Early Mario Kart DS reviews are popping up, and they look extrememly positive.
IGN gives the game a 9.5/10, saying:
The only way to finish this review is just to say it: this is the greatest Mario Kart game ever developed, and is without a doubt the best DS game of 2005.
1UP gives a slightly more conservative score of 9.0/10, noting:
Everything about MKDS comes together into a surprisingly compelling package, a portable racing game on par with anything ever to appear on a console. Even for a skeptic like me. Like the victor of a tough kart race, MKDS has come from behind against steep odds to snatch the gold from the clutches of cynicism.
Does this make Mario Kart DS the must have title for Christmas, or can you wait that long?
[Thanks J B]