=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Mario Kart DS FAQ/Walkthrough (DS) Time I Started This Guide: 12/25/05 Version: 1.2 Author: KoritheMan E-Mail: verykoolguy2002[at]gmail[dot]com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ------------------------------------ | Table of Contents | ------------------------------------ | 1. Introduction | | 2. Version History | | 3. Characters | | 4. Storyline | | 5. Controls | | 6. Game Basics | | 7. Walkthrough | | 8. Items | | 9. Karts | | 10. Techniques | | 11. Unlockables | | 12. Game Modes | | 13. Online Mode | | 14. FAQs | | 15. Codes n' Secrets | | 16. Copyright | | 17. Contact Info | | 18. Credits | |__________________________________| |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| | 1. Introduction | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| Nintendo has released a few of these Mario Kart games in the past, and they have become quite popular. The Nintendo 64 version, Mario Kart 64, revolutionized the gaming industry, and it sold very well, as well. Nintendo has released yet another Mario Kart game, which is, obviously, this one, Mario Kart DS. This game is overall fun, as the other ones have been, and if you are looking for a good racing game, then Mario Kart DS is definitely for you! Also, the online play on this game is what really prompted me to get this game, as communicating with users from across the globe is just fantastic! The game everything you'd expect from a Mario Kart game, and even more, because of the online play! I suggest you try this game out as soon as possible! |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| | 2. Version History | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| Version 1.0 / Completed the guide. Version 1.1 / Added a FAQ to the FAQs section, thanks to Brett Williams. He also gave me information on five shortcuts. Finally, he gave me added information to the description of the Spiny Shell item. Thanks! Version 1.2 / Added a website to the Copyrights section. |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| | 3. Characters | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| There are several different characters in this game, as you already know. I will list all the information about them below. Note that some characters are hidden characters, so see the Unlockables section for more information on that. Also, note that the stats I put for each kart may not be 100% accurate, but I tried to get the stats on the karts as accurate as possible. Mario: The famous plumber is back in this all new Mario Kart game (hence the title of the game)! Information On Mario: Stats In B Dasher Speed: Average To Decent Acceleration: Decent To Semi High Weight: Decent To Semi High Handling: Below Average To Average Drift: Average To Decent Items: Extremely High Stats In Shooting Star Speed: Semi High To High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Average To Decent Handling: Decent To Semi High Drift: Decent To Semi High Items: Low To Average Stats In Standard MR Speed: Decent To Semi High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Decent To Semi High Handling: Decent To Semi High Drift: Average To Decent Items: Semi High To High Type: Medium-Weight Luigi: Mario's brother who is often overlooked, is back in this Mario Kart game to prove he's more worthy than most people think he is! Information On Luigi: Stats In Poltergust 4000 Speed: High To Very High Acceleration: High To Very High Weight: Average To Decent Handling: High To Very High Drift: Semi Low To Average Items: Semi Low To Average Stats In Standard LG Speed: Semi High To High Acceleration: High To Very High Weight: Decent To Semi High Handling: High To Very High Drift: Semi Low To Average Items: Decent To Semi High Stats In Streamliner Speed: Semi High To High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Semi High To High Drift: Low To Average Items: Extremely High Type: Medium-Weight Peach: The girlfriend of Mario, and the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom is here in this all new Mario Kart game, and she means business! Information On Peach: Stats In Light Tripper Speed: Decent To Semi High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Average To Decent Handling: Decent To Semi High Drift: Extremely High Items: Low To Average Stats In Royale Speed: Average To Decent Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Very High To Extremely High Items: Extremely High Stats In Standard PC Speed: Average To Decent Acceleration: High To Very High Weight: Decent To Semi High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Very High To Extremely High Items: Semi High To High Type: Light-Weight Yoshi: The cute green dinosaur is back in this new Mario Kart game. This little dinosaur may look harmless, but believe me, he isn't! Information On Yoshi: Stats In Cucumber Speed: Decent To Semi High Acceleration: Very High To Extremely High Weight: Decent To Semi High Handling: High To Very High Drift: Low To Average Items: Extremely High Stats In Egg 1 Speed: Decent To Semi High Acceleration: Very High To Extremely High Weight: Semi Low To Average Handling: Very High To Extremely High Drift: Average To Decent Items: Semi Low To Average Stats In Standard YS Speed: Decent To Semi High Acceleration: Very High To Extremely High Weight: Decent To Semi High Handling: High To Very High Drift: Average To Decent Items: Semi High To High Type: Light-Weight Toad: This little mushroom kid is back in this all new Mario Kart game, and he is more than ready to race! Information On Toad: 4-Wheel Cradle Speed: Low To Average Acceleration: High To Very High Weight: Decent To Semi High Handling: Decent To Semi High Drift: Semi High To High Items: Extremely High Stats In Mushmellow Speed: Average To Decent Acceleration: Very High To Extremely High Weight: Semi Low To Average Handling: Semi High To High Drift: Semi High To High Items: Semi Low To Average Stats In Standard TD Speed: Average To Decent Acceleration: High To Very High Weight: Average To Decent Handling: Decent To Semi High Drift: Decent To Semi High Items: Decent To Semi High Type: Light-Weight Donkey Kong: The legendary hero of Kongo Jungle, Donkey Kong, is back in this new Mario Kart game, and is ready for some action! Information On Donkey Kong: Stats In Rambi Rider Speed: Semi High To High Acceleration: Average To Decent Weight: Very High To Extremely High Handling: Semi Low To Average Drift: Semi High To High Items: Extremely High Stats In Standard DK Speed: High To Very High Acceleration: Average To Decent Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Semi Low To Average Drift: Semi High To High Items: Decent To Semi High Stats In Wildife Speed: High To Very High Acceleration: Decent To Semi High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Semi High To High Items: Low To Average Type: Heavy-Weight Wario: Mario's evil rival is back in this game, and he's not to be taken lightly! Information On Wario: Stats In Brute Speed: Very High To Extremely High Acceleration: Average To Decent Weight: Decent To Semi High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Average To Decent Items: Semi Low To Average Stats In Dragonfly Speed: High To Very High Acceleration: Average To Decent Weight: Very High To Extremely High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Average To Decent Items: Extremely High Stats In Standard WR Speed: Very High To Extremely High Acceleration: Average To Decent Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Average To Decent Items: Decent To Semi High Type: Heavy-Weight Bowser: Mario's mortal enemy has returned in this game to prove what a tough opponent he can be! Information On Bowser: Stats In Hurricane Speed: Extremely High Acceleration: Average To Decent Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Semi High To High Items: Average To Decent Stats In Tyrant Speed: Very High To Extremely High Acceleration: Low To Semi Low Weight: Extremely High Handling: Semi Low To Average Drift: Decent To Semi High Items: Extremely High Stats In Standard BW Speed: Very High To Extremely High Acceleration: Semi Low To Average Weight: High To Very High Handling: Semi Low To Average Drift: Decent To Semi High Items: Decent To Semi High Type: Heavy-Weight Daisy: The rival of Princess Peach is back in this game to try and claim 1st place! Information On Daisy: Stats In Light Dancer Speed: Semi High To High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Average To Decent Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Very High To Extremely High Items: Low To Semi Low Stats In Power Flower Speed: Decent To Semi High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Very High To Extremely High Items: Extremely High Stats In Standard DS Speed: Semi High To High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Average To Decent Drift: Very High To Extremely High Items: Semi High To High Type: Medium-Weight Dry Bones: Dry Bones, one of Bowser's most loyal followers, who has faced Mario many times before, is back in Mario Kart DS. Information on Dry Bones: Stats In Banisher Speed: Low To Semi Low Acceleration: Extremely High Weight: Average To Decent Handling: Very High To Extremely High Drift: Average To Decent Items: Extremely High Stats In Dry Bomber Speed: Semi Low To Average Acceleration: Extremely High Weight: Average To Decent Handling: Extremely High Drift: Average To Decent Items: Semi Low To Average Stats In Standard DB Speed: Low To Semi Low Acceleration: Extremely High Weight: Average To Decent Handling: Extremely High Drift: Average To Decent Items: Semi High To High Type: Light-Weight Waluigi: Luigi's rival seeks to beat Luigi by claiming 1st place in this new Mario Kart game! Information On Waluigi: Stats In Gold Mantis Speed: High To Very High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Semi High To High Drift: Semi High To High Items: Semi Low To Average Stats In Standard WL Speed: Semi High To High Acceleration: Semi High To High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Decent To Semi High Drift: Decent To Semi High Items: Semi High To High Stats In Zipper Speed: Semi High To High Acceleration: Decent To Semi High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Decent To Semi High Drift: Decent To Semi High Items: Extremely High Type: Medium-Weight R.O.B.: R.O.B. was an add-on for the NES, but he has appeared in this new Mario Kart game as a playable character. Go figure. Information On R.O.B.: Stats In ROB-BLS Speed: Extremely High Acceleration: Decent To Semi High Weight: Semi High To High Handling: Semi High To High Drift: Low To Semi Low Items: Semi Low To Average Stats In ROB-LGS Speed: Very High To Extremely High Acceleration: Decent To Semi High Weight: Very High To Extremely High Handling: Decent To Semi High Drift: Low To Semi Low Items: Extremely High Stats In Standard RB Speed: Very High To Extremely High Acceleration: Decent To Semi High Weight: High To Very High Handling: Semi High To High Drift: Semi Low To Average Items: Semi High To High Type: Heavy Weight |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| | 4. Storyline | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| There is no story to this game, as it is merely a racing game, hence the title of the game. Basically, you race to see who reaches the finish line first. That's it. |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| | 5. Controls | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| Out of Race Controls -------------------- A Button: Confirm selected actions B Button: Cancel selected actions X Button: Does nothing Y Button: Does nothing L Button: Does nothing R Button: Does nothing Start: Does nothing Select: Does nothing D-Pad: Moves cursor In-Race Controls ---------------- A Button: Hold this button to make your kart race B Button: Hold this button to use the brakes (while steering only), also hold the button while you aren't steering to drive backwards Y Button: Changes the map view X Button: Fire an item L Button: Fire an item, hold this button when you have an item that can be thrown (excluding the Spiked Shell), such as a Red Shell, a Banana, a Green Shell, etc. R Button: Jump, and if you jump and hold Left or Right on the D-Pad, depending on the direction of the turn you are making, you can perform a Drift technique, as well as a Power Slide (see the Techniques section of this FAQ for more information) Start: Pauses the game Select: Does nothing D-Pad: Use this to steer your kart Touch Screen: Tap this to display toggle between the two different maps |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| | 6. Game Basics | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| Items: In each race in Grand Prix mode, as well as Balloon Battle mode, Shine Runners mode, and even Vs mode, you'll find "?" blocks. ? blocks house items, but what you get from them is random. To make the item shuffle go faster after hitting a ? block, tap the L button. Some items are extremely rare, some are not, it all depends on the item. I'll list all of the items in the game and how rare they are in the Items section of this FAQ. Also, do not be deceived by blocks that do not have ? marks on them, as this block is actually an item, and if you hit against it, you will be stunned for quite a few seconds. To fire an item straight, press L. To fire an item backwards, press Down on the D-Pad, then press L. Finally, to hold an item on your kart and not fire it, simply get the item, then hold L to keep it in your kart. If you keep an item such as a Red Shell or Green Shell, any opponent who bumps into it will be hit! This also works for blocks without ? marks, as well as Bananas. Speed Tiles: Speed tiles are colorful tiles, which you will find in Shine Runners, Grand Prix, Vs, and even Time Trial. When you find one of these colorful tiles, ride them to get a boost of speed. These tiles are very useful, so use them to your advantage. Item Box: At the top left corner of the screen during a race, you should see a black box with a white outlining on it. This is what I call an item box, because if you collect an item, the item you collect will appear in the item box. When you use an item, the item will disappear from the item box. Accelerating: This isn't really a game basic, but I'll list it here anyway. To accelerate, before you start a race, wait until the timer almost gets off of 2. When it is almost off of 2, hold A and when the timer lifts and the race starts, you will gain a boost of speed. Make sure, however, that you hold A RIGHT before, and I do mean right before the 2 on the timer goes off. If you do it too early, your kart will spin out of control and smoke for a couple of seconds, and that's always bad. Records: This appears just below the Single Player, Multiplayer, and Nintendo WFC icons after the title screen. This option allows you to check your Vs win/loss ratio, your Battle win/loss ratio, and your online mode win/loss ratio. Also, it allows you to check your Grand Prix and Time Trial records. Finally, this option allows you to check your friends' win/loss ratio, when they last played, etc. At any time by pressing X after selecting Grand Prix or any other option, you can erase your records. Options: This also appears below the Single Player, Multiplayer, and Nintendo WFC options that appear after the title screen. Here you can edit your Settings (You can edit the sound so it could be Stereo or Mono, whichever you perfer. Also, you can edit whether or not the function to allow you to search for an online friend is on or off). Secondly, you can edit your nickname (this'll appear in Multiplayer and online) and emblem here (this'll appear in Multiplayer and online). Finally, you can erase all of your data on MKDS (this includes missions, or anything else you've completed). Don't see why you would wanna do that, but you can. |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| | 7. Walkthrough | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-| Here is a complete walkthrough for all the cups in Grand Prix, as well as all of the missions in Mission mode. Note that the Grand Prix walkthrough covers 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc, as nothing is changed in the courses in the modes, except for how fast the karts go. Also note that the courses in the Retro Grand Prix mode are courses from the previous Mario Kart games, whereas the courses in the Nitro Grand Prix are MKDS exclusives. I also find that the computer opponents use items on you a lot more in 100cc and 150cc, so just be aware of that. Finally, after you beat Flower Cup, you unlock the Star Cup, but only if you get rank C or better. After beating the Star Cup with rank C or better, you unlock the Special Cup, and so on. Also, there are several ranks, which are namely: *, meaning the best rank you can get, even better than A. Rank A is another rank, which is near perfect, but still not as good as * is. Then there's B, which is ok, but not the best. Then comes C, which is not that good at all, but still worthy of unlocking the next cup if you finish the cup at that rank. Then there's rank D, which is pretty bad, but it can still unlock another cup or unlock Mirror Mode. Finally, there is rank E, which is the worst rank you can possibly get. Now we know that this rank isn't worthy of unlocking another cup. Seriously, if you get rank E, you desperately need to improve yourself. Grand Prix Walkthrough ---------------------- Nitro Grand Prix Walkthrough ---------------------------- Mushroom Cup Walkthrough ------------------------ Course #1 - Figure-8 Circuit ---------------------------- This an extremely straight-foward course with some straightaways. There are no obstacles in this course, except the grass on the side of the road, but who would intentionally drive on the side of the road, anyway? As long as you do not drive on the side of the road, then you are pretty much okay. Also, Drifting/Power Sliding on the turns isn't a bad idea, either. Course #2 - Yoshi Falls ----------------------- This course is nothing major, just like Figure-8 Circuit. Use the speed tiles you come across in the course to your advantage, and be careful not to fall off, as it is a possibility if you aren't careful. If you decide to drive on the waterfall, then there's a better chance than normal that you'll fall off, so please don't try and drive on the waterfall, as it might cost you. There are also some turns in this course that you'll have to make, but nothing significant. Course #3 - Cheep Cheep Beach ----------------------------- This is also another very straight-foward course. Nothing much to note here, except when you reach the part in the course where the water goes out and comes back in, try not to get caught in that water, and also try and avoid the crawfish's walking along the beach on that part, as well. When you reach the brown tiles with the "^" arrows on them, drive over them to use them to your advantage. Course #4 - Luigi's Mansion --------------------------- Nothing too terrible to look out for in this course. There are some trees in a muddy area that you'll come across later on in the course, as well as some sharp turns every now and then. Aside from the trees and the muddy area (Which you must drive through), there isn't much to worry about at all. Flower Cup Walkthrough ---------------------- Course #1 - Desert Hills ------------------------ Avoid the fireballs that the sun fires at you, as well as the Pokeys that you will come across. Also, stay off the sides of the road, as the sand there can really slow you down. Course #2 - Delfino Square -------------------------- Nothing much you need to watch out for here. This course is all about turning curves, so just be aware of that and try and Drift. There is a shortcut, however, that I've seen some people use online. To reach that shortcut, go through the course until you come across some wooden crates. In that area, drive slightly west, then north and through the muddy tunnel there (Look at the map if you don't get what I'm saying). This tunnel, if you go straight after going through it, will take you to the huge speed boosting tile near the finish line. Sure, you can get here normally, but this is still useful. Course #3 - Waluigi Pinball --------------------------- Use the three speed tiles in the beginning of the course to gain some speed. Avoid the black balls, and the other obstacles in this course. Also, this course, like Delfino Square, also requires a lot of turning curves, so try Drifting/Power Sliding a lot in this course. Course #4 - Shroom Ridge ------------------------ This course can be a bit rough if you aren't careful. There are tons of cars and trucks driving about the level, so please, by all means, don't bump into them if you want 1st place. Also, don't fall off into nowhere, as near the finish line, there is a place you can fall down, which will make you get out of that 1st place spot real fast. Star Cup Walkthrough -------------------- Course #1 - DK Pass ------------------- This course is actually a bit difficult. Be careful not to fall off, and avoid the snowballs, as well as the snowmen, as they can really slow you down. Also, like in all courses almost, except the ones like Delfino Square, avoid driving on the side of the road. Course #2 - Tick-Tock Clock --------------------------- This course is not that hard or annoying. In fact, I find it quite fun. Use the speed tiles in the beginning to give you a boost, be careful of the long and spinning red poles there. Look out for the pendulum, as well as the other black pole with the long red pole that spins, which you'll eventually come to (You'll come across two of these). Also, try and avoid the other obstacles that you'll encounter, as they can really slow you down if you hit them. Overall, this level is fun, but it is the course with the most obstacles in the game, by far. Finally, be careful not to fall off. Course #3 - Mario Circuit ------------------------- Avoid bumping into the Goombas in the course, and also avoid driving on the side of the road, as that will really slow you down on this course. Also, you will have to Drift a lot in this course, and I do mean a lot, because there are a lot of curves (They had to make something hard for such a short and straight-foward course). That's pretty much all you need to know here. Course #4 - Airship Fortress ---------------------------- I'll tell you now, this is not the best of levels, it is kind of annoying. It resembles Bowser's Doomship from Super Mario Bros 3, if you've ever played it and/or watched the show. In the beginning of the course, when you are beside the ship, avoid the Bullet Bills that are fired from the ship. Later on, you will come to two spinning fires, so just ride through them at the right time to avoid being hit. Eventually, you'll come to a speed tile, which carries you to a hole. Note that the computer opponents can knock you off so that you won't get into the hole, thus easily knocking you out of 1st place. That's pretty much all there is to know about this course! Special Cup Walkthrough ----------------------- Course #1 - Wario Stadium ------------------------- Use the speed tiles you come across in the course for some speed. Also, don't drive in the mud when you reach it. Also, you should try and get an item from one of the ? blocks in the middle of the circle of fire you come across, but in order to even reach the items, you'll need to use the speed tiles. Finally, avoid the spinning fire (There is more than one of these) that you come across, otherwise you'll be slowed down greatly. Course #2 - Peach Gardens ------------------------- Avoid the Chain Chomps at the beginning of the course, and don't fall into the water, either, which is also at the beginning of the course. Do not bump into the fences in this course, either. Avoid driving in the flower beds, as that will slow you down. Also, don't drive on the sides of the road, as I'm sure you already know. Try and avoid the moles as best you can, as well, as hitting one of them slows you down a good bit. When you come across bushes, try not to bump into them, as you'll be slowed down, and we don't want or need that. Course #3 - Bowser Castle ------------------------- This course is actually pretty hard, and I find that everytime you are on the moving log, the computer opponents use a Red Shell, a Green Shell, or a Blue Blue Spiked Shell on you. Anyway, the actual course itself has many areas where there's no railing, thus it's easy to fall off into the lava, so please drive carefully to avoid that at all costs. When you come to a spinning platform shortly after you meet the Thwomps, try and work your way to the other side, while fighting against the moving platform. Also, when you come to the moving log, be warned about the computer opponents using Shell items on you, as I mentioned above, as they ALWAYS do it to me, and that can get EXTREMELY annoying. Also, please try and avoid falling off of the moving log, because if you do, and it's 2nd or 3rd lap, you don't have a very good chance of getting 1st place, and you'll be knocked to 2nd or 3rd place. Finally, avoid the Thwomps in this course, as well, as being squashed can really slow you down. One more thing: Drive very carefully after you cross the moving log, as you will come across three moving platforms, and it's easy to fall in the lava there if you aren't careful. Course #4 - Rainbow Road ------------------------ Use the speed tiles in course to your advantage. Note that in this course you can fall off EXTREMELY easy, and the computer opponents always knock you off, back onto 5th place or worse, it seems. There is no doubt that this course and Bowser's Castle are the hardest ones in the game. Aside from the speed tiles, there's not too much to note in this course, except by all means, drive very carefully, and use the brakes on areas where you can fall off. Retro Grand Prix Walkthrough ---------------------------- Shell Cup Walkthrough --------------------- Course #1 - Mario Circuit 1 --------------------------- This is an extremely straight-foward course, with a lot of curves and some straightaways. This course is trying to familiarize you with the controls. In other words, this course is a beginners course. Aside from you having to make lots of turns (Be sure to Drift, so see the Techniques section of the guide for that information), this course is easy, just don't drive in the dirt on the side of the roads, and you should be fine. NOTE: The straightaways are good for Drafting (See the Techniques section for that information as well). Course #2 - Moo Moo Farm ------------------------ This is another very straight-foward course. There are some turns, like in Mario Circuit, that you'll have to make, but Drifting/Power Sliding doesn't come in handy on these turns, as the turns are on hill terrain. Also, watch out for the Monty Moles on the east side of the course, as they will slow you down if you hit one of them. Course #3 - Peach Circuit ------------------------- Like you'd expect from the Shell Cup, this course is another straight-foward course. In this course, however, you'll have to make some pretty sharp turns, so I hope you are getting used to Drifting/Power Sliding at this point, or you are really good at turning curves, because that's what is required here. Aside from that, there's nothing else worth mentioning, except that there are some straightaways you'll come across, which are good for Drafting. Course #4 - Luigi Circuit ------------------------- This is yet another straight-foward course with some straightaways, as well as some turns, but it's nothing beyond what you've experienced in the previous courses, except the fact that there are speed tiles in this course on the east side towards the finish line. Use those speed tiles to gain some boosts of speed, but be careful; the computer opponents seem to throw Bananas up there a lot, so just watch out for that, and you should be okay. Banana Cup Walkthrough ---------------------- Course #1 - Donut Plains 1 -------------------------- Nothing much to note here. This course is pretty straight-foward. Don't drive into the mud or the grass. That's all you need to know here. Course #2 - Frappe Snowland --------------------------- This course can actually be a bit tough. Avoid driving in the snow on the side of the road, and also avoid the snowmen you come across. Eventually, you will come across a huge pack of snowmen, so drive through that area very carefully when you come to it. You will also have to make a lot of turns in this course, so be prepared to Drift/Power Slide. Course #3 - Bowser Castle 2 --------------------------- This level is extremely difficult, and you have a really good chance of falling into the lava, so be extremely careful throughout the course, and maneuver your kart very carefully and cautiously. Also, use the speed tiles in the course to get you some boosts, but you can even fall in the lava then, so be very very careful, and don't get on the speed tiles that have a huge hole of fire below them, or it's a good chance you'll fall in. Course #4 - Baby Park --------------------- This course is extremely straight-foward, though I find that the computer opponents use a Blue Spiked Shell very often in this course, so be careful, as that can get frusterating really quick. Also, this is a turning course, so perform Drfits/Power Slides to get around the sharp turns. Other than that, this is, like I said, a very straight-foward course with straightaways and a few sharp turns. Leaf Cup Walkthrough -------------------- Course #1 - Koopa Beach 2 ------------------------- This is a fairly straight-foward course, but you are required to make some occasional turns here and there, but they don't really require extreme tactics to get around, as they aren't that sharp of turns. Also, try your best to avoid falling into those dark blue puddles that you see in the lighter blue water, as falling in those puddles can be very annoying, and make you lose the race easily. Aside from this, there's nothing much to note in this course, except don't drive on the side of the road where the lily pads are. Course #2 - Choco Mountain -------------------------- This is a foggy mountain, and it is a hilly and bumpy course, so be prepared to bounce up and down a lot. There are some turns that you'll have to make in this course, but they are nothing too incredibly difficult, unlike in some other courses, such as Baby Park. About half way through the first lap, you'll come to an area with rolling boulders and a huge pool of water to the left, so when you come to that area, try and avoid the rolling boulders, and don't drive to the left by all means. Also, I don't recommend Drifting/Power Sliding in that area, as that can knock you into the pool of water. Other than that, this course is fairly simple, except with a few bumps here and there. Course #3 - Luigi Circuit ------------------------- It's raining in this course, and there are puddles on the road. Don't drive in the puddles, by all means, as it will produce the same effect as a Banana. Also, avoid driving in the dirt on either side of the road, as that will slow your kart down considerably. Other than that, there are a few turns you'll have to make in this course, but that's it, just Drift/Power Slide around them and you should be fine. Course #4 - Mushroom Bridge --------------------------- This is a pretty straight-foward course with some trucks and cars driving about. If you hit one of the cars, you will spin out of control for a few seconds, so try and avoid that at all costs. Also, there are some turns that you'll have to make in this course, but nothing too terribly sharp, but as always, Drifting/Power Sliding comes in handy around the turns. Aside from this, there's really nothing worth mentioning about this course. Lightning Cup Walkthrough ------------------------- Course #1 - Choco Island 2 --------------------------- This is a fairly straightfoward course, with a few turns here and there where you will have to Drift. Also, when you are driving in the chocolate river, your kart will slow down, but you basically have to drive through the chocolate river. Also, stay off the side of the road, as the chocolate there will really slow you down. Finally, don't bump into any of the Piranhas if you somehow get onto the side of the road unintentionally. Course #2 - Banshee Boardwalk ----------------------------- This course is extremely difficult, so be warned. In the beginning on the boardwalk, there will be fishes that come out of the water, as well as Boos, but they never did me any harm, so I doubt they even harm period. Try and avoid falling off the boardwalk, and when you reach the room with the coffin of bats, as well as a cage with bats coming out of it, try and avoid them (It shouldn't be hard at all), as if they hit you, they will slow you down a bit. Finally, be warned: I find that the computer opponents throw items at you a lot on this course. Course #3 - Sky Garden ---------------------- Be careful not to fall off here, as it is sort of easy to, but not near about as easy as it is on say Bowser's Castle. Also, use the speed tiles for some speed, but be careful, as one of those tiles can cause you to have to Drift immediately, as you'll need to turn after using that certain speed tile. Other than this, there's not much to note about the Sky Garden. Course #4 - Yoshi Circuit ------------------------- This course is straight-foward. Just avoid driving on the side of the road, like in all courses. Seriously, that is pretty much all there is to note here. Mission Walkthrough ------------------- There are seven levels of missions, with 8 trials in each mission. In order to unlock another level in missions, you have to complete all 8 trials in one level. Also, to unlock the seventh level mission, which is the final one, you must complete all of the trials in the other six levels, and get a 1-Star rank on all of the trials in each level. There is also a boss stage that you must complete after completing the eight trials in each level before you can move onto the next level of missions. Level 1 Walkthrough ------------------- Mission 1-1 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 5 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his Standard MR kart for this mission. To do this first mission, it's very simple; all you have to do is drive through the numbered gates in order, which means drive through the first one, which is number 1, then through the second one, which is number 2, and so on until you complete the mission. Also, there are, after the first gate, four Mushrooms beside each gate except number 5 (number 5 has 5 Mushrooms), which will speed you up, so be sure to use those Mushrooms. Note that I suggest you use the closest Mushroom to the gate, depending on your current position. You should also try and accelerate at the beginning of the race to gain a boost of speed. Overall, this mission is very easy, and you should have no problems with it, and it's also easy to get a good rank on this mission. Mission 1-2 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 15 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Peach in her Standard PC kart for this mission. This is a bit harder than the previous mission, but it still shouldn't be that hard, though it might be hard to get a 2 or 3 star rank, but once you get accustomed to the game and get good at it, it shouldn't be hard at all. The object of this mission to collect all 15 coins in the course. When you start the race, you'll come to a straightaway, so collect those two coins, then quickly Drift to the right and collect the next two coins you encounter. Now, you'll come to another straightaway (a long one at that), so collect the coins there. Eventually, there will be some more turns that you'll encounter, just like in the beginning, so Drift accurately across those turns to get the coins. Then, after the turns, you'll come to two signs that say "STOP!", and if you collected all 15 coins, you'll have completed the mission. Mission 1-3 ----------- Game Description: Destroy all 10 item boxes! NOTE: You are forced to use Yoshi in his Standard YS kart for this mission. This is a very easy mission. Simply drive into the item boxes (? blocks) that you come across and you will complete this mission if you drive into all 10 of the item boxes. The first two are simple to get, as it's just a straight drive to get them, but on the third one, you have to go down to a hill and collect that one. After that, the other item boxes should be fairly easy to get. Note that each item box contains a Mushroom, so use them wisely. Mission 1-4 ----------- Game Description: Get the Star and use it to hit 5 Cheep Cheeps! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. This is a very easy mission to complete, just don't drive too fast, because of how much speed the Star item gives you. Each item box houses a Star, so keep that in mind. If you're fast enough, you can complete this mission using only one Star. You have to hit each Cheep Cheep in this mission in order to complete. Like the game's description says, there are 5 Cheep Cheeps that you must hit while the Star item has an effect on you. Mission 1-5 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 6 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Toad in his Standard TD kart for this mission. This is a fairly easy mission to complete, just don't fall off. Your objective here is to drive through all six gates in order. You start from the east side of the course, then gradually make your way to the other side of where you started in this course while going through the gates. Unlike in the first mission, there are no Mushrooms by the gates, so keep that in mind. Note that you shouldn't be extremely careless in this mission, meaning like don't drive so fast and all over the place, just drive smoothly enough to where you can get at least a 1-Star rank. Mission 1-6 ----------- Game Description: Drive out of the mansion... backward! NOTE: You are forced to use Luigi in his Standard LG kart for this mission. This is yet another fairly simple mission, though if you bump into too many walls and obstacles, you might not get even a 1-Star rank, so just be careful and be aware of that. Anyway, to complete the mission, hold B to drive backwards (you'll have to drive like this throughout the entire mission, as the game description I listed above says), just be careful not to bump into a wall or any obstacles and you should be fine. After all, you only have to go through three rooms and then go outside and the mission is complete once you get outside. Mission 1-7 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 20 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Donkey Kong in his Standard DK kart for this mission. This is an extremely easy mission. In fact, I find it to be easier than the second mission in Level 1. Anyway, the coins are fairly simple to collect, and there are no sharp turns like there were in the second mission. Most of the coins are collected by generally going straight. The only thing there is to worry about is bumping into the walls while going up the hilly terrain on the right side of the course where the Monty Moles are (don't bump into the Monty Moles, either, as it hurts the rank you get at the end of the mission). Other than that, there's not really much to note here. Mission 1-8 ----------- Game Description: Perform 4 power-slide turbo boosts in 1 lap! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his standard MR kart for this mission. Another very easy mission. All you have to do is perform a Power Slide up to where your kart emits red sparks. When your kart emits red sparks, let go of R and you will get a boost of speed from the Power Slide. Do this four times and reach the finish line to complete this mission. The things you need to worry about are the pipes scattered throughout the course, as those can slow you down considerably. Also, try and maintain control when you do a Power Slide, as it took me awhile before I stopped losing control when I did them and going into the dirt on the side of the road. Remember, if you bump into any of the pipes or lose control and manage to get on the side of the road, both these things will slow you down considerably. Boss #1 ------- Game Description: Use Mushrooms to crash into the big bully and knock him off the stage! NOTE: You are forced to use Yoshi in his standard YS kart for this mission. This is a pretty easy boss to beat, but that's expected, as it's the first boss in Mission mode. Anyway, to beat Big Bully, use the item box in the middle of the room to get three Mushrooms (the box regenerates, so don't worry if you don't knock him off on your first batch of Mushrooms). Once you have the three Mushrooms from the item box, use them when you are directly in front of the Big Bully and each time you use one, it'll knock him back more and more. If you don't knock him off the first time you try, get the Mushrooms from the item box in the center of the stage, then repeat until you get the Big Bully into the water. Mission complete. Level 2 ------- Mission 2-1 ----------- Game Description: Crash into all 10 wooden crates and destroy every one! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. This mission is actually quite tough to complete, and even harder to get a good rank on. There a total of 10 wooden crates in this mission that you must run your kart through at high speeds to break. For example, if you are right next to a crate and attempt to break it, it won't break, because you are too close, thus your kart won't have enough speed to break that specific crate if you're too close. Anyway, the first crate is located right in front of you, so just run through it, because you should already be at high speed by the time you reach the crate. For the second and third crate, just drive into them like you did the first one, as you shouldn't have too much trouble with those. After you have broken three wooden crates, go straight and get on the dock for the fourth one. Once you break the fourth crate and are on the dock, drive directly west of where the fourth wooden crate was before you broke it, and you should be going down a hill to a lower part of the dock. On that lower part is another wooden crate, so break it, then make your way back up the dock to where the fourth crate was, but along the way, break the sixth wooden crate to the north of where the fifth one was. Make your way off the dock completely, just be careful not to fall into the water on your way back up. When you are back up on the main course rather than the dock, break the next three wooden crates via a Power Slide along the fence on the east side of the course (the Power Slide enables you to break the next three crates in a straight line without losing speed like you normally do). After you collect those three wooden crates, Cross the bridge, then about two seconds before you reach the gap to the east of the "STOP!" sign at the end, quickly Power Slide and use the boost from the Power Slide (may take a couple of tries) to break the last crate and complete the mission. IMPORTANT NOTE: It is excessively hard and excessively tedious to get rank ** or higher on this mission, so just be content with a * rank when you get it, to save you some time and frusteration. Mission 2-2 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 10 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Yoshi in his Standard YS kart for this mission. This mission is very easy, except there's one thing that you probably won't expect; there is a coin directly behind where you start the mission, so just backup by holding B to get it, then progress through the course like normal, collecting each coin along the way, because it's not hard. Drifting and/or Power Sliding will come in handy along the slight turns and get you a better rank, but I got rank *** without Drifting or Power Sliding, but it certainly helps if your a newbie. Mission 2-3 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 5 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Donkey Kong in his Standard DK kart for this mission. Another fairly simple mission. The first gate is in front of you, and there are no Mushrooms beside it, so just drive through it. The second one is on the left side of the course in the grass, so drive onto that grass and use the nearby Mushroom to go through the gate on the grass without losing speed like you normally would. The third gate comes shortly after the second gate and there are no Mushrooms beside this gate, either, so just go through it, and eventually, you'll come across a Mushroom beside the fourth gate, so use it to go through the fourth gate with speed. Finally, you'll come across two Mushrooms, one shortly after another after you go through the fourth gate, so be sure to use those Mushrooms so that you can speed through the fifth gate with speed. Mission complete after that. Mission 2-4 ----------- Game Description: Destroy all 5 item boxes! NOTE: You are forced to use Luigi in his Standard LG kart for this mission. Like in the previous item box mission, each item box contains a Mushroom, which you should use when you are directly behind another item box so that you can get a boost of speed, thus making it easier to get the box that you are behind. Take note that the boxes this mission move fast, so use the Mushrooms wisely, because you only get one per box. Anyway, collect the first item box by driving straight. Then, collect the other ones the same way you did the first one, being sure to use each Mushroom wisely. This mission is VERY easy, and you should have no problems at all, unless you drive in the grass in the outside area of the mansion. Mission 2-5 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 20 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Peach in her Standard PC kart for this mission. The object in this mission is to collect all 20 coins, hence the game description. The first few coins are straight-foward and easy to get until you reach the speed tile. When you reach the speed tile, be careful not to go all over the place, and be sure to collect the rest of the coins on your first try after coming off the speed tile, otherwise you'll get a lower rank. This mission is pretty easy, except its kind of slippery I noticed. Mission 2-6 ----------- Game Description: Use Bob-ombs to destroy all 5 Pokeys! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. This mission is another easy one, but it takes a lot longer than the previous missions you've played. The best way I found to complete this mission was to grab a Bob-omb from an item box (each item box contains a Bob-omb), aim straight at a Pokey, and throw it. After you kill the first Pokey, repeat this until you complete the mission; it shouldn't be too hard to complete, but it may take some practice before you can execute this strategy flawlessly. Mission 2-7 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 10 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Toad in his Standard TD kart for this mission. This mission actually might be a bit tough. The first gate is right in front of you, so just go through it, then get on the speed tile. When you get off of the speed tile, go left, rather than straight, as this mission is trickier than you might have expected. You see, the second gate is to the left and not north of the speed tile like you probably expected it to be (the second gate is the leftmost of gate of the two gates that you'll come across when you go left). When you go through the second gate, quickly grab a Mushroom from one of the item boxes, then use it to get a boost. Then, keep on the path you're on and you will eventually come to two more gates. This time, the rightmost gate is the third gate, so drive through it. After you drive through the third gate, the fourth one is very nearby, so go through that one, then ride along the speed tiles on the hill to the east, going through the fifth gate along the way. After you go through the fifth gate, there will be two more speed tiles for you to ride along, so do that and when you get off, use the next speed tile, then collect the sixth gate (you'll be able to tell it's the sixth gate because it won't appear to be red, like the previous gates that you've already went through). After collecting the sixth gate, quickly grab a Mushroom from one of the item boxes and use it to gain a boost of speed. Go through the eighth gate to your left, but be careful not to miss it because of your boost of speed. Then, keep going and go through the ninth gate. After you go through the ninth gate, ride along the first speed tile, then instead of riding along the other ones, go up and onto the platform above the speed tiles, and there's the tenth gate. After you go through it, mission complete. Mission 2-8 ----------- Game Description: Peform 6 power-slide turbo boosts in 3 laps! NOTE: You are forced to use Peach in her Standard PC kart for this mission. Getting a * rank or higher is pretty tough on this mission, but the mission itself isn't that tough. You have to perform six Power Slide boosts on Baby Park in three laps. Each of the item boxes give you a Star, so it gives you a little edge because of the speed, to execute Power Slides. Just don't let your speed control you to where you bump into everything, but instead, control your speed to where you execute your Power Slides flawlessly around each of the many sharp turns in this course. If you can manage to perform six Power Slide boosts before three laps are completed and reach the finish line, you complete the mission. Boss #2 ------- Game Description: Hit the Eyerok's eyeball 3 times with shells! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his Standard MR kart for this mission. This creature is from Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, and has two hands; each with an eye on them. Your object here is to grab an item box in the room (don't worry, they regenerate), and throw a Green Shell at the eye on one of the hands. You'll have to aim precise and straight in order to do this, as Green Shells don't do like the Red Shells do and act as a homing missile. Do this three times to complete the mission. This creature usually has a fist on one hand, and his hand open on the other hand. Also, when you hit this creature twice, on the final hit, it'll have both its hand in a fist and it will try and squash you and if you get hit, you lose a balloon. Keep in mind that you only have three balloons, so try not to get too often. If you mess up too much, you won't get a good rank at the end. Another thing I forgot to mention was that on the last hit, both hands will be open after the creature jumps around and tries to squash you. This is your chance to hit him, but be careful, as the creature will trick you by moving his hand when you throw the Green Shell. Level 3 ------- Mission 3-1 ----------- Game Description: Destroy all 5 item boxes! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. The object of this mission is to drive through all 5 item boxes, just like the previous missions that you had to complete regarding these. This mission is a bit harder than the previous item box missions you've done, because this is played in Waluigi Pinball, and it's a small area. Also, there are bumpers and if you bump into them, they'll bounce you around, so just try and avoid driving into them. That's easier said than done, though, so my strategy for you here is just to destroy them when they are in range, rather than just going all out and trying to get them in one run. Also, each item box contains a Star. This mission is also fairly easy to get a high rank on. Mission 3-2 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 5 numbered gates in order... backward! NOTE: You are forced to use Bowser in his Standard BW kart for this mission. This isn't too hard of a mission to complete, although if you aren't used to driving backward. To start off, just go backwards by holding B and go through the first gate. Make your way through the first area where the first gate was, then you'll come to the second gate so when you come to it, go through it. For the next gate, just keep going straight and you'll find it. Be sure to ignore the left path you come across before the third gate, as that path is a trap. When you find the third gate, go through it, then keep going straight and eventually, you'll come across the fourth gate so when you do, go through that one. Once you go through the fourth gate, keep going and you'll eventually come across two "STOP!" signs, so when you do, drive left of those signs and you'll come to some stairs; drive up them, and voila! There is your fifth gate, so go through it to complete the mission. Mission 3-3 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 15 coins while avoiding the Chain Chomp! NOTE: You are forced to use Luigi in his Standard LG kart for this mission. This is an extremely easy mission to complete. Accelerate before the timer stops and the race starts when you start the mission, then go straight and go into the circle of coins, where the Chain Chomp is. All I did to complete it was drive straight into the first coin, then hold Left and collect all of the other coins. Note that even I got hit by the Chain Chomp, so don't get too slap happy and think that you can just rush through this, because even I did not do this in less than 8 seconds. Mission 3-4 ----------- Game Description: Reach the finish before Yoshi! NOTE: You are forced to use Peach in her Standard PC kart for this mission. This is a fairly simple mission to complete, but it is a bit tough to get a *** rank on this mission. Anyway, you are racing against Yoshi in this mission to see who can reach the finish line first. First off, follow Yoshi to the waterfall to the east. Once you are on the waterfall, try and grab an item box (each item box contains either a Mushroom or a Star) so that you can get an item and try and get ahead. If you get a Star from the item box, that's great. If not, a Mushroom is still good. Also, Drafting is useful on this mission as well, but it's kind of hard to execute but if you can manage to execute it, it will give you a boost of speed, which helps a lot. After the two waterfalls you come to, be sure to stay on the left side of the course, as the east side will have black obstacles in your way and if you get lost in them, that's definitely not a good thing. Mission 3-5 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 8 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Yoshi in his Standard YS kart for this mission. This mission is a VERY tricky mission to complete, especially considering that the gates are scattered about, rather than blatantly obvious like they usually are in the previous gate missions. Also, this mission is played on Pipe Plaza, which makes it easy to fall off when you are on the high platform directly above where you start. Anyway, the first gate is directly in front of you, so go through it. After you go through the first gate, go north through gate number 5, then continue going straight, and go through the rightmost pipe with a hole in it. When you go through that rightmost pipe, you'll appear on the upper platform I spoke of earlier in this mission. On that platform is the second gate right in front of you, so go through it, then after going through the second gate, continue going straight, then go east when the path splits, then go through the third gate. After that, go east and go through the fourth gate, then go north and through the pipe, and you'll come out of the bottom right pipe that you went through earlier to get the second, third, and fourth gate. Anyway, after you emerge from the bottom right pipe, go through the nearby fifth gate, then go slightly east of the fifth gate, but not too far east to where you're going towards the wall, just slightly east. After going slightly east from the fifth gate, go straight and then turn left and go through the sixth gate. After you go through the sixth gate, head left and go up the ramp onto the platform there, then on that platform, go left and go through the seventh gate near where the fourth one was. Upon going through the seventh gate, drop down to ground level again, then turn east and go through the eigth gate. Mission complete. Take note that this mission is VERY hard to get a ** or even a *** rank on unless you are really really good. IMPORTANT NOTE: Something I forgot to mention is another method for getting the final gate. This method is to jump left towards where the sixth gate is, rather than jumping down to the north of the seventh gate and going east. When you jump down to where the sixth gate is, go left and then go through the final gate. Mission 3-6 ----------- Game Description: Hit Monty Moles with shells 5 times! NOTE: You are forced to use Luigi in his Standard LG kart for this mission. This mission is kind of hard. You have to throw a Green Shell at any of the Monty Moles and get up to five hits altogether (you don't have to hit one Monty Mole five times, mind you, but if you hit five Monty Moles each one time with a Green Shell, then you'll score 5 hits, thus completing the mission) to complete the mission. This is harder than it sounds, however. The Monty Moles will stick their head up; this is how you know when they are about to jump out of the hole they're in. The best way I've found to complete this mission is to get a Green Shell from an item box, position your kart directly in front of a hole where the Monty Moles come out of (I mean like where the Monty Moles are behind you when they pop back up) and then hold the Green Shell there without releasing it until the Monty Mole comes out and gets hit (don't stand directly on top of the hole or you'll be hit when one comes out). When it gets hit, backup and get another Green Shell from the item box, then repeat until you win. Note that this mission is a bit tough to get a *** ranking on, just keep trying if you wish to achieve one. Mission 3-7 ----------- Game Description: Perform 10 power-slide turbo boosts in 1 lap! NOTE: You are forced to use Donkey Kong in his Standard DK kart for this mission. Actually, this mission is a bit tough at first, but it gradually gets easier once you get used to it. Try your best not bump into the walls, and also try your best not to run into any of the cars and trucks driving about the track. I know I'm making this sound easier than it really is, but once you get used to the mission, it shouldn't be that hard. Power Slide along the sharp turns and places that are good to Power Slide in. Careful, though, you don't want to fall off the track or drive into the grass or be hit by a car/truck. Again, this mission gets easier once you get the hang of it, but it is still quite difficult when you first start. If you avoid the walls/obstacles in this mission, you should be more than fine. Mission 3-8 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 20 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his Standard MR kart for this mission. Your goal here is to collect all 20 coins in the course, hence the game description. To start off, collect the first coin right in front of you. Then, continue north into the next room and in that room, go left and collect the next coin there. After that, go left and into the outside area of the course. Once there, drive straight and collect the next coin straight ahead, which leads to another room of the course. When you reach that room, turn east into the room that has "STOP!" signs in it and once there, grab the next coin. Now, backup out of this room, then drive to the outside area directly left of the area you got your previous coin in. Once you reach the outside area, collect the nearby coin, then continue going straight, while trying to avoid the Banana on the ground in front of the entrance to the next room (your goal here is to get into that room). When you reach the room east of the Banana, take the next coin, then head left and into the next room. In that room, take the next coin, then left and out of this room, into the outside walkway. Once you are there, drive straight and collect the coin on the small platform there, while trying your best not to fall off. Once you have collected the eighth coin, turn around and drive straight, while you are avoiding the Banana, and grab the next coin just north of the Banana. Once you have that coin, go into the nearby room directly east of the Banana you just passed. In this "STOP!" sign filled area, take the nearby coin, then head west and northeast, collecting the eleventh coin as you move in a clockwise fashion. Once you have collected the eleventh coin, exit this room, and you'll be back on the outside walkway. Once there, drive straight and collect the next two coins, while trying your best to avoid getting hit by the Bananas. Once you have collected those next two coins, turn around and head straight and east, into the next room. In this room, collect the next coin. Then, go straight into the next room and drive in a circle either in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise fashion, collecting the last six coins. Be careful not to bump into the wall here, however, as that can subtract from the good rank you might have at the end of the mission. Driving insanely fast can and will make you bump into the walls here, so just avoid driving at extreme speeds while in that final room. Boss #3 ------- Game Description: Reach the finish before Goomboss! NOTE: You are forced to use Toad in his Standard TD kart for this mission. This boss mission is sort of hard, because Goomboss is faster than you. When you are behind Goomboss, he will throw out some Goombas, so don't bump into them, as they'll slow you down. Also, he will throw out some Mushrooms sometimes, so you should use them for speed, just avoiding hitting the walls when you get their speed. Since this mission is played on Baby Park, not hitting the walls is easier said than done, considering how many sharp turns there are in Baby Park. My strategy is to Power Slide around the sharp turns, but try and Power Slide with control, rather than just speeding through the park with the Power Slides. Also, when you receive the boost from the Power Slide, try and not hit a wall or anything, as Goomboss can get ahead very easily, due to his high speed. Goomboss will throw more than one Goomba out at one time, so keep that in mind (he throws about 3-6 Goombas sometimes). Just be careful, as Goomboss can easily get ahead of you even if you make the slightest mistake. If you don't bump into any walls and use the Mushrooms and Power Slide boosts correctly, you should fare pretty well here. Getting a *** rank may be hard, however, just keep practicing, should you wish to get a *** rank. NOTE: Something I did forget to mention in the strategy for this mission is that after each lap, Goomboss gets bigger and faster. Also, you have three balloons and three balloons only in this mission, and bumping into a Goomba makes you lose one balloon, so take note of that. Like in the previous boss mission, if you lose three of your balloons, it's over. Level 4 ------- Mission 4-1 ----------- Game Description: Reach the finish before Donkey Kong! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. First off, turn the curve there and you'll come to a field of snowmen, so if you did a Power Slide along the curve and your kart is emitting red sparks, be careful not to hit one of the snowmen with that speed boost, as that'll really slow you down. After you pass the field of snowmen, you'll drop down to an area below with some item boxes, so try and grab an item (each item box contains a Star or a Mushroom). After you grab an item, continue progressing through the course and the next area you come to will have several snowballs falling down (one each time, not multiple ones), which you have to avoid, but it's kind of hard to do that, just try and maneuver correctly and you should avoid them just fine. After you cross the snowball field, you'll come to an icy road, where there will be some small turns to make here and there, just Drift (not Power Slide, as that can really mess you up) and you should make it past this road just fine. Also, the icy road contains some item boxes while you are making your way thruogh it. After that road, you'll come to an icy cave, then you'll come to some item boxes, just like on the icy road, then to the finish line shortly after. If you got a lot of Stars, you are one lucky guy, as those REALLY help a lot in this mission. Mission 4-2 ----------- Game Description: Blast 20 crabs! NOTE: You are forced to use Yoshi in his Standard YS kart for this mission. The objective here is to blast 20 crabs with shells and Bob-ombs. To start off, grab an item from the center platform that you start on (each item box contains either three Green Shells, one Green Shell, or a Bob-omb). If you get a Green Shell, simply aim it directly in front or behind a crab (depending which direction is easier to hit them) to kill one. If you manage to get three Green Shells, just keep those shells beside your kart and don't launch one. Instead, drive up to one of the crabs and make it where they touch the shell, thus knocking one out; do this until you run out of the three shells. If you get a Bob-omb, they are pretty much useless in this mission and can rarely eliminate more than one crab, just throw it away. Finally, there is one more thing you should know about this mission: occasionally, most of the course will be flooded out due to the tide (everything except for the middle platform that you start this mission on and the upper sand platforms get flooded), so just watch out for that, as driving in that water will slow your kart down. Overall, this mission is very easy, and should not take you long at all to get the hang of, not to mention get a good rank on (I got a *** ranking after trying this mission about three or four times). Mission 4-3 ----------- Game Description: Reach the finish before the red car! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his Standard MR kart for this mission. This is one of the easiest missions in the entire game, though it is a bit tough to get a good rank on, because you tend to bump into walls a lot, and sometimes, it's possible to hit the cars/trucks driving about the level. Anyway, the red car will be ahead of you when you start the mission, but all you have to do is grab an item (you'll come to an item box shortly after you start the mission) and use a Mushroom/Mushrooms if you get them to gain a boost/boosts of speed. Also, Power Sliding around the turns isn't a bad idea, either, as that comes in handy a lot. Try your best to avoid the cars/trucks driving about the course, also try and avoid bumping into walls (avoiding the cars/trucks as well as walls, is essential for getting at least a * rank). Finally, there are some points in the course where there will be no walls to protect you from falling off, so just avoid driving too out of control when you reach those points. When you reach the finish line, you should be way ahead of the red car! Mission 4-4 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 7 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. First off, go straight ahead and go through the first gate. After that, Power Slide across the curve, grabbing an item from one of the item boxes along the way (note that each item box contains three Mushrooms, so that's very good). After the item boxes are passed, you'll see a gate straight ahead in the dirt, so quickly use a Mushroom (only use one), then go through the second gate, then use the second Mushroom, then the third, while going through the third gate on the east side of the course (the third gate is also located in a dirty and rough surface, rather than the smooth dust the main part of the course has). After you have gone through the third gate, get back on the main course and go straight and through the fourth gate, while avoiding the Pokey. Once you go through the fourth gate, you'll appear in a new area with some item boxes, as well as several Pokeys scattered about the center of the area, so just avoid them by going to the left. When you go left, eventually go right, then Power Slide around the curve (don't use an item if you picked up along the way to the fifth gate, which you should've), and through the fifth gate. After you go through the fifth gate, you'll come to the sixth gate immediately after, so go through it, then you'll have to make a lot of very sharp turns on the hilly desert terrain before you reach the seventh gate, so please, by all means, avoiding driving into the dirt on the side of the road (Power Sliding works extremely well around these sharp turns). When you reach the seventh gate, simply go through it to complete the mission. Mission 4-5 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 15 coins. If you get squished by a Thwomp, you fail! NOTE: You are forced to use Bowser in his Standard BW kart for this mission. First off, accelerate (see the Controls section to see how to accelerate) at the start to get a speed boost when the mission starts (that way the Thwomps won't squash you) and go straight, running through all of the Thwomps (make sure you don't drive straight until the Thwomps rise up) and collecting each coin as you go run through the Thwomps. After you collect the eight coins that were under the Thwomps, slow down and turn around to where you're facing the next row of Thwomps. When you are, go straight and run through the Thwomps (be sure this time to run through the Thwomps when they are on the ground, rather than when they are in the air), collecting the remaining seven coins while you run through them. This mission is very easy once you get the hang of it, and it is also easy to get a *** ranking here. Mission 4-6 ----------- Game Description: Break all 10 item boxes while avoiding the Fake Items! NOTE: You are forced to use Donkey Kong in his Standard DK kart for this mission. This is an extremely easy mission to complete, so to speak. This mission is played on Choco Mountain, so there are some falling boulders, mind you, so try your best to avoid them when you run into them, as they can damage your rank at the end of the mission considerably. Anyway, your objective in this mission is to run through ten real item boxes, while avoiding the fake ones. To know which item boxes are fake and which are not, simply look at the map; the ones that are real will appear in their normal color, whereas the fake ones will be red. Also, you can know which ones are fake and which ones are not when you are close to them, as you'll notice when you are close to the boxes that one will be brighter than the other ones, and will have a ? block on it, whereas the others don't. Overall, this is an extremely easy mission to complete, and it's not hard to avoid running into the wrong item boxes, either. Just watch out for the boulders, and you should be fine. Mission 4-7 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 10 gates! NOTE: You are forced to use Toad in his Standard TD kart for this mission. First off, you should know that this mission is played on Waluigi Pinball, which means that there are obstacles scattered about the course and if you hit one of them, it'll hurt your rank at the end, trust me. To start off, go straight and drive through the first two gates, while avoiding the obstacles as best you can. Once you drive through the first two gates, turn right or left and drive through the next two gates (there are two gates on the right side, and two gates on the left side) on the side you choose, then whichever side you didn't choose, go to that side after driving through the two gates from either the right or left side, then on that other side I just spoke of (the side that you didn't choose), drive through the next two gates. After you go through the next two gates, drive back to the halfway point of the straight line where you went through the first two gates at. Once there, take the left side or the right side and go through the next two gates on whichever side you go to first. After one side is done, go to the other side and go through the last two gates, thus completing the mission. Mission 4-8 ----------- Game Description: Perform 9 power-slide turbo boosts in 1 lap! NOTE: You are forced to use Luigi in his Standard LG kart for this mission. This mission is rather simple, actually, and takes place on Luigi Circuit. Due to Luigi's very fast speed, however, this mission can be annoying to complete, but it's not that hard once you get the hang of it. Anyway, the first two or three sharp turns you come to, you should be able to execute a fairly good bit of power-slide turbo boosts (you should have about 4-6 after the first few sharp turns). Keep your control when you Power Slide, however, as Luigi's speed is so fast it can easily make you lose control and bring you into the grass on the side of the road, or even make you hit a puddle (if you hit a puddle, you'll spin out of control for a couple of seconds, so stay clear of the puddles). Keep Power Sliding around the turns while you make your way to the finish line, being sure to do your best to maintain control of your kart and staying clear of any of the puddles or the grass on the side of the road. Basically, the key to this mission is control. You also have to be fairly fast in order to complete the mission, not to mention get a good rank. Boss #4 ------- Game Description: Collect 50 coins while avoiding King Boo! NOTE: You are forced to use Peach in her Standard PC kart for this mission. You have to collect 50 coins in this mission while doing your best to avoid King Boo. King Boo, throughout the mission, will be floating within your vicinity, and then after about 30 seconds or so, he will attack you and take 10 coins from you. If you lose those coins, to get them back, you have to charge directly at King Boo. The only real strategy I can give you here is to use your map to see where the several circles of coins are throughout the mission. I always Drifted around each circle of coins, and then before I had collected all of the coins in each circle, I reverted to Power Sliding and then once all of the coins within the circle were collected, I would release the Power Slide. Going into the lava can stop King Boo from stealing your coins, but fall into the lava wisely; you don't want to use up too much time here jumping in the wrong spots, and you definitely don't want to use up all three of your balloons. Basically, the key here is to be fast and fall in the lava when necessary before King Boo takes your coins. Keep practicing, because this mission is extremely hard, and will take some time to get a * or higher rank on. Level 5 ------- Mission 5-1 ----------- Game Description: Reach the finish before the stray Chain Chomp! NOTE: You are forced to use Peach in her Standard PC kart for this mission. The object of this mission is to get to the finish line while avoiding the lone Chain Chomp that's in the course. Before you can even manage to start, the Chain Chomp is already slightly ahead of you. Before you start, be sure to get the boost before the timer runs out. Anyway, once you start the mission, go through one of the item boxes to get three Mushrooms. Don't use them right away (I'll tell you when to use them), but instead keep driving through the course until you reach the first hill (Power Sliding across the turn right before you reach the hill is a recommendation from me). Be sure to use one of your Mushrooms as you're going up the hill. Anyway, when you reach the top of the first hill, you'll come to a small area with a flower bed (avoid driving into that flower bed, as that will slow you down considerably), then you'll come to a bushy area. In that area, nagivate carefully through the bushes, doing your best to avoid the other Chain Chomps in the area, and while trying to get ahead or stay ahead of the Chain Chomp that's racing against you. At the end of the bush area, right before you enter the next area, it's a good idea to use another one of your Mushrooms for another boost. When you reach the area after the bush area, use your last Mushroom atop the last hill, or use the Mushroom in the area you come to after driving down the hill. Another place to use your last Mushroom would be in the dirt area where the Monty Moles are. When you come to those Monty Moles, be sure to avoid them so that they don't subtract from your score when you complete the mission. After you pass the Monty Moles in the dirt area, drive across the bridge-like area, then head east at the opening (it won't have a fence around it like the rest of the bridge-like area does, thus you'll know it's the opening) and go through the finish line to complete the mission. Note that this strategy DOES NOT net you a *** rank, or maybe not even a ** rank, just a * rank, so if anyone has a better strategy to give me to get like a ** or a *** rank, it would be greatly appreciated. Mission 5-2 ----------- Game Description: Drive backward and collect 15 coins! If you hit a snowman, you fail! NOTE: You are forced to use Donkey Kong in his Standard DK kart for this mission. This is a VERY easy mission to complete, but if you aren't used to driving backward, it may take a few tries and a few failures before you are used to driving backward. In this mission, you have to collect all 15 coins while you try your best not to hit a snowman, as if you hit one, hence the game description above, you fail the mission. These 15 coins are in a circle, and are not hard to collect once you get the hang of driving backwards. Basically, you drive backwards in a counter-clockwise fashion around the snowmen, while you collect the 15 coins. Overall, this mission is VERY easy, especially once you get used to it. I beat it on my fifth try or so and got a *** rank, so do not even worry about this mission being difficult, because it's not. Mission 5-3 ----------- Game Description: Destroy all 5 item boxes! NOTE: You are forced to use Toad in his Standard TD kart for this mission. In this mission, your objective is to destroy all 5 item boxes before they go into an area where you can't get to them no matter what you do. Also note that each item box contains a Mushroom. Anyway, to start off, get the boost before the timer runs out, then when the race starts, grab the item box on the end of the long line of item boxes. Once you destroy the one on the end, you'll get a Mushroom, so use that Mushroom to get a boost. When you get your boost via the Mushroom, try your best to avoid driving into the dark blue water, which is very deep water (avoid the deep water while making your way to the item box that is most in front of the others), and you should be very close to the front item box. When you reach the first item box, destroy it, then stop your kart and don't move, and the other three item boxes will come to you. Mission complete. Mission 5-4 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 10 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Bowser in his Standard BW kart for this mission. This mission takes place in Bowser's Castle. Your goal here is to go through all ten of the numbered gates in order, like in the previous gate missions that you did. Anyway, to start off, go through the nearby first gate, then quickly Power Slide across the turn and when you reach the area with the second gate, quickly release the Power Slide to get a boost of speed (be sure that when you release the Power Slide to also aim for the speed tile on the left side of the area). If you landed on the speed tile, which you should've been aiming for, you will get another boost of speed, and go through the second gate with no slowdowns. After you pass the second gate, Power Slide again around the next turn (you'll have to Power Slide in a counter-clockwise fashion, mind you) and go through the third gate (be sure to release the Power Slide before you reach the third gate and be sure to avoid the Thwomp if it is down on the ground, as if you bump into it, it can really subtract from your rank at the end of the mission). After you've gone through the third gate, you will come to a grated area and in the center of the grating is a hole, with lava below it, so avoid falling into that. Anyway, in the grated area, try and hit the speed tile on the left side, rather than in the center then once you hit it, go right and through the fourth gate. Keep in mind that if you aren't able to get the speed tile on the left side, it's alright if you got the center one beside the center area with the lava pit, it's just father the other way. Anyway, after you pass the fourth gate, keep driving and eventually you'll encounter another Thwomp (try and hit the speed tile on the right side of the area with the Thwomp when you come to it). When you encounter that Thwomp, keep driving until you come to another grated area with speed tiles. When you come to the next grated area, keep in mind this one has more lava pits around, and bigger speed tiles. Anyway, when you reach the next grated area, go straight up the middle of the speed tile beside the first lava pit you come to, being sure to go through the fifth gate (there is a fireball that comes out of the lava after you use the speed tile, so try and not get hit by it as if you do, you'll fall straight down into the lava). After you go through the fifth gate, quickly get over to the right side, and use those speed tiles to go through the sixth gate, while doing your best to avoid falling into the lava below. Once you have gone through the sixth gate, keep driving until you come to yet another grated area. In that area, ignore the speed tiles you come to and just go through the seventh gate. Once you go through it, use the speed tiles on the left side of the room, while doing your best to avoid falling to the lava below (do not use the speed tile beside the really long rectangular-shaped hole in the grating; you'll fall into the lava if you do that). After you go through the eigth gate, Power Slide (you have to be very good to pull a Power Slide off due to the limited amount of room you have before the ninth gate) or Drift across the next turn, going through the ninth gate. After you go through the ninth gate, go straight and go through the final gate, while avoiding the Thwomps. Mission 5-5 ----------- Game Description: Complete 1 lap in the opposite direction within the time limit! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his Standard MR kart for this mission. In this mission, you have to complete one whole lap in the Mushroom Bridge course, while avoiding the cars/trucks driving about the course. To start off, get the boost before the timer runs out, as usual, then go to the far east side of the course, then drive straight through the almost fully blocked off area, while doing your best to avoid the cars/trucks that are driving in the area. Eventually in that area, right before you exit it, you'll come to a item box (each item box contains a Mushroom), so be sure to get an item from that item box before you exit the narrow area. Once you exit that first area, you will come to a tunnel with more vehicles in it (it wouldn't be a bad idea to Power Slide along the curve right before you enter the tunnel), so do your best to avoid those vehicles. In this tunnel are also some item boxes, so use the Mushroom you got earlier (use it wisely, mind you), so that you can grab another Mushroom from the item box. Once you exit the tunnel, use the Mushroom you just got to get a boost. Once you use the Mushroom, continue driving and you will shortly come to an almost completely blocked off part of the road; when you come to this blocked off part of the road, the traffic will be VERY heavy, so try your best to maneuver around that part. Note that that area has some item boxes, so try and grab another Mushroom from one of those item boxes. Once you pass that part, you'll come to another tunnel, so avoid the traffic in that tunnel while making your way out of it. Once you are out of the tunnel, use your last Mushroom right before the finish line, while avoiding the last bit of traffic. Mission 5-6 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 18 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Yoshi in his Standard YS kart for this mission. This mission is played on a cake. To start off, get the boost before the timer runs out, then go straight and collect the first coin when the mission starts. Once you have collected the first coin, go north beside the cream and make a turn there to collect the second coin. Once you collect the second coin, quickly make a sharp turn to the right to where you align yourself with the three coins in a straight line. After you collect those three coins, you should be aligned perfectly with the top of the cake in the middle of the area. Go straight and up to the top of the cake and if you are lucky you will have collected one of the three coins floating above the top of the cake. Once you have collected one of the three coins floating above the top of the cake, do like you did in the beginning of the mission and go straight and collect the lone coin, then make a turn around the cream to get the next coin. Then, quickly make a sharp turn so that you are aligned with the center, as well as the three coins that form a straight line. Collect those three coins, then go up the speed tile at the center, and if you did it correctly, you will have gotten another coin. Now, for the final six coins, do the same as you did last time and go straight to get the lone coin. Then, make a turn around the cream to get the next coin. Then, quickly make a sharp turn to align yourself with the center and the three coin line. As you go up the center, be sure to collect the three coins that form a straight line, then once you reach the top of the center, you should have gotten all eighteen coins, thus completing the mission. Mission 5-7 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all the 8 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Toad in his Standard TD kart for this mission. This mission actually isn't that hard, but the fact that you have to avoid snowballs is what makes the slightest bit of challenge available in this mission. Anyway, to start off, go north and through the first gate (be sure to get the boost before the timer runs out, like always). Once you go through the first gate, continue going straight and go through the second gate when you reach it. Once you go through the second gate, do your best to avoid the snowballs that are rolling about the area, while going through the third gate. When you have passed the third gate, drive over the hill, into the next area, but be sure that in the next area, you are in a left direction so that when you get to the fourth gate, you can go through it with no problems. Once you have gone through the fourth gate, avoid the large snowball to the right, then go through gate five when you reach it. After you go through gate 5, another large snowball will be rolling through the area and this time, it's directly in front of you, so please do your best to avoid that one. After you pass the large snowball, go through gate six, then keep going and you will see gate seven shortly, so go through it. After you have gone through the seventh gate, there will be a few more snowballs for you to avoid on a very hilly last bit of the track. Atop the hilly terrain is the final gate, so go through it. Mission 5-8 ----------- Game Description: Reach the finish before Mario! NOTE: You are forced to use Luigi in his Standard LG kart for this mission. In this mission, you are against Mario, and you are Luigi. You must reach the finish line before Mario, if you hope to complete the mission. This mission is not too terribly tough, so don't worry about extreme difficulty. Get the boost before the timer runs out, so that when the mission starts, you'll get a boost of speed. Once your boost runs out, you should be right at the curve, so Power Slide across that curve, then when you come to the straightaway with Goombas, release the Power Slide. In the straightaway, avoid the Goombas as best you can, then after you pass the Goombas, you'll come to several item boxes, so be sure to grab an item from one of the item boxes and take note that each item box contains either three Mushrooms, or a Star. Anyway, once you grab an item from the item box, keep going and you'll eventually come to a slightly curvy road with some more Goombas, so avoid them as best you can (if you got a Star from that item box, you can plow through the Goombas, thus destroying them, and you can even make Mario lose control for a couple of seconds if you hit him with the Star). After the Goomba segment, you'll come to a very curvy part of the road with Pirahna Plants shooting fireballs at you (the Pirahna Plants are located atop some pipes on each side of the road), so avoid those fireballs as best you can. Once you pass the Pirahna Plant segment, keep going and you will come to more item boxes, so grab an item from one of them, then you will eventually come to two curves, and you'll also encounter a significant amount of Pirahna Plants (these don't shoot fireballs, thankfully). If you have a Star, getting through that part is a breeze. After the two curves with the significant amount of Pirahna Plants, you'll come to the finish line, thus completing the mission. Boss #5 ------- Game Description: Hit the Big Bob-omb with 3 Bob-ombs! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. This is a VERY easy boss mission to complete. You have to hit this guy with three Bob-ombs (each item box in the middle contains a Bob-omb and the boss throws some item boxes out, so need to worry about a limited supply). To start off, take a Bob-omb from one of the two item boxes in the course. Once you have gotten the Bob-omb from one of those item boxes, approach the Big Bob-omb (be sure to avoid the Bob-ombs that he himself throws out) and then when you reach him, aim straight for him and throw that Bob-omb to hit him. After you hit him once, grab another Bob-omb from the item box and hit the Big Bob-omb again by aiming straight for him when you reach him, being sure to avoid the Bob-ombs he throws out. After you hit him twice, hit him the third time when he drops down (Note that the Big Bob-omb will still throw out some Bob-ombs like before, but he'll throw them out a little bit differently. This time around, he'll drop three Bob-ombs down, and in the midst of those Bob-ombs will be an item box, so quickly collect the Bob-omb from that item box, as the boss will drop down on the exact spot where the item box is if you don't get it fast enough. Also, even after you get the item, he'll still go in the air throw three more Bob-ombs down, as well as another item box, but don't bother with it, just throw the final Bob-omb at him when he drops down.) and complete the mission. Level 6 ------- Mission 6-1 ----------- Game Description: Drive backwards across the spinning bridge! If you fall, you're out! NOTE: You are forced to use Bowser in his Standard BW kart for this mission. This mission is kind of hard, because you have to balance yourself to avoid falling off. First off, drive backward and get on the spinning bridge. When you get on the spinning bridge, keep driving backward and when the bridge tilts left, move right, and vise versa. Keep doing this while driving backward until you get off the bridge successfully. After that, mission complete. Mission 6-2 ----------- Game Description: Get Stars and run over 15 Rocky Wrenches! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. First off, I must note that you DO NOT just camp by one of the Rocky Wrenches and wait for it to come out, because it just won't work that way, so don't waste your time trying it. Anyway, this mission is an annoying mission, and may take a few tries for you to get used to it. In this mission, you have to run over 15 Rocky Wrench enemies, and those enemies come up from the ground and if you hit them, you will lose control of your kart for a couple of seconds, and that will really hurt your rank at the end. Anyway, there's no real strategy to winning here, just when you start, grab an item from one of the nearby item boxes in the area (each item box contains a Star) and then use it immediately and run over as many of those Rocky Wrenches as you can before the invincibility effect wears off. Before you run out of invincibilty power, it would be wise to grab another Star from one of the item boxes in the area, then go plow through more Rocky Wrench enemies. Also, be sure to Drift and/or Power Slide around the corners just north of the four item boxes in the beginning, and also behind those four item boxes in the beginning, as in those corners are more of those Rocky Wrench enemies. Also, the main reason I recommend Drifting/Power Sliding is because you won't bump into walls nearly as much as you would driving normally with the significant speed of a Star. Just keep Drifting/Power Sliding the corners, and when you aren't near those corners, just keep plowing through the enemies and be sure to keep grabbing Stars from the item boxes, as you don't want your invincibility effect to run out. There is one major thing I didn't mention up at the top, and that is you are timed 20 seconds in this mission, so keep that in mind. And also keep in mind that moving in reverse can help, too. The main key to completeing this mission with at least a * rank is to complete it very fast. Mission 6-3 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 30 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Yoshi in his Standard YS kart for this mission. Your object in this particular mission is to collect all 30 coins in the Choco Mountain (SNES) course. Get the boost before the timer runs out, then when you start the mission, go straight and collect the three coins in front of you. Then, immediately get the nearby Mushroom to gain a boost of speed (with this Mushroom, you'll be able to drive through the rocks on the side of the road with no problems). After you get the Mushroom, go straight and get the next three coins on the rocky terrain. Once you have acquired those three coins, Drift when you reach the corner, then collect the three coins on the right side after the turn near the side of the road. Once you collect those three coins, keep driving until you reach three more coins; collect them. Now, when you reach the next corner, Drift and then to the right near the side of the road will be three more coins, so collect them. After that, go north and go through the chocolate area and collect the next three coins that you come across. After that, keep driving and you'll come to an area full of bumps. By all means, DO NOT bump into them. In that bumpy area, keep driving and keep collecting the rest of the coins while maneuvering through the bumpy area. Once you have collected all 30 coins, the mission will be complete. Mission 6-4 ----------- Game Description: Destroy all 10 item boxes! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his Standard MR kart for this mission. In this mission, you have to destroy all 10 item boxes on the Block Fort course. To start off, get the boost before the timer runs out then when the mission starts, go straight and follow the first item box that goes around the corner (Drifting around that corner is very effective, so do that). After you get the first item box (each box contains a Mushroom), go left and up the ramp and onto the block. On the block, turn east and then wait for the next block to come to you. After you get the second block, go around the corner where the second block that you just got was when it came to you. After you turn the corner, go straight and cross the bridge to the north, then get the third block that's moving across the platform. Once you have the third gate, go up the ramp on this block platform to be at the top of the yellow area. At the top of the yellow area is the fourth block, so get it (be careful not to fall off, mind you). Once you get the fourth block, go on the extemely long bridge (the one leading to the green area) and grab the fifth item box when its in range (if it's not, just pursue it till you get it, but if it's too far away, don't follow it and just restart). After that, don't cross the bridge entirely; instead, drop down to the lower platform below the top of the green area. Once there, get the next two item boxes. Now, head up the nearby and ramp and you'll reach the top of the green area. Once you are at the top of the green area, cross the nearby bridge to the blue area. Also, I'd recommend using the Mushroom that you've been holding since you got the first block, when you cross the bridge. Anyway, when you reach the top of the blue area, drop down to the lower part of the blue area and destroy block number 8 that fell down to this area when you were at the top of the blue area. After destroying the eigth block, destroy the ninth block on that lower platform. Once you have destroyed the ninth block, it's time to get the tenth block. To get the tenth block, cross the bridges until you reach the top of the yellow area. At the top of the yellow area, you should see the tenth block nearby (use the map to help you find it easier), so grab it, then this very hard mission is complete. An alternate strategy to this mission is to just use the touch screen to get all of the blocks after getting the 4th block. Mission 6-5 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 8 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Peach in her Standard PC kart for this mission. This mission takes place in Sky Garden. Your objective here is to go through all 8 numbered gates in order, just like in all of the other previous gate missions you've been through. Anyway, this mission is actually pretty tough and annoying, so be ready. First off, get a boost before the timer runs out, then when the mission starts, grab a nearby box (each item box contains three Mushrooms), then Power Slide around the corner, then go through the first gate when you reach it. After going through the first gate, quickly go straight and look on the map and you should see a ramp; position yourself to where you are facing this ramp, then use a Mushroom to jump over the ramp, and onto the platform where the second gate is. After going through the second gate, use your next Mushroom to get across the two small platforms without falling off. Once you cross those two small platforms, you'll be on an actual road. Power Slide around the curve, then keep going straight until you come across the third gate; when you come across the third gate, go through it. Once you have gone through the third gate, look on the map to find another ramp on the right side near the edge. Use your last Mushroom to jump over the ramp, and hopefully go through gate four. Once that is done, keep driving till you find an item box; when you do, grab that item box for three more Mushrooms. Once you have those next three Mushrooms, use one and go through gate five. After that, Drift around the corner and then when you spot gate six on a platform that you can't reach normally, use a Mushroom to speed to that platform, and speed through the sixth gate. Once you have gone through the sixth gate, Drift or Power Slide across the corner and then go through gate seven when you reach it. After that, keep going until you see gate eight in the distance. When you spot it, use the speed tile just south of the eighth gate that you come to, then after using the speed tile, go through that eighth gate. Mission 6-6 ----------- Game Description: Perform 14 power-slide turbo boosts in 1 lap! NOTE: You are forced to use Yoshi in his Standard YS kart for this mission. This mission is not that hard, actually. Get a boost before the timer runs out. After getting the boost, Power Slide around the first turn, then do the same around the second (you can only do one mini-turbo on each of these turns that I just spoke of, so keep that in mind). Once you pass the second turn, keep in mind that on this next turn, it's very hard to perform a Power Slide turbo boost without going into the grass to the left where the billboards are, but you still have to try to Power Slide boost on this turn. After you cross the third turn, you'll come to a tunnel where you can get at least 3-4 Power Slide turbo boosts, so be sure to take advantage of that tunnel, and also be careful not to bump into the walls in that tunnel. After you exit the tunnel, keep going through the course, Power Sliding around each turn and hopefully, when you reach the finish line, you'll have 14 or more Power Slide turbo boosts performed. Note that I didn't give a detailed explanation of this mission, as it's kind of hard to. Just know that you have to perform a Power Slide turbo boost on basically every turn, so do just that. Take note also that it may take a bit before you get used to this, but you can do it if you keep trying. One more thing is that you "have" to complete the mission within 10 seconds remaining on the timer or more than 10 seconds on the timer in order to even get rank *, so keep that in mind. Mission 6-7 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 40 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Toad in his Standard TD kart for this mission. This mission takes place is a clock course full of obstacles. Your goal here is to collect 40 coins, hence the game description. Note also that the coins form a star, so if you can recognize this pattern and learn how to collect each coin, then that's good. The strategy I used was to get a boost before the timer runs out, then when the mission starts, go either to the left or to the right line of coins and collect them and keep going through that line even after you collect them, until you reach the wall. Then, collect the line of coins that you didn't collect (if you went right, collect the left line, and vise versa), while doing your best to avoid the two red-colored spinning hands. After collecting the two lines of coins, collect the rest of the coins while you avoid the spinning hands to the best of your ability. If you get hit by a spinning hand, you lose five coins, so by all means avoid them. Also, there are some speed tiles in this mission that you'll come across, just don't let them rush you into a wall or straight into the hands. Just keep trying until you complete the mission. Note also that you are timed in this mission approximately 1 minute 30 seconds. I apologize that I couldn't give a more detailed explanation of how to complete the mission, but this is a mission that is very hard to explain in perfect detail. Mission 6-8 ----------- Game Description: Reach the finish before Peach! NOTE: You are forced to use Bowser in his Standard BW kart for this mission. In this mission, you have to beat Peach to the finish line as Bowser. Starting off, as always, get the boost before the timer runs out. When the actual race starts, turn left via a Drift (you may also want to Power Slide), then when you are on the straight road, when you reach the curve, Power Slide, then when you turn the curve, release it to get the boost from the slide. Once that is done, make your way through the dirt road with the Monty Moles. Once you pass that road, you'll be in a bushy area with some item boxes, so be sure to grab an item from one of them. After you pass that bushy area, keep driving until you reach a bushy area with a Chain Chomp (along the way, you'll encounter some flower beds, so use a Mushroom or a Star to get through that flower bed without slowing down, depending on which one you have). When you reach that area, get another item from one of the item boxes in the area (if it's a Star you got, that's great), and navigate your way through this bushy and obstacle- filled area, and you'll reach the next area. Note that the bushy area has some "STOP" signs in certain spots, thus blocking your path, so look on the map for the precise locations of those signs so that you don't hit them. Also, save the item that you get if it's a speed item and don't use it until I say that its necessary, as you'll have to have a speed item for the upcoming part. Anyway, when you reach the area after the bushy maze area, go up the hill, avoid the flower beds, then in the next area, you'll come to a HUGE flower bed (this is why I told you to save a speed item, because you absolutely HAVE to have one for this part); use the speed item you currently have to cut through the flower bed without losing speed, as east of the bed are two "STOP" signs that block your path. After you cut through the flower bed, you'll reach the final area. In this area, move clockwise across the middle grassy area, while doing a Power Slide and avoiding the Chain Chomp. Release the Power Slide boost when you see the finish line up ahead. Note that if you have an item such as a Mushroom or a Star, then by all means use it in this final area of the mission, because it makes things a whole lot easier. If you don't note that the last area has several item boxes, so be sure to grab an item from one of those boxes if you don't have one. Boss #6 ------- Game Description: Use Mushroom boosts to hit Chief Chilly and knock him off the stage 3 times! NOTE: You are forced to use Luigi in his Standard LG kart for this mission. Here, you are pitted against Chief Chilly from Super Mario 64 DS. This mission can be quite challenging, actually. There are item boxes scattered around the arena, and each of those item boxes contain three Mushrooms, and they respawn, just like in other missions after you grab an item from them. Chief Chilly will attack you by charging at you (he does this the second you start, so be prepared and keep in mind he also does it the rest of the mission if you don't charge at him first). Anyway, to start off, grab an item from one of the item boxes. Then, make sure you are facing the boss (make sure you are in front of him, and perfectly aligned with him is what I mean). When you are aligned with Chief Chilly perfectly, unleash all of your Mushrooms on him to knock him into the water. If you aren't aligned with Chief Chilly when you use each Mushroom (say you go off track while using the Mushrooms), you'll miss him completely and fall off the stage, so by all means avoid that at all costs. Anyway, after you hit Chief Chilly once, grab another item box and use those three Mushrooms after aligning yourself with him, to charge at him and knock him into the water again. On this final hit against Chief Chilly, he will change his attack pattern slightly by jumping when you use your Mushrooms to charge at him. If you can manage to charge at him quickly enough, he won't be able to jump, but it may take some practice before you really know how to do this mission good, so just keep trying and you'll get him if you use this strategy. Level 7 ------- Mission 7-1 ----------- Game Description: Perform 6 power-slide turbo boosts in 1 lap! NOTE: You are forced to use Peach in her Standard PC kart for this mission. This mission is played on the Rainbow Road course, and it's quite hard to do this mission successfully without falling off or hitting the walls. To start off, keep driving through the speed tiled road until you reach a pretty sharp turn (its in the area with the very small speed tiles). When you reach that turn, quickly Power Slide and then release after your kart emits red sparks, but be very careful not to fall off, as this part of the course has very limited room and no wall to protect you from falling off. After you perform the first Power Slide, ignore the small speed tiles you come across, as the boosts they give you will slow you down considerably on this next part. Keep driving while ignoring the boost pads until you reach the last part of the curve right after you pass the boost pads. At that last part of the curve, quickly Power Slide across the curve, doing your best to avoid falling off, as well as hitting the nearby wall to the east. After performing that Power Slide, drive up the very long straightaway until you reach a turn; when you reach that turn, Power Slide there as well, while doing your best to try and not fall off. After you perform the third Power Slide, keep going until you'll find a curvy area where you can make your fourth Power Slide, so do so. After that, keep going and you will come across another curve, so perform your fifth Power Slide there. Once that is done, ignore the next curve, and just use the speed tile you come to and then you'll go up and over a huge loopy area. Once you go through that area, Power Slide around the next curve you come to, or skip the first one and do a Power Slide at the second and final curve of the mission. At any rate, keep your balance before the finish line and when you reach it, if you followed this strategy, you should have performed 6 Power Slide turbo-boosts. Mission 7-2 ----------- Game Description: Reach the finish before Bowser! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his Standard MR kart for this mission. This mission is a race against Bowser to the finish line. Get a boost before the timer runs out, then when the actual race starts, go straight and into the nearby room. In that room, you'll see some "STOP!" signs there, so to the right very close to the wall in the room to avoid hitting them. Before you can exit the room, there will be Thwomps, so avoid them and on your way out of the room, grab an item from one of the item boxes in the room. As usual, each item box contains either a Mushroom or a Star, so keep that in mind. Anyway, after you exit the room, Drift along the turn there, or maybe even Power Slide. Once you pass the turn, keep going and you'll come to a few more turns before you reach an actual next room, so Drift/Power Slide around those turns and after those turns, you will come to a room where the floor spins. In that room, do not go straight, as there's a blocked off area there. Instead, when you enter that spinning room, Power Slide to the right, then go north into the next room (there will be a flame shooting from the ceiling before that next room, so do your best to avoid it). When you reach that next room, avoid the Thwomp moving around, then grab another item from one of the item boxes in the area, then you will come to a tower-like area; Power Slide across that area, then release the slide after you ride up the tower. Upon exitting the tower, you'll appear in an outside area with the spinning bridge; don't go on it, but rather use the speed item you currently have (Star or Mushroom is what I mean), and just drop down to the area below the spinning bridge. Once you reach the ground below the spinning bridge, speed through the grass up ahead using another speed item, then after that, get onto the grated platform there. On your way to the platform, grab another item from one of the item boxes you come to. Once you are on that platform, keep going until you come across a speed tile; use that speed tile to speed down to a multiple platform area below where if you fall off the platforms, you will sink into the lava. Anyway, once you reach the multiple platform area, progress through it without falling off, then when you pass the multiple platform area, keep driving and keep Power Sliding across the turns you come to, then you'll reach the finish line. Congratulations on completing this rather tough mission. Mission 7-3 ----------- Game Description: Complete 2 laps within the time limit! NOTE: You are forced to use Donkey Kong in his Standard DK kart for this mission. This mission takes place in the Tick Tock Clock course. Your goal here is to complete two whole laps in the course within 1:30. To start off, as usual, get a boost before the timer runs out, then when the mission starts, Power Slide across the curve there, then release it and grab an item from the one of the nearby item boxes. Also, each item box contains three Mushrooms, so keep that in mind. After collecting an item, keep driving and you'll come to a huge area with two red-colored spinning arms, as well as speed tiles (gee, this area looks strangely familiar, eh?). Enter that area and drive on the left side where you see the speed tiles. Once you are on the left side, use the speed tiles and while you are using them, go straight, and into the next area after you pass the speed tiles. In that area, keep driving until you come across a curve; Power Slide across that curve, then release it when you pass the curve. Next, you'll come to three pendulums. When you do, either use your Mushrooms, or just drive straight through them and if you are lucky, you will make it through (I made it through with no boosts). After crossing the pendulums, keep going and you'll come across three spinning platforms; each are one after another. Nagivate very carefully through those platforms (note also that if you have Mushrooms, boosting helps a LOT, so definitely use them if you have them), then when you pass them, Drift around the next two curves, then you will reach another rotating platform with item boxes, as well as a red-colored spinning arm. Avoid hitting the spinning arm, as if you hit it, it'll really slow you down. Be sure also to grab an item from one of the item boxes in that area if you don't have any left. After you get off the rotating platform, go up the hill, and Power Slide across the curve if you can, but be careful not to fall off. After the curve, go up the next hill and you will reach the finish line. Before you reach the finish line, though, you'll probably notice that there are two tires on each side right next to the finish line. If you go over one of them that's moving in the same direction as the finish line, you'll get a boost. Anyway, go through the second lap the exact same way you did the first, and if you don't hit any obstacles or fall off, you should get at least a * rank here. Mission 7-4 ----------- Game Description: Use shells to defeat all 30 Goombas within the time limit! NOTE: You are forced to use Toad in his Standard TD kart for this mission. In this mission, your objective is to destroy 30 Goombas using Green Shells. Each item box contains either one Green Shell, or three Green Shells. Like in the previous missions, the Green Shell/Shells are your weapon that you'll be using against the Goombas to destroy them. You have approximately two minutes to destroy all 30 Goombas and complete the mission. Starting off, get a boost before the timer runs out, but be careful that when you boost you don't hit the Goombas up ahead. After boosting, grab an item from one of the nearby item boxes. Then, destroy as many Goombas as you can (A good way to destroy them is if you get three Green Shells, hold them next to your kart, then just drive toward the Goombas and let the shells hit them, and repeat. If you get one Green Shell, just aim straight for them and throw it), and after you use up your Shell/Shells, get more items and keep plowing through the Goombas in the area. After destroying all of the Goombas in the first area, you'll encounter more Goombas along the way and more item boxes, so keep destroying the Goombas you come across (try to be fast), while you keep obtaining more Shells from the item boxes throughout the mission. After you destroy all 30 Goombas and if the time didn't run out, you'll have completed the mission. Basically, the key here is to fast through the mission in order to get a good ranking. Mission 7-5 ----------- Game Description: Collect all 20 coins! NOTE: You are forced to use Wario in his Standard WR kart for this mission. This mission is VERY easy, especially considering we're on the final level of missions. Anyway, starting off, get a boost before the timer runs out, then when the mission starts, Power Slide across the curve, then release it and you will come across a coin; collect it. Keep going, and you'll come to a second coin; collect it. After that, keep going and keep Drifting along the curves and collect the three coins in the line that you come across, then drive up the speed boosting tile and collect the sixth coin in the midst of the ring of fire. After collecting the sixth coin, Drift or Power Slide across the next curve, then you'll come to a small speed boosting tile with a coin on it; get that next coin, then keep going and collect the next three coins on the other small speed boosting tiles you come across. After you have collected a total of ten coins, keep going and when you reach the next curve, quickly Power Slide and then release it and then when the curve ends, you'll come to a medium-sized speed boosting tile, so drive over it, and collecting the coins along the way. Then, drive up the next speed tile and collect the next batch of coins there. After that is done, Power Slide across the long curve, then release it when you come to an area with two spinning fire obstacles. In that area, collect the two coins under each of the spinning fire obstacles to get another two coins. Then, keep going and drive up the hill, collecting the rest of the coins (be sure you are on the right side after going up that last speed tile). If you did this fast enough and didn't hit any of the walls and obstacles, you should have definitely gotten at least a ** rank. Mission 7-6 ----------- Game Description: Drive through all 8 numbered gates in order! NOTE: You are forced to use Mario in his Standard MR kart for this mission. You don't even have above 10 seconds to complete this mission. What to do, you ask? Well, there's a trick to it. First off, get a boost before the timer runs out, then when it does run out and the mission starts, go north and approach the first gate. Don't go through the gate, but instead be sure you are standing on the light part of the touch screen on this DS course. When you are on that light piece, jump by pressing R, then immediately Drift, and move right, going through each gate that you can, then by coming around again until you collect all of the eight gates. Devin Morgan let me use the above strategy from his FAQ. Thanks! Mission 7-7 ----------- Game Description: Drive backward and collect all 12 coins! If you hit a burner, you fail! NOTE: You are forced to use Bowser in his Standard BW kart for this mission. You are timed approximately 50 seconds in this mission, and you have to collect 12 coins before the time runs out, and you have to do it without hitting a burner. When the mission starts, drive backward into the first room. That room is a room full of boxes and coins. Note that you can break the crates in this room if you back into them, so keep that in mind. Also, drive slowly and take it easy, as if you drive too fast, you'll hit the crates, thus making you lose time, and time is cruicial to getting a good rank at the end. Note also that you shouldn't hold B, but instead just use the D-Pad to move in a different direction around the turns, then when you move in that different direction, you can press B again to start moving. Anyway, when you reach that first room, collect the first coin to the left of the entrance to the room (be careful not to hit the crates; drive slowly). Once that coin is collected, get the next coin by going a very tiny bit north, then east of where the first coin was located. Once the second coin is collected, keep going until you come across the third coin; collect it. After that, keep maneuvering around the crates until you come across the fourth coin. Once you have collected the fourth coin, keep going left and grab the fifth coin. After that, just use the map to collect the rest of the coins in the crate area. Once you have collected all of the coins in the crate room, you'll reach the final room of the mission, where there are burners moving about the room. This part is a bit tricky, just collect the coins when the burners arent in the spot of the coin you're trying to get, and drive quickly, and you should be able to complete the mission with at least a * rank. This mission is all about going fast, but not too incredibly fast, so that you won't hit the crates in the first room, and so you won't hit the burners in the final room. Mission 7-8 ----------- Game Description: Break all 10 item boxes while avoiding the Fake Items! NOTE: You are forced to use Luigi in his Standard LG kart for this mission. This final mission takes place on Banshee Boardwalk (N64). Your objective here is to collect all 10 item boxes scattered throughout the course, while you avoid grabbing the fake item boxes. Like in the other missions, the map is your friend; the red colored item boxes are the fake ones, whereas the real ones are colored as normal colored item boxes. Anyway, to start off, get a boost before the timer runs out, then when the mission starts, Power Slide across the turn, then release it after passing the turn. Shortly after you release the Power Slide, you'll come across three Bananas; avoid them (it may also be a good idea to Power Slide across the curve where the first batch of Bananas are). Once you pass the Bananas, keep going straight and you'll reach three item boxes; two are fake, but the rightmost one is real, so grab that one (You can also look on the map, as I said before. Note also that each item box contains a Mushroom, so use those wisely). After you have grabbed the first item box, Power Slide across the curve you come to, being careful not to fall off. After the curve, keep going straight and you'll come across three more boxes; the leftmost one is the real one here. Once you have grabbed the second item box, keep going and you'll eventually come across three more Bananas; avoid them, then continue straight and you'll come across three more item boxes. Grab the one on the right, then keep going and you'll come to three more item boxes; grab the one on the left. Immediately after you grab the fourth gate, you'll come across four more Bananas, so avoid them at all costs. After you have gotten past the four Bananas, you'll come to two item boxes; the one on the left is the real one, so grab that one. After you have grabbed five item boxes, Drift across the turn, then you'll come across five Bananas. Do your best to avoid them, while making your way straight (Power Sliding around the curve where the Bananas are might be a wise choice). Keep going straight and you'll come to a lone item box; do not fret, as this one is a real item box, so grab it. Once that is done, you'll see tons of Bananas to the left when you enter the huge room. as well as an arrow poi