Thwomp Desert
| Thwomp Desert | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Information | |||
| Appears in | Mario Kart Wii (2008) | ||
| Cup(s) | Battle Mode | ||
| Online play | No longer available (Wii) | ||
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Thwomp Desert is a battle course in Mario Kart Wii.
Course layout[edit]
Drivers battle in the middle of a quicksand pit surrounded by cacti, where players are gradually sucked down to the center of the pit. Although the area outside of the quicksand trap seems secure, Item Boxes appear near the center of the pit. Players can prevent being drawn into the pit by simply driving away from it, as well as jumping on the buried remains of Thwomps near the trap.
Sometimes, the giant Thwomp crashes into the ground, crushing players under it and creating waves in the quicksand that push the racers away from the center. Hitting the center of the pit (the player can actually drive very close to the pit center and not get sucked in) results in the player sinking into the sand, and Lakitu eventually retrieves them after a few seconds. Hitting the cacti causes players to spin out briefly, costing them a balloon or three coins.
Tournaments[edit]
October 2008's first tournament required players to defeat a Big Pokey located in the center of Thwomp Desert. Bob-ombs are used to attack it, and as it gets damaged, body segments will move around. Making contact with the Big Pokey or its body segments will immobilize and knock players around for a few seconds. The tournament was later repeated as the second tournament of September 2009.
Notably, playing in this competition then playing a battle in Thwomp Desert without restarting the game changed the sand physics to work like the tournament, which would cause desyncs during online play.
Profiles[edit]
- Mario Kart Wii European website: "With sinking sand and a giant Thwomp waiting for you at the centre of this dustbowl arena, it would be wise to drift around the edges as you attempt to secure victory."
Gallery[edit]
The course banner
A preview of the course
Additional names[edit]
Internal names[edit]
| Game | File | Name | Meaning
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart Wii | sand_battle | Sand battle |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドッスンさばく[?] Dossun Sabaku |
Thwomp Desert | |
| French | Désert Thwomp[?] | Thwomp Desert | |
| German | Steinwüste[?] | Stone Desert | |
| Italian | Deserto Twomp[?] | Thwomp Desert | |
| Korean | 쿵쿵 사막[?] Kungkung Samak |
Thwomp Desert | |
| Spanish (NOA) | Desierto de Thwomp[?] | Thwomp's Desert | |
| Spanish (NOE) | Desierto Roca Picuda[?] | Thwomp Desert |
Trivia[edit]
- Thwomp Desert is one of only two Mario Kart Wii battle courses (along with Chain Chomp Wheel) with something other than opponents appearing on the map, as the Thwomp appears.
- This is the only course in the Mario Kart series to have music in 12/8 time, and the only battle course to not have music in 4/4 time.
