all time favorite video game 4

4. Mario Kart: Double Dash (GC)
When Nintendo announced they were going to change the beloved Mario Kart formula players everywhere cried foul. As one of the most recognized Nintendo franchise, the pattern of a single driver in a single kart was known to players of the previous Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart: 64 and several Mario Kart Gameboy iteration. Double Dash changed all that. Racers now had to select a team for their kart.
The trick to selecting characters ended up to be mostly a novelty (in my vast experience) as you could only select a kart that fit the larger of the two characters. As this was the case, heavy characters were chose less and less until finally disappearing. Then the same happened with the medium characters. Having played this game over and over for years with many friends the same phenomena occurs--the eight small characters are argued about and everyone uses the same generic kart. It wasn't that you necessarily liked those character the best, they were just the only way to counter another team of small characters. The multiplayer battle arenas also lacked a certain something.
That being my only qualm with the game, let's get into what got the game this far on the countdown. Fun. Lots of lots of fun. A wide range of tracks (16 of em!) and the ability to change drivers on the fly allowed for many memorable moments with blazing speed and photo finishes. The miniature Baby Park was so small it required 7 laps, street racing style, to finish. Others, like the behemoth Wario Colosseum, demanded only two laps as it was so large.
The main reason I liked this game were the tournaments we used to play with it. Everything from wins and losses to points, from laps led to driving blindfolded, from passing the controller on each lap to each person using one of the two characters on the track. I must have played this game a 1,000 times in my life. I never thought that it would eclipse Mario Kart: 64, but alas the day finally came. I believe eventually this will be passed by Mario Kart: Wii, but for now that day has not yet come.

So there it is, the highest ranked game featuring Mario or any of his clan. The Mario umbrella of franchises (Kart, Golf, Tennis, Smash Bros, etc.) is a remarkably recognized and worthy icon. I wonder how many hours of my life featured a little red plumber on the screen? So long Mario, but on to the top three!

UP NEXT: The final Gamecube game on the countdown comes in at number three. You may ask yourself which is better--a chicken egg or a delicious bass? Any guesses? See you tomorrow!