Editing Big Blue

{{about|the DLC course in Mario Kart 8|the stage from [[Super Smash Bros. Melee]], [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl|Brawl]], and [[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|Ultimate]]|[[Big Blue (stage)]]}}
{{race course infobox
|title=Big Blue
|image=[[File:MK8-DLC-Course-BigBlue-overview.jpg|300px]]
|appears_in=''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' ([[Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8|DLC Pack 2]]) (2015)<br>''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' ([[List of games by date#2017|2017]])
|cups=[[Bell Cup]]
|based_on= [[fzerowiki:Big Blue|Big Blue]]
|ghost=1:44.100 by Nin★Dylan (''8'')<br><small>([[Mario]] with the [[P-Wing]], [[Blue Standard]], and [[Super Glider]])</small><br>1:37.316 by Nin★Dylan (''8 Deluxe'')<br><small>([[Mario]] with the [[P-Wing]], [[Blue Standard]], and [[Super Glider]]) (150cc)</small><br>1:13.516 (1:13.200 in the Tencent Chinese release)<ref>@zachruff (May 22, 2022). [https://twitter.com/Zachruff/status/1528386463632658434 "''So it turns out that there are 4 staff ghosts in the Tencent Chinese version of MK8D that are actually different to the global version. It seems that they really did not like the Mercedes car parts so any ghost that used them had to be redone.''"] ''Twitter''. Retrieved May 24, 2022.</ref> by Nin★Rie (''8 Deluxe'')<br><small>([[Luigi]] with the [[W 25 Silver Arrow]] ([[Blue Falcon]] in the Tencent Chinese release), [[Slim (tire)|Slim]], and [[Plane Glider]]) (200cc)</small>
|online_play=Available ([[Wii U]], [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]])
|sample=Naoto Ishida<ref>https://vgmdb.net/album/200</ref> (original)<br>Kenta Nagata (arrangement)<br>Sections 1 and 2<br>[[File:MK8-DLC-Music-BigBlue.oga]]<br>Final section<br>[[File:WiiU_BigBlue_FinalLap.oga]]<br>Sections 1 and 2 (frontrunning)<br>[[File:WiiU_BigBlue_Frontrunning.oga]]<br>Final section (frontrunning)<br>[[File:WiiU_BigBlue_FinalLapFrontrunning.oga]]
|map=''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
<div style="white-space: nowrap;">[[File:MK8 Big Blue Map.png|frameless|upright=0.65]][[File:MK8DX Big Blue Map.png|frameless|upright=0.65]]</div>
}}
'''Big Blue''' is the fourth and last course of the [[Bell Cup]] included with the [[Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8|''Animal Crossing'' × ''Mario Kart 8'']] downloadable content in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' as well as the base content of ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''. This course is based on the [[fzerowiki:Big Blue|Big Blue]] course that appears throughout the ''[[fzerowiki:F-Zero (series)|F-Zero]]'' series. In the same way as in [[Mute City]], [[Coin]]s can only be obtained by driving over the [[Pit (F-Zero)|Pit]] areas, [[Item Box]]es, or picking up the coins dropped by other players. This is the only DLC course in ''Mario Kart 8'' (and the sixth overall in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series) to be divided into three sections instead of three laps. Just like on Mute City, Big Blue has the ''F-Zero'' version of the starting line countdown and results theme instead of the normal version. This track shares similar characteristics and features to the game's original [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 8)|Rainbow Road]]. The music of the track is split in two parts: the first part plays in the first two sections, and the second part plays in the final section. 

This is the second track after [[Mount Wario]] to have separate soundtracks for different laps/sections. However, this may actually be a potential homage to ''[[fzerowiki:F-Zero GX|F-Zero GX]]'', as that game has an identical method of handling the music for its courses (i.e. having the initial variation of a tune play on the first and second laps and so on, while the second variation plays on the final lap).

==Course layout==
[[File:MK8 Big Blue Starting Line.jpg|thumb|215px|left|The course, as seen from the starting line.]]
The entirety of the course is in [[anti-gravity]], much like Mute City. The first section starts off on a straightaway that leads into a bend with [[Dash Panel]]s and [[fzerowiki:Pit|Pit]] areas. After a slight jump, the road splits into two paths; only one has a recharge path, but both contain Dash Panels. Both paths end in a jump leading onto one track that contains several conveyor belts similar to the ones in the space station on [[Rainbow Road (MK8)|Rainbow Road]], one moving forward and the other moving backwards, that go through several bends on this segment. The conveyor belts end in a gliding pad, leading the player to two recharge paths and the next section of the race.

The second section is lined entirely with water, increasing the speed of the player should they remain in it. After the first bend of the section, the track jumps and splits into two paths, though both end up leading into a single track with recharge strips, with the player passing through [[Ring (Mario Kart series)|rings]]. After a few bends, a gliding pad similar to a cannon takes the player into the next and final section of the race.

The third section has several conveyor belts going backwards and forwards, each containing one or two Dash Panels. After a couple of turns, the track splits into two paths, both containing several Dash Panels and ending in a small jump into the final stretch of the race. The final segment bends in a slight curve and contains several dirt patches that can be boosted over with [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]]s or other speed-boosting items. At the end of this segment is the finish line.

The staff ghost for this track is [[Mario]] on the [[P-Wing (kart)|P-Wing]], with a time of 1:37.316. In ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' 200cc, the staff ghost is [[Luigi]] with a time of 1:13.516.

===Shortcuts===
*In the first section, on the corners with moving platforms, [[Dash Mushroom|Mushrooms]] can be used to cut off the corners.
*Players can drive off the edge of the track midway on the first waterway on the left, to land on the Pit areas beyond the rings. 
*On the last section of track, Mushrooms can be used to cut off the bends in the track just before the finish line.
{{br|left}}

==''[[Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack]]'' liner notes==
''"When it came to arranging a song as well-loved as this one, I felt I had no choice but to really go for it. We had the sax and guitar engage in a kind of duel before a drum solo cuts in, and then added a buzzing bass solo on top of that. The performances on this track really are white hot!"''

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=160px>
MK8 Big Blue Course Icon.png|The track's icon.
MK8BigBlueStart.jpg|A player's [[Mii]] at the starting line
MK8-DLC-Course-BigBlue.jpg|Pit areas are in replacement for coins on this course.
WaterSlidesBigBlue.png|The water slides portion of the track.
MK8-DLC-Course-BigBlue01.jpg|[[Luigi]], in the [[Blue Falcon]], driving over a recharge pathway.
MK8-DLC-Course-BigBlue02.jpg|[[Mario]], racing along the track on the [[P-Wing (kart)|P-Wing]].
DryBowser-BigBlue-Waterway-MK8.jpg|[[Dry Bowser]] drifts around one of the waterways, at the second section of the track.
Toad-BigBlueMK8.jpg|[[Toad]], in the [[Blue Falcon]], driving on the track.
Toad-BigBlue2MK8.jpg|Toad, taking one of the two gliding sections of the track, near the end of the second section.
Mute City stamp MK8.png|[[fzerowiki:F-Zero (series)|''F-Zero'']] logo stamp (shared with [[Mute City]])
Big Blue stamp MK8.png|[[Blue Falcon]] stamp (shared with [[Mute City]])
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=ビッグブルー
|JapR=Biggu Burū
|JapM=Big Blue
|SpaA=Gran Azul
|SpaAM=Big Blue
|SpaE=Big Blue
|SpaEM=-
|Fra=Big Blue
|FraM=-
|Dut=Big Blue
|DutM=-
|Ger=Big Blue
|GerM=-
|Ita=Big Blue
|ItaM=-
|Por=Big Blue
|PorM=-
|Rus=Синеморь
|RusR=Sinemor
|RusM=Blue Sea Land
|Kor=빅 블루
|KorR=Bik Beullu
|KorM=Big Blue
|Chi=碧海
|ChiR=Bìhǎi
|ChiM=Blue Sea
}}

==Trivia==
{{NIWA|FZeroWiki=1}}
*Reaching the final section will have an announcer speak, saying "''Yeah!! The final lap!''" using the voice clip from ''[[fzerowiki:F-Zero X|F-Zero X]]'' which was provided by Jim Wornell. It is the only course in ''Mario Kart 8'' and ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'' with this distinction.
*Big Blue, {{classic-link|GBA|Cheese Land}}, and [[Sky-High Sundae]] are the only courses that contain gliding segments taking place entirely in anti-gravity.
*The glider segment from the second segment to the third segment is similar to the boost ring glider segment on [[Rainbow Road (Wii U)|Rainbow Road]], in which it launches racers at a straight line like a [[Cannon (Mario Kart series)|cannon]]. Furthermore, both sections have the same sound effect when driven through.

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Zq8EMCdZ4 Official YouTube video of the Mario Kart Band performing "Big Blue"]

==References==
<references/>

{{MK race courses}}
{{MK8}}
[[Category:Aquatic areas]]
[[Category:F-Zero series]]
[[Category:Downloadable content]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 8 race courses]]
[[de:Big Blue]]
[[it:Big Blue (circuito)]]