So a while ago there was a poll on here asking which MK is the best one (note: BEST one, NOT favorite one.), and it was a very close race between MKDD and MK7, with 7 only barely winning. So that peaked the question, why do so many people believe DD is the best? Whenever I've asked this, the response has always just been "it's awesome cause I say so!" or something along those lines. I even had some friends making the same claim, and again got no real answer as to why they think so. Perhaps they be blinded by nostalgia or something. Regardless, whenever I say MK7 is the best, I back it up with good ol facts, such as it's online being the best in the series, having the uber useful second screen (avoiding blue shells isn't completely impossible!), customizable karts, most balanced items n vehicles, and so ons. That's usually where the conversation ends though as the other person stops responding (gee I wonder why hehe). So thus far, not a single point has been made for DD. If any of you DD enthusiast got any reasonings for me (other than the aforementioned "awesome cuz I say so"), I'd be glad to hear em as atleast then I'll be able to understand where yal are coming from. =)

Well, I enjoyed Double Dash so much as a kid. I just loved the new tracks and jazzy tunes that Mario Kart 64 didn't have. I am one of those who believes that Mario Kart 64 isn't the best Mario Kart although it was great. What I really loved about Double Dash was the double character idea, the specials that have just recently gone missing, the ability to dodge red shells and Spiny shells just by drifting fast enough, and it was just overall a solid game.

The character roster was a huge improvement for the time and something about Mario Kart 7 that troubles me is that Waluwigi has a stage but not a character choice... that's too weird. I still love MK7 but it wasn't as innovative as Double Dash, TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. I know the second screen is great, the para-glider was fantastic, but the item choice was kind of lacking and some physics are just waaaay off. For instance, driving into the grass causes almost immediate slowdown unless you have your "off road" on the max level. I hope they bring back the double kart and specials in the Wii U Mario Kart, which I hope will be named Mario Kart Ultra. That'd be a sweet and fitting name.

Finally a real response! ^_^

Yeah I definitely agree that 64 is not he best of em. Honestly the newer ones are so much better in pretty much everyway. My biggest quip about 64 is it's tracks are so bland. All you're doing much of the time is holding down the A button and not much else. Even in the newer games, I'm not a fan of playing most N64 tracks, though they're made a bit better with coins, tricks, gliding n such adding more depth to the tracks and increasing player input. But anywho, let's get back to DD! 

The double character thing is the games gimmick, much like gliding n underwater portions are in MK7. They don't really change the core gameplay much if at all (which is definitely a good thing) and are really just there to differentiate the game from others in the series. Basically they don't help any one MK be better or worse than another. No specials yes, though honestly I say this helps balance the game, but regardless MK7 has many other features that more than make up for this (customizable karts, online). I suppose it's kinda kewl that you can dodge red shells like that, though there are ways to avoid them in MK7 too, but they're easy enough to block just by holding an item behind you. It's way more important that you can avoid blue shells thanks to the second screen showing you when someone has one so you can temporarily drop back into second. And yeah every MK is a solid game. :P

Yeah idk what Nintendo was thinking with the character roster, but honestly it's not that big of a deal. They could be stick figures and the game would still have the same great gameplay. And when you say innovative, what do you mean exactly? Hopefully not just having a new feature first that the new versions still have. :P 

What's the item selection missing asside from super op junk? Has all the trademark MK items along with new, balanced ones. Pyshics are something that just has to be gotten used to as it varies from game to game, sometimes even from games of the same series. You shouldn't need to go off road too often, and it kinda has to slow you down instantly otherwise a lotta shortcuts would be too easily accessed.

Mario Kart U (which is likely to be it's name unfortunately), could easily be the best one yet! Can't wait to see what it looks like!

It's the double-driver mechanic. I don't think it was just a gimmick; I think it was a pure improvement of the gameplay that shouldn't have been removed. When change doesn't turn into progress you're doing it just to do it.

Well, a few things. Regarding specials, I totally respect your opinions but I think that specials added life and strategy to the game. Instead of everybody gaining access to fireballs in MK7 only Mario or Luigi could do it. Everybody was special in some way. I don't want to be some edited model that can do everything any other character can do.Variety is needed in a game like MK.

The item roster is something that I think could have just been handled better. The fake boxes are gone, the Spiny is unfair. Even if you go off the stage it still hits you. I don't know how you can evade spinys in that game because I have yet to do so. And that telephone sound makes me mad everytime I hear it. Beep beep beep beep... BOOM! Every single second.

As for the Physics of the game, they are really sleak on road but I don't think that taking a shortcut should require you to stop accelerating instantly. Its like when I try to take a cut I end up being in the same place that I was. By DD being innovative I mean that it was a huge leap over MK64. MK7 has new features but its more like a portable MKWii. I guess that isn't innovation then. Probably just a greater leap in gameplay and graphics between 64 and DD than Wii and 7.

Ppl voted for DD in attempts to be hipsters. Only cause it's different and not considered a success. Know what I mean? ''DD is considered to be a failure, but that's because the mainstream folks can't understand it's appeal but I do''

How exactly did it improve gameplay, and how does that outweigh MK7's advantages?

Actually I genuinely like it the most.

@OP  To me it is my favorite because I really liked the special items you could get with each character.  You could add a little strategy by picking two characters together with different unique items.  Also certain Karts worked better with certain characters so it also put a little strategy with who drives and who shoots.  Not to mention punching people beside you and stealing their items.

EDIT:  MK7 would be a close 1st with Double Dash in my opinion.  I really enjoyed MK7 as well.

Some characters specials were better than others no? I feel balance is more important as it puts more emphasis on skill and I'd say it's more fun for everyone when you can use your favorite character without worrying about him being inferior, and there's plenty of variety still through kart customization.

You sound like you want every single MK item in exsistence in one game lol. That just can't happen. Every MK game has items others don't, so you can't say any one MK is inferior cause it's missing X item as they're all like that. Like I said before, you can see when someone has a blue shell on the bottom screen, therefore you can temporarily drop back into second to avoid it. And atleast that sound doesn't go off half as much as it does in the Wii game. :L

Only some short cuts reduce your time without going through them with a mushroom, And we're talking which MK overall is the best, not just for it's time. so that definition of innovation doesn't really mean anything here.

Best local multi-player, which is the reason I play Mario Kart.

I liked Wii's online features, I thought they were a great step forward, but my friends & I still break out Double Dash and play All Cup Tour whenever we're hanging out. It's stood the test of time for us.

It's also easier to introduce other people to playing; they can ride as the second driver and only do the courses they like, or be in charge of weapons the whole time if they want to and still feel useful.

It has the worst rainbow road track, but otherwise I don't really have any problems with it.

The "hipster" quip a few above this post gave me a big chuckle, though. I'm going to believe he said it as a joke, because it doesn't really make much sense as an actual serious comment.