DK Spaceport
| DK Spaceport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Information | |||
| Appears in | Mario Kart World (2025) | ||
| Cup(s) | Mushroom Cup | ||
| Rally/ies | Cherry Rally | ||
| Based on | 25m (Donkey Kong) | ||
| |||
DK Spaceport is the fourth and final race course of the Mushroom Cup in Mario Kart World, and is the third checkpoint of the Cherry Rally. It takes place in an ascending structure in the water region of the game's map that is made of zigzagging girder-like platforms, with the overall shape and music being based on the level 25m from Donkey Kong. The course also takes design motifs from the Game & Watch version of Donkey Kong, featuring directional pad iconography and the same orange-and-tan color scheme. At the top of the structure, racers encounter Robo DK, a giant robotic version of said game's titular character.[1] Kamek will transform racers into Nabbit, Pianta, or Dolphin in this course, allowing players to unlock the latter two as drivers.
DK Spaceport is the first Donkey Kong course in the Mario Kart series that is neither jungle nor snow-themed, the first Donkey Kong course to be in the Mushroom Cup, the first Mushroom Cup course in the series to utilize sections, and the first course to have more than three sections, having six. As such, this course uses the most sections in the series.
Course layoutEdit
The course starts with a straightaway where two ramps are found. This leads into a U-turn with the option to go on a higher platform. A second turn leads to a Glide Ramp, which leads to the final straightaway before the main girder structure. There is a pair of floating platforms with ramps which can be landed on from the glide. Robo DK initially stands here, but when approached, he leaves to climb to the top of the structure.
A right turn, a straightaway, and a U-turn to the left leads to the first layer of the structure. There are five layers in total, each considered its own section and connected by U-turns:
- The first layer is flat, with barrels rolling towards the racers. There are pads with "DK" written on them, which bounce racers into the air. There are rails on the sides, which can be reached with a bounce pad. When a player bounces on a bounce pad, a sound effect plays based on the jingle when jumping over an obstacle in Donkey Kong.
- The second layer has barrels rolling from the sides of the road, as well as many ramps.
- The third layer has a lattice of rails, which racers need to switch between to avoid falling through the gaps to the road below. There are also large ramps that lead up to the height of the rails.
- The fourth layer has many walls the racers can go on and jump between.
- The final layer is where Robo DK is encountered. He throws barrels that roll towards the racers, creating a scenario similar to the first layer. The finish line is located at the entrance of a rocket ship and is reached by driving between Robo DK's legs.
After the finish line, racers glide all the way down back to ground level.[1]
RoutesEdit
DK Spaceport can be used as a route to Peach Stadium, Desert Hills, or Mario Bros. Circuit. However, the reverse is not true for either route; none of these three courses can be used as routes to DK Spaceport. Koopa Troopa Beach enters DK Spaceport below the main track, through a launchpad with a rocket.
From Crown City
From Whistlestop Summit (used in the Mushroom Cup)
From Koopa Troopa Beach
A composite map of all routes leading to DK Spaceport
GalleryEdit
Course icon
View of the course in the Mushroom Cup's opening reel
World map icon
NamingEdit
Internal namesEdit
| Game | File | Name | Meaning
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart World | DonkeyKong[2] | Donkey Kong |
Names in other languagesEdit
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | DKうちゅうセンター[3] DK Uchū Sentā |
DK Space Center | |
| Chinese | DK太空中心[4] DK Tàikōng Zhōngxīn |
DK Space Center | |
| Dutch | DK's Lanceerbasis[4] | DK's Launch Base | |
| French | Spatioport DK[5] | DK Spaceport | |
| German | DK-Startrampe[?] | DK Launch Pad | |
| Italian | Astroparco di DK[6] | DK's Starpark | |
| Korean | DK 우주 센터[4] DK Uju Senteo |
DK Space Center | |
| Portuguese | Centro Espacial DK[4] | DK Space Center | |
| Russian | Космопорт ДК[4] Kosmoport DK |
DK Space Port | |
| Spanish | Puerto Espacial DK[7][8] | DK Space Port |
NotesEdit
- Every section from Section 2 onward introduces new instruments to the course's music. For the final section, however, an extended arrangement of "Hammer BGM" from Donkey Kong plays instead.[1]
- This makes DK Spaceport the third course in the series to play a different music track for its final lap rather than speeding up its original music, succeeding Mount Wario and Big Blue from Mario Kart 8. Mario Kart World's Rainbow Road also does the same. All of these courses are split into sections instead of laps.
- A satellite sharing the same design motifs as DK Spaceport appears in Mario Kart World's Rainbow Road.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c Mario Kart World – Grand Prix Gameplay – Nintendo Treehouse: Live | Nintendo Switch 2
- ^ File name of the course's sticker on the Japanese Mario Kart World online events website, Sign_DonkeyKong.png. All course stickers use the prefix "Sign_". Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^ Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 - 2025.4.2 (Japan) (3:41)
- ^ a b c d e In-game name from Mario Kart World
- ^ Mario Kart World in-game name from French localization (Uploaded 5 Jun. 2025 on YouTube by Siphano)
- ^ Froz3n (April 26, 2025). ANTEPRIMA Nintendo Switch 2: l'ho provata, ecco cosa ne penso. YouTube (Italian). Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ DSimphony (June 3, 2025). Así es MARIO KART WORLD en 150cc ¡BRUTAL! - Impresiones Mario Kart World (Switch 2) DSimphony (8:22). YouTube (European Spanish). Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ BRCDEvg. Estrenando juntos MARIO KART WORLD (17:24). YouTube (Latin American Spanish). Retrieved June 5, 2025.