GCN Dry Dry Desert

This article is about the race course from Mario Kart Double Dash!! For the location in Paper Mario, see Dry Dry Desert. For the race course from Mario Kart 64 with the same Japanese name, see Kalimari Desert. For the stage in Mario & Wario whose name translates to Dry Dry Desert, see Karakara Sabaku.

Dry Dry Desert is a race course in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. It is the fourth and last stage of the Mushroom Cup, and may be based on an area of the same name from Paper Mario. The course is located in a burning desert containing many Egyptian-themed elements like pyramids, obelisks showing pictures of multiple characters carved in the stone, and large stone statues. The track also includes a pool of quicksand that pulls karts to the bottom of the pit where a large Pit Plant waits the unfortunate racers to be devoured, calling Lakitu for rescue. Other obstacles are Pokeys along the course, bending their bodies that cause players to spin out of control when touching them. A tornado runs along the course in the opposite way racers go on the track, lifting anything on the ground to the air. It reappears as a Retro Course in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as the first course of the Banana Cup, as well as a battle stage in Mario Kart 8.

Course layout

A pre-release screenshot of the course

The track starts crossing a stone arch where the starting line is located. Usually, there is a straight path where the finish line is; Dry Dry Desert is no different. After the straight dirt path is a curve to the right. The roads twists moderately with some Pokeys to the left and right. The player may use a Mushroom to cut through the sand in this area, but has to watch out for the collapsed obelisks acting as speed bumps, which may slow the player down if they plan to cut through this area.

After the twisty road is a curve right facing towards an oasis, which splits into two branches. In the center of the fork is a giant sand pit, which lures any racer into the center of it. If the players reaches the bottom, they are eaten by the Pit Plant lying in the center of the pit, similar to straying off course or falling. The fork winds around this circular pit.

After the pit is two statues and a curve right. Two Pokeys are standing next to each other with an Item Box occupying in between the two Pokeys. There is a turn right after the two Pokeys and the item box, which leads into an enlarged area with many dunes, often with item boxes on top of them. One large Pokey can first be seen and after, two large Pokeys with item boxes directly next to them.

Past this part is a curve right that leads straight, until the course starts again, which is the finish line. More obelisks and a sphinx can be seen in the background while the player is turning right into the straight path that leads into the finish line.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Dry Dry Desert in Mario Kart 8

Dry Dry Desert reappears in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the first course of the Banana Cup. The structure serving as the starting banner has been slightly updated, now featuring four flags and only one Mario Kart logo instead of three. The course now features a more slope-like design, and the palm trees and advertisement boards have switched positions. All of the statues, including the Sphinx, have been reworked to resemble Hammer Bros, with the latter sporting a Wiggler headdress. The large open portion of the end of the track has been turned into an oasis allowing players to drive underwater and perform tricks from holes with rising jets (similar to Dolphin Shoals). Because of this, only the Pokeys on the S-turns at the start of the course (which now sport their New Super Mario Bros. Wii appearance) are present. Falling pillars from Dry Dry Ruins are also seen in this course. The tornado and the Pit Plant have been removed with the latter being replaced by Lakitu, who pulls the player out of the pit.

Dry Dry Desert also appears on some of the posters for the Galaxy Air sponsor in Sunshine Airport. As well, in Mario Kart 8, this course is one of the eight selectable battle courses.

Staff ghost

The staff ghost for this track is Peach on the Standard Bike, with a time of 2:29.678. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 200cc, the ghost is Lemmy Koopa with a time of 1:45.087.

Official descriptions

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

• Official website: “Kick up some dust in Dry Dry Desert – but watch out for the sand traps. Beware of the roving tornado, or you'll get caught up in the excitement.”
• Official European website: “Dodge the kart-spinning cyclones and deadly pools of quicksand, and don’t be distracted by hieroglyphics of Mario and co.”

Mario Kart 8

• Mario Kart Facebook Page: The mysterious (and some say cursed) Hammer Bros. Sphinx looms over hapless kart drivers in Dry Dry Desert in Mario Kart 8. Take a lap … if you dare.

Sponsors

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

• Danger!!! (Signs)
• KoopaKart (Trackside banners)
• Mario Racing (Trackside banners)
• Shoot!! (Trackside banners)
• Sunshine Parts (Signs)
• Super Mario Kart (Signs)
• Super Mushroom (Trackside banners)

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

• Red Shell Strike Equipment (Signs)
• Sunshine Parts (Signs)

Gallery

GCN appearance

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  The overhead map

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  The track logo

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  A series of turns after the first turn

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  Avoiding the tornado

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  A large area with hills and Pokeys

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  One turn can be bypassed with a Mushroom boosted shortcut

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  Another shortcut exists near a sign that reads "Sunshine Parts"

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  In a split-screen race, Pokeys are less abundant, and the rocks are lacking noses

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  The Pit Plant lives inside the quicksand pit

Wii U / Switch appearance

• MK8- GCN Dry Dry Desert.PNG

  The track's icon

• MK8-Course-GCN DryDryDesert-startingline.png

  The course, as seen from the starting line

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  Rosalina drifts at a portion of the track

• MK8DesertTrack.png

  A pre-release screenshot of Waluigi racing through the track in Mario Kart 8

• WiiU MarioKart8 scrn06 E3.png

  A pre-release screenshot of Peach racing on a bike surrounded by the other characters

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  Toad, approaching the underwater section of the course

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  The course as a battle course in Mario Kart 8

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  The stamp obtained for beating the staff ghost at this course

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  A released screenshot of the course, revealing the name of the track

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	カラカラさばく[?] Kara Kara Sabaku	Dry Dry Desert
Chinese	乾旱沙漠 (Traditional) 干旱沙漠 (Simplified)[?] Gānhàn Shāmò	Dry Desert
Dutch	Zinderende Zandvlakte[?]	Sizzling Sandplains
German	Staubtrockene Wüste[?]	Dust-Dry Desert
Italian	Desertico Deserto[?]	Desertic Desert
Korean	바싹바싹 사막[?] Bassakbassak Samak	Dry Dry Desert
Portuguese	Areias Desertas[?]	Deserted Sands
Russian	Иссушенная пустыня[?] Issushennaya pustynya	Seared Desert
Spanish (NOA)	Desierto Seco[?]	Dry Desert
Spanish (NOE)	Desierto Seco-Seco[?]	Dry Dry Desert

Trivia

• This track and SNES Donut Plains 3 are the only non-DLC retro courses in Mario Kart 8 to not involve air gliding. Both take place in the Banana Cup.
• The pyramids in this course can be seen in the background of Luigi Circuit.