Figure-8 Circuit
- This article is about the race course from Mario Kart DS. For the Super Smash Bros. stage based on the course, see Figure-8 Circuit (stage).
| Figure-8 Circuit | |||||||
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| Appears in | Mario Kart DS (2005) | ||||||
| Cup(s) | Mushroom Cup | ||||||
| Online play | No longer available (DS) | ||||||
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Figure-8 Circuit, also titled Figure-Eight Circuit in the kiosk demo, is the introductory track of Mario Kart DS, serving as the first race course of the Mushroom Cup. The course is named for having a layout in the shape of an 8. It is the only "circuit" in the Mario Kart series that is not associated with a character. The Figure-8 Circuit is comparable to several Luigi Circuit courses throughout the Mario Kart games for having a simple, straightforward layout with no unique gimmicks and no obstacles. Figure-8 Circuit is where the awards ceremony is held after every cup.
Figure-8 Circuit has a different introduction fanfare on Grand Prix, which is shared with Waluigi Pinball, Mario Circuit (shares the same music with Figure-8 Circuit) and GCN Luigi Circuit from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, there is a Mario Kart-themed stage titled Mario Circuit; it is based on Figure-8 Circuit, which became the stage's name in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Course layout
Figure-8 Circuit has a basic wide layout with prolonged turns, allowing racers to perform several power-slides. The finish line is right after where the track crosses under the upper part of the course. Most of Figure-8 Circuit's details are in the background, starting with the bleachers that consist of a full crowd, which are heard cheering as racers drive by. The bleachers start from the race line and end at a background pit stop to the right. There are no obstacles in the course except for grass surrounding the boundaries. The pit stop is immediately followed by a straightforward path. From there, a few large Warp Pipes and platform blocks resembling those from Super Mario Bros. 3 can be seen on grassy hills in the distance. After the straight path is a loop, which takes racers around and then overlaps beneath a bridge that is supported by some bricks. The road on top of the bridge is the center of the straight path, which reveals that the straight path is slightly slanted downward. The lap ends after going under the bridge.
Missions
There are two missions that take place on Figure-8 Circuit:
- Mission 1-1: The player controls Mario, who must pass through 5 gates within 35 seconds, with the help of some ground Mushrooms.
- Mission 2-2: The player controls Yoshi, who must collect 10 coins scattered along the course within 30 seconds. One coin is behind where the player starts.
Profiles
Mario Kart DS
- Instruction booklet bio: "This course is laid out in the shape of the number 8. The road is wide and the corners are broad, so you can run through the whole thing at high speed."
- North American website bio: "This figure-eight shaped course boasts a wide racetrack with easy corners. It’s ideal for constant top-speed racing."
- European website bio: "With just two straights and two bends, your first stop in the Mushroom Cup season is as simple as they come (with the exception of Baby Park’s basic loop). So hit the gas, impress the crowds and save your strengths for the harder tracks to come."
Sponsors
- Dangerous!!! (Trackside banners)
- Koopa Sport (Trackside banners)
- Luigi Grand Prix (Trackside banners)
- Mario Kart (Trackside banners)
- Peach Grand Prix (Trackside banners)
- Shoot!! (Trackside banners)
- Super Mario (Trackside banners)
- Waluigi Grand Prix (Trackside banners)
- Wario GP (Trackside banners)
Gallery
The course icon
The racers are lined up at the starting line.
Mario races down the straightforward path.
Pre-release image of Mario racing down the straightforward path in his Standard MR with different ordinal numbers (0-7th)
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | エイトクロスサーキット[?] Eito Kurosu Sākitto |
Eight-Cross Circuit | |
| French | Circuit en 8[?] | Circuit in 8 | |
| German | Achterpiste[?] | Eight-Track | |
| Italian | Ottotornante[?] | Eight Hairpin; also a pun on "ottovolante" (an 8-shaped rollercoaster) | |
| Korean | 8자 서킷[?] 8-Ja Seokit |
8-Shaped Circuit | |
| Spanish | Circuito en 8[?] | Circuit in 8 |
Trivia
- The Mario Kart 8 iteration of Mario Circuit is shaped after a number 8, much like this course. However, it is also based on a Möbius strip, due to the game's anti-gravity mechanic.
- As of Mario Kart Tour and the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, Figure-8 Circuit is the only track from this game's Mushroom Cup that has yet to return as a classic course in a future Mario Kart game. It is also one of three courses from Mario Kart DS that has yet to return, the others being Bowser Castle and Rainbow Road.
