Bullet Bill

A randomly selected item that speeds up your kart or attacks other racers.

Bullet Bill appears in Mario Kart DS as one of the most strategic items available within the game's robust single-player and multiplayer modes. As a randomly selected item obtained by driving through item boxes, it allows players to attack other racers or speed up their own kart to pass opponents more easily. The Bullet Bill serves as a crucial element in the racing experience, offering a way for players to alter the race order instantly. Its inclusion contributes to the chaotic fun highlighted by reviewers who praised the game's multiplayer features and refined gameplay loops.

Quick Facts

Type: Item; Power-Up
Primary effect: Attack other racers or speed up the player's kart

Reader's Guide

To utilize items like Bullet Bill in Mario Kart DS, players must drive through item boxes located on the course. These items allow racers to attack others or speed up their own kart to pass more easily. The game features five single-player modes: Grand Prix, Time Trial, Versus, Battle, and Mission. In Grand Prix and Versus modes, players choose from 50cc, 100cc, or 150cc engine classes, with higher classes increasing speed. A Mirror Mode can be unlocked, flipping tracks horizontally while maintaining 150cc speeds. The item system is part of the game's balance, helping lower-ranked players catch up, a concept tied to the rubberband AI that some reviewers found frustrating. In multiplayer, eight players can race locally or connect via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (until May 20, 2014) for up to four players online.