Originally released nearly a decade ago, Diddy Kong Racing was Rare's answer to the Mario Kart series, and went on to collect a decent fan base as a game that featured speedy multiplayer mayhem over land, sea, and air. The handheld update of the title, Diddy Kong Racing DS, is available in stores today. But with Rare under the tender, loving care of Microsoft Games Studios, what changes can players and fans of the franchise expect with Nintendo not holding the rights to the original IP entirely?

More than a few, we've discovered. Though Rare still developed the port (it's its first DS title, if you're wondering), the most obvious alteration is the omission of Banjo and Conker as playable characters -- two of Rare's signature children that left the Nintendo family when Microsoft adopted the developer in 2002.

There are some added features to make up for the loss of the memorable N64 icons; namely the addition of eight-player multiplayer (download or multi-cart), as well as an emblem-creation tool similar to Mario Kart DS, and the ability to create your own tracks once you unlock T.T.'s "Wish Races." The tracks have also received a fresh paint job thanks to some remodeling and retexturing treatment. Look below for a list of changes we've observed.

1. Dixie Kong and Tiny Kong are added as playable characters, likely to replace the loss of Conker and Banjo.
   
   
2. Changes in character voice-overs. Bumper sounds a little more mature, while Taj lacks his Indian accent -- he sounds like he hails from the UK now.
   
   
3. Silver Coin challenges have been replaced by balloon-popping challenges, where the player flies on Taj's magic carpet and uses the stylus to eliminate the balloons.
   
   
4. The homing missile is the final upgrade when you grab enough red balloons. In the 64 version, it was the secondmost upgrade.
   
   
5. You'll only have five homing missiles instead of 10 when you receive the upgrade.
   
   
6. The opening boss stage is a good deal easier than in the 64 version.
   
   
7. The Ancient Lake and Whale Bay water tracks have been altered slightly, mostly to accommodate the DS control template.
   
   
8. Four tracks have new background music: Jungle Falls, Snowball Valley, Pirate Lagoon, and Treasure Caves.
   
   
9. Four tracks have also been added to the game for a total of 38 playable. Thunder Cove, Splashdown Pass, Meandering Mount, and Strangled Shrine are the newcomers.
   
   
10. Evil Wizard and Taj, NPCs in the original game, are now unlockable characters.