Anti-gravity

Anti-gravity is a mechanic in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. When drivers are in anti-gravity mode, they slightly hover above the ground and can drive on walls and upside-down, and their tires turn sideways and glow blue; certain vehicles have blue glows and lights in other places, including the engine in some cases. Some vehicles will also change shape in anti-gravity mode, such as the Koopa Clown activating a pair of propellers and the Streetle’s wings opening. While in anti-gravity mode, drivers can receive Spin Boosts by bumping into other drivers or Spin Boost Pillars.

Characters and vehicle parts have different top speed and handling stats in anti-gravity mode, which are not shown by the game. When in anti-gravity mode, the anti-gravity stats are used, regardless of whether or not the anti-gravity segment takes place underwater (such as in Twisted Mansion). However, even when anti-gravity is active, the vehicles' top speed and traction are still affected by off-road terrain and slippery surfaces.

Most courses featuring anti-gravity have designated sections in which it is activated that start with Antigravity Panels, though there are some courses set entirely in anti-gravity with all drivers already in anti-gravity mode at the start. Wild Woods uniquely starts in an anti-gravity section with all drivers already in anti-gravity mode but is not entirely set in anti-gravity. The first time a driver enters an anti-gravity section, they will audibly react to this, usually saying something related to the activation of anti-gravity mode.

In the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, half-pipes (which strongly resemble Antigravity Panels) cause drivers who jump off of them to be in anti-gravity mode until they land (though they will still remain in anti-gravity mode afterward if they land in an anti-gravity section).

Every new course in the games except Excitebike Arena, Animal Crossing, Super Bell Subway, and Yoshi's Island features anti-gravity, with Mute City, Big Blue, and Sky-High Sundae entirely taking place in anti-gravity. Additionally, twenty-one classic courses feature anti-gravity (seven from the Mario Kart 8 base game, five from its DLC, and nine from the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass):
 * (set entirely in anti-gravity)
 * (only from the half-pipe)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (only from half-pipes)
 * (set entirely in anti-gravity)
 * (only from the half-pipe)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (only from half-pipes)
 * (set entirely in anti-gravity)
 * (only from the half-pipe)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (only from half-pipes)
 * (only from the half-pipe)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (only from half-pipes)
 * Merry Mountain
 * (only from half-pipes)
 * (only from half-pipes)

Additionally, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the battle courses Battle Stadium and Lunar Colony feature anti-gravity, with the latter being set entirely in anti-gravity.

In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a kart is shown having its anti-gravity feature tested before the Kong army travels down Rainbow Road. It is later used when the road splits into extremely-sloped paths. It is also shown that it can be manually deactivated using a button on the dashboard, and can be used to hover above water.

Trivia

 * While drifting in anti-gravity mode, the blue glow will match the corresponding level of Mini-Turbo sparks present, which means it will become orange for a Super Mini-Turbo and purple for an Ultra Mini-Turbo.
 * According to Mario Kart 8 producer Hideki Konno, the anti-gravity mechanic was inspired by the portion of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 7 set on the moon. Fittingly, this part of the course would become an anti-gravity section upon its addition in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, and Lunar Colony also features anti-gravity on the moon.
 * Anti-gravity is referenced in Super Mario Maker, in which the jumping sprite of the Costume Mario costume Kart Mario has its tires in anti-gravity mode.