Releases

The two versions compared on this page:

Region Title Release date Platform
Japan マリオカートDS
Mario Kart DS
12/8/2005 Nintendo DS
USA Mario Kart DS 11/14/2005 Nintendo DS

Title screen

The standard title screen only has two major differences. On the top screen, the Japanese title logo has "Mario Kart" in katakana to the left of the motion lines. On the bottom screen, the "Nintendo WFC" option is simply called "Wi-Fi" in the Japanese version.

Japanese versionU.S. version

R.O.B.

R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy) debuted as a controller for the NES in 1985. In Japan, his color scheme matched the white and red Famicom (Japan's version of the NES). To match the NES in America, he was colored light- and dark-gray. As seen in the following comparisons, the Mario Kart DS designers made sure R.O.B. had the correct colors for each region.

R.O.B. is called "Family Computer Robot" in Japan, but in the Japanese Mario Kart DS, he's named after his product ID: "HVC-012."

Japanese versionU.S. version

Seen above is the ROB-BLS kart, which is based on R.O.B.'s Stack-Up accessory. Seen below, R.O.B. finally gets a pair of legs when he drives the ROB-LGS.

Japanese versionU.S. version

The designers also took the time to change R.O.B.'s icons. Here's a close-up of his character select icon:

JapanU.S.

R.O.B.'s standings list icon:

JapanU.S.

R.O.B.'s map position icon:

JapanU.S.

R.O.B.'s icon used on results screens:

JapanU.S.

Even the alternate title screen has a darker-colored R.O.B. for America.

Japanese versionU.S. version

Characters

Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
マリオMarioMarioMario
ルイージRuījiLuigiLuigi
ピーチPīchiPeachPeach
ヨッシーYosshīYoshiYoshi
キノピオKinopioKinopioToad
ドンキーコングDonkī KonguDonkey KongDonkey Kong
ワリオWarioWarioWario
クッパKuppaKoopaBowser
デイジーDeijīDaisyDaisy
カロンKaronKaronDry Bones
ワルイージWaruījiWaluigiWaluigi
HVC-012HVC-012HVC-012R.O.B.
ヘイホーHeihōHeihōShy Guy

Enemies

The enemies, hazards, and bosses that were named in the Mission mode are listed below.

Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
ワンワンWanwanWanwanChain Chomp
プクプクPukupukuPukupukuCheep Cheep
クリボーKuribōKuribōGoomba
チョロプーChoropūChoropūMonty Mole
サンボSanboSanboPokey
プーRocky Wrench
ドッスンDossunDossunThwomp
Bosses
ボムキングBomu KinguBomb KingBig Bob-omb
ボスどんけつBosu DonketsuBoss DonketsuBig Bully
キングアイスどんけつKingu Aisu DonketsuKing Ice DonketsuChief Chilly
イワンテIwanteIwanteEyerock
クリキングKuri KinguKuri KingGoomboss
キングテレサKingu TeresaKing TeresaKing Boo
ハナチャンHanachanHana-chanWiggler
Notes
  • Big Bully and Chief Chilly: Donketsu means "lowest rank."
  • Chain Chomp: Wanwan is equivalent to "bow-wow."
  • Cheep Cheep: "Pukupuku" is derived from bukubuku (bubbling sound).
  • Goomboss: "Kuri" comes from "Kuribō," the Japanese name for Goombas.
  • King Boo: "Teresa" comes from the Japanese verb tereru, which means "to be shy."
  • Thwomp: "Dossun" is from dosun, a "whomp" noise.
  • Wiggler: Hana means "flower."

Items

Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
バナナBananaBananaBanana
ゲッソーGessōGessōBlooper
ボムへいBomuheiBomb SoldierBob-omb
テレサTeresaTeresaBoo
キラーKirāKillerBullet Bill
パワフルキノコPawafuru KinokoPowerful MushroomGolden Mushroom
ミドリこうらMidori KōraGreen ShellGreen Shell
にせアイテムボックスNise Aitemu BokkusuFake Item BoxFake Item Box
サンダーSandāThunderLightning
キノコKinokoMushroomMushroom
アカこうらAka KōraRed ShellRed Shell
トゲゾーこうらTogezō KōraSpiny ShellSpiny Shell
スターSutāStarStar
トリプルバナナToripuru BananaTriple BananasTriple Bananas
トリプルミドリこうらToripuru Midori KōraTriple Green ShellsTriple Green Shells
トリプルキノコToripuru KinokoTriple MushroomsTriple Mushrooms
トリプルアカこうらToripuru Aka KōraTriple Red ShellsTriple Red Shells
Notes
  • Blooper: "Gessō" is from geso (squid tentacles).
  • Boo: "Teresa" comes from the Japanese verb tereru, which means "to be shy."

Karts

Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
BダッシュB DasshuB DashB Dasher
スタンダードMRSutandādo MRStandard MRStandard MR
シューティング・スターShūtingu SutāShooting StarShooting Star
オバキュームObakyūmuObakyūmuPoltergust 4000
スタンダードLGSutandādo LGStandard LGStandard LG
ストリームラインSutorīmurainStreamlineStreamliner
ピアレスPiaresuPeerlessRoyale
スタンダードPCSutandādo PCStandard PCStandard PC
ライトステップ PCRaito Suteppu PCLight Step PCLight Tripper
エッグ・ワンEggu WanEgg 1Egg 1
スタンダードYSSutandādo YSStandard YSStandard YS
キューカンバーKyūkanbāCucumberCucumber
マッシュMasshuMushMushmellow
スタンダードKOSutandādo KOStandard KOStandard TD
フォー・ホイール・クレイドルFō Hoīru Kureidoru4-Wheel Cradle4-Wheel Cradle
ジャングルカーゴJanguru KāgoJungle CargoRambi Rider
スタンダードDKSutandādo DKStandard DKStandard DK
ワイルドライフWairudo RaifuWildlifeWildlife
ブルータルBurūtaruBrutalBrute
スタンダードWRSutandādo WRStandard WRStandard WR
ドラゴンフライDoragon FuraiDragonflyDragonfly
タイラントTairantoTyrantTyrant
スタンダードKPSutandādo KPStandard KPStandard BW
ハリケーンHarikēnHurricaneHurricane
フラウリィFuraurīFloweryPower Flower
スタンダードDSSutandādo DSStandard DSStandard DS
ライトステップ DSRaito Suteppu DSLight Step DSLight Dancer
バニッシュBanisshuBanishBanisher
スタンダードKASutandādo KAStandard KAStandard DB
カロン・カノンKaron KanonKaron CannonDry Bomber
ゴールド・マンティスGōrudo MantisuGold MantisGold Mantis
スタンダードWLSutandādo WLStandard WLStandard WL
トリッパーTorippāTripperZipper
HVC-BLSHVC-BLSHVC-BLSROB-BLS
スタンダードRBSutandādo RBStandard RBStandard RB
HVC-LGSHVC-LGSHVC-LGSROB-LGS
Notes
  • The abbreviations for some "Standard" karts changed along with the character names: KO (Kinopio) to TD (Toad); KP (Koopa) to BW (Bowser); KA (Karon) to DB (Dry Bones).
  • Poltergust 4000: "Obakyūmu" is a play on words, combining obake (ghost) and bakyūmu (vacuum). In Luigi's Mansion, "Obakyūmu" is the Poltergust 3000.
  • R.O.B. karts: HVC-BLS is the product code for the Japanese version of Stack-Up (Family Computer Robot: Block Set). HVC-LGS appears to be a new creation for Mario Kart DS.

Cups & courses

Cups
Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
キノコカップKinoko KappuMushroom CupMushroom Cup
フラワーカップFurawā KappuFlower CupFlower Cup
スターカップSutā KappuStar CupStar Cup
スペシャルカップSupesharu KappuSpecial CupSpecial Cup
こうらカップKōra KappuShell CupShell Cup
バナナカップBanana KappuBanana CupBanana Cup
このはカップKonoha KappuLeaf CupLeaf Cup
サンダーカップSandā KappuThunder CupLightning Cup
Courses
Japanese English
Name Rōmaji Translation Name
Mushroom Cup
エイトクロスサーキットEito Kurosu SākittoEight-Cross CircuitFigure-8 Circuit
ヨッシーフォールズYosshī FōruzuYoshi FallsYoshi Falls
プクプクビーチPukupuku BīchiPukupuku BeachCheep Cheep Beach
ルイージマンションRuīji ManshonLuigi MansionLuigi's Mansion
Flower Cup
サンサンさばくSansan SabakuBright DesertDesert Hills
モンテタウンMonte TaunMonte TownDelfino Square
ワルイージピンボールWaruīji PinbōruWaluigi PinballWaluigi Pinball
キノコリッジウェイKinoko RijjiweiMushroom RidgewayShroom Ridge
Star Cup
DKスノーマウンテンDK Sunō MauntenDK Snow MountainDK Pass
チクタクロックChikutakurokkuTick-Tock ClockTick-Tock Clock
マリオサーキットMario SākittoMario CircuitMario Circuit
キラーシップKirā ShippuKiller ShipAirship Fortress
Special Cup
ワリオスタジアムWario SutajiamuWario StadiumWario Stadium
ピーチガーデンPīchi GādenPeach GardensPeach Gardens
クッパキャッスルKuppa KyassuruKoopa CastleBowser Castle
レインボーロードReinbō RōdoRainbow RoadRainbow Road
Shell Cup
SFC・マリオサーキット1SFC Mario Sākitto 1SFC Mario Circuit 1SNES Mario Circuit 1
64・モーモーファーム64 Mō Mō Fāmu64 Moo Moo FarmN64 Moo Moo Farm
GBA・ピーチサーキットGBA Pīchi SākittoGBA Peach CircuitGBA Peach Circuit
GC・ルイージサーキットGC Ruīji SākittoGC Luigi CircuitGCN Luigi Circuit
Banana Cup
SFC・ドーナツへいや1SFC Dōnatsu Heiya 1SFC Donut Plains 1SNES Donut Plains 1
64・フラッペスノーランド64 Furappe Sunōrando64 Frappe SnowlandN64 Frappe Snowland
GBA・クッパキャッスル2GBA Kuppa Kyassuru 2GBA Koopa Castle 2GBA Bowser Castle 2
GC・ベビィパークGC Bebī PākuGC Baby ParkGCN Baby Park
Leaf Cup
SFC・ノコノコビーチ2SFC Nokonoko Bīchi 2SFC Nokonoko Beach 2SNES Koopa Beach 2
64・チョコマウンテン64 Choko Maunten64 Choco MountainN64 Choco Mountain
GBA・ルイージサーキットGBA Ruīji SākittoGBA Luigi CircuitGBA Luigi Circuit
GC・キノコブリッジGC Kinoko BurijjiGC Mushroom BridgeGCN Mushroom Bridge
Lightning Cup
SFC・チョコレーとう2SFC Chokorē Tō 2SFC Chocolate Island 2SNES Choco Island 2
64・ヒュードロいけ64 Hyūdoro Ike64 Hyūdoro LakeN64 Banshee Boardwalk
GBA・スカイガーデンGBA Sukai GādenGBA Sky GardenGBA Sky Garden
GC・ヨッシーサーキットGC Yosshī SākittoGC Yoshi CircuitGCN Yoshi Circuit
Battle Courses
ニンテンドーDSNintendō DSNintendo DSNintendo DS
ゆうやみハウスYūyami HausuTwilight HouseTwilight House
サザンリーフSazan RīfuSouthern LeafPalm Shore
スイートタルトSuīto TarutoSweet TartTart Top
ブロックとりでBurokku TorideBlock FortressBlock Fort
どかんひろばDokan HirobaPipe PlazaPipe Plaza
Notes
  • Airship Fortress: Bullet Bill is called "Killer" in Japan, hence the name "Killer Ship" in the Japanese game.
  • Delfino Square: "Monte" is the Japanese name for Piantas.
  • N64 Banshee Boardwalk: Hyūdoro is a ghost noise (the word hyūhyū represents the sound wind makes).
  • In the Retro Grand Prix courses, SFC stands for "Super Famicom," the Japanese name for the Super NES.