Wii Grumble Volcano

Grumble Volcano is the last course in the Star Cup of Mario Kart Wii. It takes place in a volcanic area covered with lava. Drivers will have to jump over gaps in the track with lava beneath using the ramps, avoid Fire Snakes, and dodge Volcanic Debris coming from the erupting volcano. The track's theme is very similar to that of World 8 in New Super Mario Bros.. It made a reappearance as a retro track in Mario Kart 8 as the third course in the Lightning Cup.

Description
The course takes place inside and around a volcano that sits on an island in a sea of lava. The first parts of the track take place inside a volcano with crumbling rocks that break and fall into the lava from time to time. Outside, the volcano may throw out Volcanic Debris, which slide in the ground from side to side. This obstacle appears just outside past the moving platforms in the lava. After this part, there are Fire Snakes that come out of pipes that jump around and can spin out the player if the player makes contact with them. ? Blocks and Brick Blocks are found dislodged in the volcano as scenery for the course.

Course layout
At the beginning of the race, there is a straight road. At the first lap, the road is completely intact with no signs of crumbling land. Then, as time passes on and the player advances to the second lap, the sections of this will crumble, leaving lava and lava pillars spilling out of the disintegrated section of the road. After that part is a small, curvy tunnel that leads into the interior of the volcano. This part also has crumbling sections of the road, just like the beginning parts of the race. After the player turns left, the player will then hop onto moving platforms on the lava that move left and right and onto the road again, with more sections of the road that will crumble and fall down from time to time.

After the small section is a tunnel with hexagons for walls. There are two paths to take, though both will lead to the same area with little or no time difference if driven without error. Both paths first curve right, then left. Both are filled with the exact same locations of the item boxes. The only difference is that the left one is greater in height than the other.

After the paths and the tunnel is a place with more platforms that move left and right, now outside the volcano. After the platform part is two roads. One is greater in height than the other and can only be reached by the platform, on the right. It has a ramp with a boost pad on and can be used to dodge incoming flames. The other path, the left one, can be reached by any means and item boxes can be found below.

After the two paths merge again, there is the danger that the player can run into incoming Volcanic Debris, released by the volcano in the background of the course. The path splits again, after a right turn and functions exactly the same as the last except for the boost pad is on the right ramp and the lack of item boxes. After that curve, there are more fireballs to avoid, with a ramp that can give the ability for the player to perform tricks on.

Two paths split again and eventually merge later on. The path on the left leads to a turn on the left, uphill, eventually leading into a ramp with a boost pad on it that the player can trick off of. The other path on the right leads to a sharp turn on the left, with a ramp and another turn to the right. After that is the area where the two paths meet, near the finish line. Past the finish line is the next lap of the race.

Official description

 * Official European website: "With deep lava awaiting anyone who strays off the track and flaming fireballs littering your path, Grumble Volcano will undo all your previous hard work in the Star Cup if you aren't at the top of your game."
 * Trading Card: "The racing can really heat up when battling it out at Grumble Volcano. Lakitu is always busy fishing racers out of the lava beds that line this course. There are many opportunities for mishaps here so watch who you're bumping into. And be sure to watch out for the sections of track that fall away."

Tournaments
2009-TournamentJune1.jpg The first tournament of June 2009 took place at this course. Players competed in a time trial race, but they had to race the track backwards. To start the time trial, players received a set of Triple Mushrooms. This tournament was later repeated as the second tournament of May 2011, the second tournament of August 2012, and the first tournament of November 2013, though with a "Karts only" restriction.

Mario Kart 8
Grumble Volcano returns as a retro course in Mario Kart 8 as the third track in the Lightning Cup. It appears with more advanced graphics and better shading. The volcano that the players drive through now has lava running down it. The course itself maintains its layout from the original, though both the first platform after the cave and the jump from the uphill left path now have gliding pads. Volcanic Debris falls more slowly than in the original course. The course banner has been changed, now resembling a slightly deteriorated structure with torches added. The music also remains the same, similar to 3DS DK Jungle, but has been given an echo effect.

Trivia

 * This is the only race course with lava in the series that is not named after Bowser.
 * There is an extremely well hidden shortcut in the new version of this course. Near the end, at the right side of the fork, there is a pipe. Beside the pipe is small part that the player can do a trick off. In laps 1 and 2, there is a rock blocking the shortcut, but at the start of lap 3, it will sink into the lava, letting the player use it on lap 3.