Mario Kart DS: Difference between revisions

* {{button|ds|Pad}} - Move  

* {{button|ds|A}} - Make Selection

* {{button|ds|B}} - Go Back One Screen

* {{button|ds|Stylus}} - Tap Selection

* {{button|ds|A}} - Accelerate/[[Rocket Start]] (hold at 2 during the countdown before the race starts)

* {{button|ds|B}} - Brake/Reverse

* {{button|ds|L}}/{{button|ds|X}} - Use current Item/Stop Item Roulette

* {{button|ds|R}} - Hop/Powerslide/[[Drift]] (Hold)/[[Mini-Turbo]] (Release)

* {{button|ds|Stylus}}/{{button|ds|Y}} - Change Map View (does not work in Mission Mode)

* {{button|ds|start}} - Pause/Resume Game

* {{button|ds|select}} - Blow [[Balloon]] ([[Mario Kart (series)#Balloon Battle|Balloon Battle]]), Toggle arrows/mushrooms on/off ([[Mario Kart (series)#Time Trial|Time Trial]])

* {{button|ds|mic}} - Blow Balloon (Balloon Battle)

The classic battle mode seen in all ''Mario Kart'' mainstream, gets a new twist in ''Mario Kart DS''. From previous games, racers begin a match with three balloons. In this game, however, all players begin with a single balloon, though they can get more by blowing up their balloons using the [[Nintendo DS Microphone|microphone]] feature on the DS, or just holding the {{button|ds|select}} button. Each player has four balloons in stock (five in total) and racers can hold up to three balloons in battle. On the other hand, the less balloons a player has, the more powerful items will obtain from the Item Boxes. Racers may also take possession of a balloon from their opponents if the thief has used a [[mushroom]] and made contact to the opponent's kart. If the player loses all their balloons they are eliminated.

*Driving backwards - players must use the {{button|ds|B}} button to move, and directions on the D-pad are reversed. It is sometimes combined with other mission types.

Throughout the entire series, the '''[[Rocket Start]]''' allows racers to give them an extra boost of speed and get a head start when a race begins. To activate the technique for this installment, players should stay at the starting line and wait for the countdown to hit two. When it does reach that number and when it starts to fade, players should hold the {{button|ds|A}} button to rev up the kart's engine. When ''START'' appears on the race screen, the kart receives a small boost of speed out of the starting line, which is a very helpful move to get first place early on in a race. But, there is a risk to this move. If players fail to succeed, and holds the same button after the final beep, the kart's engine dies out, and takes a few seconds to get back up to normal speed. If the player holds the {{button|ds|A}} after the second "ding" sound is heard and end, the player can get a boost that is a little faster than the normal small boost.  

In the entire ''Mario Kart'' series, players '''drift''' by holding the {{button|ds|R}} button on a turn. Gray wisps come out of their kart as they turn around corners, possibly tighter or better than normal turning.

The next step up is '''powersliding'''. While drifting, players can move the D-pad to the right, left, and vice versa to produce sparks behind the kart. If done correctly, the sparks change their colors and intensity from blue to orange on each alternated move. After the sparks turn orange, the player releases the {{button|ds|R}} button to stop drifting and release a brief [[Mini-Turbo]] after powersliding.

To perform this glitch the player must pick the [[Luigi's Mansion (place)|Luigi's Mansion]] track in any mode. Once the race starts, the player must then park their character on the stairs at the entrance of the mansion. After that, hold down both {{button|ds|A}} and {{button|ds|B}} to drift in place. If the player tries to turn, the game will freeze. This works with any character and kart.