Talk:Mario Kart: Double Dash/GA2

GA Review

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I'll be doing a thorough review to be completed shortly and post the issues, if any, in the section below. Please note this is my first true GA Review.

It looks done. 108.234.202.13 (talk) 01:13, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

My deepest apologies, I haven't had time to complete the review all week. I promise I will move forward this weekend! Thanks for the patience... :) Salvidrim! 01:17, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

Updated the review; if all issues are fixed it should be a Pass. Salvidrim! 05:07, 29 April 2012 (UTC)

All fixed up. The only remaining thing are the three dead links. I'll look into them tonight if no replacement has been found. Salvidrim! 16:59, 1 May 2012 (UTC)

• All fixed up and it's a Pass. Further prose improvements will be needed before any hope at an FAC, but I feel it meets the GA criterias. :) Salvidrim! 04:23, 2 May 2012 (UTC)

Reviewer: Salvidrim (talk · contribs) 00:29, 16 April 2012 (UTC)

GA-Class criteria

For further detail, see WP:WIAGA

GA review (see here for criteria)

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose): b (MOS):

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable.

   a (references): b (citations to reliable sources): c (OR):

3. It is broad in its coverage.

   a (major aspects): b (focused):

4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

5. It is stable.

   No edit wars, etc.:

6. It is illustrated by images, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free images have fair use rationales): b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

7. Overall:

   Pass/Fail:

Issues found

• It seems this is still under constant improvement and was nominated by SpaceChimp1992, who hadn't previously edited the article. It's probable the nominator believed (wrongly) that the improvement drive was completed. For these reasons, I will put this review On Hold for a few days while the editors working on it (primarily 22dragon22burn & 108.234.202.13) complete the improvements. I will check back periodically to see if they've finished their work. Feel free to ping me on my talk page at any time when you've completed the improvements so this review can be kicked back into gear.

Lede

• It was succeeded by the handheld game Mario Kart DS (2005), the console game Mario Kart Wii (2008) and the handheld game Mario Kart 7 (2011) respectively, and the arcade games in the Mario Kart Arcade GP series. - This sentence seems to have poor structure and is probably superfluous anyways. No need to mention every following game.
• It mentions special items, are these described later in the article?

  Described special items. Acesyksyk09 6:01 pm, Today (UTC−4) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Acesyksyk09 (talk • contribs)

• It doesn't give any overview of the gameplay itself.

Gameplay

This section as a whole feels a lot like an instruction manual, giving details of the gameplay not necessarily crucial to understanding "how the game is played". It jumps right into the explanations of items, powerslides, etc. without taking the time to explain what the game is about; that it is a racing game, that there are items that can be picked up and used to attack or impede the other drivers, etc. The basics! If you had to explain "what this game is about" to someone who had never played a videogame, how would you do it? This is truly the most crippling issue in this article.

Improvements have been made, but I still feel the Gameplay section focuses too much on the actual racing instead of the game's infrastructure; the game modes, specifically, need an explanation of what they are. Grand Prix should theoretically be mentioned first. The Battle Mode paragraph needs heavy restructuring. Mention the return of the battle mode, give a short overview (combat using items around a battle arena, not a race on a track, etc.). Then mention the various types: Balloon-popping, Shine Sprite, Bob-ombs. Separate Time Trials and expand a bit.

Ended up doing the final fixups myself. :)

• Players cannot hold items behind the kart, making it more difficult to block incoming shells. - What do you mean hold items behind the kart? How is that crucial to understanding gameplay?
• No explanation of what a powerslide is.
• The game allows up to four players to compete in battle modes, two in Grand Prix mode, and one in time trials. - What are these modes? See above.
• In addition to the traditional balloon-popping battle game - What is this mode about?
• and their attributes in speed, acceleration, and weight - Odd wording, consider "as well as their speed, acceleration, and weight attributes".
• this mode is only available for 150 cc - What is 150cc? Completely unmentionned before.
• Lakitu reprises his role for the fourth time in the series as the official - "The official"? Precise.
• and taking them back on track with his fishing pole in case they fall off course during the race - them, they; too distant from what they're referencing. Replace the first with a synonym for "player".
• Shy Guys, Goombas, Nokis, Toadsworth, and many more - Wikilink; "and many more" is too imprecise.
• The screen determines the standings in a race, the current speed of the player's kart and incoming weapons. - "The screen" (already a vague term) doesn't determine anything. Are you trying to say it is giving the information to the player? Rephrase using "indicates" or something similar.
• Like the three previous Mario Kart games, players can pick up item boxes - This sentences says that the three previous Mario Kart games could pick up item boxes, which is nonsense. Please rephrase.
• with varying architecture and a constant arsenal of items. - "Constant" doesn't seem appropriate. Perhaps use "endless", or "replenishing". "Architecture" may be a too specific term; "layout" or a synonym may be preferable.
• As in previous installments, the battle arenas are enclosed, - Wait, what battle arenas? Completely unmentioned. Mention it in the part where you will discuss the "Battle Mode".
• The Grand Prix mode has the player race from any engine class–50 cc, 100 cc, 150 cc or "Mirror Mode". - "race from any engine class" doesn't seem to be correct english. Prefer a colon to a dash. Why are "" needed around Mirror Mode? Also wikilink the three classes.
• Other supporting characters included in this game are Shy Guys, Goombas, Nokis, Toadsworth, among others. - Again, wikilink these.

  Nokis (from Super Mario Sunshine) do not have their own article nor do they appear in any subsections in articles for Mario characters. Is it okay if I just wikilink Nokis to the Super Mario Sunshine article? Acesyksyk09 21:09, 30 April 2012 (UTC)

  If no information is available on WP about them, then I question whether it is even relevant to include them. Otherwise send to Super Mario Sunshine#Plot. Salvidrim! 21:28, 30 April 2012 (UTC)

Development

• An online mode for the game was omitted because online infrastructures at the time did not allow rapid-speed gaming to a satisfactory level. - Please explain; the article earlier states that LAN plan is possible.
• The special edition disc also includes digital content that could be transferred to Game Boy Advance title Fire Emblem via Game Link Cable. - Seems to be missing a few words.

Reception

• Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has overall been positively received by reviewers and is commercially successful. - Quite a mouthful...
• The EGM review is not mentioned in the Reception section. It is discouraged to pad the Review table that way.
• Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has been positively received by reviewers overall - Still too wordy. "Mario Kart: Double Dash!! has been received generally favorable reviews" or similar would be better.
• The game placed 63rd in Official Nintendo Magazine's 100 greatest Nintendo games of all time. - Move to the start of the paragraph.

Sources

• MarioWiki is certainly not a reliable source. Please find something else.
• Three dead links, please find replacement sources or update the links.

1. http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19314.htm
2. http://www.gamedaily.com/games/mario-kart-double-dash/gamecube/game-news/united-kingdom-game-stars-awards/362/6150/
3. http://www.vooks.net/modules.php?module=article&id=11059

Images

• The "Double Dash!!", a special racing boost that is exclusive to this game, and can only be used during multiplayer races. - This sentence is not grammatically correct.