3DS Neo Bowser City

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Not to be confused with Neo Bowser Castle.
Neo Bowser City
Koopa City
Neo Bowser City
Information
Appears in Mario Kart 7 (2011)
Mario Kart 8 (DLC Pack 2) (2015)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
Mario Kart Tour (2019)
Cup(s) Star Cup (7)
Bell Cup (8, 8 Deluxe)
Tour(s)
Online play Available (3DS, Wii U, Switch)
Music sample
Mario Kart 7 / Mario Kart Tour
Kenta Nagata, Satomi Terui
Asuka Ota, Ryo Nagamatsu (Mario Kart Wii themes)
Kenta Nagata (Mario Kart 64 themes)

Mario Kart 7 (frontrunning)

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Kenta Nagata

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (frontrunning)
Course map
Mario Kart 7
Neo Bowser City bottom screen map
Neo Bowser City

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Map of 3DS Neo Bowser City in Mario Kart 8.Map of 3DS Neo Bowser City in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Mario Kart Tour
Map of 3DS Neo Bowser City from Mario Kart Tour

Staff ghost(s)
7 Ret★Chuck
2:11.032 Metal MarioStandard KartStandard tiresSuper Glider
7 Expert Ret★Matt
1:58.996 Metal MarioBlue SevenMonsterParafoil
8 Nin★Guile
2:09.513 Dry BowserBone RattlerMetalSuper Glider
8DX 150cc Nin★Rui
2:13.138 Dry BowserBone RattlerMetalSuper Glider
8DX 200cc Nin★Massim
1:37.526 BowserBone RattlerStandardSuper Glider

Neo Bowser City (known as Koopa City in the British English version) is the third course of the Star Cup in Mario Kart 7. It takes place in a rainy, neon-lit, technologically advanced city themed after Bowser; it is the only Bowser-themed course in the Mario Kart series to not be a version of his castle. Neon signs are everywhere and images of Bowser himself and his signature emblem can be seen in various places. It is the second course in the Mario Kart series that takes place entirely in the rain, the first being Luigi Circuit from Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Neo Bowser City is one of the few city-based courses in the Mario Kart series to not feature any vehicles as obstacles.

Neo Bowser City also appears as a retro course in Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Mario Kart Tour. In the former games, it is the first course of the Bell Cup, a cup that comes with the Animal Crossing × Mario Kart 8 add-on content pack for the original Mario Kart 8, while in the latter game, it was introduced in the Tokyo Tour.

The course's music incorporates themes from several other Mario Kart courses: the Toad Circuit and Mario Circuit theme and the title theme from Mario Kart 7, the Toad's Turnpike theme from Mario Kart 64, and the Luigi Circuit and Mario Circuit theme from Mario Kart Wii. The theme was rearranged in the "Circuit (Mario Kart 7)" remix in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in a jazzier style more in line with the circuit theme it originally remixed.

Mario Kart 7

This course takes place in a brightly lit city in the rain. A large percentage of the course is comprised of winding roads with moving neon arrow railings. Traction is decreased due to the rain. There is a tunnel close to the end of the course, that leads to a small upward spiral section that is covered with puddles around a tower. A Glide Ramp then appears just before the end. A billboard is seen near it with a picture of either Bowser (said picture is his artwork from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games), the player's view, or an animated "Overtake" ad from Toad Circuit. If gliding players veer left (right in mirror mode) from the starting line, they can fly over a Koopa Clown Car with a fan to give them enough height to skip the first bend; in higher engine classes, however, they must steer back quickly to avoid hitting the wall.

Course layout

The course starts with an S-bend; however, players must steer back quickly to avoid hitting the wall. Just before the player enters the air vent area, it is possible to be pushed through the guardrails by a heavier opponent. After that, the race continues under a tower with air ducts. Then there are two soft turns and a red tunnel. After many turns, the player exits and reaches the winding part of the road, which consists of three hairpin turns. Then, there is a shorter tunnel that leads to a road curved to the left covered with puddles. At the end, there is a glide ramp back to the finish line.

Shortcuts

  • After the S-bend, players can cut through the mud with a Mushroom. They must steer back in quickly to avoid hitting the wall.
  • Near the finish line, if players use a Mushroom or the Koopa Clown Car air current, they can glide through a gap on the S-bend under the red tunnel.
  • The last U-turn of the middle section with no railings can be skipped by drifting off the edge to cut the gap. This is not very viable for races as it saves a minimal amount of time whilst also being very risky, due to it being very precise; a sign with Bowser's head on it can also block the way and cause the player to fall out of bounds.
  • A glitch shortcut can be performed in the space below the S-bend. By landing on it, turning around, leaning backwards off the edge of the area (which is heavy off-road) to gain an upwards angle and using a Mushroom, it is possible to go through the bottom of the bridge and land on it. If done quickly, this saves around six to seven seconds.[1]

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

 
Neo Bowser City in Mario Kart 8

Neo Bowser City makes its classic course debut in Mario Kart 8 as a retro course in the second DLC pack Animal Crossing × Mario Kart 8 and as part of the base content of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It is the first race of the Bell Cup. The city background is more futuristic in design and features more distinctive architecture such as skyscrapers, glass tunnels, elevators, and more LED screens, instead of having mushroom hills in the far background. Some of the buildings are reused from Mute City. The blue sky is now black. The start and finish banner has been redesigned, featuring hexagon patterns behind the Mario Kart logo in light blue, and on the two neon pillars (previously one) supporting the banner. The new Bowser insignia that is now used in this course is also modeled around a hexagon. It is now possible now to hit the banner (causing the banner to spin), like in Mario Circuit, DS Wario Stadium, Tour Tokyo Blur and 3DS Rock Rock Mountain.

 
The course as seen from the starting line

The blimp with a screen on it has been removed. Billboards now show an animated picture of the name of the course, along with Bowser in it, instead of displaying an ongoing video of the player's point of view, an animated ad, and a still picture of Bowser. The signs and animated picture display the text "Neo Bowser City", even in non-American versions, where the name of the course is different. A similar discrepancy occurs in 3DS Music Park (called "Melody Motorway" in the British English version). The rails with scrolling neon arrows have been redesigned into neon rails with light arrows on top of them.

The overall course layout follows the same path, but has received a few minor modifications. A trickable drop-off has been added at the entrance to the tunnel in place of a downhill slope. The three-quarter turn into the glider ramp at the end has been modified into an anti-gravity section, complete with spin boost pillars, while the water puddles have been removed. The beginning of the turn is also a rounded 90° turn instead of it being circular. The Koopa Clown Car air current found near the S-bend has been moved to behind the banner, instead of beside it. The music is also roughly the same, similar to Wii Mushroom Gorge, Wii Grumble Volcano, and 3DS DK Jungle, though electric guitar and a new synth bassline have been added - the original bassline still plays in the background, but it is noticeably quieter due to the track receiving slight high-pass equalization. Bowser's minions - Koopa Paratroopas, Dry Bones, Hammer Bros., Fire Bros., and Boomerang Bros. are spectators in this course. In addition, like in the rainy courses in Super Mario 3D World, rain drops flow down the screens of both the GamePad and the TV, just to add a minor effect.

Shortcuts

  • Like with the turn after the S-bend, it is now possible to use a Mushroom or Star to cut through the mud on the anti-gravity segment.

Mario Kart Tour

 
The course in Mario Kart Tour

Neo Bowser City reappears in Mario Kart Tour, starting with the Tokyo Tour. Appearance-wise, it features elements taken from both its Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8 versions, though it contains more cues from the former due to its lack of anti-gravity. The city now has more gray and navy hues than blue, the screen near the starting line now shows four players racing, and the bridge is now a glass tunnel. Some buildings have been redesigned to resemble more traditional Bowser castles, while neon signs with the course name can be seen throughout the track. The rain is only present if the game is not in battery saver mode. In addition, some of the Bowser insignias have reverted back to their standard appearance, while others keep their Mario Kart 8 appearances. As with other courses in the game, Neo Bowser City has a reverse variant, a trick variant, and a reverse/trick variant referred to as Neo Bowser City R, Neo Bowser City T, and Neo Bowser City R/T respectively; the former two were introduced alongside the regular variant in the Tokyo Tour, while the latter was added in the 2020 New Year's Tour. The LED bulletin board features Mario driving in the S section.

Appearances

For this course's tour appearances, see List of 3DS Neo Bowser City tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Top-tier and middle-tier items

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which 3DS Neo Bowser City and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of 3DS Neo Bowser City tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
 
Normal variant
                                                 * *     *    *** *   ** *    *   *        *             * ***
                 **     
   
 
R variant
                                                  ** *       *    **     * **   *    *  ***         ***   ***  **  ** 
                    
      
 
T variant
                                                          **      *  **  * *     *   *  ***        *  *  ** *** *  
         *    
   
 
R/T variant
                                                 *   * *                     * *     * *      *  *** 
            *       
   **  
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challenges

Ring Race
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Bowser Jr.
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 10
  • 25
  • 35
Winter Tour (2019)  
Wario Cup
Ninja Tour (2021)  
Hammer Bro Cup
Do Jump Boosts
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Metal Mario
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 8
  • 10
Halloween Tour (2019)  
Metal Mario Cup
Los Angeles Tour (2020)  
Donkey Kong Cup
  • 6
  • 10
  • 12
Peach vs. Bowser Tour (November–December 2022)  
Peach Cup
Big Reverse Race
Icon Course variant Opponents Tour appearances Cup
7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Extra
  Regular Driver  [2]  [2]  [2]  [2]  [2]  [2]  [2]  [3] New Year's Tour (2020)  
Diddy Kong Cup
Kart                
Glider                 Bowser Tour (2022)  
Shy Guy Cup
Goomba Takedown
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Item Box
type found
Number of item slots Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Bowser Jr.
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Bob-omb
3
  • 15
  • 25
  • 35
Tokyo Tour  
Mario Cup
Pirate Tour  
Wario Cup
Bowser Tour (2022)  
Nabbit Cup
Glider Challenge
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star distances Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Peach
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 200
  • 350
  • 470
Yoshi Tour (2020)  
Peach Cup
  • 200
  • 350
  • 450
Mario vs. Peach Tour
Wario vs. Waluigi Tour  
Baby Mario Cup
Bowser Tour (2022)  
Bowser Cup
  • 200
  • 300
  • 400
Peach vs. Bowser Tour (November–December 2022)  
Peachette Cup
  • 200
  • 300
  • 410
Bowser Tour (2023)  
Pink Gold Peach Cup
Steer Clear of Obstacles
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Obstacles Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Larry
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Puddle
Tokyo Tour  
Larry Cup
Singapore Tour  
Pink Gold Peach Cup
Peach vs. Bowser Tour (November–December 2022)  
Iggy Cup
Smash Small Dry Bones
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Ludwig
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 5
  • 9
  • 12
Valentine's Tour  
Diddy Kong Cup
Break Item Boxes
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Item Box
type found
Number of item slots Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Roy
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Mega Mushroom

 
Coin

 
Super Star
2
  • 10
  • 15
  • 25
London Tour  
Luigi Cup
Peach Tour  
Morton Cup
  • 10
  • 17
  • 23
Frost Tour  
Lakitu Cup
Bowser Tour (2023)  
Dry Bones Cup
Time Trial
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Bowser Jr.
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 2:05.00
  • 1:55.00
  • 1:40.00
Halloween Tour (2019)  
Toadette Cup
  • 2:20.00
  • 2:10.00
  • 1:55.00
Sunset Tour  
Birdo Cup
  R  
Ludwig
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 2:05.00
  • 1:55.00
  • 1:40.00
Trick Tour (2020)  
Waluigi Cup
  • 2:05.00
  • 1:55.00
  • 1:43.00
Sydney Tour (April–May 2021)  
Lakitu Cup

Sponsors

  • Overtake (Mario Kart 7 only; rotating screen displays)

Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack liner notes

"This is a remastered version of the music from the Nintendo 3DS title. It began life as an arrangement of the music for a circuit course on Mario Kart 7. Then while we were working on it, for some reason, we decided to add a particular phrase, and all agreed that it worked pretty well."

Gallery

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart Tour

Course icons

Sprites

Screenshots

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ネオクッパシティ[?]
Neo Kuppa Shiti
Neo Bowser City
Chinese (simplified) 新酷霸王市[?]
Xīn Kùbàwáng Shì
Neo Bowser City
Chinese (traditional) 新庫巴市[?]
Xīn Kùbā Shì
Neo Bowser City
Dutch Bowser City[?] Bowser City
German Koopa-Großstadtfieber[?] Koopa City Fever
Italian Koopa City[?] Koopa City
Korean 네오 쿠파 시티[?]
Neo Kupa Siti
Neo Bowser City
Portuguese (NOA) Cidade Bowser[?] Bowser City
Portuguese (NOE) Cidade do Koopa[?] Koopa's City
Russian Город Купы[?]
Gorod Kupy
Koopa City
Spanish Ciudad Koopa[?] Koopa City

Trivia

  • When exiting the tunnel in the Mario Kart 8 version of the course, a spotlight with Bowser's emblem points to the sky, possibly referencing the Bat-Signal from Batman media.
  • On August 18, 2016, a tweet from @NintendoAmerica gave players a "pop quiz" to race around Neo Bowser City and post their best time with a photograph as proof.[4]
  • In the internal data of Mario Kart 7, Neo Bowser City is referred to as Advanced Circuit. This suggests that the track was originally meant to be designated as a circuit course, which the Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack liner notes also imply, with the references to the circuit themes from Wii and 7 in the song for Neo Bowser City being remnants of this idea. It is unknown if the track was conceptualized as a Bowser Circuit or a futuristic city, or if it was originally meant to be a more standard circuit course.

References

  1. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bHVR1zthbI Former world record using the glitch and the turn-skip
  2. ^ a b c d e f g TheMadWeazel (January 1, 2020). New Year’s Tour “Diddy Kong Cup” - Mario Kart Tour. YouTube. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ SuperAaron260 (January 7, 2020). Mario Kart Tour - Part 66 - New Year’s Tour (Diddy Kong Cup). YouTube. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. ^ @NintendoAmerica (August 18, 2016). "Pop quiz! Race through Neo Bowser City in #MK7 and we might share the best times! Prove it w/ a pic. #NintendoSummer" (Template:Media link). Twitter.