Luigi Raceway
- This article is about the race course fromMario Kart 64. For its musical theme, seeLuigi Raceway (theme). For other subjects with similar names, seeLuigi Circuit (disambiguation).
| Luigi Raceway | |||||||||||||||
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| Information | |||||||||||||||
| Appears in | Mario Kart 64 (1996) Mario Kart 7 (2011) Mario Kart Tour (2022) | ||||||||||||||
| Cups | Mushroom Cup (64) Shell Cup (7) | ||||||||||||||
| Tours | |||||||||||||||
| Distance | 717 m | ||||||||||||||
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Luigi Raceway, alternatively namedLuigi Circuit[1][2] (which is also its Japanese name) orLuigi's Circuit,[1] is the firstrace course in theMushroom Cup, serving as the introductory course ofMario Kart 64. It isLuigi's home track of the game and sharesits theme withMario Raceway,Wario Stadium andRoyal Raceway. The course is reminiscent of various NASCAR-style speedway tracks with large, broad corners allowing for high-speed racing. It is the first Luigi-themed course in theMario Kart series.
Luigi Raceway reappears inMario Kart 7 as the first course of theShell Cup, and inMario Kart Tour starting with the2022 Mario vs. Luigi Tour.
Mario Kart 64[edit]
Course layout[edit]
The course begins near a grand stand full of cheering audience, atop which is a large model of theLuigi Cap. Its layout is very simplistic compared to most other tracks and there are no obstacles. There is first a long straightaway followed by the first set ofItem Boxes, after which racers take an incredibly long turn to the left and reach the entrance of a tunnel. They take a slight right turn as they enter the tunnel, pass another item set in the middle of it, and take another slight right turn as they exit. A four-sided display withLuigi's face on it can be seen in the background. There is then a second long turn to the left, with the last item set placed close to its end. A straightaway then brings racers to the finish line. During the race, ahot-air balloon depicting Luigi's face dips onto the course at the start of the second and third laps, hanging an Item Box beneath. The Item Box always contains aSpiny Shell and may be hit if the player hops at the right time just as the balloon reaches its lowest point of descent.
While the course features no specific notable shortcuts, racers can useMushrooms or aStar to drive through the large amount of off-road on the inside of the U-turns, cutting them off.
This is the only introductory course from the first four games in theMario Kart series to not return as a classic course inMario Kart DS. As such, it is also the only introductory course from the first four games to not be in the game'sShell Cup. Instead,N64 Moo Moo Farm appeared alongside the other introductory courses in that cup.
Staff ghost[edit]
If a player beats the time of 1:52:00 on this course in Time Trial mode, they unlock a Luigi staff ghost.
Mario Kart 7[edit]
Luigi Raceway makes its classic course debut inMario Kart 7 as the first race of theShell Cup. In this version, the Luigi hot air balloon has been moved and a Mii character is inside the basket, and theItem Box hanging below it that always gave out aSpiny Shell has been replaced with a regular Item Box. An alternate way has also been added on the platforms next to the curves that were inaccessible in the original N64 version, and it hasDash Panels on them. This is one of two Luigi courses that appear in the Shell Cup, the other beingDS Luigi's Mansion fromMario Kart DS.
This course andSNES Rainbow Road are the only courses not to use either gliding orunderwater driving features inMario Kart 7.
This is the only introductory course from the first six games to be inMario Kart 7's Shell Cup.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
Luigi Raceway also reappears inMario Kart Tour, starting from the2022 Mario vs. Luigi Tour. Prior to the course's introduction, two badges were released featuring the name of the track. TheLuigi Parafoil reuses one of the badges' logos, which also later appears on the blimp inGBA Luigi Circuit. Luigi Raceway is the last classic course fromMario Kart 7 to return inMario Kart Tour.
The course's background now features hills similar to the ones seen in3DS Mario Circuit and3DS Rock Rock Mountain. The markings now split the road in two lanes instead of three, and curbs line the corners. The platforms next to the curves are now striped, and the second had its color changed to yellow. The hill where the tunnel passes is higher. The grandstand was slightly redesigned. Much likeN64 Koopa Troopa Beach, the starting banner uses the updated version of the classicMario Kart logo, but remains unchanged from its original design, unlike a majority of the otherMario Kart 64 tracks. LikeN64 Royal Raceway, the course uses the source quality version of the original N64 music track that was previously used inMario Kart 7 in this game,[3] being the first non-numbered course since the introduction of3DS Mario Circuit in theTokyo Tour seventy-six tours prior to share its music with another track. Luigi Raceway has the longest gap between the first and second appearance of any classic course in the game, not having reappeared for twelve tours until the2023 Doctor Tour.
The course also appears asLuigi Raceway R (reversed),Luigi Raceway T (with ramps), andLuigi Raceway R/T (reversed with ramps). The former two debuted alongside the normal variant in the2022 Mario vs. Luigi Tour, while the latter debuted in the2023 Mario Tour. In the T and R/T variants, the stands are now blocked off by barriers. In the R/T variant, racers must drive on a long stretch ofKanaami Roads that ends with aglide ramp.
Appearances[edit]
For this course's tour appearances, seeList ofN64 Luigi Raceway tour appearances inMario Kart Tour.
Top-tier and middle-tier items[edit]
Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for whichN64 Luigi Raceway and its variants are alwaysfavored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, seeList ofN64 Luigi Raceway tour appearances inMario Kart Tour.
| Course | Three-item drivers | Bonus points ×2 karts | Combo bonus ×3 gliders | Two-item drivers | Bonus points ×1.5 karts | Combo bonus ×2 gliders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Normal variant |             |                  |             |                |                     |  **     **     **     |
   |  |   |   |  | ||
 R variant |      |         |     |       ***  *  |     **     **   ** |              |
 | ** | | ||||
 T variant |     |       |    | **   |  ** **  |    **   |
 |   | |||||
 R/T variant |      |              |   |        *** |             |             |
 |  | | ||||
| * indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6. *** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items. | ||||||
Bonus challenges[edit]
| Ring Race | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver | Chosen kart | Chosen glider | Grand Star scores | Tour appearances | Cup |
 | Regular |  Donkey Kong |  Pipe Frame |  Super Glider |
| Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2022) |  Mii Cup |
| Time Trial | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver | Chosen kart | Chosen glider | Grand Star scores | Tour appearances | Cup |
 | Regular |  Toad (Pit Crew) |  Pipe Frame |  Super Glider |
| Mario Tour (2023) |  Monty Mole Cup |
 | R |  Toad | Pipe Frame | Super Glider |
| Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2023) |  Lakitu Cup |
| Goomba Takedown | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver | Chosen kart | Chosen glider | Item Box type found | Number of item slots | Grand Star scores | Tour appearances | Cup |
 | Regular | Toad | Pipe Frame | Super Glider |  Green Shell  Mega Mushroom | 1 |
| Mario Tour (2023) | Mii Cup |
| Take them out quick! | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icon | Course variant | Chosen driver information | Item Box type(s) found | Opponent information | Starting time | Grand Star times | Tour appearances | Cup | ||||||||
| Driver | Kart | Glider | Number of balloons | Number of item slots | Driver | Kart | Glider | Number of balloons | Items used | |||||||
 | Regular |  Luigi |  Pipe Frame |  Super Glider | 3 | 1 | Green Shell  Bob-omb  Red Shell  Frenzy (Green Shell) |  Bowser |  Landship | TBD | 5 |  Banana  Giant Banana | 1:15.00 |
| Mario vs. Luigi Tour (2022) |  Daisy Cup |
| Doctor Tour (2023) | Mii Cup | ||||||||||||||
Profiles[edit]
Mario Kart 64[edit]
- Instruction booklet description:
- English:
Long straightaways and easy corners--the perfect course for beginners to practice their sliding.
- English:
- Website description:
- English (United States):
A fine track for beginners.[4]
- English (United States):
- Nintendo Magazine System (Australia) issue 49:The first course in the game is reminiscent of an IndyCar track, with banked turns and long straights for acceleration.[1]
Brands[edit]
Mario Kart 64[edit]
- Koopa Air (trackside banners)
- Luigi's (trackside banners)
- Mario Star (trackside banners)
- Nintendo (trackside banners)
- Shot! (trackside banners)
- Yoshi (trackside banners)
Mario Kart 7[edit]
- KoopaKart (trackside banners)
- Luigi Grand Prix (trackside banners)
- Nintendo (trackside banners)
- Shoot! (trackside banners)
- Super Mario (trackside banners)
- Yoshi (trackside banners)
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
- KoopaKart (trackside banners)
- Launch! (trackside banners)
- Luigi Raceway (trackside banners, signs)
- Super Mario (trackside banners)
- Yoshi (trackside banners)
Gallery[edit]
Mario Kart 64[edit]
Artwork
The icon from the menu
The icon from the officialMario Kart 64 website
An overview of the map from the officialMario Kart 64 website
The starting line
The long turns on the ends of the course
The Luigi balloon
The tunnel
The course in the Japanese staff credits
Luigi hat
64 sign (international)
Mario Kart 7[edit]
Koopa Troopa racing on the course with aSuper Leaf behind his kart
The big screen by the tunnel
Inside the tunnel
Luigi on one of the platforms along the bend
The new balloon
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
Course icons[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, seeGallery:Mario Kart Tour race course icons (N64 courses) § Luigi Raceway.
The course icon
The course icon of the R variant
The course icon of the T variant
The course icon of the R/T variant
Sprites[edit]
The animation of gameplay withMario that plays on the TV screen
Screenshots[edit]
View of the first bend
View of the course featuring the hot air balloon
View of the tunnel
Luigi (Knight) andMario (Samurai) driving on the course
Other[edit]
A badge with a Luigi Raceway logo
Another badge with a Luigi Raceway logo
A parafoil with the Luigi Raceway logo
Naming[edit]
Internal names[edit]
| Game | File | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 64 | 8 L CIRCUIT | 8 - Luigi Circuit | |
| Mario Kart 7 | Gn64_LuigiCircuit | Grand PrixNintendo 64 Luigi Circuit | |
| Mario Kart Tour |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ルイージサーキット[?] Ruīji Sākitto | Luigi Circuit | |
| Chinese(Simplified) | 路易吉赛道[?] Lùyìjí Sàidào | Luigi Racetrack | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 路易吉賽道[?] Lùyìjí Sàidào | Luigi Racetrack | |
| Dutch | Luigi's Circuit[?] | - | |
| French | Autodrome Luigi[?] | Luigi Motordrome | |
| German | Luigis Rennpiste[?] | Luigi's Racetrack | |
| Italian | Pista di Luigi[?] | Luigi's Track | |
| Korean | 루이지 서킷[?] Ru'iji Seokit | Luigi Circuit | |
| Portuguese(Brazilian) | Pista Luigi[?] | Luigi Track | |
| Portuguese(European) | Pista do Luigi[?] | Luigi's Track | |
| Russian | Трасса Луиджи[?] Trassa Luidzhi | Luigi's Track | |
| Spanish | Pista Luigi[?] | Luigi Track |
Notes[edit]
- In the Japanese version, the sign with the number 64 is orange and has the number written in blue. This is a reference to the76 gas station chain, which was altered for Western releases in order to avoid copyright issues. The original orange sign can still be seen on the track's preview image, however.
References[edit]
- ^abcDecember 1996.Nintendo Magazine System (UK) issue 51. Page 28.
- ^April 1997.Nintendo Magazine System (Australia) issue 49. Page 40.
- ^Kenta Nagata Discography § Mario Kart 64 Greatest Hits Soundtrack.docs.google.com (English). Retrieved March 21, 2023. (Archived July 27, 2023, 16:26:36 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^Mario Kart 64: Mushroom Cup.nintendo.com (American English). Archived February 5, 1998, 06:51:49 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
