Sky Garden | |||||||||||||||
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Information | |||||||||||||||
Appears in | Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001) Mario Kart DS (2005) Mario Kart Tour (2022) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Booster Course Pass, Wave 1) (2022) | ||||||||||||||
Cup(s) | Lightning Cup (Super Circuit, DS) Lucky Cat Cup (8 Deluxe) | ||||||||||||||
Tour(s) | |||||||||||||||
Online play | No longer available (DS) Available (Switch) | ||||||||||||||
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- This article is about the course in Mario Kart: Super Circuit. For other usages, see Sky Garden.
- "GBA Sky Tour" redirects here. For the event in Mario Kart Tour that added this course to the game, see Sky Tour.
- “And, of course, there's Sky Garden. So dreamy! I wonder what they grow up there. Sky mushrooms? Cloudy flower?”
- —Play Nintendo[1]
Sky Garden is the second race course of the Lightning Cup in Mario Kart: Super Circuit. The track takes place on a cobbled road atop clouds, with bridges connecting them and beanstalks scattered around the clouds. This course has no major obstacles, although players can easily fall off of it. The Luigi blimp from Luigi Circuit can be seen in the background. A similar course with several shared names in other languages known as Cloudtop Cruise appears in Mario Kart 8.
GBA Sky Garden returns as the third course of the retro Lightning Cup in Mario Kart DS, in Mario Kart Tour, debuting in the Sky Tour, and in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass as the third course of the Lucky Cat Cup.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Course layout
The course begins with a 90° turn to the left, the first set of Item Boxes, and a slight S-bend that ends in a wide jump pad; here racers must jump over a gap in the track. There is then an inverse S-bend immediately followed by another 90° left turn and a brief straightaway. The straightaway leads into a left turn followed by a sharp right turn and another 90° left turn. Racers then drive over a short bridge that leads into a sharp left turn followed by two slight turns and another brief straightaway. After the straightaway is a U-turn to the right followed by a slight left turn and another short bridge, with the last item set on top. After two left turns and a slight right turn, racers reach one last brief straightaway; along this straightaway there is a hole in the left side of the track preceded by a jump pad. At the end of the straightaway lies the finish line.
Shortcuts
The first notable shortcut can be found after the first turn. The player can use a Mushroom to drive through the off-road to the right of the track and go off a jump pad, clearing a large gap and skipping the two slight S-bends.
The second notable shortcut can be found at the end of the first straightaway. Instead of turning left, the player can use a Mushroom to continue driving straight through the off-road, using a jump pad to clear the gap and skip the following sharp right turn. Alternatively, they can take the left turn but use a jump pad on the inside of the sharp right turn to cut it off without using an item; this rewards the player with a lone Item Box. However, if the player does use a Mushroom when going off the latter jump pad, they can land on a later part of the track and completely skip several turns.
Lastly, the player can drive to the left of the track immediately after the right U-turn, where there is a cloud platform. By driving across it to the track on the other side, the player can cut off several turns without needing to use an item.
Mario Kart DS
GBA Sky Garden makes its classic course debut in Mario Kart DS as the third course of the Lightning Cup, holding the distinction of being the only track to appear in the same cup twice (not counting the Extra Tracks in Mario Kart: Super Circuit). There is an added shortcut in this version. After going across the small boost ramp leading to an item, the player must use a Mushroom and hop at the exact right second to get across the large gap. The shortcut can also be done with a well placed jump over the large gap if the player is using a high acceleration kart without a Mushroom, but is very difficult to perform. This is possible in the original game, but the player will fall right over the other side no matter what. Additionally, the first shortcut has an added longer cloud in front of the original one at the gap's end. The staff ghost is Daisy.
Missions
There is one mission that takes place on GBA Sky Garden:
- Mission 6-5: The player controls Peach, who must pass through 8 gates within 50 seconds. Each Item Box contains Triple Mushrooms.
Mario Kart Tour
Sky Garden returns in Mario Kart Tour starting from the Sky Tour. It is the second classic course in Mario Kart Tour (the first being GBA Sunset Wilds) to receive a new arrangement for its music and currently one of two GBA courses with a previous arrangement to receive a new arrangement in the game, the other being GBA Peach Circuit (and by extension, GBA Luigi Circuit). There are now two blimps; both use the appearance from Singapore Speedway. The giant beanstalks that previously only appeared in the background are now closer to the course, and one of them features a red Toad House on a cloud.
A course banner is added at the starting line, featuring the classic Mario Kart logo in a round frame supported by two beanstalks, which grow from earthenware planters. The road is also now made entirely of gray stone files, formed in an arched pattern, and features flowerpots and fences in the off-road areas. The course has been simplified, with some of the bends being removed. The first shortcut now features players performing Jump Boosts on giant leaves while the last is now under the beanstalk that supports the Toad House. The second shortcut is removed; the ramp now leads to a mushroom trampoline on the main route. The straightaway near the finish line is replaced with a gliding section.
The course also appears as Sky Garden R (reversed), Sky Garden T (with ramps), and Sky Garden R/T (reversed with ramps). The former two debuted alongside the normal variant in the Sky Tour, while the latter was introduced in the 2023 New Year's Tour. In the R and T variants, the mushroom trampoline is removed. In the T variant, there are several Piranha Plants along the track as well as a moving platform with a dash panel ramp. In the R/T variant, racers drive across several additional mushroom trampolines, including a blue one.
Sky Garden's R/T variant is visible in an unused banner present in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's files as of version 2.0.0. This instance predated its official announcement in the 2023 New Year's Tour.
Appearances
For this course's tour appearances, see List of GBA Sky Garden tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.
Top-tier and middle-tier items
Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which GBA Sky Garden 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 GBA Sky Garden tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.
Bonus challenges
Big Reverse Race | ||||||||||||
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Icon | Course variant | Opponents | Tour appearances | Cup | ||||||||
7th | 6th | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | Extra | |||||
Regular | Driver | New Year's Tour (2023) | Pauline Cup | |||||||||
Kart | Same kart and glider as the ones used by the replaced driver | |||||||||||
Glider |
Steer Clear of Obstacles | |||||||
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Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver |
Chosen kart |
Chosen glider |
Obstacles | Tour appearances | Cup |
Regular | Mario |
Pipe Frame |
Super Glider |
Barrel Bomb |
Sky Tour | Daisy Cup | |
Animal Tour | Diddy Kong Cup | ||||||
Princess Tour | Fire Rosalina Cup |
Smash Small Dry Bones | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver |
Chosen kart |
Chosen glider |
Grand Star scores | Tour appearances | Cup |
Regular | Birdo (Light Blue) |
Pipe Frame |
Super Glider |
|
Mii Tour (2022) | Bowser Cup | |
Princess Tour | Cat Peach Cup |
Time Trial | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver |
Chosen kart |
Chosen glider |
Grand Star scores | Tour appearances | Cup |
Regular | Mario |
Pipe Frame |
Super Glider |
|
Yoshi Tour (2022) | Mii Cup | |
|
Doctor Tour (2023) | King Boo Cup |
Combo Attack | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver |
Chosen kart |
Chosen glider |
Highest combo counts | Tour appearances | Cup |
T | Pink Shy Guy |
Pipe Frame |
Super Glider |
|
Piranha Plant Tour | Toad Cup |
Snap a Photo | ||||||||||
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Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver |
Chosen kart |
Chosen glider |
Other driver information | Objectives | Tour appearances | Cup | ||
Driver | Kart | Glider | ||||||||
T | Mario (Aviator) |
Prop Kart |
Sky-High Flyer |
Kamek |
Kamek's Zoom Broom |
Dream Glider |
|
Sky Tour | Toadette Cup | |
Lakitu |
Cloud 9 |
Cloud Glider |
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
GBA Sky Garden makes its home console debut in the Booster Course Pass DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It is the third course of the Lucky Cat Cup released in the first wave in March 2022, nearly a month after its inclusion in Mario Kart Tour, though it was revealed in gameplay form in a February 2022 Nintendo Direct prior to its addition to said game. It derives its appearance and layout from Mario Kart Tour, except with orange stone tiles instead of gray and an animated cloud texture. Unlike Tour, the leaf shortcut is reflected on the minimap. Many mushroom trampolines can be seen growing from underneath the course, and several airships from Cloudtop Cruise appear in the background instead of the blimps. Koopa Paratroopas appear as spectators on the course.
Like many other classic courses in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the music has been redone with live instruments, featuring a saxophone, piano, and electric guitar lead instead of the original song's synths.
Much like the other tracks in Wave 1, the Booster Course Pass's initial reveal trailer and official artwork use screenshots of the Mario Kart Tour version of GBA Sky Garden. However, on the Nintendo eShop image for Wave 1, GBA Sky Garden is the only course to use a screenshot of its 8 Deluxe version rather than its Tour version.
As with all other courses from Wave 1, this course's icon and lighting were adjusted slightly in the 2.1.0 update.
Track layout comparisons
The Mario Kart Tour (and 8 Deluxe) layout is slightly narrowed in the X-axis compared to Mario Kart: Super Circuit (and DS). The first sections through to the main jump sections are similar; the shortcut at turn 2 no longer needs a Mushroom in Tour, the lead-in turn 4 into the 270° turn 5 is removed in Tour (resulting in a single turn 4), while the bounce mushroom in Tour correspond to the jump area in Super Circuit.
At this point, the layouts diverge significantly. Tour skips Super Circuit's turn 7 and 8 entirely, while Super Circuit's turns 9 and 10 are merged into the much shorter turn 5. The following short left lead-in roughly correspond between turn 11 in Super Circuit and turn 6 in Tour, and the following U-turn is turn 12 in Super Circuit and turn 7 in Tour, although the lead-in is much shorter in Tour.
The lower section is heavily simplified in Tour, where the U-turn turn 8 covers what in Super Circuit is turns 13 through 17. Super Circuit's cloud shortcut that skips turn 13, is replaced in Tour by a cloud shortcut preceding turn 8. The final left jump in Super Circuit is replaced by a glider section in Tour.
Profiles
Mario Kart DS
- European website bio: "In this race above the clouds, don't let the beautiful view go to your head. One false move and it's a very long way down to the ground. You'll need boosts aplenty to make the most of Sky Garden's numerous short-cuts, but don't be afraid of using your brakes too."
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Nintendo Switch News app (US):
- This course first appeared in the Mario Kart™: Super Circuit™ game for Game Boy™ Advance.
- This course takes place on some fluffy clouds. (How does that even work??)
- There are minimal obstacles but beware of falling off the edge!
- Nintendo Switch News app (UK): Cruise through the clouds in Sky Garden!
Now, we'd like to present to you a course released as part of the first wave, which is available now: GBA Sky Garden!
First appearing in Mario Kart: Super Circuit on the Game Boy Advance, Sky Garden is an above-the-clouds course that floats way up in the stratosphere. It's an easy-riding course with few obstacles, but careful you don't fall off, as those time penalties will start to add up before you know it!
Gallery
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
The course icon, depicting Toad falling off the edge
Toad, Mario, Donkey Kong and Bowser racing through the course
Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart Tour
Course icons
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario Kart Tour race course icons (GBA courses) § Sky Garden.
Screenshots
View of the Mushroom Trampoline
Mario (Aviator) gliding in the Prop Kart with the Sky-High Flyer
Toadette (Explorer) and Peach (Explorer) tricking on the course
Pink Shy Guy (Ninja), Shy Guy (Ninja), Bowser Jr. (Pirate), and Kamek gliding on the R variant
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Additional names
Internal names
Game | File | Name | Meaning
|
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Mario Kart DS | old_sky_agb | Old Sky GBA |
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
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Japanese | スカイガーデン[?] Sukai Gāden |
Sky Garden | |
Chinese (simplified) | 空中花园[?] Kōngzhōng Huāyuán |
Sky Garden | |
Chinese (traditional) | 空中花園[?] Kōngzhōng Huāyuán |
Sky Garden | |
Dutch | Wolkenhof[?] | Cloud Courtyard | |
French (NOA) | Jardin volant[?] | Flying Garden | |
French (NOE) | Jardin du Ciel[2] | Sky Garden | Mario Kart: Super Circuit European instruction booklet |
Jardin volant[?] | Flying Garden | ||
German | Wolkenpiste[?] | Cloud Circuit | |
Italian | Giardino dei cieli[2] | Skies' Garden | Mario Kart: Super Circuit European instruction booklet |
Giardino Nuvola[?] | Cloud Garden | ||
Korean | 스카이 가든[?] Seukai Gadeun |
Sky Garden | |
Portuguese | Jardim Celeste[?] | Celestial Garden | |
Russian | Облачный сад[?] Oblachnyy sad |
Cloud Garden | |
Spanish (NOA) | Jardín Celeste[?] | Celestial Garden | |
Spanish (NOE) | Jardines del cielo[2] | Gardens of the sky | Mario Kart: Super Circuit European instruction booklet |
Jardín Celeste[?] | Celestial Garden |
Trivia
References
- ^ Play Nintendo (June 18, 2022). Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Gets MORE Courses?!🙀🚦 | @Play Nintendo (3:05). YouTube. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
- ^ a b c Mario Kart Super Circuit European instruction booklet (PDF).
- ^ Screenshot of GBA Sky Garden being erroneously named GBA Sky Tour on the App Store
- ^ "Float through the 3DS Rainbow Road track in the Space Tour, fly through the GBA Sky Tour as Aviator Mario…who knows what’s coming next?" – Mario Kart Tour. United States: Apple. Retrieved November 12, 2022. (Archived November 8, 2022, 15:58:48 UTC via Wayback Machine.)