Mushroom City
Mushroom City is a heavily populated city in the Mushroom Kingdom, and a racecourse in the Star Cup of Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. There are several junctions in the course, but all paths lead to the same spot. The course takes place at night, unlike its counterpart, Mushroom Bridge which takes place in the day. Mushroom City has yet to make a reappearance in the later Mario Kart games.
Mushroom City can be seen in the background below when racing in Rainbow Road in the game (if the player is playing in a split-screen mode, the city will not appear below the course).
The only hazards present in Mushroom City is the cars, Wiggler Buses and Bob-omb Cars, all which they hinder the player in contact. Mushroom Cars are also present in the city, providing players Mushrooms flying out if the player manages to hit them.
Course Layout
The course starts just at the end of a highway. It is a very straight road with some lights illuminating the path. Players have to take the right side of the way where they will run along a smooth U-turn to the right, which leads into the road that goes to the floor of the city. The path splits into two stretches that will remain such until later on in the track. The player may choose to go straight ahead or turn left into an area below the overhang of the highway. The first path, the road is straight, but changes into a 90 degree turn right. The other path changes into a 90 degree turn to the left and becomes into a boulevard, running along below the highway. Both paths intersect then, and the racers may choose to remain on the same road or switch paths. Players has to make sure to not to turn to the left in the junction. Doing so will cause the racer to go backwards in the race. A Double Item Box is found in the center of the intersection
If racers still follow the boulevard after the junction, they will go in straight line until discover a 90 degree turn to the right where the road meets the main way turning to the left. If the player that took the other path and don't turn in the junction, he or she will run in a straight line until the road bends to a 90 degree turn to the left, and then going again straight to take the main way. Players can see the other path merging completely from the left.
After the road merges, the player will see a set of item boxes and a small twist in the road that leads racers to the right at the end. Players now go straight uphill and find the last set of item boxes in the road. Taking to the left then, players run over the highway where they have previously been, evading the incoming cars there. To the right of the road is located a large gap that shows the boulevard below, and falling in it, Lakitu will come to take racers back to the highway. The starting line is right found after passing this section of the highway.
There is a shortcut located at the junction. If one takes the straight path, but stays on the right hand side, a short, pink, curly alley will come with an Item Box placed there. This leads straight to the turn ahead, just before the intersection of the aforementioned path and the boulevard.
Another shortcut allows the player to skip the highway part. On the very right of the gap, the player can see a very narrow road between the wall and the hole. Using a speed booster like a Mushroom or a Star will prevent the kart to decelerate by the dirt covering the shortcut's path.
Official Descriptions
- Instruction Booklet: “This course takes you through downtown Mushroom City in the dead of night. It’s easy to take a wrong turn and get lost. The key to victory is avoiding the inner-city traffic.”
- Official Website: “City traffic can be horrible, especially in Mushroom City. Watch out for traffic and try not to get lost.”
- Official European Website: “Karts weren’t meant for commuting, but you’ll find dense traffic and tight turns on your trek through Mushroom City.”
Trivia
- There are several businesses in the city such as Pianta Fruits, Wario Pharmacy, and Koopa Shop.
- Unlike Toad's Turnpike, the cars will not change direction in Mirror Mode; they'll continue to follow their set path.
- Mushroom City makes a briefly cameo appearance as the background scene on the minigames Pogo-a-Go-Go and Funderwall! from Mario Party 7.
- The city of the course, Moonview Highway, from Mario Kart Wii is most likely Mushroom City.
