Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS
There are a few unused graphics stored in the game:
• An early question mark for the fake item box.
• A very basic white-colored debug font.
• A GCN Mario Circuit tree, most likely intended to appear on the unused GCN Mario Circuit track.
• A multiplayer select screen with only two cells, called select_game_m_single.
• Shy Guy character icons with nine color variations. This was likely left out because Shy Guy is exclusive to DS Download play and cannot normally be selected as a character.
Contributed by MeleeWaluigi
In the demo, Donkey Kong was simply called "DK" while in the final game he is called "Donkey Kong".
Contributed by MeleeWaluigi
If the game is played on an original DS console, Mario will say "Wahoo" on the opening screen. But if played on a DS Lite console or later, Mario says "Here we go!" instead.
Contributed by jllmprrt
The kiosk demo's retro cups were named SNES, N64, GBA and GCN cup, and they only featured the courses from the corresponding consoles.
Contributed by noobheadz
Proffesor E. Gadd was planned to be a playable character in the game, but was replaced with Dry Bones.
Contributed by noobheadz
Attachment
Even though the Chain Chomp item, which appeared in previous Mario Kart releases, was replaced with the Bullet Bill, it still appears in the item roulette animation. There is also an unused Purple Koopa Shell.
Contributed by noobheadz
Attachment
In the kiosk demo prototype version of the game, almost all of the item roulette icons were either redrawn or resized. Additionally, some of the icons were reused from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.
Contributed by GamerBen144
Attachment
A kiosk demo prototype version of the game had a blue background on the title screen, rather than a blue and white background. The logo was also changed, and there is no copyright information at the bottom.
Contributed by GamerBen144
Attachment
Bowser's Shell was originally going to be an item in Mario Kart DS, but it didn't make the cut. However, its sprite can be found within the game's files.
Contributed by CookiesnCreamer
An unused version of Waluigi Pinball can be found in the game's code under the name "luigi_course" hinting that the track may have been originally planned to be based on Luigi rather than Waluigi.
Contributed by Boyobmas
All of the mission mode bosses within the game are from Super Mario 64 DS.
Contributed by CuriousUserX90
Mario Kart DS seems to pad certain parts of memory with repeated instances of ASCII art of Mario from Super Mario Bros.
Contributed by Boyobmas
Attachment
ROB is the first non-Mario character to appear in the Mario Kart series. In the Japanese release, he is red and white (like the Famicom), whilst in international releases he is dark grey (like the NES). His kart is similarly recolored.
Contributed by CuriousUserX90
The "Airship Fortress" track is called "Killer Ship" in the Japanese release.
Contributed by Mawille
Shy Guy has a select icon which is unused because he is exclusive to DS Download play.
Contributed by pyoro64
Wario has a fourth kart design but it goes unused.
Contributed by pyoro64
Attachment
It's possible Birdo was originally considered as a playable character. A pink version of Yoshi's Egg 1 kart was found in the game's data, a possible reference to Birdo's pink eggs.
Contributed by SamManSam
There are nine unused tracks in the game. There is an unfinished GCN Mario Circuit, two Waluigi Pinball beta courses, an unused battle track, four test courses, and an unused Wario Stadium replica.
Contributed by pyoro64