Luigi Circuit

Luigi Circuit is a series of racecourses from the Mario Kart series, named after Mario's brother Luigi. This course, in some form or another, appears in the majority of Mario Kart installments and is usually among the simplest tracks. Even though they all are usually the easiest tracks, they all differ in size, features, and obstacles.

Mario Kart 64
Luigi Circuit makes its first appearance in Mario Kart 64. The course is called Luigi Raceway outside Japan. This is the first racecourse of the Mushroom Cup. The course features no special hazards, save for small rough terrain areas that are located all over the track. This course reappears in Mario Kart 7 as the first race course in the Shell Cup. It is mostly unchanged, except the hot air balloon that has been moved, and an alternate way has been added on the platforms next to the curves that were inaccessible in Mario Kart 64. This course and SNES Rainbow Road are the only courses not to use either gliding or underwater features in Mario Kart 7.

The music of this course is used as a remix for the Mario Circuit stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

This course marks the first appearance of a screen which mimics the player's view; this concept has reappeared in several courses from later installments.

Course layout
The course is simple, featuring 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 to the left is a long road to a long overhang, followed by another long curve to the left and a short straightway leading back to the starting line, which happens to be part of the longest straightway in the course. During the race, a balloon portraying Luigi's head 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 just as the balloon reaches its lowest point of descent. The course doesn't have any notable shortcut, but it's possible to save seconds by cutting across the grass and sand on the turns while using a Mushroom or a Star.

Staff ghost
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.

Instruction manual description
Long straightaways and easy corners -- the perfect course for beginners to practice their sliding.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario Kart: Super Circuit's Luigi Circuit is unique in that it is the only Circuit course not to be the starting course for the game. Further, this version holds the distinction of being the first Mario Kart 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 an airfield filled with rain puddles during a downpour, 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 (the same blimp can be seen in Sky Garden). The course features many tight turns and winds around circuitously several times.

Course layout
This course starts on a straight road and that soon leads the player into a small curve to the right. Past that curve is another curve to the right, that soon leads into a tight U-turn that winds to the right. After the U-turn is a straight road that soon curves slightly to the left, which then leads to another slight curve to the right.

Past the right curve is a small U-turn to the right that leads into a straight road. After that small straight road is a tight turn to the left that leads into another straight road, this time longer than the last. After that straight road, there is a loose U-turn to the right that has a wavy road when the player proceeds. The road isn't too wavy, but it isn't straight either. Past the longest, straight road on the track is a sharp curve to the left that leads into another straight road. A U-turn then comes, making the player turn left and into the straight road, that has a finish line in it. This is where the track layout restarts, only that another lap has passed.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Luigi Circuit is the first race track that appears in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! in the Mushroom Cup. The track is a stretched figure 8 with ramps on the curves. Because of this, racers can see other racers going up the track while they are going down. In any setting except for 50cc, the guard rail is removed, and the racers can even collide with each other. To avoid cheating in the course, the drivers must go through the Dash Panel on both ramps in order to complete the round. In the All-Cup Tour, it is always the first race to start. A Chain Chomp is located in the entrance of the first curve that approaches to the road often to bowl the karts that are very near to it.

Course layout
The track starts off next to what looks like a building for box seats with a garage below. Players can go left on the main road, or right, where it is explained below. In the background, a rank "A" mansion from the end of Luigi's Mansion can be seen. After the turn, players will once again enter the merged lane on their way back up to the start/finish line to start the cycle again on the next lap. On the right a lake can be seen, but no life is seen in it. After the last wide turn the lap is completed. The course somehow appears to be based on the layout of Luigi Raceway from Mario Kart 64.

Shortcuts
There are no shortcuts in the 50cc version of the track. If the difficulty is above 50cc, players can go far to the right side of the merged lanes to look up an alternate route with a Double Item Box in the middle. Players take this shortcut behind the Chain Chomp and reach quickly the slope with dash panels of the first corner. However, sometimes the shortcut may be blocked by the Chain Chomp.

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

 * Instruction booklet: “Though the Chain Chomp is a bit noisy, this is a relatively peaceful course. The front straight and back straight run parallel to each other, so you'll see your rivals coming and going. Whether you opt for the outside line and the dash panels or cut it close and stay on the inside track is up to you.”
 * Official website: “A great beginner’s course, Luigi Circuit has long straightaways and big, loping curves on either end.”
 * Official European 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 is found in the Shell Cup, plus a port of Mario Kart: Super Circuit's Luigi Circuit belongs to the Leaf Cup. Instead of Luigi having an actual raceway in the game, he now has a mansion for a racetrack, called Luigi's Mansion, which is based off the game of the same name.

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, and the two hangers were changed into 00's. The rain now also appears to be flying at the screen, as it would if one were passing through it at high speed. The course is not available in Wi-Fi mode.

GCN Luigi Circuit
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'s rendition of Luigi Circuit is pretty much the same, although the long straightaways are notably wider and the shortcuts were removed. The blimp as seen in 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 the player tries to leave the course or goes too far off track, they will hit a fence. This track is considered the easiest in the game, because of its simplicity and lack of any hazards. Luigi Circuit also appears in the end credits after winning the Special Cup or the Lightning Cup. The second part of the credits theme is a remix of the theme for this track.

Course layout
The track starts out in front of a massive stand of Miis cheering on racers with Luigi's Hat Emblem from the Mario Kart 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 boost panels in a row similar to Double Dash with a giant statue of Luigi's hat. The last part of the track is a short straight to the finish line, which starts the second lap of the race.

Shortcuts
The small ramp just before the last turn can be used to gain an extra item block but provides a negligible time gain. A Mushroom is required to access this ramp without losing time. Players possessing a Mushroom can also skip the last turn by boosting through the dirt while being careful to avoid the warp pipes sticking out of the ground.

Staff ghosts
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 Sprinter. 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.

Guide bio
"Luigi has been busy creating an excellent "starter" track, and the long stretches allow you to master your drifts (karts) and wheelies (bikes) while jostling for position. Make sure you cut in on all the corners, learn the "racing line," and don't forget that there are more shortcuts than you think!"

Tournaments
Luigi Circuit had three different tournaments that took place.

Tournament 1
The first Luigi Circuit tournament was a karts only and Wii Wheel only GP race, with no items appearing at all. It took place as the second tournament of October 2008, and it was repeated as the second tournament of October 2010.

Tournament 2
The second Luigi Circuit tournament took place during a sunset (as in the credits). It was a GP race, but with no restrictions. The Bomb Cars from Moonview Highway appeared on the track as well. This tournament was the first tournament of May 2009.

Tournament 3
The third Luigi Circuit tournament was the same as the first. However, it uses bikes only instead of Karts. It took place as the first tournament of March 2010.

Mario Kart 7
While there is no new Luigi Circuit in Mario Kart 7, a port of Luigi Raceway in Mario Kart 64 appears in the game. This is one of two Luigi courses that appear in the Shell Cup, the other being Luigi's Mansion. In the Mushroom Cup, Toad Circuit replaces Luigi Circuit as the first course of the game.