N64 Luigi Raceway

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This article is about the race course from Mario Kart 64 and retro course in Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart Tour. For other race tracks with similar names, see Luigi Circuit.
Luigi Raceway
Luigi Raceway
Information
Appears in Mario Kart 64 (1996)
Mario Kart 7 (2011)
Mario Kart Tour (2022)
Cup(s) Mushroom Cup (64)
Shell Cup (7)
Tour(s)
Distance 717 m
Online play No longer available (3DS)
Music sample
Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 7 / Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart 7 (frontrunning)
Course map
Mario Kart 64
An aerial view of Luigi Raceway.Mini map of Luigi Raceway from Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart 7
N64 Luigi Raceway bottom screen mapThe Mini Map of N64 Luigi Raceway
Mario Kart Tour
Map of N64 Luigi Raceway from Mario Kart Tour
Staff ghost(s)
64
1:50.54 Luigi
7 Nin★McCoy
2:04.317 Standard KartStandard KartSlickSuper Glider
7 Expert Nin★miyakw
1:52.206 Standard KartPipe FrameSlickParafoil

Luigi Raceway, alternatively named Luigi Circuit[1][2] (which is also its Japanese name) or Luigi's Circuit,[1] is the introductory track of Mario Kart 64, serving as the first course of the Mushroom Cup. It is Luigi's home track of the game and shares its music with Mario Raceway, Wario Stadium and Royal Raceway. This song received an arrangement for the Mario Circuit stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate under the name "Figure-8 Circuit". In the latter game, the song is able to be played on any Mario Kart stage as well as on Battlefield, Big Battlefield, Small Battlefield, and Final Destination as of the version 8.1.0 update. The course is reminiscent of various NASCAR-style speedway tracks with large, broad corners allowing for high-speed racing. It is the longest introductory track as well as the first Luigi-themed course in the Mario Kart series.

Luigi Raceway reappears in Mario Kart 7 as the first course of the Shell Cup, and in Mario Kart Tour starting with the 2022 Mario vs. Luigi Tour.

Mario Kart 64

Course layout

The course begins near a grand stand full of cheering audience, atop which is a large model of the Luigi Cap. Its layout is very simplistic compared to most other tracks and there are no obstacles. There is first a long straightaway followed by the first set of Item Boxes, after which racers take an incredibly long turn to the left and reach the entrance of a tunnel. They take a slight right turn as they enter the tunnel, pass another item set in the middle of it, and take another slight right turn as they exit. A four-sided display with Luigi's face on it can be seen in the background. There is then a second long turn to the left, with the last item set placed close to its end. A straightaway then brings racers to the finish line. During the race, a hot-air balloon depicting Luigi's face dips onto the course at the start of the second and third laps, hanging an Item Box beneath. The Item Box always contains a Spiny Shell and may be hit if the player hops at the right time just as the balloon reaches its lowest point of descent.

While the course features no specific notable shortcuts, racers can use Mushrooms or a Star to drive through the large amount of off-road on the inside of the U-turns, cutting them off.

This is the only introductory course from the first four games in the Mario Kart series to not appear as a classic course in Mario Kart DS. As such, it is also the only introductory course from the first four games to not be in the game's Shell Cup. Instead, N64 Moo Moo Farm appeared alongside the other introductory courses in that cup.

Staff ghost

If a player beats the time of 1:52:00 on this course in Time Trial mode, they unlock a Luigi staff ghost.

Mario Kart 7

 
N64 Luigi Raceway as it appears in Mario Kart 7.

Luigi Raceway makes its classic course debut in Mario Kart 7 as the first race of the Shell Cup. In this version, the Luigi hot air balloon has been moved and a Mii character is inside the basket, and the Item Box hanging below it that always gave out a Spiny Shell has been replaced with a regular Item Box. An alternate way has also been added on the platforms next to the curves that were inaccessible in the original N64 version, and it has Dash Panels on them. This is one of two Luigi courses that appear in the Shell Cup, the other being DS Luigi's Mansion from Mario Kart DS.

This course and SNES Rainbow Road are the only courses not to use either gliding or underwater driving features in Mario Kart 7.

This is the only introductory course from the first six games to be in Mario Kart 7's Shell Cup.

Mario Kart Tour

 
View of the course from the starting line in Mario Kart Tour

Luigi Raceway also reappears in Mario Kart Tour, starting from the 2022 Mario vs. Luigi Tour. Prior to the course's introduction, two badges were released featuring the name of the track. The Luigi Parafoil reuses one of the badges' logos, which also later appears on the blimp in GBA Luigi Circuit. Luigi Raceway is the last classic course from Mario Kart 7 to return in Mario Kart Tour.

The course's background now features hills similar to the ones seen in 3DS Mario Circuit and 3DS Rock Rock Mountain. The markings now split the road in two lanes instead of three, and curbs line the corners. The platforms next to the curves are now striped, and the second had its color changed to yellow. The hill where the tunnel passes is higher. The grandstand was slightly redesigned. Much like N64 Koopa Troopa Beach, the starting banner uses the updated version of the classic Mario Kart logo, but remains unchanged from its original design, unlike a majority of the other Mario Kart 64 tracks. Like N64 Royal Raceway, the course uses the source quality version of the original N64 music track that was previously used in Mario Kart 7 in this game,[3] being the first non-numbered course since the introduction of 3DS Mario Circuit in the Tokyo Tour seventy-six tours prior to share its music with another track. Luigi Raceway has the longest gap between the first and second appearance of any classic course in the game, not having reappeared for twelve tours until the 2023 Doctor Tour.

The course also appears as Luigi Raceway R (reversed), Luigi Raceway T (with ramps), and Luigi Raceway R/T (reversed with ramps). The former two debuted alongside the normal variant in the 2022 Mario vs. Luigi Tour, while the latter debuted in the 2023 Mario Tour. In the T and R/T variants, the stands are now blocked off by barriers. In the R/T variant, racers must drive on a long stretch of Kanaami Roads that ends with a glide ramp.

Appearances

For this course's tour appearances, see List of N64 Luigi Raceway tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Top-tier and middle-tier items

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which N64 Luigi Raceway 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 N64 Luigi Raceway tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Bonus challenges

Ring Race
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Donkey Kong
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 12
  • 20
  • 28
Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2022)  
Mii Cup
Time Trial
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
  Regular  
Toad (Pit Crew)
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 1:35.00
  • 1:30.00
  • 1:26.00
Mario Tour (2023)  
Monty Mole Cup
  R  
Toad
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
  • 1:36.00
  • 1:32.00
  • 1:26.00
Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2023)  
Lakitu 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  
Toad
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
 
Green Shell

 
Mega Mushroom
1
  • 20
  • 30
  • 40
Mario Tour (2023)  
Mii Cup
Take them out quick!
Icon Course variant Chosen driver information Item Box type(s) found Opponent information Starting time Grand Star times Tour appearances Cup
Driver Kart Glider Number of balloons Number of item slots Driver Kart Glider Number of balloons Items used
  Regular  
Luigi
 
Pipe Frame
 
Super Glider
3 1  
Green Shell

 
Bob-omb

 
Red Shell

 
Frenzy
(Green Shell)
 
Bowser
 
Landship
TBD 5  
Banana

 
Giant Banana
1:15.00
  • 0:00.00
  • 0:05.00
  • 0:15.00
Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2022)  
Daisy Cup
  • 0:00.00
  • 0:07.00
  • 0:15.00
Doctor Tour (2023)  
Mii Cup

Profiles

Mario Kart 64

  • Instruction booklet description:
    • English:
      Long straightaways and easy corners--the perfect course for beginners to practice their sliding.


  • Website description:
    • English (American):
      A fine track for beginners.[4]
  • Nintendo Magazine System (Australia) issue 49: The first course in the game is reminiscent of an IndyCar track, with banked turns and long straights for acceleration.[1]

Sponsors

Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart Tour

Gallery

Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart Tour

Course icons

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario Kart Tour race course icons (N64 courses) § Luigi Raceway.

Sprites

Screenshots

Other

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ルイージサーキット[?]
Ruīji Sākitto
Luigi Circuit
Chinese (simplified) 路易吉赛道[?]
Lùyìjí Sàidào
Luigi Speedway
Chinese (traditional) 路易吉賽道[?]
Lùyìjí Sàidào
Luigi Speedway
Dutch Luigi's Circuit[?] -
French Autodrome Luigi[?] Luigi Motordrome
German Luigis Rennpiste[?] Luigi's Racetrack
Italian Pista di Luigi[?] Luigi's Track
Korean 루이지 서킷[?]
Ru'iji Seokit
Luigi Circuit
Portuguese (NOA) Pista Luigi[?] Luigi Track
Portuguese (NOE) Pista do Luigi[?] Luigi's Track
Russian Трасса Луиджи[?]
Trassa Luidzhi
Luigi's Track
Spanish Pista Luigi[?] Luigi Track

Trivia

  • In the Japanese version, the sign with the number 64 is orange and has the number written in blue. This is a reference to the 76 gas station chain, which was altered for Western releases in order to avoid copyright issues. The original orange sign can still be seen on the track's preview image, however.

References

  1. ^ a b c December 1996. Nintendo Magazine System (UK) issue 51. Page 28.
  2. ^ April 1997. Nintendo Magazine System (Australia) issue 49. Page 40.
  3. ^ Kenta Nagata Discography § Mario Kart 64 Greatest Hits Soundtrack. docs.google.com (English). Retrieved March 21, 2023. (Archived July 27, 2023, 16:26:36 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  4. ^ Mario Kart 64: Mushroom Cup. nintendo.com (American English). Archived February 5, 1998, 06:51:49 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 5, 2024.