A classic course,[1][2][3] formerly known as an Extra Track in Mario Kart: Super Circuit and as a Retro course from Mario Kart DS to Mario Kart 7,[4] is a course that appears in a Mario Kart game following its introduction. They first appeared in Mario Kart: Super Circuit in Extra Cups, which include the Extra Mushroom, Flower, Lightning, Star, and Special Cups, each containing four courses from Super Mario Kart. Classic courses systematically appear in every Mario Kart game since Mario Kart DS, with the Shell Cup, Banana Cup, Leaf Cup, and Lightning Cup, each of them featuring four classic courses from various games of the series. Starting with the DLC cups in Mario Kart 8, classic courses can appear in the same cup as new courses. The Booster Course Pass DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe consists mostly of classic courses, which are also referred to as Booster Courses.[5]

Starting with Mario Kart DS, classic courses are distinguished by a prefix in their names indicating the game they originate from. These prefixes are abbreviations of the name of the console that the game was released on; "SNES" refers to Super Mario Kart, "N64" to Mario Kart 64, "GBA" to Mario Kart: Super Circuit, "GCN" to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, "DS" to Mario Kart DS, "Wii" to Mario Kart Wii, "3DS" to Mario Kart 7, and "Tour" to Mario Kart Tour.

Prior to Mario Kart 8, classic courses were near-identical to their original counterparts, usually only receiving graphical updates, such as expanding the space and blocks in SNES and GBA courses. In Mario Kart DS, however, some classic courses appear to be scaled down in graphics due to limitations of the Nintendo DS. In Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7, classic courses appear almost identical to their original versions, besides added underwater and gliding sections in the latter game. Starting in Mario Kart 8, most classic courses are completely redesigned with HD graphics, usually featuring newer mechanics such as underwater, gliding, and (except in Mario Kart Tour) anti-gravity. They also tend to feature other new details, including completely new backgrounds or even changes to the track's layout. Additionally, Mario Kart 8 features newly remastered music for all classic courses, whereas classic courses in previous Mario Kart games tend to retain their original music (though they were sometimes altered due to system limitations, primarily for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS). Mario Kart Tour's classic courses vary in similarity to their original versions, and the music is almost always either the original arrangement or from Mario Kart 7, with the only exceptions being Template:Classic-link and Template:Classic-link (which both use new arrangements), the Ghost Valley courses and Template:Classic-link (which use the Mario Kart Wii arrangements), and the Choco Island courses (which use the Mario Kart DS arrangement).

Race courses

Classic race courses by game

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Extra Mushroom Cup  
Mario Circuit 1
 
Donut Plains 1
 
Ghost Valley 1
 
Bowser Castle 1
Extra Flower Cup  
Mario Circuit 2
 
Choco Island 1
 
Ghost Valley 2
 
Donut Plains 2
Extra Lightning Cup  
Bowser Castle 2
 
Mario Circuit 3
 
Koopa Beach 1
 
Choco Island 2
Extra Star Cup  
Vanilla Lake 1
 
Bowser Castle 3
 
Mario Circuit 4
 
Donut Plains 3
Extra Special Cup  
Koopa Beach 2
 
Ghost Valley 3
 
Vanilla Lake 2
 
Rainbow Road

Mario Kart DS

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Shell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Banana Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Leaf Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lightning Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link

Mario Kart Wii

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Shell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Banana Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Leaf Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lightning Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link

Mario Kart 7

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Shell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Banana Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Leaf Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lightning Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Shell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Banana Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Leaf Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lightning Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
DLC courses
Cup Course 1 Course 2
Egg Cup  
Template:Classic-link
Triforce Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Crossing Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Bell Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Booster Course Pass courses
Cup Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4
Golden Dash Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Lucky Cat Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Ninja Hideaway
Turnip Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
Propeller Cup  
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Template:Classic-link
 
Sky-High Sundae

Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart Tour features 52 courses from previous entries, being the most of any Mario Kart game, as well as a new reroute of Template:Classic-link named Kalimari Desert 2 which is categorized as a classic course in-game. Courses in Mario Kart Tour are not arranged into set cups like in the other games, as the cups and available courses change between each tour. The courses below are listed in the order in which they were introduced to the game, with Template:Classic-link listed first due to it being the track used for the tutorial before the new players get to access the cups. All of Mario Kart 7's classic courses also returned in the game. Screenshots of Template:Classic-link in this game have also been shown,[6] but the course has yet to be featured in a tour.

For a more detailed list of the classic courses in this game, see Mario Kart Tour § Classic.

Table of classic race courses

Courses highlighted in red have yet to appear as classic courses in a later Mario Kart installment. A dash (–) indicates that the course appears as a new course in its respective game and therefore cannot appear as a classic course in it or, unless noted otherwise, in a previous installment.

Course Super Circuit DS Wii 7 8 / 8 Deluxe Tour
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
SNES Bowser Castle 1  
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
SNES Bowser Castle 2  
Template:Classic-link      [a 1]  
SNES Koopa Troopa Beach 1  
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link    
SNES Bowser Castle 3  
SNES Mario Circuit 4  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link      
SNES Ghost Valley 3  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link        
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link    [a 1][a 2]  [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
N64 Wario Stadium
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
GBA Riverside Park
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]
Template:Classic-link  
GBA Yoshi Desert
Template:Classic-link    
GBA Lakeside Park
GBA Broken Pier
GBA Bowser's Castle 4
GBA Rainbow Road
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
GCN Mushroom City
Template:Classic-link      
Template:Classic-link  
GCN Wario Colosseum
Template:Classic-link    
GCN Bowser's Castle
GCN Rainbow Road
DS Figure-8 Circuit
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
DS Mario Circuit
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]
DS Bowser Castle
DS Rainbow Road
Wii Luigi Circuit
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Wii Toad's Factory
Wii Mario Circuit
Template:Classic-link    [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link[a 4]  
Template:Classic-link  
Wii Daisy Circuit
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link    
Template:Classic-link  
Wii Dry Dry Ruins
Wii Moonview Highway
Wii Bowser's Castle
Wii Rainbow Road
Template:Classic-link  [a 1]  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link[a 5]  
Template:Classic-link  
3DS Wuhu Loop[a 6]
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link[a 7]  
Template:Classic-link[a 8]  
Template:Classic-link[a 9]    
Template:Classic-link[a 10]  
Template:Classic-link[a 11]    
3DS Maka Wuhu[a 12]
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
Mario Kart Stadium
Water Park
Sweet Sweet Canyon
Thwomp Ruins
Mario Circuit
Toad Harbor[a 13]
Twisted Mansion
Shy Guy Falls
Sunshine Airport
Dolphin Shoals
Electrodrome
Mount Wario
Cloudtop Cruise
Bone-Dry Dunes[a 14]
Bowser's Castle
Rainbow Road
Excitebike Arena
Dragon Driftway
Mute City
Ice Ice Outpost
Hyrule Circuit
Wild Woods
Animal Crossing
Super Bell Subway
Big Blue
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Tour London Loop [a 3]
Tour Vancouver Velocity [a 3]
Tour Los Angeles Laps [a 3]
Tour Merry Mountain  [a 1]
Tour Berlin Byways [a 3]
Tour Ninja Hideaway  [a 1]
Template:Classic-link  [a 1][a 2] [a 3]
Tour Singapore Speedway [a 3]
Tour Amsterdam Drift [a 3]
Tour Bangkok Rush
Sky-High Sundae [a 1][a 15] [a 15]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Appears via the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass.
  2. ^ a b c d e This version of the course combines multiple layouts from a previous appearance.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k In this game, this course has multiple numbered routes.
  4. ^ Known as "DK's Snowboard Cross" in the British English version.
  5. ^ Known as "Cheep Cheep Cape" in the British English version.
  6. ^ Known as "Wuhu Island Loop" in the British English version.
  7. ^ Known as "Melody Motorway" in the British English version.
  8. ^ Known as "Alpine Pass" in the British English version.
  9. ^ Known as "Piranha Plant Pipeway" in the British English version.
  10. ^ Known as "Wario's Galleon" in the British English version.
  11. ^ Known as "Koopa City" in the British English version.
  12. ^ Known as "Wuhu Mountain Loop" in the British English version.
  13. ^ Written as "Toad Harbour" in the British English version.
  14. ^ Written as "Bone Dry Dunes" in the British English version.
  15. ^ a b Officially, this course is considered a new course in both Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Kart Tour.

Battle courses

Classic battle courses by game

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

While no classic battle courses appear in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, unused tilemaps and minimaps exist for all four battle courses from Super Mario Kart. Unlike other courses in the game, which are stored in chunks, these are stored in one piece, the same way Super Mario Kart stores them.[7]

Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart Tour

Table of classic battle courses

Course Super Circuit DS Wii 7 8 Deluxe Tour
Template:Classic-link  
SNES Battle Course 2
SNES Battle Course 3
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
N64 Block Fort  
N64 Double Deck
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link    
GBA Battle Course 2
Template:Classic-link  
GBA Battle Course 4
Template:Classic-link    
GCN Nintendo GameCube
GCN Block City
GCN Pipe Plaza  
Template:Classic-link  
GCN Tilt-a-Kart
DS Nintendo DS
Template:Classic-link  
Template:Classic-link  
DS Tart Top
Wii Block Plaza
Wii Delfino Pier
Wii Funky Stadium
Wii Chain Chomp Wheel[b 1]
Wii Thwomp Desert
3DS Honeybee Hive[b 2]
3DS Sherbet Rink
Template:Classic-link  
Battle Stadium
Sweet Sweet Kingdom
Dragon Palace
Lunar Colony
Urchin Underpass
  1. ^ Known as "Chain Chomp Roulette" in the British English version.
  2. ^ Known as "Honeybee House" in the British English version.

Gallery

Cup emblems

Shell Cup

Banana Cup

Leaf Cup

Lightning Cup

Cup trophies

Shell Cup

Banana Cup

Leaf Cup

Lightning Cup

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese おまけコース[?]
Omake kōsu
Bonus Courses (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)
Chinese 奖励赛道[8]
Jiǎnglì Sàidào
Bonus Circuits (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)
Italian Trofei Retrò[?] Retro Cups

Trivia

Despite Sky-High Sundae being a new course in Mario Kart Tour it has debuted in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the Booster Course Pass.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

References

  1. ^ Musa, Alexander (May 30, 2014). Mario Kart 8 PRIMA Official Game Guide. The section about the old courses on page 142 is titled "RETURNING CLASSICS".
  2. ^ classic internal name of the folder containing the data about the old courses in Mario Kart Tour
  3. ^ Official North American site of Mario Kart Tour. The old courses are referred to as classic Mario Kart courses. Archived from the original February 27, 2021, 04:04:22 UTC via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Official European page for Mario Kart 7
  5. ^ Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass: Wave 6. Nintendo AU. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Template:Media link
  7. ^ tcrf:Mario Kart: Super Circuit#SNES Battle Courses
  8. ^ From the unreleased iQue version
  9. ^ Nintendo UK Website (Note how Sky-High Sundae's given a "new" label instead of a "console of origin" label)
  10. ^ Nintendo NA Website (Note how Sky-High Sundae does not use an identifier, unlike the other Mario Kart Tour originating courses)
  11. ^ Nintendo JP Website (Note how Sky High Sundae's specifically referred to as 新コース, which means "new course")
  12. ^ Official Wave 2 Trailer (Note how Sky High Sundae is given a "new" label instead of a "console of origin" label)
  13. ^ Official News app post for Wave 2 (Note how it's not given an identifier, unlike the other courses, and referred to as a "debut course" for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe)
  14. ^ Official Twitter post announcing the Sundae Tour. Sky-High Sundae is announced without a prefix that would classify it as a classic course.
  15. ^ A phone notification of the Sundae Tour states "The second part of the Summertime Celebration is here, and we're starting with a tour to cool off in the summertime! The new course Sky-High Sundae is full of ice cream, and it's here!"
  16. ^ News about the Sundae Tour in The Official Home of Mario. The article specifically states Soar the delicious skies (and try not to lick your phone) in the new Sky-High Sundae course.