TheMario Kartfranchise has come a long way since its original debut in 1992, and while some entries may be a bit forgettable, others, likeMario Kart: Double Dash, stand out among the rest. Originally released on the Nintendo GameCube in 2003,Double Dashis known for being one of the most iconicMario Kartsin the series, primarily due to its unique tandem-style racing.
Rather than selecting a single rider for the kart,Double Dashrequires players tochoose two unique characters who work together to operate the kart. With one focused on driving and the other on items, a unique co-op opportunity never seen in the franchise was suddenly possible. However, according to a recently translated 2003 interview originally featured inNintendo Dream Magazine, it almost didn’t happen.
Unsure About How This New Mechanic Would Be Received, A Plan B Was Created
In theNintendo Dreaminterview, available in translation viaschmuplations, Chief Director Kiyoshi Mizuki and producers Tadashi Sugiyama and Shinya Takahashi shared thatthe team forDouble Dashwas looking to do something exciting and new with the fourthMario Kart,which led to the idea of having two riders. AlthoughMario Kartfans had come to expect quirky gimmicks from the franchise, this tandem racing style was so different from anything Mario Kart had done up to this point that there was no way to know for sure if it was going one step too far.
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For this reason,a single-rider version of the fourthMario Kartentry was being developed in parallel with the two-rider versionthat we know today. Despite initial concerns, however, the single-rider version was eventually set aside while the team placed sole focus on the two-rider version, looking to fulfill that desire to do something innovative and different. This turned out to be a spectacular move on their part, as this unique feature is what has ledDouble Dashto be so memorable, even 22 years later.
Double Dash’s Core Mechanic Set It Apart
Tandem Racing Opened Up Opportunities That Would’ve Otherwise Never Been Possible
The first and most obvious aspect of the tandem racing mechanic is thattwo characters, and two players, can operate the same vehicle. This provided a unique opportunity for parents of young children to get their kids in on the fun, even if they were typically too young for games otherwise. The simplistic controls of throwing items without having to focus on any of the driving allowed young kids to ride on the back of a parent’s kart and enjoy the game with them.
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That being said, the two-rider mechanic is much more than a surface-level change.This change had a trickle effect on other aspects of the game that led to an overall unique experience. Despite the fact that the characters were originally designed as pre-set teams, the development team eventually landed on the decision to allow freedom to mix and match. While this may not seem important, given that stats had been shifted from being centered on characters to being centered on karts anyway, there were nowunique items specific to each character that could be combined to create powerful matchups.
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Creating these two character teams was now the most important decision you could make inDouble Dashand allowed for an insurmountable amount of chaos. Rather than being stuck with a pair that would offer you the same item, players have the option to choose just one of two characters from a set. If you’re playing with someone else, you’re able to both access the same unique item by picking each half of a team, like Mario and Luigi, while also having a secondary character with a different item.
This effect trickling into other aspects of the game completely changed the typical strategic approach toMario Kartand provided afun newMario Kartgamefor both pros and beginners to enjoy. WhileMario Karthas since offered a variety of other new features in its more recent games, none of them had quite the same shake-up effect thatDouble Dashdid on the franchise.
Mario Kart Would Be Stale Without Unique Gimmicks
Mario Kart Is More Than Just A Racing Game
While some might argue that the amount ofgimmicks and changes toMario Kartruin the game rather than improve it, it’s important to remember thatMario Karthas never been just a racing game. Although more traditional racing games are focused on building the fastest cards or looking for the quickest shortcuts,Mario Karthas always been first and foremost about its strange gimmicks and utter chaos.
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A shortcut inMario Kartmight not be faster, Dash Panels may slow you down, and your items could even come back to bite you. All of these things add to the charm of theMario Kartseriesand create new and interesting ways for players to figure out how to gain the advantage in each game. Having the fastest car doesn’t guarantee you a win, and someone in last place could shoot to first with the use of a few strategic items.
The chaos is what makesMario Kartwhat it is. Both Nintendo and the players know this, which is whythese games will likely continue to push the boundaries of what a racing game can be, as is evidenced in the recent trailers forthe upcomingMario Kart World, a Nintendo Switch 2 debut. Perhaps we could even see the return of the iconic tandem racing feature fromDouble Dashin a futureMario Kartagain one day, with bigger and better ideas to go alongside it.
