Diddy Kong Racing DS review

True, you don't absolutely have to collect everything, but there's a choking amount of garbage here bogging down an otherwise competent racer. The courses are somewhat bland but remain serviceable, and the fact you get to putt around in a tiny plane and hovercraft is cool. But, much like any of Rare's other games, Diddy throws so much random collectible nonsense at you that you feel like you're missing out if you don't grab it all, but end up resenting every single minute you play when you inevitably go for it all.

For those who remember the Nintendo 64 version from 1997, this is mostly the same game. Back then it wanted to be the next Mario Kart 64, but obviously wasn't. Now, the only thing that's been done to bump its stature is moderate touch screen silliness. Want to tap a wheel to boost from the starting line? How about blow into the microphone to snuff out torches in the game's enormous hub world? Nah, didn't think so. It's funny to think that the N64 version was meant to expand Diddy's universe and introduce both Banjo and Conker, two other poorly designed animal mascots that have already come and gone. Now those two are missing, replaced with... sigh, Dixie and Tiny Kong.

The only other notable additions are the track editor and Wi-Fi Connection support. It's fun to race online because all the other junk is tossed aside, focusing on the course and its balloon-themed power-ups. Missiles, boosts, oil slicks and all the other mainstays appear in solo and multiplayer, but at least online you can get straight to it.