Anti-gravity

Mario driving a kart in anti-gravity mode

Bowser near an Antigravity Panel in Mario Circuit from Mario Kart 8

Anti-gravity is a mechanic in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. When drivers are in anti-gravity mode, they slightly hover above the ground and can drive on walls and upside-down, and their tires turn sideways and glow blue; certain vehicles have blue glows and lights in other places, including the engine in some cases. Some vehicles will also change shape in anti-gravity mode, such as the Koopa Clown activating a pair of propellers and the Streetle’s wings opening. Drivers can receive a Spin Boost by bumping into other drivers or Spin Boost Pillars. Characters and vehicle parts have different top speed and handling stats in anti-gravity mode that are not shown by the game. Most courses featuring anti-gravity have designated sections in which it is activated that start with Antigravity Panels, though there are some courses set entirely in anti-gravity with all drivers already in anti-gravity mode at the start. Wild Woods uniquely starts in an anti-gravity section with all drivers already in anti-gravity mode but is not entirely set in anti-gravity. The first time a driver enters an anti-gravity section, they will audibly react to this, usually saying something related to the activation of anti-gravity mode. In the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, half-pipes (which strongly resemble Antigravity Panels) cause drivers who jump off of them to be in anti-gravity mode until they land (though they will still remain in anti-gravity mode afterward if the half-pipe is in an anti-gravity section).

Every new course in the games except Excitebike Arena, Animal Crossing, and Super Bell Subway features anti-gravity, with Mute City, Big Blue, and Sky-High Sundae entirely taking place in anti-gravity. Additionally, seventeen classic courses feature anti-gravity (seven from the Mario Kart 8 base game, five from its DLC, and five from the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass):

• GBA Mario Circuit
• N64 Toad's Turnpike
• 3DS DK Jungle
• DS Wario Stadium
• GCN Sherbet Land
• 3DS Piranha Plant Slide
• N64 Rainbow Road
• Wii Wario's Gold Mine
• GCN Baby Park (which is notably set entirely in anti-gravity)
• GBA Cheese Land
• 3DS Neo Bowser City
• GBA Ribbon Road
• GBA Boo Lake
• 3DS Rock Rock Mountain
• Wii Maple Treeway (only from the half-pipe)
• Merry Mountain
• 3DS Rainbow Road

Additionally, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the battle courses Battle Stadium and Lunar Colony feature anti-gravity, with the latter being set entirely in anti-gravity.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	反重力[?] Hanjūryoku	Antigravity
Chinese	反重力[?] Fǎnzhònglì	Anti-gravity
Dutch	Antizwaartekracht[?]	Antigravity
German	Antigravitation[?]	Antigravity
Italian	Antigravità[?]	Antigravity
Korean	반중력[?] Banjungnyeok	Antigravity
Portuguese	Antigravidade[?]	Antigravity
Russian	Антигравитация[?] Antigravitatsiya	Antigravity
Spanish	Antigravedad[?]	Antigravity

Trivia

Larry charging a Super Mini-Turbo on his Standard Bike while in anti-gravity mode

• While drifting in anti-gravity mode, the blue glow will match the corresponding level of Mini-Turbo sparks present, which means it will become orange for a Super Mini-Turbo and purple for an Ultra Mini-Turbo.
• According to Mario Kart 8 producer Hideki Konno, the anti-gravity mechanic was inspired by the portion of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 7 set on the moon. Fittingly, this part of the course would become an anti-gravity section upon its addition in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, and Lunar Colony also features anti-gravity on the moon.
• Anti-gravity is referenced in Super Mario Maker, in which the jumping sprite of the Costume Mario costume Kart Mario has its tires in anti-gravity mode.