Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 8): Difference between revisions

|online_play=No longer available ([[Wii U]])<br>Available ([[Nintendo Switch|Switch]])

|sample=Atsuko Asahi<br>[[File:MK8-Music-BowsersCastle.oga]]<br>Frontrunning<br>[[File:WiiU BowsersCastle Frontrunning.oga]]

'''Bowser's Castle''' is the third course of the [[Special Cup]] in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''. This incarnation is heavily based off the [[Bowser's Castle]] levels from recent ''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' platformers, particularly those seen in ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', ''[[New Super Mario Bros. 2]]'', and ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''. It appears to be themed after a steel foundry, particularly the inside of the castle and the lava that merely resembles a hot molten iron. It also contains more obstacles, such as [[Bowser Statue]]s that shoot lasers (similar to ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]''), swinging spiked balls, large rolling boulders, and [[Lava Geyser]]s. One of the most notable features is the [[Bowser Monument|giant, fiery moving statue]] in a shape of Bowser himself that constantly punches the forked road to create ripples on the track.

Several minions of [[Bowser]], such as [[Hammer Bro]]s., [[Fire Bro]]s., [[Boomerang Bro]]s. and [[Dry Bones]], are seen patrolling inside the castle, sometimes cheering for the drivers, while a number of Bowser's [[Airship]]s, taking their design from the ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' games, are seen floating around its exterior. The castle seems larger than most of its previous incarnations and has a more upbeat rock theme for its music, like the ones in ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''.

The course starts in the entrance of the castle. As soon as the drivers enter the castle, they see a statue of Bowser pointing to the right (signaling where to turn), along with several [[Bowser Statue]]s that shoot lasers at the drivers on laps 2 and 3. After a left turn and a right turn, drivers enter an [[anti-gravity]] section. Along the way lies the ramps that the drivers can perform [[Trick]]s on, but with extreme caution, as there lie sets of [[Fire Bar]]s and a [[Spinner]]. After these sections lies the square U-turn that leads to the forked road where the large [[Bowser Monument]] is. Each road curves down and around into a cavernous space with a [[Glide Ramp]] leading out of the castle. [[Lava Geyser]]s gush out from the lava pit and hit drivers that collide with them. There is a slight turn left and then another U-turn, where incoming boulders launched from one of the castle's cannons will attempt to knock over any racers. After these turns lies a split path, one part of which has a ramp, and the finish line. The starting banner on the top features a fiery ''Mario Kart'' logo with a pair of [[Burner]]s going out from above.

During the countdown to the race, the castle's portcullis is seen being raised. This is one of six courses (the others being [[Twisted Mansion]], [[Electrodrome]], [[Mount Wario]], [[Excitebike Arena]], and [[Piranha Plant Cove]]) to have an opening animation during the countdown.{{br|left}}

==Shortcuts==

|Fre=Château de Bowser

|FreM=Bowser's Castle