Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 8)

Bowser's Castle is the penultimate course of the Special Cup in Mario Kart 8. This incarnation is heavily based off the final levels from several Mario platformers, particularly those in Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2, and Super Mario 3D World. It also contains more obstacles, such as Grey Bowser Statues that shoot lasers (similar to Super Mario Bros. 3), swinging spiked balls, large rolling boulders, etc.

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, fiery moving statue 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, while a number of Bowser's Airships, taking their design from the Super Mario Galaxy franchise, are seen floating around its exterior. Like in many other Bowser's Castles, lava pillars sometimes gush out of the lava pits, damaging other drivers that pass the place where these hazards are nearby. The castle seems larger than most of its previous incarnations and has a more uplifting theme for its music.

This course appears to themed after a steel foundry, particularly the inside of the castle and the lava that merely resembles a hot molten iron.

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 at 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 on, but with 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 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 nitro 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 breathe fire. Instead, it just punches the two paths of the main road.