DK Spaceport (theme)
| "DK Spaceport" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| "DK Spaceport" in Mario Kart World | |||
 Image from Nintendo Music | |||
| Composed by: Takuhiro Honda[1] | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion | ||
| Key | B flat major | ||
| BPM | 174 | ||
| Time signature | 4 4 | ||
| Appears in | Mario Kart World (2025) | ||
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"DK Spaceport"[2][3] is a musical theme in Mario Kart World, where it plays when racing on the course of the same name. It includes quotes and arrangements from several themes from Donkey Kong, namely "Round 1 BGM".
History[edit]
Mario Kart World[edit]
Mario Kart World features the first appearance of "DK Spaceport". The theme is divided into six different tracks that play on different parts of the course and have distinct transitions between each of them. The in-game pause menu does not distinguish these tracks from each other, referring to all of them as simply "DK Spaceport"; however, they are separated and given unique names in the Nintendo Music app.
The first lap of the track plays the main version of the theme, which is simply titled "DK Spaceport" on Nintendo Music. It starts with an arrangement of "Round Start BGM" from Donkey Kong before transitioning to "Round 1 BGM" from the same game. The arrangement is done in a big band jazz style, with a focus on percussion and brass. A quieter, chiptune version of "Round 1 BGM", reminiscent of its original version in the arcade game, also makes brief appearances in the background.
The second lap of the track plays an arrangement called "DK Spaceport (Lap 2)". Compared to the first lap, this version is quieter, mainly featuring "Round 1 BGM" played on horn with synthesizers in the background.
The third lap of the track plays an arrangement called "DK Spaceport (Lap 3)". A piano tune is added to the second lap version, accompanying the horn.
The fourth lap of the track plays an arrangement called "DK Spaceport (Lap 4)". This version makes the horn from the previous two laps quieter, and plays an original melody on brass.
The fifth lap of the track plays an arrangement called "DK Spaceport (Lap 5)". Like the lap four version, this version plays an original melody with the melody of "Round 1 BGM" in the background, this time incorporating brass and electric instruments.
The final lap of the track plays an arrangement called "DK Spaceport (Final Lap)". This version is an arrangement of "Hammer BGM" from Donkey Kong; like the main version of "DK Spaceport", it is also played in a big band style with a focus on percussion and brass instruments, and has a faster tempo of 192 BPM. DK Spaceport is 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. "Rainbow Road" also does the same. All of these courses are split into sections instead of laps.
When racing on a route to DK Spaceport from another course, a prelude arrangement named "DK Spaceport (Intro)" plays, which transitions into "DK Spaceport" once the course is reached.
In Knockout Tour, when approaching the next checkpoint, an outro arrangement of "Round 1 and 2 Clear" plays. If the players reach the area near the checkpoint when the theme is near the end, an extended version of that outro will play, featuring an arrangement of "Round Start BGM", similar to the one at the start of the main version before it.
A chiptune arrangement of the main melody of "DK Spaceport" in C major is incorporated in "Staff Credits", which plays during the game's staff credits and is a medley of various themes from the game. It plays between "Mario Bros. Circuit" and "Salty Salty Speedway".
 DK Spaceport (Intro) - The version that plays on routes leading to DK Spaceport from another course. | File info 0:30 |
| DK Spaceport - The version that plays during the first lap of DK Spaceport. | File info 0:30 |
| DK Spaceport (Lap 2) - The version that plays during the second lap of DK Spaceport. | File info 0:30 |
| DK Spaceport (Lap 3) - The version that plays during the third lap of DK Spaceport. | File info 0:30 |
| DK Spaceport (Lap 4) - The version that plays during the fourth lap of DK Spaceport. | File info 0:30 |
| DK Spaceport (Lap 5) - The version that plays during the fifth lap of DK Spaceport. | File info 0:30 |
| DK Spaceport (Final Lap) - The version that plays during the sixth lap of DK Spaceport. | File info 0:30 |
| DK Spaceport (Outro) - The version that plays at the end of the DK Spaceport section in the Cherry Rally. | File info 0:14 |
Gallery[edit]
Image for "DK Spaceport (Intro)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "DK Spaceport (Lap 2)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "DK Spaceport (Lap 3)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "DK Spaceport (Lap 4)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "DK Spaceport (Lap 5)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "DK Spaceport (Final Lap)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Opening (Mushroom Cup)" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
Image for "Staff Credits" from Mario Kart World on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Original | "DK Spaceport" | Takuhiro Honda[1] |
| Arrangement | "DK Spaceport (Lap 2)" | ||||
| Arrangement | "DK Spaceport (Lap 3)" | ||||
| Arrangement | "DK Spaceport (Lap 4)" | ||||
| Arrangement | "DK Spaceport (Lap 5)" | ||||
| Arrangement | "DK Spaceport (Final Lap)" | ||||
| Pastiche | "DK Spaceport (Intro)" | ||||
| Pastiche | |||||
| Arrangement | "Staff Credits" |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Takuhiro Honda. 仕事を読み解くキーワード：2分間のBGMに魅力を詰め込む｜採用情報｜任天堂. Nintendo (Japanese). Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ Nintendo Music
- ^ Mario Kart World pause menu
