Luigi Circuit

Luigi Circuit is a series of racecourses from the Mario Kart series, named after by Mario's brother, Luigi. This course has presented in most of every Mario Kart installment, being basically a typical racecourse, featuring some traits on Luigi.

Mario Kart 64
Luigi Circuit makes its first appearance in Mario Kart 64, better known as Luigi Raceway outside Japan. This circuit is the first racecourse of the Mushroom Cup.

The course is simple, containing open turns through which the racer may employ powersliding. The race begins near a stand full of fans, atop which is a large model of Luigi's green cap. Following a long straightway and a wide banked turn is a tunnel, followed by another long turn and a short straightway leading back to the starting line. Small shortcuts may be gained by cutting across the grass and sand on the turns while using a Mushroom or Star. A more substantial shortcut requires a Mushroom and involves jumping over the brick wall shortly after the tunnel, which saves around seven seconds per lap.

During the race, a balloon portraying Luigi's face dips onto the course at the end of the first straightway, hanging an Item Box beneath. The item is always a Spiny Shell and may be obtained if a racer hops right when the balloon reaches its lowest point of descent.

If a player beats the time of 1:52:00 on this course in Time Trial mode, he or she unlocks a Luigi Staff ghost.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario Kart: Super Circuit's Luigi Circuit is unique in that it is the only Luigi Circuit not to be the starting course for the game. Further, this version holds the distinction of being the only track to ever take place in the rain.

This course is the first in the Lightning Cup and is set on what appears to be a airfield filled with rain puddles, which when driven through cause drivers to spin out. In the background are hangars numbered "64" and "65", flanking a radio control building. In the third lap a Luigi blimp takes off and flies around (and is later seen in Sky Garden). The course features many tight turns and winds around circuitously several times. As in other Super Circuit tracks many shortcuts can be achieved.

This track returned as the third course in the Leaf Cup in Mario Kart DS, though with a newly-redesigned 3-D Luigi blimp, more-realistic rain, and with the hangar numbers both changed to "00". Further, in the DS version drivers cannot avoid spinning out when driving through puddles. The course cannot be played over Wi-Fi.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Luigi Circuit is the first track in the Mushroom Cup in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, as well as the first race in the All-Cup Tour. The design is a large figure-8 with ramps on the sides, similar to Luigi Raceway in Mario Kart 64. Leading racers traveling down the track can pass followers going in the opposite direction. In all difficulties above 50cc the guard rail is removed; as a consequence racers can collide with each other. To prevent cheating drivers are required to pass the booster on both ramps in order to complete the lap. In higher difficulties players may reach several shortcuts around the track offering Item Boxes.

The track begins beside a building in which karts are presumably assembled and repaired. To the right (when traveling toward the first turn) lies a giant Chain Chomp. Racers may either go left on the main road or (above 50cc) right on a smaller road with double item blocks, the latter of which is unprotected from the Chain Chomp. After this comes the first of two turns set with boosters. In the background is a Rank "A" mansion from the GameCube title Luigi's Mansion. Above 50cc racers may veer right onto a smaller path for an extra item block. After the turn the track re-merges with the straightway, to the right of which (when traveling now in the opposite direction) is a lake. After a second booster-set turn the circuit is completed.

This track reappears in the Shell Cup in Mario Kart DS. The DS version lacks the shortcuts of the higher difficulties in DD, but also the inner wall. It retains the Rank "A" mansion in the background and is playable over the game's Wi-Fi connection.

Staff Ghost
To unlock the staff ghost (using Luigi/Mario in the Red Fire kart), the player must achieve a time faster than 1:29.000.

Official Descriptions

 * Official website: “A great beginner’s course, Luigi Circuit has long straightaways and big, loping curves on either end.”
 * Official Australian website: “Long and lanky, like Luigi himself, Luigi Circuit is also home to a Chain Chomp that snaps at any racers who dare to come close.”

Mario Kart DS
While there was no new Luigi Circuit in Mario Kart DS, a port of the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Luigi Circuit can be found in the Shell Cup and a port of Mario Kart: Super Circuit ' s Luigi Circuit can be found in the Leaf Cup. In place of the new Luigi's usual circuit track is Luigi's Mansion, which is modeled after the respective game it appears in.

GBA Luigi Circuit
Mario Kart: Super Circuit ' s port is the same excluding a few background details that have been modified to be three-dimensional. The rain now also appears to be flying at the screen, as it would if one were passing through it at a high speed. The course is not playable over the game's Wi-Fi.

GCN Luigi Circuit
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! ' s version of Luigi Circuit is pretty much the same, although the long straightaways are a lot wider. The blimp from the GBA version of Luigi Circuit is also visible. The background has also been reduced to a flat image instead of actual models. The course is playable over the game's Wi-Fi.

Staff Ghost
1:29.759 using Luigi in the Poltergust 4000

Mario Kart Wii
In Mario Kart Wii, Luigi Circuit is once again the starting track of the Mushroom Cup. The track is similar to its 64 and Double Dash counterparts in that it is a giant semi-oval shaped track. It features a long boosted turn which was featured in both previous console versions. It seems to be styled similar to New Super Mario Bros., sharing the same colored hills. There are several signs all along the track saying Luigi and Luigi Kart. If you try to leave the course or go too far off track, you will hit a fence.

The track starts out in front of a massive stand of Miis cheering on racers with Luigi's Hat Emblem from the 64 Version of the track. On the right, a building can be seen that is also a garage. At the end of the first straight away a giant statue of Luigi can be seen with Miis standing in front of it. When playing as a Mii, Luigi's head is replaced with that of a Mii's. After the first non-boosted turn, racers will see the return of the Cheep-Cheep balloon, a staple of the Mario Kart series long missing since the Nintendo 64 incarnation, on the right. On the left, a ramp surrounded by dirt can be used to pull off a trick but a mushroom should be used to cross the dirt to get to it. The final turn is made in front of the massive set of bleachers with many speed ups in a row similar to Double Dash with a giant statue of Luigi's hat. The track is playable in the game's WiFi connection.

There are no real shortcuts in the level, however the small ramp can be used to gain an extra item block. If players have a mushroom they can also cut the last turn very sharp over dirt, if they can avoid the many warp pipes.

Staff Ghost
There are two Staff Ghosts in Luigi's Circuit. One is available from the start and has a time of 1:29.670, using Luigi in the B Dasher Mk. 2. The second ghost is unlocked if the player gets a time of 1:26.394 or less; this ghost's time is 1:19.419, using Luigi on the Mach Bike.