Tick-Tock Clock (theme)
| "Tick-Tock Clock" | |
|---|---|
| "Tick-Tock Clock" in Mario Kart DS | |
| |
| Composed by: Shinobu Nagata | |
| Key | C Lydian, C whole tone |
| First appearance | Mario Kart DS (2005) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) |
"Tick-Tock Clock"[1] is a musical theme composed by Shinobu Nagata for Mario Kart DS, where it plays in the race course of the same name outside of missions.
History[edit]
Mario Kart DS[edit]
Mario Kart DS marks the first appearance of "DS Tick-Tock Clock".
Mario Kart 8[edit]
- “The clock is much bigger than in Mario Kart DS, so we decided to use an orchestra for this track. At the same time, we wanted to make sure we didn't lose the surreal feel of the original. The electronic tones and other effects at the start of the track work really well, I feel.”
- —Liner notes in the Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack
In Mario Kart 8 and the Nintendo Switch port, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, an arrangement of "Tick-Tock Clock" arranged by Ryo Nagamatsu plays in DS Tick-Tock Clock. It is likewise titled "DS Tick-Tock Clock" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack album.
This arrangement uses a combination of orchestral sounds and electronic tones, and has a reworked intro that resembles the ringing of alarm clock.
Gears appearing as background elements of the course rotate in time to the music.
A looping drum set beat is added to the instrumentation whenever the player is driving at top speed while in first place.
Compared to other race courses, the final lap version is much faster compared to the normal version.
 DS Tick-Tock Clock - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:30 |
| DS Tick-Tock Clock (Frontrunning) - The remix heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, an arrangement of "Tick-Tock Clock" can play in Free Roam and during routes in VS Race. This rendition is live-recorded and best described as avant-garde jazz, featuring an upright bass, woodwinds, keyboards, and guitar. Throughout the track, toy percussion is used to evoke the sound of a ticking and winding clock. After the first loop, the arrangement shifts from a straight rendition to a fast-paced bebop rendition (introducing irregular rhythms played by Rhodes piano and bongos), before returning to how it was before for its ending coda.
| Tick-Tock Clock - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
Gallery[edit]
Image for "DS Tick-Tock Clock" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart DS | Nintendo DS | 2005 | Original | Shinobu Nagata | |
| Mario Kart 8 | Wii U | 2014 | Arrangement | "DS Tick-Tock Clock"[2] | Ryo Nagamatsu |
| Remix | |||||
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Nintendo Switch | 2017 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "DS Tick-Tock Clock"[2] | Ryo Nagamatsu |
| Past remix (Mario Kart 8) | |||||
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Tick-Tock Clock"[1] |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack | 2015 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "DS Tick-Tock Clock" | Ryo Nagamatsu |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Music | 2024 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "DS Tick-Tock Clock" | Ryo Nagamatsu |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | DS チクタクロック[3] DS Chikutakurokku |
DS Ticking Clock |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Mario Kart World pause menu
- ^ a b Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack
- ^ Nintendo Music
