DS, Help me decide: Mario Kart or Castlevania?

[le geek]

I've got a gift certificate that I'm itching to spend on a DS game. I've narrowed it down to either Castlevania or Mario Kart. I already have a Nintendo compatible Wifi router.

Which would you get?

Ben

[Joker T]

I would go with Castlevania. Both are excellent games but I'm having alot more fun with Castlevania. Mario Kart is a great game but I like Castlevania a bit more.

[klausien]

Depends on whether you want a multiplayer title or not. I personally would go for Castlevania, but that is just me. I finished the normal mode in about 2 days of decently hardcore playing, but the Castlevania III-esque Julius mode is awesome. The game is about on par with SOTN, and that compliment doesn't come lightly. Best 2D game of 2005, even besting Astro Boy and Gunstar Super Heroes.

Mario Kart is also fantastic, but really needs the multiplayer element to stay fresh. There are 40 tracks, 20 new, 20 "classic" which gives it plenty of staying power, but I can only take simplistic races for so long. People who snake kind of ruin the online game, but it is just like every other online match play game. There are always jerks and cheaters out there, but at least you don't have to listen to them on the DS!

[youruglyclone]

I have both...If I had to choose I would go with Castlevania...so much more to do.

[Ed Oscuro]

I would go with Castlevania as well. I know people who didn't like Aria of Sorrow on the GBA (!!) but they loved Dawn of Sorrow. All I've got thus far is the strategy guide...looks like a really awesome title.

[s1lence]

Castlevania imo is the more complete title. It doesn't have the multiplayer of mariokart, but I feel Castlevania offers more gameplay.

[drummy]

I actually both that I am trying to get rid of. lol...anyways, I hate Castlevania, so I am going to say Mario Kart.

[sirhansirhan]

Well, both are good enough games that you could buy either one and be completely happy. Still, of the two, I think Castlevania is the better game.

[poloplayr]

Dude, you NEED both. Seriously. Both games are A to the fricking Mazing!

[njiska]

The bottom line is, "Which do you like more, Racing or Platforming?"

I personally would take Castlevania, but that's because i suck at Mario Kart, but in the end they're both A+ titles.

[Balloon Fight]

Castlevania is the better single player experience, but if you really like online, then Mario Kart might be for you.

Just get them both to make it easier. ;)

[Xizer]

Mario Kart DS is WAYYYYY better. It has tons of replay value.

[Raedon]

If you have a lot of friends with DS's go with Kart first.

[Slipdeath]

I go with Mario Kart.

[slip81]

I went with Mario Kart when faced with a similar decision, but only because I wanted something that I didn't have to play through, since I'm already trying to finisha bunch or other games.

If I didn't have anything else on my plate, I would say Castlevania.

[Richter Belmount]

mario kart ds , castlevania ds is alright seemed I played through to many rpg styled castlevanias yet but that didnt stop me from buying it later.

[OdSquad64]

First i'd like to say that i absolutley hate racing games.

With that said i suggest Mario Kart DS because it is just that much fun to play. I played the demo at best buy and i had to get it and in 2 days i spent about 24+ hours playing. it's very fun and addictive. Also, Castlevania will give you kidney attacks*.

*the part about the kidney attacks is not true

[mitmoe]

Mario Kart. 8-)

[Lothars]

Well i actually got Mario kart first myself and than ended up getting castlevania and I have put alot more time into Castlevania

though I really like Mario Kart I would recommend to gofor Castlevania first

it's the more complete singleplayer experience.

it's all good though.

[boozi2]

Definitely both. Both kick major ass. Btw, before you get Castlevania, be sure to get Aria of Sorrow so you'll pretty much know what's going on in Dawn of Sorrow. A combo of Aria of Sorrow and Harmony of Dissonance is coming out for the GBA next month. Just wanted to let you know since I got the DS title before the GBA one :D

[Xizer]

What's with the lack of mentioning Mario Kart and the Wi-Fi connection? Mario Kart online is way better than Castlevania.

[Ed Oscuro]

http://nfg.2y.net/games/MarioKartDS/

Hmm...

[Xizer]

Ok, first of all, that networking review is bullshit. You CAN choose the track, it's just a vote. How do you think it would work with 4 players if it wasn't a vote? How the hell would you race 4 tracks at the same time? You can choose who joins (See: Friends). It complains about peoples' behavior. Sorry, how is the behavior of others Nintendo's fault again?

"There's no facility for adding friends from matches played against strangers." Uhh, IRC? Forums? Newsgroups? Instant messages? Hello?

"If you want to race against three friends and the wrong player joins, you can't tell it's the wrong player until the match starts, and then you can't kick them out, or restart" Oh please. This never happens. How the hell would the wrong player be on everyone's friend list, and them be on theirs anyway? Pssst...the Nintendo DS also has a POWER button.

"It takes 120 seconds to start each round" Umm, no. Sometimes, perhaps, but usually not.

"Once in a while a game will start but the timer never counts down to start a race, so all the players sit on the starting line, engines idling, while nothing happens" Okay, I've played over 400 matches, and I KNOW this is a load of horse shit.

Hey Lawrence (the author of this article): Fuck you. Okay? This is Nintendo's FIRST online game, and it's a on a fucking portable. You expect it to be problem free? Go on over to Xbox Live. I think Nintendo's done pretty damn well for their first try. This is also a FREE service, so I don't see why you're complaining.

[Crush Crawfish]

They're both excellent games, but If had to choose one, I'd go with Castlevania, easily. It's easily one of the best games in the series, and the top-screen map is so useful that it's difficult for me to imagine a new castlevania without it.

[MrSmiley381]

I'd say Castlevania, since it's got a pretty sweet weapon system and some damned original bosses. Julius mode is also freaking sweet. Mario Kart is OK for online, but I've always loved Castlevania more.

[boozi2]

Wanted to ask you guys who suggested to him to buy Castlevania. Did any of you guys played Aria of Sorrow before playing this one? I dunno if I should continue playing it before I've beaten Aria of Sorrow....

[MrSmiley381]

Beating Aria is probably a good idea.

[Daniel Thomas]

I don't think it's essential to have played Aria before the new one. You'll probably want to get it anyway, especially when that rumored Harmony/Aria double pack is released.

It's completely unfair to pick between Mario Kart and Castlevania. They're two of the best games on the handheld, and will consume endless hours of your lives. If you asked me earlier, I would have easily said Mario Kart, but since then I've discovered Dawn of Sorrow's excellent Hard Mode, which is as challenging and hard as any of the classic Castlevanias (the trick is to give everything away and begin from scratch).

So, as always, get both.

[Ed Oscuro]

I don't think it's essential to have played Aria before the new one. You'll probably want to get it anyway, especially when that rumored Harmony/Aria double pack is released.
That'll be the 10th.

[2Dskillz]

I think if you have a group of friends that you game with that also have DSes then MarioKart is the way to go.

For solo play choose Castlevania which is really great for anyone with a completist attitude.

Honestly these are the BEST 2 DS games at this point so the decision in no way will be easy.

[le geek]

Well, I went ahead and ordered Castlevania DS...

Thanks for all the advice :)

Cheers,
Ben

[Hypersonic200]

Go with Mario Kart man. It'll keep you occupied for a log time. Trust me, it done it to me and I'm still playing.

[dualfreak1]

i would go with castelevania i never hered of it but i know mario kart retarded 8-)

[hezeuschrist]

i would go with castelevania i never hered of it but i know mario kart retarded 8-)

Man, I wish we had a post of the year competition, because this would be the Resident Evil 4 of 2006!