Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 8)

Bowser's Castle is the penultimate course of Special Cup in Mario Kart 8. The course takes place in Bowser's Castle and its surroundings, covered with lava pits, fireballs, and so forth.

Overview
In this incarnation of Bowser's Castle, several notable objects are placed inside and outside the castle. One of the notable features is the giant, flaming golem in a shape of Bowser himself that constantly punches the forked road to creates ripples on the track. Several minions of Bowser, such as Hammer Bros. and Dry Bones, are seen patrolling inside the castle, sometimes cheering for the drivers. Like in many other Bowser's Castles, lava pillars sometimes gush out of the lava pits, damaging other drivers that passes the place where these hazards are nearby. The castle seems larger than most of its previous incarnations and having a different theme for its music.

Course layout
The course starts in the entrance of the castle. As soon as the drivers enter the castle, they will see the miniature of Bowser pointing the right way, along with several Gray Bowser Statues that shoot lasers on the drivers. After numerous turns, drivers will enter the road with anti-gravity sections. Along the way lies the ramps that the drivers can perform Tricks, but with the extreme caution, as there lies the sets of Firebars and a flail. After these sections lies the U-turn that leads to the forked way where the flaming Bowser Monument is. Two roads will eventually merge into one and they will have spiraling section of the road. Lava pillars gush out from the lava pit and will hit the unwary drivers that pass through these hazards. At the end of the road lies the gliding pad that leads outside of the castle. There is another U-turn, where incoming boulders launched from one of the castle's cannons will attempt to knock over any racers. After these turns lies the finish line.

Trivia

 * This is the first Bowser's Castle course that does not feature any Thwomps.
 * It is also the first nitro Bowser's Castle course since Mario Kart: Double Dash!! to not have a giant stone version of Bowser's mouth as the castle entrance, instead having a giant shield above the drawbridge with Bowser's emblem on it.
 * During the countdown to the race, the castle's portcullis is seen being raised. This is one of the four courses (the others being Excitebike Arena, Twisted Mansion and Electrodrome) to have an opening animation during the countdown.
 * This is one of the only three Special Cup courses that have boost pads become inactive under certain matter, the others being Cloudtop Cruise and Rainbow Road.
 * If the player can cautiously drive around flaming Bowser statue's fist that is on the boost pad, he or she can make it around, but cannot get a boost.
 * This is the first Bowser's Castle that has a giant Bowser statue that does not breath fire. Instead, it just punches the two paths of the main road.