GCN Yoshi Circuit

Yoshi Circuit is a course in the Star Cup of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and of the Lightning Cup of Mario Kart DS. It is the third one in the Star Cup and the final one in the Lightning Cup respectively.

The course is unique in that it is shaped like Yoshi himself. Many turns are in the course, including a particularly sharp hairpin turn located at Yoshi's "tail". There is a straight area in the middle of the course, perfect for item traps. There are also a lot of Piranha Plants at the side of the road, nipping at racers who get too close.

Course Description
The race first starts at the straight road under Yoshi's "shoe." As the racer progresses for a little bit, the player will make a slow curve to the right. Piranha Plants are present on the grass on the right of the course, and to the left, there is water that will stop the player in his/her tracks if fallen off. Past the curve is a short straight road and a turn left. After the turn left is another straight road and soon, another curve to the right, which would be going around Yoshi's "hands". After the "hand" curve is a straight road, and another turn to the right that leads to an overhang, which starts a large curve around Yoshi's nose.

Inside the curve in Yoshi's nose, the player is protected by walls to the right to prevent him/her from falling into the water. Past the long curve to the right in Yoshi's "nose" is a sign that the player will see to turn left, obviously initiating for the player to turn left. The player will then make a shorter curve to the right around Yoshi's "eyes". Past Yoshi's "eyes" are his "scales", which are basically small and short curves around circular flowerbeds which won't pose the player much of a problem if the player correctly drives straight.

Past the orange flowers is a Piranha Plant, and past that Piranha Plant is a slight downhill change of terrain and a U-turn to the left. Past the U-turn is a small incline and a straight road, as one is progressing the "tail." On the tip of the "tail" is a U-turn to the right and a straight road. The straight road leads to a turn to the left and three Piranha Plants. Past the Piranha Plants is a turn to the right and a straight road, indicating that the finish line is just in front of the player and starting the cycle of the course again, but on the next lap. There are two shortcuts. After the first left turn, if a player gets a Mushroom from an Item Box, he or she can use the Mushroom to jump over the moat, not having to maneuver around Yoshi's "hand". It is also possible to do this without a mushroom, instead using a well-placed powerslide. In the DS version, however, the shortcut can be done with a well placed jump over the moat if the player is using a high acceleration kart. The second shortcut comes right after the tunnel, and it requires the player to use another Mushroom to propel themselves from the course into a tunnel, which emerges into a straightway. There are also Double Item Boxes in the tunnel. This second shortcut is removed in the DS version.

Differences in Mario Kart DS
In Mario Kart DS there are several removed or changed features:


 * The Piranha Plants are no longer in pipes, and do not nip at you.


 * One of the two shortcuts has been removed


 * The Yoshi Copter is missing.


 * The pond/lake on top of Yoshi (cannot be accessed unless hacked) is missing, it is replaced by a piece of wood.


 * The humps on Yoshi's head are no longer flower beads, and cannot be driven through.


 * Very few minor graphical differences found, but not many.

Mario Kart: Double Dash

 * Official Website: “Yoshi Circuit is a spine-tingling, mind-bending course filled with dangerous curves and high ocean cliffs. This track if not for the feint of heart.”
 * Official European Website: “A circuit in the shape of the cute green dinosaur. See if you can spot Helicopter Yoshi from Yoshi’s Island in a guest appearance.”

Trivia

 * Interestingly, Daisy Cruiser, which is another Mario Kart: Double Dash!! course, is seen in the background of both Yoshi Circuit (GameCube version only) and Peach Beach. And also, in the background of Daisy Circuit, from Mario Kart Wii.
 * Before the finish line, there is a Yoshi Copter vehicle flying in the sky. It is also seen in Baby Park.
 * The music that plays during racing is the same as the music for the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! versions of Luigi Circuit and Mario Circuit.
 * This course is the only course in the entire series that is shaped as a playable character.
 * Since in DS games, Yoshi has no fingers (his hands are only balls), the fingers were taken out of the course in the DS version.