shell will not go after the next 
                kart to pass by it.

         Name - Star
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 5th to 8th Place
  Description - Ah, the Invincibility Star. If you pick up one of these and use 
                it, you'll become invincible for about 5-7 seconds, and 
                anything you decide to ram into (this includes on-track 
                obstacles like Thwomps) will be sent flying. Your speed and 
                control will also drastically increase during this time. This 
                is a great way to catch up to your opponents. Make sure you hit 
                them as you go by. Also note that you can drive off-road 
                unhindered with this item in use (Thanks to cubedman990 for 
                that info).

         Name - Triple Banana
    Draggable - Yes
Usually Found - 1st to 8th Place
  Description - When you get this, three bananas will be dragged behind you. 
                Hit 'L' or 'X' again, and one of them will be dropped. You can 
                do this for the remaining two, as well. This is great for 
                cluttering up an area and forcing your opponents to swerve out 
                of the way to avoid slipping, but you need to spread them 
                strategically. Dropping them all at once doesn't do any good. 
                Try to space them apart evenly across a section of the track. 
                Also note that if you let them drag behind you and you're hit 
                by an item, the three bananas will fly in random directions and 
                land somewhere on the track.

         Name - Triple Green Shell
    Draggable - Yes
Usually Found - 1st to 8th Place
  Description - Unlike the single Green Shell, having a Triple Green Shell is 
                actually quite useful. Its best use is to act as a shield to 
                protect you from oncoming obstacles or items being thrown at 
                you, and because they spin around until all of them are gone, 
                they offer good protection for a good half-minute. Firing them 
                away is not advised, due to the massive pileup that could 
                occur, knocking you out in process. You can also use them to 
                knock other karts out.

         Name - Triple Mushroom
    Draggable - No
Usually Found - 1st to 8th Place
  Description - One Mushroom is nice, but three are even better. When you get 
                the Triple Mushroom, be sure to space out your boosts and not 
                use them all up at once, or you won't get the maximum effect.

         Name - Triple Red Shell
    Draggable - Yes
Usually Found - 1st to 8th Place
  Description - Extremely helpful item that can allow you to pass as many as 
                three racers if you use it properly. My advice is that you fire 
                one at a time, and as you pass each racer, fire another one. By 
                firing them all at once, you're just wasting them on one 
                opponent. You could also just let them spin around you as a 
                shield, but they're too useful to serve that purpose, I'd 
                think. You can also use them to knock other karts out.

               --------------------------------------------

                           Section 2D - Karts
                          ==================== 

In total, there are 31 karts available for use by any character (once you've
gotten a gold trophy on every cup). There are six ratings for each kart, all of
them having an influence on how it drives. Those ratings listed below, along
with information on it.

       Speed - The higher your speed rating, the faster your kart can go. 
               Generally, karts with a higher speed tend to have a lower 
               acceleration, meaning it takes more time for them to go their 
               fastest.

Acceleration - This is simply a significance of how quickly you can reach your 
               top speed. Definitely important and crucial when it comes to 
               tracks with many obstacles, because if you drive through the mud 
               or hit a pipe, it'll have a minimal effect on you.

      Weight - The meaning is clear - weight determines how heavy your kart is. 
               The heavier you are, the more likely it is that you'll be able 
               to knock anybody in your path out of your way.

    Handling - Depending on how high this rating is, your kart will have little 
               difficulty when it comes to rounding corners and taking sharp 
               turns. The better your handling, the more control you have over 
               your kart.

       Drift - If you drift corners frequently, be sure to grab a kart with a 
               high drift rating, which allows you to drift around corners 
               sharply. If you snake frequently, it would be best if you chose 
               a kart with a medium to low drift rating, as turning sharply 
               makes it difficult to snake properly.

       Items - The meaning may be confusing, but the higher your items rating, 
               the more likely you are to get a good item, and if you're it by 
               an item, the effect will wear off quicker. Also, in Time Trials, 
               the higher your item rating, the more Mushrooms you'll start 
               with. (Thanks to Ryan for reminding me of that one.)


Each kart has a particular ranking in each category. Below, they are all
listed, along with an estimate as to how high the ranking is. The higher the
percentage, the better. Karts are listed in alphabetical order for your
convenience.

 1)  Name - 4-Wheel Cradle           2)  Name - B Dasher
     Speed - 31%                         Speed - 58%
     Acceleration - 81%                  Acceleration - 70%
     Weight - 62%                        Weight - 60%
     Handling - 60%                      Handling - 51%
     Drift - 62%                         Drift - 54%
     Items - 100%                        Items - 100%

 3)  Name - Banisher                 4)  Name - Brute
     Speed - 23%                         Speed - 91%
     Acceleration - 98%                  Acceleration - 52%
     Weight - 55%                        Weight - 41%
     Handling - 91%                      Handling - 50%
     Drift - 42%                         Drift - 49%
     Items - 100%                        Items - 32%

 5)  Name - Cucumber                 6)  Name - Dragonfly
     Speed - 50%                         Speed - 81%
     Acceleration - 90%                  Acceleration - 45%
     Weight - 59%                        Weight - 65%
     Handling - 80%                      Handling - 43%
     Drift - 38%                         Drift - 43%
     Items - 100%                        Items - 100% 

 7)  Name - Dry Bomber               8)  Name - Egg 1
     Speed - 32%                         Speed - 60%
     Acceleration - 100%                 Acceleration - 91%
     Weight - 43%                        Weight - 31%
     Handling - 100%                     Handling - 90%
     Drift - 50%                         Drift - 40%
     Items - 31%                         Items - 31%

 9)  Name - Gold Mantis             10)  Name - Hurricane
     Speed - 71%                         Speed - 100%
     Acceleration - 61%                  Acceleration - 31%
     Weight - 50%                        Weight - 50%
     Handling - 60%                      Handling - 30%
     Drift - 60%                         Drift - 70%
     Items - 31%                         Items - 31%

11)  Name - Light Dancer            12)  Name - Light Tripper
     Speed - 68%                         Speed - 50%
     Acceleration - 68%                  Acceleration - 72%         
     Weight - 40%                        Weight - 40%
     Handling - 41%                      Handling - 50%
     Drift - 90%                         Drift - 100%
     Items - 31%                         Items - 31%

13)  Name - Mushmellow              14)  Name - Poltergust 4000
     Speed - 41%                         Speed - 73%
     Acceleration - 90%                  Acceleration - 73%
     Weight - 38%                        Weight - 38%
     Handling - 70%                      Handling - 73%
     Drift - 70%                         Drift - 38%
     Items - 31%                         Items - 38%

15)  Name - Power Flower            16)  Name - Rambi Rider
     Speed - 60%                         Speed - 73%
     Acceleration - 61%                  Acceleration - 42%
     Weight - 55%                        Weight - 68%
     Handling - 35%                      Handling - 30%
     Drift - 83%                         Drift - 72%
     Items - 100%                        Items - 100%

17)  Name - ROB-BLS                 18)  Name - ROB-LGS
     Speed - 100%                        Speed - 90%
     Acceleration - 53%                  Acceleration - 48%
     Weight - 43%                        Weight - 58%
     Handling - 70%                      Handling - 60%
     Drift - 29%                         Drift - 22%
     Items - 31%                         Items - 100% 

19)  Name - Royale                  20)  Name - Shooting Star
     Speed - 40%                         Speed - 67%
     Acceleration - 70%                  Acceleration - 72%
     Weight - 63%                        Weight - 32%
     Handling - 43%                      Handling - 60%
     Drift - 93%                         Drift - 59%
     Items - 100%                        Items - 32%

21)  Name - Standard BW             22)  Name - Standard DB
     Speed - 97%                         Speed - 30%
     Acceleration - 30%                  Acceleration - 100%
     Weight - 51%                        Weight - 51%
     Handling - 28%                      Handling - 97%
     Drift - 67%                         Drift - 46%
     Items - 67%                         Items - 66%

23)  Name - Standard DK             24)  Name - Standard DS
     Speed - 80%                         Speed - 62%
     Acceleration - 47%                  Acceleration - 62%
     Weight - 51%                        Weight - 51%
     Handling - 32%                      Handling - 40%
     Drift - 77%                         Drift - 89%
     Items - 65%                         Items - 66%

25)  Name - Standard LG             26)  Name - Standard MR
     Speed - 71%                         Speed - 63%
     Acceleration - 72%                  Acceleration - 71%
     Weight - 51%                        Weight - 51%
     Handling - 72%                      Handling - 55%
     Drift - 31%                         Drift - 56%
     Items - 65%                         Items - 66%

27)  Name - Standard PC             28)  Name - Standard RB
     Speed - 47%                         Speed - 97%
     Acceleration - 72%                  Acceleration - 51%
     Weight - 51%                        Weight - 51%
     Handling - 49%                      Handling - 65%
     Drift - 97%                         Drift - 25%
     Items - 65%                         Items - 65%

29)  Name - Standard TD             30)  Name - Standard WL
     Speed - 40%                         Speed - 71%
     Acceleration - 84%                  Acceleration - 61%
     Weight - 51%                        Weight - 51%
     Handling - 63%                      Handling - 55%
     Drift - 65%                         Drift - 57%
     Items - 65%                         Items - 65%

31)  Name - Standard WR             32)  Name - Standard YS
     Speed - 89%                         Speed - 55%
     Acceleration - 50%                  Acceleration - 90%
     Weight - 51%                        Weight - 51%
     Handling - 49%                      Handling - 82%
     Drift - 48%                         Drift - 39%
     Items - 65%                         Items - 65%

33)  Name - Streamliner             34)  Name - Tyrant
     Speed - 65%                         Speed - 90%
     Acceleration - 70%                  Acceleration - 22%
     Weight - 60%                        Weight - 65%
     Handling - 70%                      Handling - 22%
     Drift - 30%                         Drift - 63%
     Items - 100%                        Items - 100%

35)  Name - Wildlife                36)  Name - Zipper
     Speed - 83%                         Speed - 65%
     Acceleration - 50%                  Acceleration - 59% 
     Weight - 42%                        Weight - 55%
     Handling - 37%                      Handling - 51%
     Drift - 80%                         Drift - 55%
     Items - 32%                         Items - 100%

               --------------------------------------------

                         Section 2E - Rankings
                        =======================

There are, in total, eight different rankings, from a triple star to an E,
triple star being the best. These rankings are assigned based on your
performance during the race - not just time or points - and what the final
outcome was. To put it simply, to get a triple star ranking, you need to be
perfect, and to get an E rank, you had to have messed up frequently, losing
several races and crashing often. Here's a quick rundown of the list.

   1) Triple Star Ranking                      5) B Ranking
   2) Double Star Ranking                      6) C Ranking
   3) Single Star Ranking                      7) D Ranking
   4) A Ranking                                8) E Ranking

               --------------------------------------------

                          Section 2F - Gameplay
                         =======================

There are five different modes of gameplay in Mario Kart DS.

Grand Prix
----------
The Grand Prix is the main mode of the game. It is here that you will unlock
most of your characters and new tracks. There are four different levels of
difficulty for you to select from, those being 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, and 150cc
Mirror Mode. From personal experience, the game tends to drag on when you're in
50cc or even 100cc, but when it comes to 150cc, you'll enjoy the best Mario
Kart racing experience to date. The pace of the game is much faster than in
previous versions and the AI is decent in 150cc.

When playing, the top and bottom screens will look similar to this diagram.
Most descriptions speak for themselves:
                 ________________
        Item -->|_|           1/3|<-- Lap
                |                |
                |      Main      |
                |     Screen     |
                |                |
    Position -->|2nd             |
                |----------------|
                |#1              |
     Race       |#2    Map Of    |
   Standings -->|#3    Track     |
                |#4              |
                |                |
                |________________|

When completing races, your points are added based on what position you came
in. Here's how the points are distributed:

   1st - 10 Points             5th - 3 Points
   2nd - 8 Points              6th - 2 Points
   3rd - 6 Points              7th - 1 Point
   4th - 4 Points              8th - 0 Points

Generally, when playing, there will always be one or two randomly selected
'bullies', who will excel more than the other CPU, providing you with the main
challenge and preventing you from gliding into first place every time. If you
focus your efforts on preventing that player from constantly finishing behind
or ahead of you, you'll have a much easier time with the Grand Prix.

Time Trials
-----------
As you might expect, Time Trials is where you can test yourself to the limit.
Race through any track at top speeds against your ghost, or if you and a friend
have a DS, trade ghosts and try to beat each other. You get one Mushroom per
race - try to use it on a lap that you plan on setting the lap record for. If
you set a decent record, you may unlock a staff ghost, and when activated, you
can try and beat the staff time. For more information, see Section 6B.

You can save up to 32 of your ghosts and 10 of your friends. Note that when
transferring ghosts, you automatically overwrite your ghost for that particular
track, regardless of which one is better. However, you can only save one ghost
per track, which is disappointing as it would have been nice to focus your
efforts on one track and then watch your ghosts to see where you could improve.

Versus
------
Here is the place where you can just have any casual race against the
computers. A nice addition to this is the ability to tinker with most of the
settings, including computer difficulty, selection of tracks, and more. A
simple VS mode game can be turned into a fun, competitive match with these
features.

Battle
------
Originally, it was only possible to play Battle mode against human opponents,
but the game has been expanded to include battle mode, which is very nice. Play
on one of six stages on one of two different modes - Balloon Battle and Shine
Runners, both very addictive and fun. Like Versus mode, you have the ability to
adjust multiple settings related to the gameplay.

In Balloon Battle, you'll take on your opponents, blowing up balloons by
actually stopping your kart and blowing into the Mic as you play. You have five
balloons in total, and once all of them are gone, you lose (unless your
opponents run out of balloons first.

In Shine Runners, you'll race past your opponents, trying to collect Shines,
which are scattered throughout the stage. There are ten Shines available at
once, and if your opponents have more than you, you'll need to try and knock
them out with an item to get their shine.

Missions
--------
The all-new Mission mode drops you into seven levels filled with a total of 63
different challenges, each with its own unique task. When you complete the
eight normal tasks in each level, you face a boss, and once you've beaten the
boss (and the level), you move on to the next level. Try to get all the triple
star rankings!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                     *******************************
                     * Section 3 - The Race Tracks *
                     *******************************

In Mario Kart DS, there's a perfect combination of 16 new tracks and 16 old
tracks from the various consoles gives you the chance to relive the classics,
but still have fun on something you've never tried before. Some of the newer
tracks are fairly innovative - one of them sends you flying up a pinball table
and racing back down, another one allows you to trek through the mountains
(similar to DK Mountain from the GCN), and the list goes on.

In this section, I'll provide hints and tips for all 32 of the tracks. This
section can also be used for information in Time Trials mode. With each
description, you get a difficulty rating and recommended character. Then, there
will be a complete walkthrough of the track with the tips and tricks you need.

                        Section 3A - Mushroom Cup
                       ===========================

The Mushroom Cup is fairly simple, and doesn't require much skill, as you might
have expected. The tracks you'll race on are:

                          1) Figure 8 Circuit
                          2) Yoshi Falls
                          3) Cheep Cheep Beach
                          4) Luigi's Mansion

                          ==--==--==--==--=-==
                          = Figure 8 Circuit =
                          ==--==--==--==--=-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 1/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Heavy

This track is obviously just a simple one, created for beginners to test their
luck. You'll start off on a long straightaway, so boost at the beginning and
shoot forwards down the track. There are only two very wide turns, so after you
get the item box, stick to the inside of the track - a good guide is the dotted
line that extends fully around the track, and if you can stay on it when taking
the curves you'll save a lot of time.

After you've rounded the curve there will be another long straightaway, making
this a great place to use Mushrooms if you have any. There's an row of item
boxes in the middle of this straightaway, so be sure to pick one up as you
drive by. From here, you should move over to the right side of the track to
prepare for the turn.

Halfway through the turn, there will be a third row of item boxes which you'll
have to swerve over to reach if you're following the dotted path. After the
turn, you'll be on another long straightaway which leads under a bridge, to a
full lap around the track.

                             ==--==--==--=-=
                             = Yoshi Falls =
                             ==--==--==--=-=
                        Difficulty Rating: 1.5/10
                Recommended Character Type: Heavy or Medium

Yoshi Falls is surprisingly fun and addictive, even though it's a near circle
around the track. Start off by getting a speed boost at the beginning. You'll
shoot forwards, and immediately notice something unique about the track -
there's a second road on a slant to the right. This is where three of the
waterfalls go, and because two of them are passable, you might actually be
using this route often.

Drop down onto this slant, and drive through the waterfall, but make sure you
start near the top or you'll slide right off the edge. Once you've past it,
continue driving near the edge, passing nearly all the computer opponents as
you go along. When you see another waterfall up in the distance, it's time to
get back to the regular road, because this is the waterfall that cannot be
driven through (unless you have Mushrooms).

You'll cross over a bridge with a row of item boxes, so grab an item and once
you've crossed the bridge, drive back down to the slanted road. There will be
another waterfall visible in the immediate distance, and this one actually has
item boxes floating in it. Drive through the water, and grab another item, then
move back up to the regular path.

There will be an on-track speed boost that you can take to speed past anybody,
then directly ahead of it, another one. Once you've taken them both, there will
be a straightaway leading to the end of the first lap.

                          ==--==--==--==--==-==
                          = Cheep Cheep Beach =
                          ==--==--==--==--==-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 2.5/10
                Recommended Character Type: Light or Medium

You'll start off lined up in front of a bridge. Get the usual starting speed
boost, then fly forwards and up onto the bridge. There will be short
straightaway, then a turn (take this sharply) and another short straightaway.
Up ahead, there will be an on-track speed boost which will send you up a ramp
and flying onto a beach.

Be prepared when you land, because there are item boxes scattered around and
you might miss it if everybody goes at once. After the item boxes, there will
be another short straightaway, then you'll slowly curve around the mountainside
and see another ramp with a speed boost, which will send you flying over the
water onto a sandbar.

Depending on the tide, you may be able to cut straight through where the water
normally is, or you might be forced to stay on the dry section, so adjust your
driving habits accordingly. In the middle of the sandbar, there will also be
some more items, so you might miss them if you don't stay on the dry land. Your
choice. Also make sure to avoid the palm trees scattered across the sandbar.

Once you get to the other end of the sandbar there will be a small jump over
the water, and then a second one up ahead. Take both of these, and you'll land
on an empty beach, but when you turn the corner, there will be a couple of
Cheep-Cheeps bouncing around in the water, so make sure to avoid those. Up
ahead, there will be an entrance to a 'forest', and near the opening, there
will be a row of item boxes, so grab one as you enter.

There will be a sharp turn to your right, and another one to your left, and
you'll have completed a full lap.

                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                           = Luigi's Mansion =
                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 3/10
                Recommended Character Type: Light or Medium

One of my personal favourites. You'll start off on a dead and deserted path. 
Get the usual speed boost at the beginning. The road will be a bit wavy, moving
left and right, but stay on track and get ahead of the pack. The path will then
slowly climb upwards to a row of item boxes, and then up the stairs into
Luigi's Mansion.

You'll bounce up into the room, then just as quickly head downwards, and there
will be three sharp turns to the right, which I recommend that you powerslide
right through. Once you've rounded the three curves (making sure not to hit the
open cabinet on the last turn), head down the straightaway, going to the left
or right of the object in the middle of the path, then head through the open
doors and through the tunnel. There will be some item boxes here - grab them
and head back outside.

There will now be an abrupt turn to the left, and then another quick curve to
the right. Try to use powersliding to stay on track and head forwards, out the
gates, back to the front of the mansion. There will be another small turn to
the right, then you'll see a fairly interesting sight - a walking tree, moving
back and forth in your path. Avoid it, and race past.

There will now be some sort of red liquid for you to drive over (I'm yet to
figure out what this is), and on an 'island' up ahead there will be some more
item boxes. Grab one and turn to the left, through the liquid. There will be
some more item boxes spinning around in circles to your right on land. Try to
stay on the land, as you get more control and move faster.

You'll advance through the liquid, passing through patches of land and item
blocks. There will also be a tree walking back and forth, as well. When you get
back onto the normal path, there will be one more tree, then you'll have a
small curve to the left, and you'll have completed a full lap.

                --------------------------------------------

                         Section 3B - Flower Cup
                        =========================

The Flower Cup is a nice variation of tracks, ranging from driving through the
streets of a tropical island to driving back down a pinball table.

                            1) Desert Hills
                            2) Delfino Square
                            3) Waluigi Pinball
                            4) Shroom Ridge

                            ==--==--==--=-==
                            = Desert Hills =
                            ==--==--==--=-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 3/10
                Recommended Character Type: Light or Medium

This track is very wavy and curves a lot. Also note that there are red
fireballs that will bounce around different sections of the track, and they'll
make you spin out if you touch one. Start off by getting a speed boost at the
beginning, then shoot down the straightaway and grab an item box before the
light curve to the right. There will then be another lighter curve to the left,
and another one again to the right. A Pokey will suddenly appear out of
nowhere, moving back and forth in the middle of the track, so avoid it and
continue forwards. There will be a small jump ramp up ahead.

Fly off the ramp, and land quickly. Up ahead, you'll see three Pokeys, two sand
dunes, and six item boxes scattered across the straightaway. Grab an item box
or two while avoiding the first two Pokeys, then proceed past the third Pokey.
There will be a long turn to the right, and you'll see more item boxes on an
extremely slanted curve. You might want to just stay near the ground while
turning left, because when going up the curve, you'll lose major speed.
Powersliding also helps. However, if you want the item box and you get a
Mushroom, boost over the curve and you'll cut right across the second, similar
turn.

After you've gotten through the first curve, there will be a second and third
slanted curve right up ahead, both with two item boxes on them. The third one
really isn't anything, though. As you drive by, grab the item boxes and quickly
use them to get the one on the next turn. Once you've gotten through all three
turns, there will be one more sharp turn to the right, and you'll have
completed the first lap.

                           ==--==--==--==--==
                           = Delfino Square =
                           ==--==--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 4.5/10
                  Recommended Character Type: Any Weight

You're going to have a blast racing down the streets of Delfino Square in this
one. Start off by getting a speed boost, and then you'll climb up a light hill
and slowly the road will even out. There will be a huge statue in the middle of
the road, so you'll have to drive around it to the right, and then enter a
small side street. There will be a row of item boxes before a sharp turn to the
left, so grab one quickly. Round the corner, then turn back to the right, and
the road will slowly curve downwards to the right. The road will split into two
and connect back after a short turn, so it doesn't really matter which one you
decide to take.

After the two roads are reconnected, there will be a batch of item boxes
scattered around, and you're bound to get one as you drive by. There will be 
short straightaway that leads you across a bridge, then a quick turn to the
right. The left side of the track will then have no barrier, but you're
unlikely to go near the ledge anyhow. You'll drive down a side street with some
boxes, then there will be another turn to the right.

The road will curve slightly to the left, and again the left side of the track
will be exposed, and you might be more likely to fall off this time, while
dodging more boxes. When the road converts back to a straight path, you'll see
a row of item boxes and six on-track speed boosts, which are actually a part of
a drawbridge. This drawbridge moves up and down every few seconds, but
regardless, it's easy to make it over. 

Once you've passed the drawbridge, the path will curve to the right fairly
quickly. If the drawbridge was up and you jumped across the gap, you'll have to
turn right quickly in order to avoid the dirt/grass. The path will then
continue straight again, and also go upwards slightly. There will then be a
quick turn to the right, and you'll have completed the first lap.

                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                           = Waluigi Pinball =
                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 5/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Light

The fun factor of this stage is very high, and it's definitely one of the
better courses Mario Kart has seen. You'll start off in an empty 'tunnel', with
some sort of colourful pipe ahead of you. Get a speed boost, then use the
on-track speed boost and enter this 'pipe'. You'll see that it's actually what
will launch you to the top of the pinball table at insane speeds. Once you
reach the top, you'll drop down and quickly lose speed. There will then be a
slight turn to the left, and there will be speed boosts on your right, but I
don't recommend you get them - instead, hug the corner and grab an item box.

There will then be another turn to the left, and there will be a small ramp
that will send you flying into the air and landing on a steep and slanted road.
There will be a rough turn to the left again as soon as you land, then a 270
degree turn to the right. During this time, there will likely be a pinball or
two on the path that you'll need to keep an eye out for, too. Once you've
rounded that corner, there will be another slanted hairpin curve to the left,
and then you'll rocket down a slope and fly off another ramp.

You'll land on a wide road, and there will be another 270 degree turn to the
right and downwards, too. About halfway through, there will also be a row of
item boxes, so pick one up along the way. When the curve ends, there will be an
quick drop down and then another one back up, and then a turn to the left.
You'll go through a short straightaway, then there will be yet another turn to
the left. You'll then drop down another slope and enter the main part of the
pinball table.

The first section contains four bumpers stationed in four corners, with two
pinballs bouncing back and forth in between. Unless one of them start coming at
you, just drive straight through and grab an item box. The second section has a
large bumper in the middle of the path, then four more bumpers spinning around
it, and in the middle (where you'll be driving through), item boxes will be
scattered around, two to each side. Grab an item box as you drive through. The
last section will have you driving in between two powerful flippers, which will
move up and down every few seconds. It's easy to get through here, but if
you're hit by a bumper, expect to go flying. 

After that, there will be two more simple turns to the left, and you'll have 
completed the first lap.

                            ==--==--==--=-==
                            = Shroom Ridge =
                            ==--==--==--=-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 3.5/10
                Recommended Character Type: Medium or Heavy

Shroom Ridge is like every Mushroom or Toad course - there are moving vehicles
that you have to dodge as you progress through the track. If you touch a
vehicle, your kart will flip out. Start off by getting a speed boost at the
beginning of the track, then drive around the very wide U-Turn. There will be a
row of item boxes somewhere in the middle of this turn, so grab one as you go
along. Once you've gotten through the turn, there will be another light turn to
the right, followed by a sharper one right after.

After this sharper turn, there will be a wide turn to the left around a cliff,
then you'll head down a wavy straightaway. On this straightaway, you will find
that there will be item boxes that will start coming at you, so whenever you
get a chance and see one, grab it.

After the straightaway, the item boxes will stop flying at you. You'll turn to
the left, then sharply back to the right. There will be a tunnel, and as you
drive through it will turn to the left very slightly. However, when you exit
the tunnel, prepare for a large turn around a cliff again, this one more
sharper than most. Also note that at this point, the entire right side of the
road is wide open, and you can fall off at any time. 

After the corner, there will be a row of item boxes, so grab one as you head
along. Prepare for another turn to the right, then a short straightaway. There
will be two more turns, the first one going to the left, and then a second one
to the right. After that, you'll have completed the first lap.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 3C - Star Cup
                         =======================

Star Cup contains very random tracks, taking place on a mountain, a connection
of clocks, and even on a flying airship from Super Mario Brothers 3.

                               1) DK Pass 
                               2) Tick Tock Clock 
                               3) Mario Circuit 
                               4) Airship Fortress 

                               ==--==-=-==
                               = DK Pass =
                               ==--==-=-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 4.5/10
                Recommended Character Type: Medium or Heavy

Similar to DK Mountain in the sense that you're driving up and then back down
the mountain, and also addictive and fun. If you can get an early lead, you'll
be able to blaze right through this track. You'll start out on an icy path, and
you'll see up in the distance an entrance to an igloo that turns to the left
and begins climbing up a slope. Your journey up the mountain has begun.

After you exit the igloo, there will be an S-Turn, which slightly curves to the
left and then back to the right. I've found that this is a great place for
snatching the lead and picking up speed - for some reason, your kart seems to
shoot right up this part. After you've passed the turn, there will be item
boxes, and the path turns sharply to the left, and then curves lightly back to
the right again. At this point, one side of the path becomes unblocked and
you'll need to take caution to avoid falling off the mountain.

You'll approach another light curve to the left, and an enormous snowball will
come bouncing down at you on the right side of the path, so avoid it. Continue
upwards, and there will be another slight turn to the right, with another row
of item boxes halfway through. Grab an item, then when you complete the turn,
you'll find the path starting to level out. There will be another turn to the
left, and you'll go upwards a bit more and the road becomes a winding,
snow-covered trip to the bottom. **Note that there is a snow-covered hill just
before the turn to the left with an item box on it, which will always come out
as a Triple Mushroom or Star.**

There will be a sudden drop, and you'll continue driving on rough, bumpy
terrain, and as you bounce to the left, there will be another row of item
boxes. Grab one, then there will be another drop in altitude. A bumpy turn to
the right, and then another turn to the left. There will be another snowball
rolling down the mountain, and the slope will become steeper as you approach
another row of item boxes an on-track speed boost jump to the bottom.

When you land, the road will become smoother and steadier, and there will be
a plethora of snowmen in a turn to the right. If you touch one, your kart will
spin out, so try to hug the curve as tightly as possible against the barrier,
avoiding the snowmen and likely passing your opponents, too. Once you've gotten
past here, the path will turn back into a normal road, and you'll have
completed the first lap.

                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                           = Tick Tock Clock =
                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 5.5/10
                  Recommended Character Type: Any Weight

Another one of my personal favourites, this is a clock-filled stage that has 
you avoiding clock hands, driving over spinning gears, and more. Definitely one 
of the more innovative tracks. You'll start out on a wireframe surface. Get a
speed boost at the beginning, then shoot forwards and turn to the left. As you
climb up the slight slant, there will be a row of item boxes, so grab an item
and drive up to the top.

You'll now be dropped on a gigantic clock, with spinning hands that you'll need
to avoid. Both sides of the clock have on-track speed boost, so all you should
be concerned with is taking the side where the hour hand is on so that you
won't be hit when trying to take these speed boosts. After the clock, there
will be a bump and then a long slope down. Once you reach the bottom, there
will be a turn to the right and a long straightaway. About halfway through,
there will be a row of item boxes, and then three quarters through there will
be a swinging bell, so grab an item and quickly swerve to avoid the obstacle.

Once you've passed this section, there will be a sharp turn to the right, and
then another dull drop down to four swinging gears. Always head in the same
direction that the gear is spinning. Keep in mind that if you go left in the
first lap, it will be right in the second lap, and left again in the third lap.
When you're back on stable ground, there will be a short, steep slope back up,
and then a quick S-Turn. You'll head back down a slope, and come across a
miniaturized version of the big clock you saw near the beginning, and with only
one hand. There will also be item boxes spinning around the clock, so grab one
as you drive by.

There will be another slope upwards, and then another turn to the left. It is
here that you will find two large, spinning gears and a thin path upwards. If
you drive over a gear spinning forwards, you'll shoot right past any
competition, and complete a full lap, so try to do that every time. Also
remember that, just like the other gears, the direction is reversed during the
next lap.

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Mario Circuit =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 3.5/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Heavy 

Mario Circuit is a nice break from the action, and it comes at a good time in
this cup. You'll find yourself on a regular race track. Get a speed boost at
the beginning, then turn to the right. There will be two Goombas walking back
and forth on the track, one near and the other far. In between these two
Goombas, there will be a row of item boxes, so grab one as you drive by.

Once you've past the Goombas, there will a series of wavy turns and curves in
the paths, going left and right. On the third curve, you can fall off the
ledge, so stay away from there. After that turn, you'll curve left again, and a
fireball will shoot out of nowhere at you. The path will curve right again, and
then you'll enter a half-pipe tunnel. At the entrance of this tunnel, there
will be a row of item boxes, so grab one.

You'll exit the tunnel, and there will be an extremely sharp turn to the left,
which you should powerslide through easily. The path will then change to dirt,
and you'll curve back to the right again, and then to the left once more.
You'll now see the castle in the distance. As you proceed forwards, there will
be two more S-Curves, along with item boxes scattered through the area. Get one
as you drive by.

The road will now convert back from dirt to pavement, and there will be yet
another sharp turn to the left, so powerslide through it (this track curves a
lot). A short straightaway, and then a final sharp turn (do a powerslide), not
as sharp as the previous one, which curves right, and from here, you'll have 
completed the first lap.

                          ==--==--==--==-=--==
                          = Airship Fortress =
                          ==--==--==--==-=--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 5/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

This track is similar to Bowser's Castle, but different in the design. You'll
start out on a long straightaway with several drops. Get a speed boost at the
beginning, then you'll immediately drop down to a lower level. There will be
giant Bullet Bills being fired directly at you, so you might have to swerve a
bit to avoid them. After about three Bullet Bills, you'll drop down again, and
there will be an abrupt turn to the left. You'll see a row of item boxes - grab
one of them, then turn to the right.

You'll go upwards, then drop down on a wooden path, covered with Rocky Wrenches
from Super Mario Brothers 3. They'll pop out of their holes every couple of
seconds, and if you run into one, you'll spin out of control. There will be
two light turns to the right, then you'll have passed them, and there will be
another turn to the left. The road will slope down and you'll move into a 
tunnel.

When the road evens out, there will be a sharp turn to the left, and then the
road will slope down again. On the way down, there will be a row of item boxes,
so grab one along the way. You'll then be dropped down into an empty room of
boxes - avoid them and zig-zag your way through. You'll then enter a second
room, this one containing two large burners that reach from the ground to the
ceiling, and will make you spin out if you touch them. Swerve past them, then
the road will narrow and there will be a slight turn to the left. There will be
a speed boost, and you'll be launched all the way across a huge gap from one
end of the ship to the other.

When you land, the road will immediately start curving to the left and
downwards, so powerslide the entire way down, grabbing an item box from the row
that will appear halfway through. When you reach the bottom, there will be a
quick turn to the right, and the entire left side of the road will have
crumbled away, meaning you need to stay away from that area and move more
towards the wall on the right. There will then be one final turn to the left,
and you'll have completed the first lap.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 3D - Special Cup
                         ==========================

The Special Cup has always ended with Rainbow Road since the days of the SNES,
and this game is no exception. Before the final track, you also tend to see a
Bowser's Castle and a Wario stage, too.

                            1) Wario Stadium 
                            2) Peach Gardens 
                            3) Bowser Castle 
                            4) Rainbow Road 

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Wario Stadium =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 6/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

As with all Wario tracks, this one is filled with many jumps and bumps in the
road. Start off by getting a speed boost at the beginning, then there will be
three turns right away - first to the left, then to the right, then to the left
again. They all are very light, so you can stay on the corners without drifting
until after the third turn. After that, shoot up the hill, get the on-track
speed boost, grab an item box, and fly off the ramp.

You'll bounce down to the ground, then there will be another slight turn to the
left, followed by four on-track speed boosts, which will, one by one, take you
across the enormous mud puddle that will cover a huge portion of the track. The
speed boosts will be located on three different 'mini-islands', so you'll have
to weave back and forth to get them all. Once you reach the other side, there
will be a slight turn to the left again.

You'll now see a huge hill up ahead. There is also one more of these up ahead,
except on the opposite side of the track. From here, you can see an on-track
speed boost which will send you rocketing up a small ramp. When you fly off
that ramp, there will be two item boxes and a circle of fireballs spinning
around. You'll have to make quick maneuvers to avoid being hit by the fireballs
when you're getting an item box. Once you've taken both these jumps, the road
will straighten out again, and there will be another path leading through the
mud. There will be two spinning fireball wheels on the swerving path up ahead,
along with two separate rows of item boxes. Grab the items as you go through
avoiding the fireballs and staying on the path.

After that, there will be another slight turn left, and you'll fly off a huge
ramp with three on-track speed boosts. When you land, there will be two large
bumps, and when you turn right, four small bumps, with item boxes scattered
around. Grab on as you drive by, then the road will curve left, and you'll see
a mud puddle on your right. You're almost there. Fly up the biggest ramp yet,
take on on-track speed boost, then land and head straight for the finish line.

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Peach Gardens =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Light 

Peach Gardens is a race through the elegant greens you see outside her castle.
There are many easy shortcuts in this, but they will slow you down (when you're
going through the bushes), making a light kart the best kart for this place.
Start by getting a speed boost at the beginning, then cross over the bridge and
turn left. Cross over another bridge, and grab an item box, then your first
opportunity for a shortcut comes - cut across the bushes on your right onto the
path you see up ahead. If you have Mushroom, this is made even easier because
you can drive through at the same speed.

Once you're ahead, you'll drive up a hill, then there will be another small
patch of flowers that you can drive through if you have a Mushroom, or around
if you don't. You'll go back down again, and then you'll have to weave in and
out of the paths. The ones you take are your choice, but keep in mind that
there are Chain Chomps bouncing around carrying two item boxes behind them
(which you'll want to snag, but they may get in your way). When you've passed
this large area, there will a hill leading upwards, and another garden to drive
around, unless you have the usual Mushroom.

After the turn, you'll fly back down, and there will be three bushes to weave
around that form a 'peace' symbol. Once you've passed this, the road will turn
to dirt, and there will be many holes in the ground, where Monty Moles will pop
out of and try to spin you. Halfway through, you'll also come across a row of
item boxes, so grab one as you go along. After the dirt path, there be a 90
degree turn to the right, back onto a normal path. You'll drive on this
straightaway for a bit, then there will be another turn right, and you'll have 
completed the first lap.

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Bowser Castle =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 8.5/10
               Recommended Character Type: Medium or Heavy 

With every Mario Kart, there appears to be a Bowser's Castle that comes with
it, and usually right before Rainbow Road, so welcome to another difficult
stage. Start off by getting a speed boost, then drive onto the narrow path
before your opponents do. Drive up the slope, and into Bowser's mouth. The
first thing inside the castle are the Thwomps (and a row of item boxes
stationed just barely in front of them), which will pound down on the ground
every few seconds in an attempt to crush someone. Once you've past them, there
will be a sharp turn right, and you'll drive back outside of the castle.

There will be another abrupt turn to the right, and you'll start climbing up an
extremely steep hill. As soon as it ends, there will be another one right
after, then another quick turn to the right. There will then be a narrow bridge
that takes you across the area that you were just in. Once you've past that,
there will be a turntable up ahead. While it rotates against you, you're trying
to drive forward and past it, which is best done by staying near the inside of
the turntable. When you finally get through to the exit up ahead, there will
immediately be a turn to the right.

You'll see another Thwomp up ahead, so avoid it, then turn right, and
immediately after, turn left. Grab an item box. Now, there will be a huge turn
upwards to the left on a narrow path, which is easy to be knocked off if you're
a light character. There is a huge lava pit below, so you do not want to fall
off. After this turn, you'll drive back outside to see an interesting path - a
rotating log, which spins back and forth every few seconds. You'll have to turn
left and right to stay on the path, but if you do fall off, you'll simply be
dropped down below, onto a longer path that eventually connects with the
shorter one.

After the log, there will be several item boxes to choose from, so get one and
continue down the path. Turn right, and you'll drop down a slope and fly off a
ramp onto some moving blocks. In total, there are four moving blocks, and this
particular area can be extremely frustrating - the blocks tend to move somewhat
abruptly, so just when you think you're going to land near the edge of the
block up ahead, you'll fall off into the lava. Try to stay as centered as
possible here. After the blocks, there will be another row of item boxes, then
the path will make three quick turns (right, left, then right again) to the
finish line.

                            ==--==--==--=-==
                            = Rainbow Road =
                            ==--==--==--=-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 9/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

Welcome to the final (since when hasn't it been?) track of the Nitro Grand
Prix. Start off by getting a speed boost at the beginning. You'll fly down a
slope and get three consecutive on-track speed boosts, with a row of item boxes
appearing between the second and third. After that, the road will take a major
slant to the left, and the path will begin curving upwards. There will be some
small on-track speed boosts as you take this long curve. Try to get them all,
but also stay close to the edge at the same time.

After the turn, the road will straighten out, and you'll fly downwards again.
Along the way, you can pick up another item box, and when you reach the bottom,
you'll see the track curving upwards. In fact, it goes upside down, in a
complete loop, and the entire section is a speed boost. There are barriers
placed on the sides on this part, so you needn't fear of falling off. After the
loop, there will be a curve to the right, and you'll drive through a couple of
rings before dropping down suddenly.

There will be a row of item boxes before an S-Curve. After the turns, there
will be another 180 degree slanted turn to the right. Once you've gotten past
all these turns, you'll be able to see another loop in the distance - in fact,
this is a full corkscrew because you'll be turning at the same time. When you
approach the speed boost, stay as close to the left side of the track as
possible, because due to the turn, the speed boost is slanted to begin more on
the left side, meaning you'll speed up faster. It's a minor advantage. You can
also do the same thing at the end of the corkscrew by staying on the right side
of the track.

After the corkscrew, there will be a row of item boxes, so grab one and turn to
the right. The path will then go upwards and slant to the left, and you'll have
one more full turn to the left before you'll have completed the first lap. 
Drive around twice more, and you'll have completed the first 16 tracks.

                --------------------------------------------

                           Section 3E - Shell Cup
                          ========================

Time for the remakes! The Shell Cup is the first of four Cups composed entirely
of old tracks from previous games. This one starts off with the first course
ever seen in the Mario Kart series - Mario Circuit 1.

                           1) Mario Circuit 1 
                           2) Moo Moo Farm 
                           3) Peach Circuit 
                           4) Luigi Circuit 

                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                           = Mario Circuit 1 =
                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 1/10
                Recommended Character Type: Medium or Heavy

The first track ever created and introduced to go the Mario Kart series. This
is a quick race. Start off by getting a speed boost at the beginning, then
immediately turn left and and head right down the empty straightaway. Up ahead,
there will be two pipes with Piranha Plants popping in and out of them -
powerslide around the corner and avoid the outer pipe while you turn.

There will be another straightaway, with item boxes scattered all around. This
is the only section where you can get items, so make sure to pick one up or
you'll have nothing for the lap. Also, try to grab as many as you can, to
prevent your opponents from getting to them. After the items, there will be
another sharp turn to the left, then you'll see a completely empty path that
curves to the right up ahead. If you have Triple Mushrooms, cut across the dirt
and you'll take a huge lead. If not, continue down the road.

After the shortcut/turn to the right, there will be another wide turn to the
left, and you can powerslide around the turn once or even twice if you have the
time. After that, just head straight through the first lap. There's nothing
special about this track, it's just a flat, empty road.

                            ==--==--==--=-==
                            = Moo Moo Farm =
                            ==--==--==--=-==
                       Difficulty Rating: 2.5/10
               Recommended Character Type: Light or Medium 

The key with this track is to hug the corners as tightly as possible, because
the more you do it, the more time you can gain on computer opponents. Start
with a speed boost at the beginning, then shoot down the straightaway and
bounce over the bump. When you land, there will be a row of item boxes in front
of you, so grab one and you'll see the first turn to the right. Drive up onto
the slant, and take the curve right against the fence for as long as possible.
Soon after, the turn will end and suddenly shift to the left, so quickly change
sides and hop over the bump.

There will be a row of item boxes up ahead, followed by a slight S-Curve. Once
you've passed it, you'll drive under a bridge, and there will be a small bump
in the road that drops you down into a pit filled with more item boxes. The
road will then start curving to the right again. Drive on the slanted bit of
road, although this time, you'll need to stay right against the fence, because
there will actually be Monty Moles popping in and out of their holes on the
path, intentionally placed there to get it your way.

After this long turn ends, you've almost done a full lap. There will be yet
another row of item boxes placed directly before a bridge. Grab one, then drive
right under and past the bridge. Up ahead of you, you'll have completed the 
first lap.

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Peach Circuit =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 2/10
               Recommended Character Type: Medium or Heavy

Peach Circuit is another simple, quick, and flat track. Start off by getting a
speed boost at the beginning, then head down the straightaway and powerslide
around the first corner. You can get in two powerslides if you're quick. There
will then be another short straightaway with a row of item boxes. Grab one and
then drive straight. There will be an S-Curve, then a quick, sharp turn leading
to the left.

The path will go straight for a bit, then curve lightly to the right, and
immediately after, there will be a 'powerslideable' curve to the left. There
will be a short straightaway, then the path will turn right, and there will be
a row of item boxes, so grab one again. There will then be two more light turns
to the left. Powerslide through them.

Continue down the empty straightaway. There will be one more turn to the right,
which you can powerslide through, then you'll see the starting line right up
ahead. You're done with this short track.

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Luigi Circuit =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 5/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium

There are two Luigi Circuits in this game, and this one is the one that was 
ported from the GCN game of Double Dash. This is also the easier one.

Start with a speed boost, then drive forwards and hop down the small bump with
a speed boost. Stay on the right side of the track (the left side is actually a
different part of the track that you'd be wasting your time driving on), and
get an item box from the row of six that are available to you. Then, move away
slightly from the right side of the track, because there will be a Chain Chomp
to your right, ready to leap. Once you've past it, there will be a wide turn to
the left, and you'll see many on-track speed boosts to your right. It's your
choice as to whether you hug to corner or speed down the wall - both are about
the same. There is also a row of item boxes placed in the middle of the turn.

After the curve there will be another on-track speed boost, then the track will
drop down again and you'll be on the other side of the track that you just saw
a few seconds ago. Drive straight through, then grab another item box as you
drive by. The track will then split apart again, and there will be another turn
to the left similar to the last one, except this time, there will only be three
on-track speed boosts to your right, so you're better off just taking the
corner. Once you've rounded the turn you'll have completed the first lap.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 3F - Banana Cup
                         =========================

The Banana Cup is composed of some long and short tracks, and interesting
combination. But it shouldn't take you very long to bring home the gold.

                           1) Donut Plains 1 
                           2) Frappe Snowland 
                           3) Bowser Castle 2 
                           4) Baby Park 

                           ==--==--==--==--==
                           = Donut Plains 1 =
                           ==--==--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 4.5/10
                Recommended Character Type: Light or Medium

Personally, I hate this track more than any other, due to the constant turning
and massive slowdown when you're taking corners and driving over grass. You'll
start off right in front of a light turn, so get the speed boost and turn
right, grabbing an item box as you go along. You can also powerslide through
this curve effectively, too. Once you're around the corner, you'll cross over a
bridge that goes over the water. Once you're across, there will be a wide turn
to the right, and a shortcut right in front of you.

If you have a Mushroom, boost straight across the grass instead of turning
right. There is an opening in the barrier that will allow you to save time and
get ahead of everybody else. If you don't, just go around the barrier and
you'll be right where the shortcut leads. There will now be a wide, long turn
to the right, with some dirt you should avoid on the right (more info next
paragraph), and once you're through, you'll have a selection of item boxes to
choose from, the only one until the end of the race. Head down the
straightaway, then there will be another wide turn, to the left this time.
Powerslide once or twice through it.

You'll see a large dirt patch on the right side of the track up ahead - driving
through this slows you down. you'll be forced to drive around it, which is best
done by powersliding. Occasionally, I've tried driving through it with
lightweight karts, but that's usually the only time you should attempt it
(unless you have Mushrooms). After the turn, you'll have completed the first 
lap.

                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                           = Frappe Snowland =
                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

Right after a slow, curved track comes a trek through the snow. Start with a
speed burst at the beginning, then immediately turn to the right. There will be
a long, empty straightaway, followed by another turn to the left. You'll see a
row of item boxes up ahead, so grab one as you drive by. You'll see a snowman
up ahead, so drive around it, then the road will curve sharply to the right, so
powerslide around it.

After the turn, the road will start to curve very slightly to the right. Avoid
the snowmen placed on both sides of the road as you might try to hug the
corners. The road will then turn a bit more sharply to the left, and there will
be a large ramp up ahead, which will launch you over a river that you can't see
below. (Drive in reverse after the jump and you'll see it). Immediately after
the jump there will be some more item boxes placed in front of you, so grab one
and the road will turn left.

Drive straight through the many snowmen placed randomly around the large and
wide path, then once you've passed the area, turn left. The road will then
suddenly swerve to the right again, then you'll see a path through some large
snow banks starting to form after a slight turn to the left again. Take the
turn, then start driving in.

There will be one last row of item boxes up ahead. Grab one when you drive by,
then continue down the straightaway. The road will then make a wide turn to the
left, good for powersliding through, and then still continue to slant to the
left after the curve. Immediately after, the path will curve to the right, and
you'll cross over a bridge. The end of the first lap will be right up ahead.

                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                           = Bowser Castle 2 =
                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

This track was usually quite small, but it was really blown up for Mario Kart
DS. Start with the usual speed boost, then powerslide around the first wide
corner. You should end up on the left side of the track, so get the on-track
speed boost, then drive down the straightaway, and pick up an item box along
the way. There will be another sharp turn up ahead for you to powerslide
through, then head diagonally down the path, which weaves back and forth,
although you don't need to. Turn to the right, avoiding the Thwomp, then turn
left again, and you'll be on a wireframe floor. Drive over the on-track speed
boosts to leap over the lava pits, then after the second one, start
powersliding to the right.

Try to get the speed boost located right against the wall. If you get it,
great, if you miss it, keep on going. Turn right again, then leap over the
lava. There will be several jumps in the track that go over the lava - you're
best sticking on the right side of the track so you can jump over the extra
jump and grab an item box. Once you've got it, there will be a short
straightaway, then a turn to the right.

There will be many random jumps and leaps, along with many holes in the
wireframe floor. There are also some item boxes if you go down the middle,
which is likely to be your best option, because hopping over lava pits is not
only risky, but unnecessary. Once you've passed the many jumps, there will be
another short straightaway and another turn to the right. You'll see the
starting line right up ahead, so just avoid the Thwomps and head right through, 
and complete the first lap.

                              ==--==--==-==
                              = Baby Park =
                              ==--==--==-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 0.5/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium

Do we honestly need a walkthrough of Baby Park? This is the fastest and
shortest track ever to hit the Mario Kart series, and the only track with more
than three laps in the game. It can get pretty fun when there are a lot of
items flying around the stage, as it turns into a battlefield. The track is
shaped like a classic oval. There are two rows of item boxes, each located near
the beginning of each turn. Powerslide around these turns, and launch or use
all your items as soon as possible, because you'll be picking up another one
very quickly. There's nothing much else to it.

                --------------------------------------------

                           Section 3G - Leaf Cup
                          =======================

Leaf Cup is filled with some pretty frustrating tracks, especially Koopa Beach 
2 and Luigi Circuit.

                            1) Koopa Beach 2
                            2) Choco Mountain
                            3) Luigi Circuit
                            4) Mushroom Bridge

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Koopa Beach 2 =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 6/10
                Recommended Character Type: Medium or Heavy 

This track was twisted horribly from the original version, and made much more 
difficult than it really is. The track was blown up far to large, and you can 
no longer float on the deeper water for a few seconds, you automatically sink. 
You need to be extremely careful on this one.

Start with the speed boost, then drive down the shore and turn to the left. The 
path will go straight for a bit, and there will be a batch of item boxes, so 
grab one and continue driving. The path will curve to the left a bit more, then 
the hardest part of the track will be coming up - the water. There will be a 
large, empty area filled with mostly shallow water that is safe to drive 
through, but here and there you'll see some deeper areas, which are difficult 
to avoid in traffic and even more dangerous for lighter karts, because they can 
easily be bumped in. Your best bet is to drive up the middle (and grab another 
item box, too) until you reach the opposite shore. Once you do, you're safe for 
another lap.

Once you're back on the land, there will be a sharp and sudden turn left, then 
the path will extend forwards and curve slightly to the left up ahead. You can 
cut across the shallow water at this part. After that, the road will curve 
right, then again go back slightly to the left. You'll then see the finish line 
right up ahead. Note that the closer to the right of the track that you are 
when you cross the finish line, the faster of a time you can get, and it might 
make the difference between first and second place. Simply put, try to go to 
the right as much as possible when crossing the finish line.

                           ==--==--==--==--==
                           = Choco Mountain =
                           ==--==--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

Another personal favourite, this track was ported from the N64. The nice thing 
about this place is that much of the track is surrounded by walls on either 
side of you, so you can't go off-road. Right after the start, there will be a 
wide turn to the right, then a short straightaway, and a light S-Curve. These 
are all good for powersliding through. There will then be a row of item boxes 
up ahead, so grab one as you drive along. The road will now curve to the left, 
and the wide turn should last about three seconds, so powerslide through it up 
to three times. Once you've rounded the corner, you'll see a long straightaway 
that leads downwards and under a bridge.

After the straightaway, the road will turn slightly to the left and upwards for 
a bit, then when the road flattens out, you'll see the road become a bit wavy 
up ahead, but you barely need to turn to get through it. There will then be a 
short straightaway, and a row of item boxes will appear up ahead. Grab one, 
then the road will curve to the left , and there will be a small ramp that 
you'll fly off. Once you land, there will be a short, empty path that 
constantly curves very slightly to the left, but then the wall on the left side 
of the track will completely disappear, and you'll be best off staying near the 
right side of the track.

As you continue down this path, the turn will slowly grow sharper, and huge 
boulders from the right side of the huge hill will start pounding down, and 
you'll need to avoid them as you round the corner. Soon after, there will be 
another slight turn to the right, and the boulders will be behind you. Ahead of 
you, though, is a batch of item boxes ready to picked, so grab a few as you 
drive by, preventing your opponents from getting to them. After you've passed 
the item boxes, the road will continue to curve slightly to the right, until 
eventually it just swerves right completely, and the is a short straightaway 
before three massive bumps/jumps in the road. After the bumps, you'll have 
completed the first lap.

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Luigi Circuit =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 6.5/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

There are two Luigi Circuits in this game, and this one is the one that was 
ported from the GBA game of Super Circuit. This is also the harder one - there 
are many curves and corners to go through.

Start off with a speed boost at the beginning, then shoot forwards and start 
turning to the right. There will then be two puddles on your left, so stay near 
the right side of the track while turning over to the left. There will then be 
a short, straight path, followed immediately by a sharp turn to the right. 
Powerslide through it once or twice. Once you've rounded the corner, there will 
be a slight S-Curve, along with a row of item boxes. Grab one as you drive by.

After the item boxes, there will be another wide turn to the left this time, so 
also powerslide through this a couple of times. The road will straighten out, 
and some puddles will appear on the left side of the track, so avoid them while 
rounding the 90 degree turn to the right. There will be a puddle in the middle 
of the wavy road, then there will be a sharp and abrupt turn to the right. 
Immediately following this, there will be yet ANOTHER TURN to the left.

You'll soon see a small puddle up ahead on the straightaway, with an item box 
placed just before it. A nice technique is to grab the item, then hit R to hop 
over the puddle. Right after the puddle you'll see a sharp turn to the left. 
After the turn, the road will weave left and right, and you'll need to avoid 
the puddles that appear here and there. There will also be a row of item boxes 
near the end of the path, just before it turns to the left.

After the turn, there will be a short straightaway, followed by one more final 
turn to the right. Powerslide around it a few times, then you'll have completed 
the first lap.

                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                           = Mushroom Bridge =
                           ==--==--==--==-=-==
                        Difficulty Rating: 3.5/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

This course is a disappointment, simply because there are no longer any of the 
shortcuts that were found in the Double Dash version. Nevertheless, this is a 
challenging track and one of the few that throws you into the middle of traffic 
for a race. Note that there are item boxes that fly around the entire track, 
and may appear at any time.

Start with a speed boost at the beginning, then edge to the left  for a few 
seconds as there is a turn right at the beginning. You'll enter a tunnel, and 
halfway through it, there will be a stationary row of item boxes to choose 
from. Once you exit the tunnel, there will be a slight turn to the left again. 
The path will straighten out, and on your right, you'll see a large hill. If 
you have Mushrooms, you can boost your way over it for a mini-shortcut, but if 
you don't, you're best off staying on the normal path, which will quickly turn 
to the right and the paths will rejoin.

After the turn, there will be a short straightaway, and you'll see another 
tunnel up ahead. At the entrance, there is a row of item boxes, so grab one as 
you enter. After another second or two, the track will start curving to the 
left, and you'll continue this way for several moments. Grab any moving item 
boxes that you may see as you go along. Soon, the tunnel will end and the path 
will turn a bit more sharply, then finally, it will become a straight path and 
an enormous straightaway that leads directly to the finish. You'll cross a 
large bridge along the way, and it's here that you'll come across a third and 
final row of item boxes.

                -------------------------------------------- 

                        Section 3H - Lightning Cup
                       ============================

The Lightning Cup is the final cup of Mario Kart DS, and probably the first not 
to feature a Rainbow Road as the last track, which surprised a few people.

                           1) Choco Island 2
                           2) Banshee Boardwalk
                           3) Sky Garden
                           4) Yoshi Circuit

                           ==--==--==--==--==
                           = Choco Island 2 =
                           ==--==--==--==--==
                       Difficulty Rating: 6.5/10
                 Recommended Character Type: Any Weight

This track is a real pain for all characters - if you drive on the dirt, you'll 
lose a ton of speed, the road is slippery, and there are many obstacles 
throughout the short course, including mud puddles and mini-bumps in the road. 
Start with a speed boost at the beginning, then turn to the right and quickly 
back to the left again. There will be a row of item boxes placed before a sharp 
turn to the right, so powerslide through and grab one as you turn through.

The path will become extremely thin for a short while after the turn, making it 
a great place to drop items or use them, because there is hardly any room to 
avoid them. After the path becomes wider again, there will be a simple turn 
right again, and there will be some mini-bumps in the road. Up ahead, you'll 
see a huge puddle of mud with some item boxes on a small island near the left 
side of the screen. There are also some Piranha Plants that you'll need to 
drive around in order to get one of those item boxes. 

After the item boxes, there will be a bit more driving through the puddle, then 
the path will appear again and you can drive back at your normal speed. The 
path will turn right again, so avoid the mini-bumps that are scattered 
everywhere, or you may lose control. After the turn, there will be a short 
straightaway where you may bounce around a bit, as well as some item boxes to 
grab. The mini-bumps will then slowly disappear, followed by one final turn to 
your right, and the starting line will be right up ahead.

                          ==--==--==--==--==-==
                          = Banshee Boardwalk =
                          ==--==--==--==--==-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 5/10
                Recommended Character Type: Medium or Heavy

Start off with a speed boost at the beginning, then shoot forwards, and there 
will be a 90 degree turn to the left up ahead. Once you've turned, the banister 
on the right side of the track will completely disappear, so you could easily 
fall off into the water if you're not careful. Note that it will suddenly and 
randomly disappear at different places in the track on both sides. There will 
then be another turn to the right, then a short straightaway, followed by 
another slight turn right. There will be a short straightaway, and you'll see a 
row of item boxes up ahead, so grab one as you drive by.

After the item boxes, there will be another sharp turn to the left (notice how 
all the curves on the track are very abrupt), and then there will be a short 
straightaway, during which the path will go down and up again. A giant Cheep-
Cheep bounces over this lowered portion of the track, but it does no harm to 
you. When the track goes back up, there will be a small turn to the left, 
followed by another straightaway with a quick S-Curve in the middle. There is 
also another batch of item boxes that you'll find during this straightaway.

The path will end suddenly and you'll be dropped down onto a slanted path which 
heads upwards, then curves to the left and enters a building. The arrow points 
to the right, so obviously, turn right. There will be an air vent up ahead, and 
there are bats that will fly out and slow you down. To your left there will be 
a small hole and a large pole that has nothing on it. Note that you can 
actually jump across the small crack in the hole to the left of the pole to 
avoid traffic and save time. After that, there will be another air duct letting 
out more bats, then you'll have to turn to the right and grab an item box, then 
head out of the building.

The rest of the track is easy. The path will curve to the right, then there 
will be a long straightaway. There will then be two more turns to the left, and 
some item boxes to grab as you enter the second turn, followed by an even 
longer straightaway that leads you up to the starting line.

                             ==--==--==--==
                             = Sky Garden =
                             ==--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium 

This track is loaded with some easy shortcuts, although several require 
Mushrooms to use. Start with a speed boost at the beginning, then there will be 
a quick turn to the left. There will be a row of item boxes, followed by the 
first shortcut up ahead on your right - if you use a Mushroom, you'll be 
launched over the ramp onto a small island that leads to the track up ahead - 
essentially, it's a straightaway instead of two turns. If you take the normal 
path, there will be a slight turn to the left and then back to the right, 
followed by a small jump and a slight turn right, which will rejoin you with 
the other path. 

From here, there will be a quick straightaway, then a wide and long turn to the 
left, good for powersliding through. There will then be a longer straightaway, 
followed by two more obvious shortcuts up ahead. If you were to take the normal 
path, there will be a turn to the left, and then a sharp turn to the right, but 
if you take one of the two shortcuts, you'll just go straight over this area. 
The shortcut to the right requires a Mushroom, but the one to the left gets you 
an item and you need nothing, so in most cases you'll be using the one on the 
left.

After that, there will be a tight turn to the left, and you'll cross over a 
wireframe bridge to the other side. There will then be a wide turn to the left, 
which you can easily powerslide through, and then there will be two very slight 
turn to the right and then the left. You'll see a row of item boxes to choose 
from when you've past the two turns, and then it is followed by a wide turn to 
the right. There will be a fourth and final shortcut, and probably the most 
major one in the game, after you turn the corner.

If you take the normal path, you'll continue driving down the path, turn left, 
cross another bridge, then turn left right after and reconnect. However, if you 
take the shortcut, you'll use the R button to cross over a small island on your 
left, which appears right after the turn. This is extremely useful and cuts a 
lot of time off if you use it often. After the paths are rejoined, there will 
be a final wide turn to the left, and there will be a small on-track speed 
boost that launches you over a mini-gap located right before the finish.

                            ==--==--==--==-==
                            = Yoshi Circuit =
                            ==--==--==--==-==
                         Difficulty Rating: 5/10
                    Recommended Character Type: Medium

The final track of Mario Kart DS takes place on Yoshi Circuit from the Double 
Dash game. It's a very wavy and long track with so many curves that you'll 
likely be powersliding the whole track. This is a great place to practice. 
Start with a speed boost at the beginning, the head forwards and take the first 
curve to the right, and halfway through, you'll see a row of item boxes, so get 
one. There will then be a short straightaway, and a quick turn to the left, 
followed by another short straightaway and a turn to the right. The road will 
then curve slightly to the right, and there will be another straight path, 
followed by a small turn to the left.

There will now be a row of item boxes in front of a tunnel - get one as you 
drive by, then immediately turn left and enter. There will be a long curve to 
the right, which is great for powersliding through, and you can get at least 
three or four in. After the tunnel, the path will turn abruptly to the right, 
and there will be some more item boxes. From here, the path will weave back and 
forth, and you'll actually have to be on your toes to make it through the turns 
and get yet another item box from the fourth batch available. Eventually, the 
wavy path will end, and the path will go downhill a bit before a wide turn that 
you can powerslide to the left.

The worst is just about over. The path will then go upwards on a short 
straightaway, then there will be a very slight turn to the left, followed by 
another wide turn to the right, so powerslide through that. You'll see some 
item boxes up ahead on the longest straightaway of the track, followed by a 
tight turn to the left, and then a wide turn to the right. Avoid the Piranha 
Plants that are snapping at you as you drive through the last turn and head to 
the finish line.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                      ****************************
                      * Section 4 - The Missions *
                      ****************************

A new and unseen gameplay mode is now available in Mario Kart, that being the
Mission mode. Mission mode consists of seven levels containing eight missions
and a boss, totalling for 63 missions. There will be a clock that will count
down in each mission, and the higher your time is, the more likely it is that
your ranking will be better. In this section, you'll be walked through each of
these missions. There will be a difficulty rating for each one, along with the
name of the character you'll use and a description.

                          Section 4A - Level #1
                         =======================

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-1 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 0/10
                            Character: Mario

A pathetically easy mission to get you started. You'll be dropped behind the
starting line on Figure 8 Circuit, and your goal is to drive through all five
tires as quickly as possible. Hold down A between the countdown of '2' and '1'
for the boost at the beginning, then shoot forward through the first tire. Up
ahead there will be four Mushrooms. Grab the second from the left and shoot
through the second tire. Now slowly edge to the left and grab another Mushroom
while heading through the third tire.

There will be a pit of a sharper turn you'll need to make to get back on track,
and also another Mushroom up ahead that will send you rocketing through the
fourth tire. Nudge to the left once more, and grab the final Mushroom to shoot
through the final tire. You should easily get at least somewhere in the star
rankings.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-2 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 0.5/10
                            Character: Peach

The only thing this stage does is test your ability to drift around a sharp
corner effectively while collecting all 15 coins. When you start, get the usual
boost at the beginning of the race, and shoot forwards to collect four coins.
There will then be a sharp curve, this being the one where you should drift to
continue without losing speed. You could also slow down, if you'd like. Once
you've rounded the corner, collect 6 more coins on the straightaway, then make
a light turn to the left, collecting the remaining five coins and completing
the mission.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-3 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 1/10
                            Character: Yoshi

This mission will send you around Yoshi Falls for an almost complete lap as you
attempt to collect all 10 item boxes. They will all contain Mushrooms, so as
you might imagine you should be using them as soon as you've got them, so I
won't be telling you every time. Get the speed boost at the beginning, then
shoot forwards and grab the first item box, directly ahead of you. Edge over to
the right, go over the bridge and get the second one. The third one will be on
the slanted road to your right, so drop down there and get it, then quickly
come back up to get the fourth one, right in front of the bridge.

There will be a fifth item box on the bridge, then up ahead, a sixth one to
your left. Once you have them both, take the track's two speed boosts onto the
curved bridge, where you'll find the seventh item box. Three left. As you get
off the bridge, the eighth item box will be right in front of a track speed
boost, so grab it and fly forwards. There will be one more speed boost, then
another item box, your ninth. The tenth one will be directly ahead, which you
can quickly get and complete the stage.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-4 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 2/10
                            Character: Wario

This one is a somewhat frustrating level, because you'll either do really well
or terrible. Your goal is to knock out the Cheep-Cheeps that are bouncing
around on the beach with a Star, which is scattered in item boxes across the
beach. There is no set method to beat this, as long as there are 15 seconds
left on the clock, but what I tend to do is nail the first, third, and fifth
Cheep-Cheeps, then turn around, grab another item box and hit the remaining
two. And don't get frustrated when they bounce over your kart. Try holding down
A and B at the same time for a slower, sharper turn, too.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-5 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 1/10
                             Character: Toad

Getting a triple star on this stage is fairly difficult, as you'll need to be
powersliding through the whole thing. Otherwise, it's fairly simple. An
interesting place, too - you'll be racing on a Nintendo DS. Get the speed boost
at the beginning and head through the first tire. You'll go up onto the upper
screen, where you should turn left and go through the second tire. Turn left
again, and head down upper screen into the third tire.

You'll drop back down to the lower screen, where you can drive right through
the fourth tire. Make a sharp turn to the left to avoid falling off, and get
the fifth tire. You can then make a light curve to the left into the sixth and
final tire, to end the stage. If you're trying to get a triple star ranking,
you'll need to be powersliding through most, if not all curves, to get
mini-boosts.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-6 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 0.5/10
                            Character: Luigi

While driving backwards does seem like a difficult task, it really isn't,
because the camera makes it easy by showing you the front of your kart,
allowing you to see everything behind you. Because you're also going to be
moving slowly, it should be easy to navigate, as long as you remember that
left is right, right is left and you're holding 'B', not 'A'. Start off by
driving back down the slope, and slowly turn the corner. There will be another
corner, and a small slope, then one more turn. Make sure you don't turn so
sharply that you hit the cabinet door.

Now, up ahead, there will be something right in the middle of your path, so
either weave to the left or right and drive past it. Enter through the doors,
and you're almost there. Continue to drive backwards until you're out of the
tunnel and in the open. As long as you drove the whole time and didn't hit
anything, you should get a triple star rating.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-7 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 1/10
                             Character: DK

You'll be doing an almost complete lap around Moo Moo Farm with DK in an
attempt to get all 20 coins. Start by getting a speed boost at the beginning,
followed by an item box directly ahead of you, which will give you a Triple
Mushroom. Boost forwards to get the first four coins, then jump over the hill
and use another Mushroom to get the second four coins. You'll now have eight.
Make a light curve to the right, while grabbing five more coins along the way.
Now you'll have 13 coins.

You'll go for a short period of time without any coins, and this is when you
should use your remaining boost. As soon as you stop turning to the right, you
should see them in the distance. Grab the first couple while carefully
navigating over the bump, then grab the remaining coins, which are scattered
throughout the area. Mission complete.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-8 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 1.5/10
                             Character: Mario

In this course, you'll be doing a full lap around the SNES version of Mario
Circuit. Your goal is to perform four powerslides in that one lap, and you have
five curves to do this. Get the speed boost at the beginning and don't bother
trying on the first curve - it's a waste of time. However, when you get to the
second curve, perform your first powerslide while going through the pipes. One
down, three to go.


You'll go on an empty straightaway for a minute, then another curve will come
up for your second powerslide. Another straightaway (these SNES courses weren't
very interesting) and another powerslide. The last curve is fairly wide, so
you'll need to make sure you don't turn too sharply. Once you've done the
fourth one, speed forwards to the end of the stage.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 1-9 =
                              =--==--==--==
                          Difficulty Rating: 2/10
                             Character: Mario

This is a fairly simple boss stage, which simply involves you knocking the Big
Bully off the stage by using Mushrooms. There is only one item box, found in
the middle of the stage, but it's more than enough, because one hit sends him
flying. At the beginning, just get out of his way while he aimlessly charges at
you, then when he starts to walk back, grab some Mushrooms and attack him,
spacing out your hits by about 2-3 seconds to save your Mushrooms and for
maximum effect. Once he's dead, you should get a triple star rating.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 4B - Level #2
                         =======================

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-1 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 2/10
                            Character: Wario

In this task, you need to destroy ten boxes by smashing your kart into them.
Your first goal should be not to hit them head-on, because if you do, you'll
have a drastic loss in speed. Try to hit the sides of the box, which allows you
to destroy it but still continue moving at the same speed.

You'll start out on Delfino Square. Turn the slight corner to the left and
destroy the first three boxes by hitting the sides, and on the fourth box, ram
into it head-on so you won't fall off the bridge. As you regain speed, turn to
the left, and head down, closer to the water. Turn to the right and destroy the
fifth box, head-on. Turn to the left and gain speed, then hit the sixth box,
head-on as well.

Now you're going to have to back up and back on track. Because there is hardly
enough room to turn around completely, just press and hold B and go in reverse,
keeping in mind that left is right and right is left. Once you're back at the
top, drive forwards, and destroy the seventh, eighth, and ninth boxes. Only one
more left. Turn right and cross the bridge, and up ahead, you'll see a 'Stop'
barrier. Just before that, there will be a space in the right barrier, where
you enter and see the final box. Hit it head-on to complete the mission.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-2 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 0.5/10
                            Character: Yoshi

An extremely simple stage which would normally take you two tries and have you
saying "How did I not see that?" You need to collect 10 coins. When you start,
instead of trying to get the usual speed boost, hold B down and move in
reverse. You'll get one coin, and immediately after you get it, press A and
drive forwards for the next three coins. There will be a slight bend to the
left, where you'll find the remaining six coins along the way. Simple.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-3 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 3/10
                              Character: DK

Another one of the 'Drive through the tires' courses. Start out by getting a
speed boost, then powerslide to the right. There will be a bridge up ahead, and
before it, you'll find your first tire. Drive through, then cross the bridge,
and powerslide again to the right. There will be a Mushroom placed right before
the large area of grass, and a tire up ahead. Get the Mushroom and speed over
the grass, getting the second tire, and slowing down just after you reach the
other side.

There will be another sharp turn to the right up ahead, and halfway through, a
third tire. Powerslide right through the tire, then head up a straightaway. In
the distance, there will be a Mushroom placed before a fourth tire, which is
placed before a sharp curve to the left. Grab the Mushroom and powerslide
through the fourth tire, then continue to powerslide until the end of the
curve. There will be two more Mushrooms on the track before the fifth and final
tire, which is around a bend to the right. Mission complete.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-4 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 1.5/10
                            Character: Luigi

This is a pretty quick and easy triple star mission. You'll need to chase and
get the five item boxes that are moving away from you. At the start, watch them
spin around and float away while getting a speed boost, then shoot forward and
get the first item box halfway through the first curve. Use the Mushroom, and
get the second item box at the end of the second curve. You'll now be heading
for the mansion - use your Mushroom to catch up with the third item box just
before the steps. Use the Mushroom as you fly up the steps, and chase the
fourth item box, grabbing it halfway down the slope. Then, do a swift turn to
the right and get the fifth and final item box.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-5 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 1.5/10
                            Character: Peach

Another simple triple star mission in which you are required to collect 20
coins on Cheep Cheep Beach. Start off with a speed boost, and get the first
three coins before the curve around the mountain. There will be nine more coins
as you round the corner, and three more before the straight path leading to the
ramp, which will send you flying over the water. This is the only part where
you might miss a coin - as you come down from your flight off the ramp, there
will be one coin that forces you to move slightly to the left to get it. Once
you land, though, just collect the remaining three coins and you're done.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-6 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 2/10
                            Character: Wario

This was one of my personal favourite missions. Not much harder than the
previous two, but similar to Level 1-4 in how you need to destroy five enemies
using items (with Wario in both). This time around, you'll be throwing Bob-Ombs
that you get from item boxes at moving Pokeys. The trick to this task is to
stop right by an item box and throw your Bob-Ombs from there, which makes it
quick to pick up another one and throw it, too. For the remaining two Pokeys,
there is a second row of item boxes where you can stop for a better aim, as
well. Also remember the useful A + B button combination for slow, sharp turns.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-7 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 2.5/10
                             Character: Toad

This one sounds easy, driving through 10 tires, but it might confuse you the
first couple of times around, especially on the selected track - Luigi's
Circuit. Get a speed boost at the beginning, then drive right through the first
tire. There will be another one right ahead of you, but that isn't it, that's
the eighth tire. You'll have to criss-cross over to the other road that
normally heads in the opposite direction to get the second tire, then
criss-cross back (while snagging an item box containing a Mushroom) to get
through the third tire.

You'll now have the temptation to hug the corner as you turn to the right, but
instead, avoid the corner, because a Chain Chomp will pop out of nowhere and
likely surprise you. Stay somewhere in the middle of the track as you drive by.
After the Chain Chomp, you'll see your fourth tire, and then you'll need to
drive on the slope where the on-track speed boosts are to get the fifth tire,
halfway through. Get the remaining speed boosts, then get back onto the track.
Hop down the ledge, and drive through the sixth tire. Criss-cross over to get
the seventh tire (and along the way, another Mushroom), then use your Mushroom
to boost through the eighth tire.

Only two tires left. Cross back over to the regular path. You'll see the ninth
tire dead ahead of you. Drive through it, then drive onto the slope and get the
first speed boost, and hop onto the higher level above the slope, where you'll
see the tenth and final tire. Drive through and complete the mission.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-8 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 2/10
                            Character: Peach

There's not much advice I can give you on this one, nor is there any real
reason to walk you through it... I mean, it's Baby Park, and you have three
laps to do six powerslides. There are two turns every lap, so the math says you
have to perform two powerslides per lap. All of the item boxes contain Stars,
so make sure to use your Star as soon as you get to save time and to move
faster. Also try to snake through some of the straightaways to save more time -
you might find it difficult to get a triple star ranking without snaking.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 2-9 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 2.5/10
                            Character: Mario

You'll be fighting two Eyeroks (hands with eyes on them, first seen in Super
Mario 64) on a small, circular stage. The only item you have is a Green Shell,
and there are three item boxes scattered around the stage to assist you. It is
extremely easy to dodge the Eyerok's attacks, whether it be the hands pounding
forwards into nothing, or the single hand trying to crush you. The only thing
you might get frustrated with is aiming - you need to be quick, because you
have less than four seconds to hit one of the eyes before they move again. Once
you've hit the eyes three times, the Eyerok will explode, and you'll have
completed Level 2.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 4C - Level #3
                         =======================

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-1 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 2/10
                            Character: Wario

This is a simple mission once you know where all the item boxes are going. Get
a speed boost at the beginning, then snag the first three item boxes while
driving straight - you'll have to swerve to the left and right, and one will
even come right at you. As soon as you get the third one, swerve to the right
and make a wide turn around the bumper, then grab the fourth item box, and
swerve to your right to grab the fifth one. All five contain Stars, too.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-2 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 1/10
                            Character: Bowser

Another easy mission, this one involves you driving backwards through five
gates in order. Obviously, you'll need to keep in mind that left is right and
vice versa. Hold B at the start, then drive through the first tire. Take the
S-Curve, then drive down the curving slope and head through the second tire.
After the curve, there will be a third tire directly ahead. Drive through it.
Now drop down the steps, and turn to the left, where you'll find your fourth
tire. When you reach the fork in the road, the right side is blocked off, so
head left, and climb up two more flights of stairs while taking two small turns
and reaching the fifth and final tire.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-3 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 0.5/10
                            Character: Luigi

Instead of getting harder, they're getting easier! You simply have to collect
15 coins while driving around a Chain Chomp, which is much easier than it
sounds. Get a speed boost at the beginning, then after about five coins, turn
to the left without powersliding or drifting, and you'll get about every last
coin if your timing is right. It should take you no more than two or three
tries to get a triple star here.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-4 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 1.5/10
                            Character: Peach

All you're doing here is a full lap around Yoshi Falls in a race against Yoshi,
and you have to beat him. Certain area of the course are blocked off (you are
forced to go through the first two waterfalls and take the bridge on the third
one), but this is made easy because all item boxes contain Triple Mushrooms and
Stars, meaning you can boost through the waterfall without falling off. For a
complete walkthrough of the stage, see Section 3A, but otherwise, this should
be fairly simple.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-5 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 2/10
                            Character: Yoshi

Another 'drive through the tires' mission, this one taking place on a battle
map. Start with a speed boost at the beginning, then drive straight through the
first and fifth tire (you'll still have to go through the fifth tire again),
and into the pipe. You'll pop up on the upper level, where you'll see the
second tire directly ahead. Turn right, and the third tire will be on the left
hand side of the platform. Turn right again, and the fourth tire will be
directly ahead, leading up to a pipe.

You'll pop out right in front of the fifth tire. Drive straight through that
and the first tire again, then you'll see a tire in the distance, that being
the sixth one. Turn right and drive through, then make sure not to turn too
sharply so that you make it up the ramp. Once you're back on the platform, the
seventh tire will be on a slant to the right. Drive through, then drive off the
platform and hit the ground. The eighth tire will be directly in front of you,
and you'll be done the stage.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-6 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 3/10
                            Character: Luigi

This is an easy mission (again), but it can be frustrating if you have bad aim.
Your goal is to hit the Monty Moles with Shells five times. This is best done
by driving up to the middle item box and facing a hole, then developing a
rhythm when firing the green shells at the Monty Moles. Once you get that
rhythm, you should have no trouble beating this with a lot of time to spare.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-7 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                              Character: DK

A frustrating level more than anything else, you'll be doing a full lap around
Shroom Ridge and per forming 10 powerslides as you go along. At the beginning,
get a speed boost, then attempt to do at least three powerslides around the
large, wide curve, making sure to pull back to avoid the blue car. There will
be a slight turn to the right, then a sharp turn, where you'll need to
powerslide around the truck, which is shooting around the corner. You'll now
have at least four powerslides. On the next curve to the left (around the
slope), get at least two more powerslides in, and you'll be at least at six.

There will be a long straightaway, and you should remain in the middle of the
road. After a few rolling hills, there will be an S-Curve, so powerslide
through both turns. You'll then enter a tunnel - drive through and when you
reach the end of it, powerslide around the corner. One left. There will be
three more curves, going right, left, and right, for you to try it out on
before you complete a lap.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-8 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                            Character: Mario

This is an interesting one - your goal is to collect 20 coins, but you do it on
a battle stage with many blocked passages, meaning you'll be weaving in and out
of the track. Start by getting a speed boost at the beginning, then grab the
coin ahead of you, turn left, and grab a second coin. Drive to the outside of
the mansion, then weave back in and grab the third coin at the next entrance.
Keep turning right, and enter a small area with a single hidden coin, which
seems to evade everybody. Once you've got it, back out of the area, and turn
left, and exit the area.

You'll be outside of the mansion again, so turn right to avoid falling off,
then grab the fifth coin and avoid the banana peel. Up ahead, the path ill be
blocked, so turn in at the nearest entrance and grab the sixth coin, then
continue turning left and grab a seventh coin, and turn out of the area. You'll
be outside of the mansion again, and there will be a sharp turn to the right,
where you'll find the eighth coin.

Continue forwards and grab your ninth coin, then turn in at the next entrance
and circle around the barriers, grabbing the 10th and 11th coins. Once you've
got them, turn out again, and continue driving on the outside of the mansion,
weaving past banana peels while getting the 12th and 13th coins. Once you've
got them, there will be a barrier up ahead, so turn in to the nearest entrance
for the final time, and grab the 14th coin. Then, turn left, and enter an area
with the remaining six coins placed in a circle. Get them all, and you're off
to the boss stage.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 3-9 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 3/10
                             Character: Toad

This boss stage requires you to race a Goomboss around Baby Park for three
laps, which is actually somewhat difficult, due to Toad being knocked around a
lot. Goomboss will charge up at you from behind when you're in the lead, and
when he's in the lead, he'll stop and drop a Goomba or throw a Mushroom at you,
so you'll need to avoid or get whatever comes out. Once a Goomba is dropped,
they'll walk back and forth along the track for the rest of the race, so the
track might become quite crowded near the end. Once you've beaten this, you're
nearing the halfway point of the missions.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 4D - Level #4
                         =======================

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-1 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                            Character: Wario

In this stage, you'll be driving backwards on DK Pass against DK in a race.
Beating him is fairly simple, but keeping control of your kart while heading
back up the slope is not. There are item boxes scattered throughout the stage,
all of them containing either Triple Mushrooms or Stars. Use them wisely, and
try to knock DK out with the Star if you can. Some other minor altercations
have been made to the stage, including more snowmen, and a somewhat bumpier
surface (or so it will seem). Just get an early lead on DK and you'll be fine. 

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-2 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 3/10
                            Character: Yoshi

To win, you'll have to blast 20 crabs away using only Bob-Ombs, Triple Green
Shells, and a single Green Shell. This is easier than it sounds, assuming you
get decent items. The best item to use is the Triple Green Shell, because then
you can just drive around, knocking out the crabs. However, Bob-Ombs work
effectively, too, especially after about 30 seconds in, when all of the crabs
gather in the center island, so one Bob-Omb could destroy six or seven of them.
Try to avoid just driving around aimlessly - stay near the item boxes so you
won't have to be driving back and forth.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-3 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 4.5/10
                            Character: Mario

All you're doing in this mission is a full lap around Shroom Ridge, in a race
against a red car. Beating the car is easy, but getting a triple star ranking
is not. You'll need to powerslide around every corner, as well as get every
item box on the course. The item boxes contain Triple Mushrooms, and you'll
need to spread them out as evenly as possible to gain as much time from them as
you can. On top of all that, avoiding the traffic is a pain, and so is the red
car, because if you touch it, you'll flip over, too.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-4 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 4.5/10
                            Character: Wario

This mission involves you doing a full lap around Desert Hills, and at the same
time, driving through seven tires. Start off with a speed boost at the
beginning, then shoot straight through the first tire ahead of you. There will
be a patch of item boxes, which will contain Triple Mushrooms, for you to grab.
There will be a slight turn to the right, and at this point you'll see the
second tire on the dirt behind a pyramid. Use the Mushrooms to drive across the
deep sand without slowing down. Head right through the second tire, then use
another boost to finish cutting across. When you get back on the track, the
third tire will be on a slanted hill on deep sand, so use your final Mushroom
to cut across there and get that tire, too.

You should be back on the track, now. There will be a ramp up ahead, and the
fourth tire will be right in front of it. Drive through the tire and take the
leap across, then land safely on the ground. There will be some rolling hills
with item boxes up ahead, so grab one, then make a wide turn to the right and
enter through the fifth tire, using a Mushroom at the same time. The sixth tire
will be placed just barely in front of the deep sand, so you'll be forced to
drive through it. Use another Mushroom just before entering the tire, then
bounce over the hill. When you land on the hill right across, use your final
Mushroom, then boost to the seventh tire below, and you're done.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-5 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 1.5/10
                            Character: Bowser

This is a quick level where you take control of Bowser and try to get all 15
coins. Getting a speed boost at the beginning will get you the first eight
coins without any trouble from the Thwomps, then right after you have those,
use A+B to do a slow, sharp turn to the left, and as soon as the Thwomps start
moving up again, speed up and grab the remaining eight coins.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-6 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                              Character: DK

Your goal in this task is the take all the real item boxes and avoid the fake
ones. In total, there are ten. This one is only difficult on the your few
attempts, because you'll be looking down at the bottom screen to see which ones
are which. You'll be racing on Choco Mountain for this one. I'll simply list
the true item box from each row.

   1st Batch - X O X X
   2nd Batch - X O X
   3rd Batch - X O X X          X = Fake Item Box
   4th Batch - X X O            O = Real Item Box
   5th Batch - O X X X
   6th Batch - X X O
   7th Batch - X O X X
   8th Batch - X X O
   9th Batch - X X
                X O
   10th Batch - X O X

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-7 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 5/10
                             Character: Toad

You'll have no clue what to do at first, but after a few tries it'll be simple,
just like last mission. You'll be on the main section of Waluigi Pinball, where
the bumpers and flippers are located. Your goal is to drive through 10 tires,
but unlike the norm, you can drive through them in any order. From my personal
experiments, the best one is as follows.

Start off with a speed boost at the beginning, then drive through the tire
right up ahead. Now, you'll need to slide around the bumper on the right, and
enter through the tire which is slanted in the opposite direction (how
convenient). After you drive through there, immediately turn left, and drive
through the third tire in the center. Drive up the left side of the table, then
enter through the fourth tire, turn right, and drive through the fifth tire.
Now turn sharply to the right, and drive through the sixth tire. Turn right
again, and drive through the seventh tire. Then criss-cross to the other side,
and you'll see the eighth tire right ahead of you. Turn right, and the ninth
tire will be right there. From here, just follow the orange path around the
flippers, and go right around to the tenth and final tire. Done.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-8 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 5.5/10
                             Character: Luigi

Your goal in this mission is to perform nine powerslides in a full lap around
Luigi Circuit. This is extremely frustrating and difficult to get a triple star
on, but it can be done. Start with the speed boost at the beginning, then take
the first light turns and perform your first powerslide on the first wide turn.
Drive forwards, then there will be another turn to the left, get another
powerslide in here. Another turn to the right, and another powerslide. The road
will weave a bit, but then there will be three more sharp turns, and on the
third one, you can get two powerslides in. That'll be seven. The road will then
swerve back and forth again, and then there will be two more sharp turns for
two more powerslides, and you'll be done. Along the way, keep in mind there are
various puddles to watch out for, as you'll spin out if you drive through.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 4-9 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 6/10
                             Character: Peach

As you might have noticed, the missions are starting to get harder, and the
same with boss stage. This is a particularly annoying one, where you have to
collect 50 coins from a huge arena with circles for paths and lava pits all
around. Every now and then, King Boo will come and steal some of those coins
from you, and all of the other coins on the stage will disappear until you
drive into him twice to get the coins back. The simplest method for winning is
to cover one 'circle' at a time and get all the coins from it, then move on to
the next one - it's easier to keep track of where everything is, and also
prevents you from leaving that one coin on the other end of the stage at the
last second.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 4E - Level #5
                         =======================

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-1 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                             Character: Peach

This mission is simply a one-lap race around Peach Gardens against a stray
Chain Chomp. It'll get a slight head start on you, but you can easily catch up
by getting a speed boost at the beginning, then grabbing an item box and using
one of the Triple Mushrooms to cut through the first garden. Note that the
first item box you get is the only one, so you should save the Mushrooms for
small areas where you know you can cut ahead, generally through a garden or
something. The best areas to use them are at the first garden (as previously
mentioned), then right after at the garden on the hill, and lastly, after the
large 'maze' with other Chain Chomps bouncing around in it, there's a garden up
on that hill.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-2 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 1.5/10
                              Character: DK

Very simple. All you have to do is drive backwards in a circle and collect 15
coins. The snowmen are spaced far apart, giving you more than enough room to
drive through, and the coins are not way out of position. The only thing that
might slip you up is the icy turf, but that problem is quickly solved by
turning a half-second before you think you would. You might miss a coin on your
first few tries, but otherwise this is a cakewalk.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-3 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 1.5/10
                             Character: Toad

This is another easy mission, although it may not seem so at first. You'll have
get five moving item boxes (similar to Level 2-4) on Koopa Beach 1. But there's
no need to chase the item boxes in this one, because they all move in the same
path and you can quickly overtake them and allow them to come to you. Simply
get a speed boost at the start, then drive forward to the left until you near
the edge of the beach, and glance down on your bottom screen. Align yourself
based on where the item boxes are moving, then sit there calmly and let them
run into you one by one.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-4 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                            Character: Bowser

All you're doing in this task is driving through 10 tires in a nearly full lap
around Bowser Castle 1. Start with the usual speed boost at the beginning, and
drive through the first tire, then powerslide through the sharp corner. You
should end up on the left side of the track, so get the on-track speed boost,
then drive right through the second tire. There will be another sharp turn up
ahead for you to powerslide through, then head diagonally and enter the third
tire. Turn to the right, avoiding the Thwomp, then turn left again, and you'll
be on a wireframe floor. Drive over the on-track speed boosts to leap over the
lava pits, then after the second one, drive through the fourth tire.

Turn right, and try to get the speed boost located right against the wall. If
you get it, great, if you miss it, keep on going. Turn right again, then leap
over the lava. Up ahead, you'll see the fifth tire, but you'll have to jump
across a pit with a fireball bouncing in and out of it - try to avoid it as you
hop over and through the fifth tire. There will be a couple more jumps, then
the sixth tire will be on the right side of the track.

Continue forwards, then turn right, and jump over the lava pit near the left
side and into the seventh tire. Jump over any other pits, and finally, you'll
see the eighth tire on the other side of another lava pit with fireballs in it.
Jump over and across, then drive through. Make a sharp turn to the right, and
drive through the ninth tire. Then continue down the straightaway, and avoid
the two Thwomps that may get in front of the tenth and final tire up ahead.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-5 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 3/10
                             Character: Mario

Welcome to Mushroom Bridge in reverse. All you have to do is complete one lap
in the opposite direction. Some portions of the track are blocked off, so
you'll have to go around. This also means that cars have less space to move
around, so when going through these spaces, you'll have to take extra
precaution. Also note that item boxes contain only Mushrooms, and that they're
best used on straightaways in the open.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-6 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 3.5/10
                             Character: Yoshi

This mission is repetitive, because once you've got the first six coins, the
last 12 are in the same places. Start with a speed boost at the beginning, then
curve around the cream puff and grab two coins. Then, turn right until you see
three coins lined up together, get those too. You'll then fly up the ramp and
launch into the air, where you can grab one of three coins. When you land, just
look right, and the same thing will apply. When you have 12 coins, you'll only
have to go around once more and make sure to carefully grab the coin in the
air, then you're done. I've found that simply holding right on the control pad
without powersliding or anything generally gets you pretty close to the three
coins lined up together, and it's the best way to turn the corner. And, if you
grab more than just one coin while you're in the air, you might be able to
finish a bit quicker, if that helps you get a triple star.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-7 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 5/10
                             Character: Toad

You'll be going backwards on DK Pass, and you're attempting to drive through
eight tires again. Get a speed boost at the beginning, then drive through the
first tire. As you round the corner, avoiding the snowballs, drive through the
second tire. Up ahead, you'll see two or three snowballs bouncing down at you,
so you might have to swerve out of the way as you enter the third tire. There
will be a huge slope up ahead, and you'll be launched way up to the top.

Once you land, you'll see the fourth tire ahead of you. The rest of the path
from here on out won't be too easy. Avoid snowballs as you drive through the
fourth tire, then turn right and bounce through the rough terrain into the
fifth tire. Turn left, and you'll see the sixth tire placed before a small
slope that you'll bounce up and over, where the seventh tire is located. Once
you've driven through these two, turn right slightly, then bounce up another
small slope and drive through your eighth and final tire, then you'll be done 
here.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-8 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                             Character: Luigi

In this mission, you'll be racing against Mario in a plain and simple Mario
Circuit. It's easy to beat him, especially with the selection of items that you
have at your disposal - Mushrooms, Stars, and Red Shells. Stars are the best
option, because you can knock out Mario while cutting across the grass in a
shortcut, but Red Shells are equally effective, as are Mushrooms. Just try to
avoid the numerous Goombas and Piranha Plants that have been added and placed
all over the track, because they're the only thing that might get in your way.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 5-9 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 5.5/10
                             Character: Wario

This boss stage isn't too difficult, at least not as difficult as the last one.
Your task is to get item boxes, which will contain Bob-Ombs, and throw them at
the giant Bob-Omb. The only problem with this is that item boxes are not
conveniently located anywhere are the stage. There are only two that appear on
either side of the giant Bob-Omb every time he stops running around to throw a
Bob-Omb at you. Once he starts moving again, the item boxes are gone, so you
have to snag them quick. You needn't be worried of being caught in the blast
radius, because if it comes down to one balloon and you get hit, you'll still
win. However, keeping all your balloons is optimal for a triple star score.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 4F - Level #6
                         =======================

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-1 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 2/10
                            Character: Bowser

A very simple task, all you have to do is drive backwards across the rotating 
log as Bowser. If you fall off, you have to start over. Simply keep in mind 
that left is right and right is left. The closer you are to the center of the 
log, the faster you'll make it across. Once the log turns in one direction, all 
you have to do is go the other way until it changes direction again. The log 
will only change directions twice, and the second time doesn't really count 
because you should be right by the end by that time.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-2 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 5.5/10
                             Character: Wario

This is a frustrating and annoying stage, due mostly to the fact that the Rocky 
Wrenches are constantly moving up and down, meaning you can't just knock them 
out. Your goal is to knock out 15 of them using the item boxes scattered across 
the stage. If you touch one without a Star, you'll spin out. As you're driving 
around, try to find a pattern in how they pop in and out, and also grab all the 
item boxes you can, so you can start using a Star again immediately after the 
previous one ends. Also, when trying to make a full turn around, use A+B at the 
same time for the usual slow, sharp turn - very useful.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-3 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 5/10
                             Character: Yoshi

Yoshi is, fortunately, a good character for this stage, mostly because of his 
great acceleration and ability to handle the kart so well. At the beginning, 
get a speed boost, then simply go straight and grab the first six coins - there 
will be a Mushroom that allows you to cut across the dirt and keep your speed. 
Right after you get the sixth coin, start drifting to the right, so that you'll 
be in good position to grab the next three coins. The path will narrow, and 
once you've got the coins, there will be three more right up ahead, after you 
turn slightly to the left.

Once you've got the 12th coin, start drifting to the right again, and you'll be 
in good position to get the next three coins. There will then be a huge dirt 
puddle up ahead, and it's extremely slippery, so try to align yourself with the 
next three coins far before you get near them. Once you have them, there will 
be only 12 left. Turn right, then weave between the jumps so that you can 
safely grab nine more coins. There will then only be one more turn to the right 
again, and the three coins will be right ahead.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-4 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 8.5/10
                             Character: Mario

**  If you have any of your own strategies for this mission, email them to  **
**         me, as there are many methods of beating this stage.             **

This is an incredibly difficult mission, especially when you first start 
trying. It can take many attempts to figure out the correct path to grab all 
the item boxes, and several more attempts to actually get them all. However, I 
have laid out an effective path that will pretty much always get you a triple 
star ranking. Note that all item boxes contain single Mushrooms. Also note that 
the requirement on this stage is that you complete it with over a minute 
remaining, so you might have some time to burn.

Start with a speed boost at the beginning, then head straight up the middle 
until you reach the wall up ahead, then powerslide around the corner to the 
left. Grab the first item box, then get ready to powerslide to the left again. 
As soon as you see the path leading upwards, turn left, and use your Mushroom. 
Fly up the ramp onto the red block, then turn left around the corner and get 
the second item box. Use the Mushroom and boost across the bridge up ahead, and 
you'll have three item boxes. Once you've crossed the bridge, climb up the 
slope on your left, and once you reach the top, turn right wait for the item 
box to come to you.

Once you've got four item boxes, turn right again and cross the bridge that 
leads from the yellow block to the green block. When you reach the other side, 
look at your lower screen. You should see two item boxes coming from opposite 
directions, about to pass each other. You'll need good timing, but just about 
when they're about to pass, drop down, and get them both. You'll need to edge 
forwards a bit to get the sixth one, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Once 
you've got it, turn to the right, then turn right against and drive back up the 
ramp, then continue to turn right until you reach the bridge leading to the 
blue block. Here you'll find your seventh item box.

From this point, you can grab the eighth item box, which should be somewhere on 
the top level, and if it isn't, wait for it, as you have time to burn. Once you 
get it, drop down to the lower level, and find the ninth item box, which should 
be somewhere on the blue block. Once you have it, the tenth item box could be 
anywhere on the stage (because at this point, the description has become less 
specific), and all you have to do is find it with over a minute remaining.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-5 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 4.5/10
                             Character: Peach

Due to the fact that several areas of the course are blocked off, this task of 
driving through the eight tires becomes only a bit more difficult. Start with a 
speed boost at the beginning, then drive forwards and get an item box. It will 
contain Triple Mushrooms. Powerslide to the left, then drive through the first 
tire. The road to the left will be blocked off, so you'll have to use a 
Mushroom to take the ramp on your right over the hole. When you land, drive 
through the second tire, then use a second Mushroom to boost right over the 
small gaps without trouble.

Once you're back on the track, powerslide to the left and you'll see the third 
tire up ahead. Right when you drive through it, use your final Mushroom to 
boost across the ramp, because the regular path is again, blocked off. Once you 
land, you'll cross a bridge where the fourth tire is located. After the bridge, 
powerslide to the left, and then just follow the path to the fifth tire, 
grabbing an item box on the way there, which also contains Triple Mushrooms. 
After the fifth tire, powerslide to the right, then you'll see the sixth tire 
on a small, floating island, which is off-track. Press R to hop over the clouds 
and get to it. Once you've got it, Use a Mushroom to fly over the remaining  
gaps, then, back on the track, turn left and drive through the seventh tire. 
The eighth tire will then be right up ahead, near the finish line.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-6 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 6.5/10
                             Character: Yoshi

This task is a real pain, and it's just as difficult as it sounds - perform 14 
powerslides in one lap around Yoshi Circuit. For a complete walkthrough of 
Yoshi Circuit, see Section 3H, but for the most part, there are more than 
enough turns to get this job done, the only problem is picking the right ones. 
The first few are good for many - by the time you come out of the tunnel, you 
could have as much as eight powerslides done. After that, though, it's all up 
to you and instinct - you decide when the best time is to attempt a powerslide. 
Note that even if you finish long before the lap is completed, you should still 
continue to powerslide if you want to have more time left on the clock.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-7 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 7/10
                             Character: Toad

This is a difficult mission in which you have to collect 40 coins on the big 
clock found on Tick Tock Clock. The big problem is trying to avoid the hands, 
which will take away five of your coins when touched. Basically, to get a 
triple star ranking, you cannot touch any of the hands of the clock. The coins 
form a star shape with the two eyes in the middle. Your best bet is to follow 
the first line of eight coins at the beginning, then use A+B to turn around and 
wait for the hands to move, then go for the next row, and so on. It may take 
you several attempts to beat this and many more to get a triple star ranking.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-8 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 3.5/10
                            Character: Bowser

This is a nice break from the previous difficulties you've encountered. This 
stage requires that you beat Peach in a race backwards around Peach Gardens, an 
easy task because of Bowser's ability to knock Peach around. Note that all item 
boxes contain Mushrooms, Triple Mushrooms, and Stars, so you can use these to 
cut through the gardens and gain an advantage, as she will never use any items. 
Also, if you're neck and neck, try to ram your kart into hers to knock her off-
track and hopefully off-road.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 6-9 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 6/10
                             Character: Luigi

Your goal on this boss stage is to knock Chief Chilly off the arena using 
Triple Mushrooms, which are located in four item boxes scattered around the 
stage. This isn't too hard to beat, but you'll likely have trouble after you've 
knocked him off twice. The first two times are easy - either lure him near the 
edge and knock him off, or just use all three Mushrooms quickly and easily 
until he falls off. However, the third time is not as simple, because the Chief 
Chilly will suddenly leap into the air and land on a different portion of the 
arena just when you're about to hit him, and because you can't break when using 
Mushrooms, you're likely to fall off the edge. You either have to be extremely 
quick, or better yet, draw him near the edge and deliver one quick blow. Once 
you've beaten this stage, there's only one level left!

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 4G - Level #7
                         =======================

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-1 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 4.5/10
                             Character: Peach

This is the final powersliding mission. This time around, you're on Rainbow 
Road, and you have a minute to complete one lap and perform six powerslides. 
This is extremely easy, in fact, you can get the six powerslides on the first, 
long turn that spirals upwards. That's also the best method, because the faster 
you get them done, the more time you'll have to focus on winning, and you'll 
also be able to do more powerslides on other curves, allowing you to save time. 
The only trouble you may encounter is the remainder of the track, while trying 
to powerslide. As long as you don't fall off or frequently hit the wall, this 
mission shouldn't be hard to complete.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-2 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                             Character: Mario

In this mission, you'll take Mario and try to beat Bowser in a race through 
Bowser's Castle. All item boxes contain Mushrooms, Triple Mushrooms, Stars, and 
Red Shells, making it even easier to beat him. There are several changes that 
have been made to the track, and several areas that have been blocked off - 
some of these changes make things unfamiliar and you may have to adjust to them 
the first few times around - one of the major changes includes a complete path 
change after the turntable. This is equally simple and shouldn't be much 
trouble, either.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-3 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 4/10
                              Character: DK

All you have to do to beat this mission is complete two laps around the Tick 
Tock Clock track in less than a minute and 30 seconds. Some minor altercations 
have been made to the track, including more bells that swing back and forth, 
and gears that spin faster. All of them tend to make the task bit more 
difficult, but it shouldn't take too long for you to bring in the triple star 
rank, as long as you're frequently powersliding and not hitting anything or 
falling off track.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-4 =
                              =--==--==--==
                        Difficulty Rating: 9.5/10
                             Character: Toad

Personally, I think this is the most difficult mission in the game. Your task 
is to knock out 30 Goombas using the items contained in the item found on 
occasional parts of the track (Mario Circuit). All item boxes contain either 
Triple Green Shells and single Green Shells. Obviously, the triples are better, 
but you'll find yourself frequently spinning out when there are only one or 
even two left, circling around you, so you'll have to develop good timing so 
you hit the Goomba when the shell is circling around on that side. 

As time passes, the Goombas will start to advance down the track, so you might 
have to chase after the last couple of something - just don't go past the 
Piranha Plants that are placed before the bridge or else you'll never find 
anything, because the Goombas never make it that far. Your best bet for a 
triple star on this mission is to stay near the item boxes and always be armed 
with another item.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-5 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 6/10
                             Character: Wario

You're halfway through Level 7. Your mission is now to collect 20 coins on 
Wario Stadium (with Wario). This is a harder 'collect the coins' mission 
because many of the coins will be placed in mid-air. Start with a speed boost 
at the beginning, then powerslide twice around the first corner, and you'll see 
a coin placed near the wall up ahead. Grab it as you drive by, the turn 
slightly to the right and get the second coin, also placed by the wall. There 
will then be a wide turn to left, and there will be three more coins placed 
before a ramp that launches you into the air to get a sixth coin.

There will now be a turn to the left, and you'll have one coin placed on each 
of the speed boosts that launch you over the dirt. Once you've passed them all, 
you should have 10 coins. Turn to the left, then launch off the ramp on a minor 
slant to the left and grab three more coins, one of those being in mid-air. 
When you land, there will immediately after be a second ramp that launches you 
the same way as before, for another two coins. You'll now have 15 coins.

The road will then swerve left and right, and along the way, you'll find two 
more single coins placed near the dirt on the slanted edge to your left. Once 
you have them, all that's left is a powersliding turn to the left, followed by 
a quick ramp which will launch you into the air for your final three coins.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-6 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 7/10
                             Character: Mario

This is a rather interesting layout for a 'drive through the tires' stage. 
You'll be on the Nintendo DS battle arena, and there will be eight tires placed 
in a perfect circle that you'll have to drive through. While this appears 
complicated, there is a simple strategy to it, which has been submitted to me 
by loneboco (thanks for this excellent strategy). The gates are aligned in such 
a way that you can perform a single powerslide through them all.  Perform an 
initial turbo-boost towards the first gate, then press R and hold right and 
keep holding right.  You can easily make two complete circles through the gates 
and get a triple star rating with about 1.7 seconds left on the clock.  Just 
keep the powerslide going and don't stop it.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-7 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 7/10
                            Character: Bowser

This is another interesting stage. Your goal is to drive backwards through the 
lower deck of Airship Fortress and collect 12 coins. If you touch a burner, you 
lose. There is no set strategy for this one, but keep in mind that you can 
smash through the boxes (as you'll find out quickly), and that the map below is 
an essential tool for plotting out your path. When you get to the burners, you 
might have to wait for a second or two until you can safely get past - try to 
avoid this at all costs in order to save as much time as you can.

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-8 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 8/10
                             Character: Luigi

Your goal in this task is the take all the real item boxes and avoid the fake
ones. In total, there are ten. This one is only difficult on the your few
attempts, because you'll be looking down at the bottom screen to see which ones
are which. You'll be racing on Banshee Boardwalk for this one. Unlike the last 
one, though, this one is a complete mix - you'll be weaving out of your way to 
get some of them. In those cases, I will provide small descriptions.

   1st Batch - X X O
   2nd Batch - O X X
   3rd Batch - X X O            X = Fake Item Box
   4th Batch - O X X            O = Real Item Box
   5th Batch - O X
   6th Batch - O (The only one placed at the entrance of the building)
   7th Batch - O (Placed to the very left of the big hole found when you enter)
   8th Batch - O (Weave around the six fakes at the exit)
   9th Batch - X X O
   10th Batch - O (The only one remaining at the end, surrounded by bananas)

                              ==--==--==--=
                              = Level 7-9 =
                              =--==--==--==
                         Difficulty Rating: 9/10
                             Character: Mario

The final race has you up against Wiggler in a race through Mushroom Bridge 
from Double Dash. The most important tactic that will lead you to victory is 
picking up every item box you find - all of them contain Stars. Make sure to 
have at least one Star ready to be used for the shortcut over the hill, which 
Wiggler will only take on Lap 3. Always try to maintain your lead because once 
he's ahead of you, it's unlikely that you'll catch up again. Once you've beaten 
this mission, congratulations! You've beaten Mission Mode!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                       ***************************
                       * Section 5 - Online Play *
                       ***************************

In this section, information about the new online Wifi play capabilities will
be provided, along with steps on setting up your DS for online play.

                --------------------------------------------

                        Section 5A - Information
                       ==========================

The ability to play online wirelessly with the DS has been a well-known fact
for a while, but the servers never actually went up until early November, and
games that supported it were not available to the public until November 15,
2005. A day after it came out, the servers just about crashed from the massive
logs and from the amount of people online. It has been, to this point, a major
success, and there appears to be a lot of potential for online Wifi play in the
future. Mario Kart DS is just the beginning.

With Mario Kart DS, you get a nearly lag-free, online racing experience. All
you need is a wireless router or the Nintendo Wifi USB Connector, a DS, and a
copy of Mario Kart DS.

There are some disappointments with the online play, however. Your battery will
drain quickly when playing online, especially from a distance, meaning you'll
be recharging the DS frequently. You cannot drag items behind you in a race.
Only 20 of 32 tracks are available, meaning that some of the best tracks cannot
be used. Finally, you cannot play battle mode online, which would have been a
nice addition to the game. All of these are likely due to technical reasons, 
but it is unfortunate that nothing could be done.

                --------------------------------------------

                         Section 5B - Setting Up
                        =========================

There are four different methods of setting up your DS for online play. All
methods start with accessing the Nintendo WFC menu from the main screen, and
then entering the Connection Settings menu from there. Depending on your
situation, choose one of the following:

  - Setting up by searching for an access point
  - Setting up using AOSS
  - Setting up manually
  - Setting up using a Nintendo Wifi USB Adapter

Search Access Point
-------------------
To setup your internet connection, proceed with the following steps from the
Connection Settings menu.

1) Tap 'Connection #1' on the touch screen.
2) Tap 'Search for an Access Point'. The system should take no longer than a
   few minutes to search for one. If you wait any longer than five minutes,
   restart your Nintendo DS.
3) Once the search is complete, a list of routers will be displayed, with names
   and symbols of locks next to them. If you have an unlocked blue lock, you
   can connect without any further steps, simply tap that particular router on
   the screen. If you have a locked gray lock, you cannot connect with your
   router. If you have a locked red lock, you can connect, but you'll need to
   find your WEP Key. Continue reading.
4) If you know what your WEP Key is, tap that particular router on the screen
   and enter it, then perform the tests and you're ready. If you don't, make
   sure your wireless router is connected and ready. Open an internet browser,
   and type in 192.168.1.1. You'll be prompted for a password, which should be
   'admin'. If correct, your wireless router's configuration page will be
   opened. You will be able to find it somewhere on this page, exactly where
   depends on your router.
5) Copy the WEP key into the Nintendo DS, and perform the tests. You should be
   ready to go.

Connect With AOSS
-----------------
It is unlikely for your router to have this sort of capability, which is not
commonly found in wireless routers, but if you do (determine this by checking
to see if you have an 'AOSS' light on your router), all you'll need to do is
connect, and the rest will be done for you. Follow these steps.

1) Tap 'Connection #1' on the touch screen.
2) Tap 'AOSS'. Now look at your wireless router. If the AOSS light begins
   blinking, you're likely making contact with the Nintendo DS. Wait for
   approximately a minute, and the connection will test, and likely finish
   successfully. You can now play online.

Connect Manually
----------------
This is not the optimal choice, especially if you aren't knowledgeable when it
comes to internet connections, so for an easier method, try one of the other
three methods. If you'd still like to go through with this method, read on.

1) Tap 'Connection #1' on the touch screen.
2) Tap 'Connect Manually'.
3) Most of the information you need can be found on your router's
   configuration page, so open an internet browser, and type in 192.168.1.1.
   You'll be prompted for a password, which should be 'admin'. If correct, your
   wireless router's configuration page will be opened. You will be able to
   find most information on this page.
4) Enter your SSID, the name of your wireless router or access point.
5) Enter your WEP Key. If you don't have one, skip this step.
6) Is your IP Address automatically assigned to you? If so, touch 'Yes', but if
   not, you'll have to enter in a lot more information from here, including IP
   Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, and Primary/Secondary DNS.
7) Once you have filled everything out correctly, tap 'Test Connection'. If
   everything was done correctly, a connection should be established and you're
   set for online play.

USB Connector
-------------
The Nintendo Wifi USB Connector is a small device that you can plug into one of
your computer's USB ports and use as an access point if you do not have a
wireless router. It doesn't make much sense, as a router serves multiple
purposes and some cost less than the USB Connector, but if you do have one,
follow these steps when setting it up.

1) If you don't have a Windows XP Operating system, don't bother continuing, as
   you cannot use this device.
2) Install the device on your computer using the included CD.
3) Connect the device to a USB port on your computer, and then tap 'Connect to
   your Nintendo Wifi USB Connector' on the touch screen.
4) You will be prompted to grant access to the PC on the DS screen. Go to your
   PC, and double click the Wifi logo in the bottom right corner of your PC
   screen. A window will open. Click on your DS Username and click 'Grant
   Permission To Connect'.
5) You should now be okay to play online. Tests will be performed on your DS,
   then you'll be set.

                --------------------------------------------

                        Section 5C - Playing Online
                       =============================

There's nothing to playing online, really. When you connect to the service, you
will have the choice of playing friends (players added to your friend roster),
rivals (randomly selected players of your ability), regional (randomly selected
players in your region), or worldwide (anybody in the world).

Once you've selected one of the following, you'll have to wait a few minutes
for your opponents to be selected. When you have connected with somebody, a
small square will begin flashing on the screen, and continue flashing until the
race starts or the player drops out. If it takes too long to get an opponent,
you may be forced to play with only three or two people instead of the maximum
of four.

When all of your opponents have been selected, their names will appear
on-screen and emblems will appear alongside. After a few more seconds, it will
switch to the character select screen, where you can use any character or kart
you've unlocked. Once you've selected your character and kart, you will move on
to the track select screen, and it is here that you will select the track you
want to play on. The race will take place on the track with the most
selections. If there is a tie (happens commonly), the track will be randomly
selected. 

Note that there are only 20 out of the 32 tracks available for online play, 
those being the following (listed in alphabetical order):

   - Baby Park
   - Cheep Cheep Beach
   - Choco Island 2
   - Choco Mountain
   - Delfino Square
   - Desert Hills
   - DK Pass
   - Figure-8 Circuit
   - Frappe Snowland
   - Luigi Circuit
   - Luigi's Mansion
   - Mario Circuit
   - Mario Circuit 1
   - Moo Moo Farm
   - Peach Circuit
   - Rainbow Road
   - Sky Garden
   - Wario Stadium
   - Yoshi Circuit
   - Yoshi Falls

After the track has been selected, the race will begin. Points are distributed
to the racers as follows:

   Four Players             Three Players             Two Players
  --------------           ---------------           -------------
  1st - 10 Points          1st - 10 Points          1st - 10 Points
  2nd - 7 Points           2nd - 7 Points           2nd - 5 Points
  3rd - 4 Points           3rd - 4 Points
  4th - 1 Point

After the race, these scores will be displayed and the process of selecting a
track will repeat three more times until the 'Grand Prix' has finished. The
final results will be displayed, and then you will have the option of
continuing to play against the same racers or simply quitting and returning to
the main screen. That's about all there is to it.

                --------------------------------------------

                        Section 5D - Troubleshooting
                       ==============================

Having trouble with your game? This section will take of the most commonly 
found problems and try to provide a solution to them. 

"My DS will not connect to the service."
 If you don't have a router that is compatible with the Nintendo DS, you won't 
 be able to play online without the USB Connector. If you're using the USB 
 Connector, you need to have Windows XP installed. For a list of compatible 
 routers, check Nintendo's site at this link:
 http://www.nintendowifi.com/customersupport/supportedRouters.do

"I can't connect to the service without losing all my stats!"
 Mario Kart DS can only be played online on one system. Attempting to connect 
 with another system will simply bring up a warning, and if you proceed, all 
 your stats will be erased.

"My router is secured using WPA encryption, and it won't let me connect."
 The Nintendo DS is not compatible with WPA, so you'll have to remove all 
 encryption or switch to WEP, a weaker one.

"Everything has set up perfectly, but I'm still not able to connect."
 Check your firewall settings. It is possible that your firewall may be 
 blocking the DS from accessing the service. 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                  ***************************************
                  * Section 6 - Tactics and Unlockables *
                  ***************************************

In this section, there will be a couple of tips and tricks mentioned, along
with a list of all the unlockables in the game.

                --------------------------------------------

                        Section 6A - Tips and Tactics
                       ===============================

Powersliding
------------
Perhaps one of the most useful tactics in the game, powersliding allows you to 
get a small speed boost when rounding corners. To perform a powerslide, simply 
turn around any corner and press and hold the R Button. The kart will hop, then 
start sliding. Turn in whatever direction, then push in the opposite direction 
on the Control Pad, then go back to the original direction. Blue sparks will 
appear on your back tires. Do this once more, and orange sparks will appear. 

Let go of the R button, then you'll boost forwards for a quick second. There's 
not much else to it. Keep in mind that the higher your kart's acceleration 
rating, the longer the speed boost will last. Once you've mastered this tactic, 
you can gain a huge advantage over your opponents, and if you want, you can 
even take another step further and learn a similar tactic, explained below.

Snaking
-------
This term was coined by F-Zero GX players who exploited a glitch in the game in 
order to weave back and forth on the track to gain speed. The same thing can be 
done here - simply put, snaking is powersliding through straightaways. It takes 
a bit of time to master, but with time you'll be able to eventually be able to 
fly ahead of opponents.

A nice diagram that I found on the message boards is shown below. It 
effectively explains how to snake. I'm not sure who created this, but if 
anybody knows, please email me so I can provide credit.

|---------\------|
|----------\-----|
|-----------O----| <--- You mini turbo again, then drift the other way again
|-----------O----|      forming a snakelike pattern while moving extremely
|-----------O----|      quickly. This is repeated for the whole straightaway.
|----------/-----|
|---------/------|
|--------/-------|
|-------/--------| <--- You move to the other side, and drift
|------/---------|      the other way.
|-----/----------|
|----/-----------|
|---/------------|
|--O-------------| <--- You perform the boost, greatly
|--O-------------|      increasing your speed.
|--O-------------|
|---\------------|
|----\-----------| <--- You drift to the right, and begin doing a
|-----\----------|      mini-turbo.
|------\---------|
|-------|--------| <--- You come in to the straightaway and
|-------|--------|      begin to turn left.
|-------|--------|
|-------|--------|

Snaking is considered to be cheating by a select few, but it has been confirmed 
by Nintendo that it is completely legit and was intentionally incorporated into 
the game, therefore you won't get very far in an argument about it.

Drifting
--------
This is simply the act of pressing and holding R while turning corners. Your 
kart will 'slide' around the corner without losing any speed. It's best if you 
press R a little bit before the corner, or you will turn much too widely and 
waste time.

Drafting
--------
Ever wondered what those blue lines that appear in front of your kart are when 
you're driving directly behind an opponent? It's a technique called drafting, 
which allows you to gain speed from your opponents wind, and catch up to them. 
Also, if you stay behind them for about four to five seconds, then you'll get a 
small speed boost that will last about as long as a Mushroom. This is an 
extremely useful technique, which can help you when you're in the final 
seconds of a race and you have nothing to catch up to your opponents, who are 
about a second ahead of you.

Starting Speed Boost
--------------------
To get a speed boost at the beginning of the race, hold down the A Button 
between the countdown of '2' and '1'. You can actually get a larger speed boost 
if you have a higher acceleration.

'Hop Drifting' (Submitted by Tom)
---------------------------------
If you need to change direction quickly while you're moving, turn and 
repeatedly tap R until you're pointing where you want to go.

Big Air On Jumps (Submitted by Tom)
-----------------------------------
If you want big air on jumps, tap R just before you leave the jump, and it 
should propel you far above the competition. Apart from being a awesome thing 
to watch, it also allows you to launch various items while in the air, and 
avoid items that have been used against you.

Steal Balloons - Battle Mode (Submitted by darthturkey5)
--------------------------------------------------------
You can use a mushroom or speed ramp and boost into someone, and if you hit 
them at boost speed, you can steal their balloon to use for your own. You have 
to be careful, as you can also steal a teammate's balloon and potentially make 
yourself on a one person team. Also note that you can only use this technique
if you have one or two balloons inflated.

                --------------------------------------------

                          Section 6B - Unlockables
                         ==========================

There are many unlockables to be found in this game, so they are listed
depending on type and in alphabetical order.

Characters
----------
Daisy - Get a gold trophy on every cup in Retro Grand Prix on 50cc.
Dry Bones - Get a gold trophy on every cup in Nitro Grand Prix on 50cc.
R.O.B. - Get a gold trophy on every cup in Mirror Mode Nitro or Retro 
         Grand Prix.
Waluigi - Get a gold trophy on every cup in Retro Grand Prix on 100cc.

Karts
-----
Every Kart - Get a gold trophy in every cup in Mirror Mode.
Seven Karts - Get a gold trophy in every cup in Nitro Grand Prix on 150cc.
Three Karts - Get a gold trophy in every cup in Nitro Grand Prix on 100cc.

Staff Ghosts
------------
To unlock these staff ghosts, you must come within five to ten seconds of the 
actual time listed below. Thanks to mysteltainn for correcting a major error 
made in this section. The tracks are listed in alphabetical order for your 
convenience.

  Airship Fortress     - 2:07:748
  Baby Park            - 0:50:920
  Banshee Boardwalk    - 2:14:403
  Bowser Castle 2      - 1:52:258
  Bowser Castle        - 2:19:661
  Cheep Cheep Beach    - 1:43:654
  Choco Island 2       - 1:01:620
  Choco Mountain       - 2:15:571
  Delfino Plaza        - 1:54:601
  Desert Hills         - 1:31:262
  DK Pass              - 2:14:607
  Donut Plains 1       - 1:08:027
  Figure-8 Circuit     - 1:36:481
  Frappe Snowland      - 2:08:781
  Koopa Beach 2        - 0:54:847
  Luigi Circuit        - 1:29:759
  Luigi Circuit (GBA)  - 1:46:581
  Luigi's Mansion      - 1:59:357
  Mario Circuit 1      - 0:50:688
  Mario Circuit        - 1:56:533
  Moo Moo Farm         - 1:17:751
  Mushroom Bridge      - 1:30:600
  Peach Circuit        - 1:12:011
  Peach Gardens        - 1:52:989
  Rainbow Road         - 2:16:246
  Shroom Ridge         - 2:05:123
  Sky Garden           - 1:44:400
  Tick-Tock Clock      - 1:54:903
  Waluigi Pinball      - 2:23:288
  Wario Stadium        - 2:14:868
  Yoshi Circuit        - 1:48:793
  Yoshi Falls          - 0:57:677

Miscellaneous
-------------
Alternate Ending Screen - Finish all classes with gold trophies on all cups.
Alternate Title Screen - Finish all classes with gold trophies on all cups.
Mirror Mode - Get gold trophies in every cup in Retro Grand Prix in 150cc.
Starred Nickname - Finish all classes and cups with at least a Single Star 
                   Ranking.

                --------------------------------------------

                  Section 6C - Frequently Asked Questions
                 =========================================

Most of these questions have been gathered from the GameFAQs Mario Kart DS
message board. If you have any other questions, you can also e-mail me and
it'll likely be answered and added in here.

Q: Does the battery life decrease when playing online?
A: Yes. It has been confirmed that a full battery charge will last for three
   hours of online play.

Q: What do I need to connect to Nintendo WFC?
A: A compatible wireless router and a DS with the Mario kart DS game cartridge.

Q: How many new tracks are there?
A: There are 32 in total, but only 16 are new.

Q: How many missions are there?
A: Including bosses, there are seven levels and 63 stages.

Q: Can you customize the controls? Holding the A button is killing me.
A: It would have been nice, but unfortunately, no, you cannot.

Q: Can you play with unlocked characters and karts online?
A: Yes.

Q: Is it possible to not view the decals in the game?
A: No, which is also unfortunate, because there have been multiple sightings of
   offensive/inappropriate decals. Not good news, considering that there are
   younger children that may be playing online. However, in an email sent by 
   'Greenpoe', I was told that connecting before the races begin will not count 
   as a loss, making it an effective way of responding to offensive decals and 
   also usernames.

Q: Does a disconnection from Nintendo WFC during a race count as a loss?
A: Yes, but only during a race. It hasn't deterred people from disconnecting.

Q: Is there any way to clear your record of online wins and losses?
A: Originally, I believed that the only way would be to erase your entire game, 
   however, in an e-mail sent by 'GlitchCog', I was informed that you could 
   reset the record by trying to connect to Nintendo WFC with a different DS. 
   When doing this, you would receive a warning and your online stats will be 
   reset.

Q: What? How did that guy suddenly reappear somewhere else during online play?
A: Occasionally, you may receive lag while playing online. This is normal, and 
   if it happens to you, don't worry, nobody is cheating.

Q: How do you boost at the beginning of the race?
A: During the countdown, in between '2' and '1', hold down the A Button. Or 
   more specifically, hold down A when '2' starts fading away.

Q: What is 'snaking'?
A: Powersliding back and forth through straightaways in order to get mini-
   boosts and speed up.

Q: Is there a limit on how many friends you can have?
A: Yes, the limit is 60 maximum. (Corrected by Mr Potter)

Q: Is there any way to see what area online players are from?
A: Yes. When playing online, the names of players have a line underneath them. 
   If that line is Blue, they are in North America. If the line is Green, they 
   are in Europe. If the line is Red, they are from Asia.

Q: How do I find my friend code?
A: Go to 'Nintendo WFC', then go to 'Friend Code', then finally, go to 'Confirm 
   Friend Code'.

Q: How can I see my online record?
A: From the main menu, select 'Records'.

Q: What's the best kart for snaking?
A: It's arguable, but the common favorite is Yoshi with Egg 1.

Q: I've heard rumors around the internet that there is a Rainbow Cup you can 
   unlock in Retro Mode. It is supposed to have the four original Rainbow 
   Roads. Is this true?
A: No, to my knowledge, it isn't.

Q: How do you unlock more tracks in DS Download Play?
A: You can't. When playing with a single game pak you are limited to two cups.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

                          **************************
                          * Section 7 - Conclusion *
                          **************************

                             Section 7A - Closing
                            ======================

Well, that's pretty much it! You've reached the end of my Mario Kart DS FAQ.
Hopefully you enjoyed reading this, and that it was helpful to you in some way.
I also hope you appreciate this work - it came from hours upon hours of typing,
playing, and staring at a computer screen to compile this FAQ.

I'm also somewhat impressed to this point at how frequently this FAQ is viewed
(20,000 hits in the first two weeks), and it's great to know there are actually
people out there reading it.

That's all I have to say. See you in the next FAQ!

                --------------------------------------------

                             Section 7B - Credits
                            ======================

**www.rootsecure.net/content/other/ascii_generator**
The link itself says it all, my ASCII art for the first page came from here.
It doesn't just come in one font, either - there are many other types as well,
I just chose to use a rather simple one.

**GlitchCog**
Provided me with information on clearing your online wins and losses 
statistics.

**Naza402**
When writing up the items section, I overlooked the Golden Mushroom and he was
quick to point this out.

**rollwithem**
Pointed out that holding A and B at the same time allowed for a slower and
sharper turn.

**Greenpoe**
Pointed out that disconnecting before the races begun does not count as a loss,
an effective way of responding to offensive decals or usernames.

**Musicman**
The first to email me about an error made in the Golden Mushroom description.

**spameater**
Pointed out that you can unlock R.O.B. by completing either the Nitro or Retro
Grand Prix.

**ZephyrSeija**
Pointed out a small error made in Daisy's description.

**Tom**
Emailed me a couple of his own techniques that I've added to the FAQ.

**loneboco**
Submitted a flawless strategy for easily completing Mission 7-6.

*felix-m**
Sent other methods of detecting a fake item box.

**mysteltainn**
Corrected a major error in the description for unlocking staff ghosts.

**Ryan**
Was the first to point out that the number of mushrooms you get in Time Trials 
depends on the kart's item rating. Also pointed out an extremely useful
shortcut in Bowser's Castle.

**Mr Potter**
Corrected the limit on how many friends you can have on your list.

**smountjoy, sonicandtails111**
Corrected a small typo.

**darthturkey5**
Submitted a good technique for stealing opponents balloons.

**quel-droma**
Had a minor addition to add for uses to the Triple Green and Red Shells.

**DragonMaker9**
Had a better strategy for timing the boost at the beginning of the race.

**cubedman990**
Pointed out a minor error and had some information for the items section.

**Jeff 'CJayC' Veasey**
Without him, this FAQ wouldn't exist in the first place. He has the best video
game reference site I've ever found in GameFAQs, and I hope he continues with
it for years to come. I can't thank him enough.

**You**
Why you? Because as the reader, you provide me with a reason to write. What
use would this guide be without people to read it? Thank you.

                --------------------------------------------

                         Section 7C - Contacting Me
                        ============================

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Corrections? If you have anything to say, you
can email me at bowser194(at)gmail(dot)com. You can also find me on the boards,
but that isn't the best way of talking with me.

I'm generous enough to give you the privilege of contacting me, so please do
not abuse this privilege. When e-mailing me, please put Mario Kart DS or MKDS
somewhere in the title, just so I have an idea of what the email has to do
with, and so I don't think it's spam. The odds are that you will receive a
response if you followed the above guidelines.

You can email me if you'd like to host this FAQ on your site, but note that it 
does not guarantee that you will be allowed. Also note that if you plan on 
asking, do it only if you plan on keeping it in untouched, plain text format.

Simple, I hope.

                --------------------------------------------

                           Section 7D - Copyright
                          ========================

This FAQ is not to be reproduced, altered, or changed in any way. You cannot do 
anything with this FAQ that will be profitable in any way. It is not to be used 
for promotion or commercial purposes of any kind. It is not to be used in 
published text of any kind. It is not to be used in electronic text of any 
kind. It is not to be distributed in any way. Please comply to all of these 
rules/restrictions.

Currently, the only sites allowed to host this FAQ are the following:
   http://www.gamefaqs.com
   http://www.supercheats.com

This FAQ can be saved to hard drive. It also can be printed, but for personal
use ONLY. Once it is printed or any part of it is printed, do not do any of
the aforementioned things with it. Remember, plagiarism is not only illegal,
but also stupid, and I'll be able to tell if you've stolen 200KB of my work
from me, so don't try it.

If this FAQ is found anywhere other than GameFAQs, please notify me. This FAQ
is written by and owned by me, bowser194.

Copyright (C) 2005-2006 bowser194