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START YOUR ENGINES AND EMBARK ON THE RACING ADVENTURE OF YOUR LIFE!

Diddy Kong Racing DS power slides its way onto Nintendo DS

26th February 2007 - Rev your engines and get into gear as Diddy Kong Racing DS accelerates its way onto Nintendo DS! Featuring new adventures, tracks and the opportunity to take on the world via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service which to date has a staggering 3.5 million unique users and over 100 million online gameplay connections. With all this on offer racing fans will be in for a treat as Diddy Kong Racing DS roars across Europe on the Nintendo DS on 20th April 2007.

The hugely popular Diddy Kong Racing makes its debut on the Nintendo DS, capturing all the thrills and excitement of the original N64 game along with all new improvements and challenges. These include new playable characters, retextured tracks, track editor mode, brand new unlockables and if that wasn't enough it also takes advantage of the DS microphone and touch screen for certain modes and options. In addition Diddy Kong Racing DS also takes full advantage of Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service, meaning you can now race against people from around the world.

Peace has been disrupted on Timber's Island as the evil pig wizard, Wizpig, arrives to take control. Diddy, along with 2 new characters Dixie Kong and Tiny Kong are called upon to defeat him. It's up to you, the player, to embark on a racing adventure, using your favourite mode of transport from a choice of kart, hovercraft or airplane, and covering over 20 lush and colorful 3D tracks along the way, to banish him from the island for good!

Through playing on the unique Nintendo DS touch screen players are able to make their mark on the game by creating their own tracks and customising the icons and billboards that feature around the track. Sound effects can also be recorded with the Nintendo DS's microphone that then plays exactly as recorded when certain actions occur. Fancy celebrating your victory to your own rendition of 'We Are The Champions'? Now you can!

Diddy Kong Racing DS allows players to experience a range of exhilarating single and multiplayer modes. Players start the game in Adventure Mode, where they work their way through five different worlds collecting balloons to unlock new areas and come face-to-face with the evil Wizpig. Whilst competing in the different stages, challengers must keep an eye out for coins to collect along the way. These allow them to purchase vehicle upgrades and other unlockables, essential to ensure the best kart, plane or hovercraft for each race!

Once tracks have been unlocked in the game's Adventure Mode, they are then available in Single Race Mode where players can test out and practice their racing skills. Here they also have the option of taking on the CPU or competing in a time trial to record their quickest possible time round the track. Additional challenges can also be unlocked, including the Coin Challenge previously found on the N64 game.

Some of the most exciting new features in Diddy Kong Racing DS can be found in the Multiplayer modes available. Now players can not only take on their friends, but also anyone else in the world that is ready to step up to the challenge via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service. Using a single game card, up to eight friends can challenge each other to Single Races, Trophy Races, Battle Traces, Token Tussles and Wish Races. Connecting Diddy Kong Racing to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service allows players to challenge up to six opponents from anywhere in the world. Here they can take part in a choice of single races, battle tracks or trophy races and make there mark as the ultimate racing champion.

So start your engines and don't get left at the start line as Diddy Kong Racing DS launches across Europe on 20th April 2007 for the estimated retail price of around 40.

And There's More From Nintendo This Month

Whether you're looking for an action-packed adventure, a mysterious thriller or just the chance to escape to another world, Nintendo has a whole host of exciting games for everyone this April. Take to the skies with Wii Wing Island, a fantastic take on flying games, which will literally have you swooping and soaring around the room when it launches on Wii on 13th April. For a more relaxing experience why not live the life of a farmer with Harvest Moon DS or take on the thrilling role of detective in Hotel Dusk: Room 215, both available on Nintendo DS on 13th April. Also launching on this date on Nintendo DS is the highly anticipated Pokémon Ranger, enabling players to take on the role of an elite Ranger for the first time.

Last but no means least, owners of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance will be able to enjoy the breathtaking adventure title, Final Fantasy V from 13th April. For fans of the Final Fantasy series this game is a must-have and even if you are a newcomer to the franchise, this is the perfect title to start with.

Click onto www.nintendo-europe-media.com for all of the most up to date official information on Nintendo.

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For further information please contact the Nintendo Press Office on 0207 307 3103

Notes to editors:

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection - FREE, SIMPLE & SAFE

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service launched globally in November 2005 and to date has a staggering 3.5 million unique users and over 100 million online gameplay connections. . The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service allows you to play games over the Internet, wirelessly, at home or at a public Wi-Fi (wireless internet) hotspot provided by (territories to insert provider details), using a Nintendo DS and a Nintendo Wi-Fi compatible Nintendo DS software.

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service is free* - there are no fees or subscriptions to pay (usual broadband line rental costs apply when accessing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection at home). It's simple to use - you simply turn it on and select Wi-Fi. There are no complicated menu screens or confusing instructions to follow. It's safe for everyone - you currently do not have direct communication with other players when playing anonymously and therefore personal details or inappropriate comments can't be exchanged. For further information on Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service visit www.nintendowifi.com

About Nintendo

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Boy® Advance and Nintendo GameCube systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.2 billion video games and more than 387 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario, Donkey Kong®, Metroid®, Zelda and Pokémon®. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.

Ben Dobson

Tel: +44 (0)20 7307 3103

Fax: +44 (0)20 7307 3101

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