Wi-Fi puts 'Mario Kart DS' into a new realm.(Product/Service Evaluation)

Byline: Jim Schaefer

"Mario Kart DS." Price: $34.99. Players: 1, or 4-8 with wireless play. Web site: www.mariokart.com/mkds/launch/index.html. Format: Nintendo DS. Category: Racing. Rating: E (everyone). Three stars (out of four).

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Man, I'll tell you. In a perfect Wi-Fi world, "Mario Kart DS" would be a perfect game.

But there are Internet slowdowns. And connection problems. And goofballs dumping out of races if they see they're about to lose. Plus _ geez! _ I had to go to McDonald's twice to play online. The connection was free, but that Sausage McMuffin was probably costly to my physical well-being.

Thank goodness, though, …