Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart DS
Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Platform: Nintendo DS Released in JP: December 8, 2005 Released in US: November 14, 2005 Released in EU: November 25, 2005 Released in AU: November 17, 2005 This game has unused areas. This game has hidden development-related text. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused models. This game has unused music. This game has regional differences. This game has a notes page This game has a prototype article This game has a bugs page This game has a prerelease article

Mario Kart DS is one of the most popular games on the DS as well as one of the best selling Mario Kart games of all the time. It's also the Mario Kart game that introduced the Retro Grand Prix, which has since become a series staple.

To do: A number of unused objects and an unused Shy Guy model.

Unused Tracks

To do: Add videos with textured tracks.

There are a total of ten unused tracks in the game. The most of them have missing textures because they are located in the model file while the normal tracks' textures are in a separate file. All tracks from the early Kiosk Demo Version also have the textures in the model file, so this is most likely the reason for the missing textures. However, they can be brought back with some hex editing or ROM Hacking.

GCN Mario Circuit

A remake of the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! course that didn't make the final cut, although it was later featured in Mario Kart Wii. It can be easily navigated if you've ever played Double Dash!!, though.

To access it, use Action Replay code 023cdcd8 00000002 020484a0 d0002a00 020484a4 e0052321.

Nokonoko Course

An unused beach-type track with a shortcut. Judging by its title ("Noko Noko" being the Japanese name for "Koopa"), it was probably some sort of Koopa Beach track.

There is also a Goomba on the track. It shows up on the lower screen as a 2, and is missing a frame of its animation.

The game crashes if you drive off the course into what should be water. By following the AI racers, you should be able to avoid any lockups.

To access it, use Action Replay code 023cdcd8 00000008 020484a0 d0002a00 020484a4 e0052321.

Dokan Course

(see here for the prototype video)

Dokan Course

A large, buggy floating track with loopy pipes where falling off crashes the game. Chances are it was scrapped because it can get a little funky when looping around in the pipes.

To access it, use Action Replay 020484a0 d0002a00 020484a4 e0052321 023cdcd8 00000004.

Test Circle

(see here for the prototype video)

An extremely small course used for testing, with only one lap and a single item box. To access it, use the Action Replay code 023cdcd8 00000015 020484a0 d0002a00 020484a4 e0052321.

Mini Block Course (Block City)

Block City

A remake of the Block City battle course from Double Dash!! that was never finished. Only the main model is present, while objects such as blocks all over the map are missing. It was likely replaced by Pipe Plaza.

Strangely, there's a Mission Mode script where the player must fight against Big Bully on this map by pushing him into a hole.

Luigi Course

Luigi Course

A VERY early version of Waluigi Pinball. It looks more like a testing track and was probably never going to be finished. It has no item boxes and the cannon is only a slope with boost pads. Near the end, where all the bounds and flippers are located, there's a passage where the player can go under the pinball machine. The flippers themselves also look different and have less details.

To access it, use Action Replay code 023cdcd8 00000003 020484a0 d0002a00 020484a4 e0052321. However, it crashes on the actual hardware, when using this cheat code, but it works, when replacing an used course with it.

Test1 Course

File:MarioKartDS-Test1course.PNG

A course that doesn't load because of a missing object file. When fixed, it appears to be a debug track to test animated objects such as the moving bridge in Delfino Square and the rotating gears in Tick Tock Clock. It could have also been used to test collision stuff. However, the original 3D model is missing and was replaced with a prototype version of the Rainbow Road model.

The track layout is like a circle with some imperfections and the player needs to follow the AI to complete the race.

If you know how to hack the game to add the missing object file, use this Action Replay code to access the course 023cdcd8 00000005 020484a0 d0002a00 020484a4 e0052321.

Donkey Course (Waluigi Pinball)

Slot machine on the ground.

Another very early version of Waluigi Pinball, although this one is much closer to the final track. The name of the file, donkey_course, is probably a mistake since in the kiosk version "donkey_course" is an early version of DK Pass, which makes sense. The slot machine near the end is a part of the course where the player can drive over and get a speed boost. Also, the jump where the ball falls off the road is replaced by a normal road with some boost pads.

To access it, use Action Replay code 023cdcd8 00000006 020484a0 d0002a00 020484a4 e0052321. Like Luigi Course, it crashes on the actual hardware, when using this cheat code, but it works, when replacing an used course with it.

mr_stage4 (earlier Wiggler race)

A duplicate of GCN Mushroom Bridge. It was meant to be used for mission 7-Boss with Wiggler, but the game uses the normal course, so mr_stage4 goes unused, and plus, it contains an earlier version of the mission. The differences are the following:

• Unfinished intro
• Cars and Wiggler have no sound
• Different starting place
• Wiggler doesn't move
• The route, Wiggler should go, is only for one lap. The final uses 3
• The car uses an earlier model, which is used in the Mario Kart DS Kiosk Beta
• Itemboxes are different
• The trucks does not contain Itemboxes
• The course uses the boss theme for missions, while the final uses the original course music
• When driving the course in Grand Prix or Versus, the CPU drivers won't drive

Wario Course

A replica of Wario Stadium, taking place during a rain shower. The rain is like that on GBA Luigi Circuit, and was most likely removed because it looks really odd in some places. Besides that, the only other differences are the lack of fireballs and the differently placed item boxes.

To access it, use Action Replay code 023cdcd8 00000007 020484a0 d0002a00 020484a4 e0052321.

Unused Camera Sequences

To do: There are more.

Luigi's Mansion

A view from the moon and the front side of the mansion, that was replaced by a view through the door.

DK Pass

This sequence is similar to the original sequence, but it has a different angle and was replaced by a more interesting view.

Early Characters

Daisy

Early	Final

An early version of Daisy's CPU model. Her head and arms were slightly changed.

Shy Guy

Shy Guy also has an early CPU model. There is also a copy of Yoshi's model in the same folder, most likely used as a placeholder.

The same model can also be found in the early Kiosk Demo Version.

Unused Karts

Two unused karts can be found in the game. The first is a Wario-themed kart with a mouth. The second is a pink Yoshi egg, which could have been intended for Birdo. Both of these karts are found in KartModelMain.carc. The Wario kart is kart_WR_b.nsbmd, and the Yoshi kart can be found as both kart_HH_b.nsbmd and kart_YS_b.nsbmd.

Unused Graphics

To do: There are more.

Early Question Mark

An early version of the question mark for the itembox. However, the texture is inside of the itembox model, but it uses a separate texture, so it goes unused. It can be seen in early screenshots.

Early Team Emblems

Two early versions of the red and blue team emblem from the Battle Mode.

Shy Guy character icon

A character selection icon for Shy Guy exists in the game, but Shy Guy is exclusive to DS Download play.

However, you can see this icon by using Action Replay code 023CDD40 0000000C to force Player 1 to be Shy Guy and getting a Grand Prix or Time Trial record.

No icon for the "Standard SG" kart exists, however.

Debug Font

Most likely used for debugging purposes and such while the game was still in development.

Multiplayer Select Game

There is an unused graphic of the multiplayer select game screen, with only 2 cells, called select_game_m_single

GCN Mario Circuit Tree

An unused tree, most likely intended to appear on the unused GCN Mario Circuit track.

Prototype Emblems

The prototype karts' texture files contain some early designs for emblems. Most of them are numbers. They were shown in some early screenshots of the game. It's unknown if these emblems are just placeholders or if they were going to be in the final version.

Build Date

There is a file named BUILDDATE in the //data/boot/ folder, which contains the date and time the game was compiled:

Europe	US	Japan	Korea
Build: 2005 10/8(Sat) 23:05:54	Build: 2005 10/8(Sat) 23:09:34	Build: 2005 10/17(Mon) 20:12:19	Build: 2007 2/21(Wed) 19:59:37

Unused Menu Music

There is an unused song for a main menu stored in the game, called SSEQ_0005. It is one track away from the records screen, so it was probably intended there. It has a resemblance to the Wi-Fi menu theme, and emblem creator theme too.

To hear this song on the title screen, use Action Replay code 121DB4A4 000001B0 (US).

Hidden Graphics

The Paratroopa shaped building in Baby Park cannot normally be seen on the touch screen map because it is too far out of bounds. By using cheats to fly out of bounds, however, it can be seen.

Memory Filler

To do: Check, if this is really unused. The staff ghosts also contains this ASCII art for kart symbols

Mario Kart DS seems to pad out certain parts of memory with repeated instances of cute ASCII art which depicts Mario from Super Mario Bros.

     UUUUU      
     UUUUU      
    UUUUUUUUU   
    UUUUUUUUU   
    DDD..D.     
    DDD..D.     
   D.D...D...   
   D.D...D...   
   D.DD...D...  
   D DD...D...  
   DD....DDDD   
   DD....DDDD   
     .......    
     .......    
    DDUDDD      
    DDUDDD      
   DDDUDDUDDD   
   DDDUDDUDDD   
  DDDDUUUUDDDD  
  DDDDUUUUDDDD  
  ..DU.UU.UD..  
  ..DU.UU.UD..  
  ...UUUUUU...  
  ...UUUUUU...  
  ..UUUUUUUU..  
  ..UUUUUUUU..  
    UUU  UUU    
    UUU  UUU    
   DDD    DDD   
   DDD    DDD  
  DDDD    DDDD  

Regional Differences

Main Menu

NA	Japan

Wi-Fi mode is labeled as "Nintendo WFC" in the North American one and "Wi-Fi" in the Japanese version.

R.O.B.

The most blatant regional differences involve R.O.B.

NA	Japan

In the North American version, R.O.B. is colored dark grey (the general color of the NES), while in the Japanese version he is white and red (the colors of the Family Computer). Additionally, he is called HVC-012 in the Japanese version.

NA	Japan

The ROB-LGS kart was similarly recolored.

NA	Japan

...As were his icons.

NA	Japan

The title screen that appears after you beat the game was also changed. It's worth noting, however, that these changes aren't actually a direct replacement of any files - viewing a Time Trial ghost replay or playing multiplayer with a different version of the game will allow you to see both R.O.B. and HVC-012 at the same time. This is most apparent when viewing/racing a staff ghost using HVC-012 in the international versions of the game.

Course Names

Some tracks and karts have different names depending on the region. Retro courses keep their original localised names in each region.

English-Speaking Countries	Japan
Figure-8 Circuit	Eight-Cross Circuit
Cheep Cheep Beach	Pukupuku Beach
Luigi's Mansion	Luigi Mansion
Desert Hills	Sun Sun Desert
Delfino Square	Monte Town
Shroom Ridge	Kinoko Ridgeway
DK Pass	DK Snow Mountain
Airship Fortress	Killer Ship
Peach Gardens	Peach Garden
Bowser Castle	Koopa Castle
Palm Shore	Southern Reef
Tart Top	Sweet Tart

Kart Names

English-Speaking Countries	Japan
B Dasher	B Dash
Poltergust 4000	Ovacuum
Streamliner	Steamline
Royale	Peerless
Light Tripper	Light Step PC
Mushmellow	Mush
Standard TD	Standard KO
Rambi Rider	Jungle Cargo
Brute	Brutal
Standard BW	Standard KP
Power Flower	Flowery
Light Dancer	Light Step DS
Banisher	Banish
Standard DB	Standard KA
Dry Bomber	Karon Cannon
Zipper	Tripper
ROB-BLS	HVC-BLS
ROB-LGS	HVC-LGS

(Source: The Mushroom Kingdom)