List of Mario Kart 7 pre-release and unused content

This is a list of pre-release and unused content for the game Mario Kart 7.

Early builds

E3 2010 demo

The unused path in Rock Rock Mountain

A demo preview of Mario Kart 7 was originally shown during E3 2010. It contains recorded inputs that are then played back in real time. The Circle Pad can be used to adjust the view, and the depth of the 3D effect can also be changed in real time. The preview shows a playable Mario, accompained by Luigi as an opponent, driving through Mario Circuit, Rock Rock Mountain and Wuhu Loop. Both characters are using the Standard Kart and Standard tire. The preview features several differences from the final game:

• The Dash Panels were rainbow-colored, similarly to Mario Kart Wii's Dash Panels.
• Trick ramps were not implemented, as tricks were not yet confirmed to make a return from Mario Kart Wii. As a result, both Wuhu Loop and Mario Circuit did not have ramps seen in the final release.
• Similarly, Glide Ramps are absent from Rock Rock Mountain and Mario Circuit.
• Races in the demo were two laps instead of three.
• The pipes at Mario Circuit had different colors.
• The design layout of Rock Rock Mountain was different, having a few more trees than in the final release.
• An alternate path leading to the forest section of the course existed. It started by dropping from the middle of the cave second into a second cave, which, after a few turns, would have ended up in the road below the large ramp. Despite the alternate path not being present in the final game, the road below the ramp still exists.

By altering the preview's code, it is possible to access a debug menu containing a playable version of the demo. Although Item Boxes are not present, the player can use Dash Mushrooms, Green Shells, Bananas and Bloopers. Addional files for the Bob-omb and Red Shell items can also be found. Prototype versions of SNES Mario Circuit 1, a different version of Wuhu Loop, GCN Yoshi Circuit (and its Mario Kart DS iteration), and DS Mario Circuit can be found. Wii Luigi Circuit is also mentioned in the code, but does not have a model. Multiple test maps and a course for tests can also be found.

E3 2011 demo

• In the item roulette, the Spiny Shell was shown with wings, despite lacking them when in use. In the final version, the wingless version is shown.
• Several ramps in Rock Rock Mountain were not present. Additionally, there were more coins in the first turn before the cave, and the coin placement near the boulder area was different.
• The coin placement in the pier of Cheep Cheep Lagoon was different, and there were no Sidesteppers in the cave.
• DK Jungle had many slight differences. For instance, there was an additional DK Barrel in the second turn leading to the red bouncy flower, and the area with tree roots inhabited the first row of Item Boxes instead of coins. The bridge after the Tiki Goons lacked guardrails. There were also no Frogoons in the later jungle area, and the Screaming Pillars seen towards the end of the track were motionless. As for the music, the organ heard in the right ear was noticeably louder.
• Many sound assets were taken from Mario Kart Wii, including the music for the character-selection menu, the "final lap" stinger, race finish, and the results screen. The music for finishing a race was again reused for the final standings screen, though pitched up.
• The screen showing the final standings displayed a placement number on a circle, rather than a trophy.
• There were no Wigglers in Wii Maple Treeway.

Gamescom 2011 Demo

• Donkey Kong was in Bowser's place on the character selection screen.

Nintendo Press Conference 2011 Footage

• The Lucky Seven did not have a checkered border. Said border is present in the final version.
• At the start of Lap 3, Lakitu's sign said "Final Lap"; in the final version, it says "3/3".
• Kalimari Desert had more cacti in it.
• The playable Lakitu's voice clips were originally taken from Mario Super Sluggers (where he was voiced by Dex Manley). In the final game, he has new voice clips provided by Tadd Morgan.
• Coins were generally much more plentiful. This can be seen during the credits of the final release, where there are more coins than usual on the first turn of Mario Circuit.
• Bullet Oil sponsors were seen in Daisy Hills, but were replaced by Princess Daisy ones in the final game.

Unused data

• The Fake Item Box and Mega Mushroom have unused leftovers in the final game.

Gallery

E3 2010

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  Placeholder logo at E3 2010

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  An early Wuhu Loop

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  Another early look at Wuhu Loop

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  An early Mario Circuit

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  An early Rock Rock Mountain

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  The alternate path in Rock Rock Mountain

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  An alternate prototype for Wuhu Loop

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  A prototype for SNES Mario Circuit 1

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  A prototype for GCN Yoshi Circuit

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  A prototype for DS Mario Circuit

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  A map built for testing

E3 2011

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  The preliminary logo at E3 2011, showing a different design for the seven

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  An early N64 Kalimari Desert with more cacti

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  "King of Speed" sponsors in an early Daisy Hills