N64 Royal Raceway

Royal Raceway, known as Peach Circuit in Japan, is the third race course of the Star Cup in Mario Kart 64. The race takes place around a giant lake, and it is easy to fall into the water. There is a big jump over the lake in one section of the track. If the racer goes off the track after the jump, they can see and drive around the Mushroom Castle as it appeared in Super Mario 64, though there is no way to enter the castle. The Award Ceremony also takes place in this course at the end of each cup, where the top three drivers receive various trophies, and confetti for the big winner along with the gold trophy. The course returns in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the third course in the Banana Cup, and in Mario Kart Tour as the signature course of the Peach Tour.

This course has the same music as Luigi Raceway, Mario Raceway, and Wario Stadium. In Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it is enhanced with live recorded instruments and given a slight jazz-funk feel. In Mario Kart Tour, however, it shares the same music as Luigi Raceway from its Mario Kart 7 iteration.

Course layout
The course initially begins on a straightaway next to a grandstand. Following the straightaway section lies a shallow bend towards the left and then a hairpin left, followed by a hairpin right past a wall. This is followed by a shallow bend to the right, in front of a gentle turn. Following that is a sharp bend right that leads onto the straightaway which on the end lies two Dash Panels followed by a Glide Ramp (in Mario Kart 8). After the jump lies a short straightaway followed by a sharp turn left, followed by two turns - one sharp to the left and one to the right. This segment leads to a bend left and onto the finishing straightaway.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Royal Raceway reappears in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the third course in the Banana Cup, making it the only course out of the returning N64 courses that is not the final course of its respective retro cup. The sky is now blue with pink clouds, instead of pink with white clouds, both the starting banner and the bleachers have been redesigned to look more related to Peach's Castle and the iconic crown is now more detailed. The wall, which the racers drive around, still has red and white checker pattern but it now has some design related to Peach's Castle, and subtle heart details have been added. The road markings are also made up of hearts. There are now swan boats in the lake, with Toads riding in them. At the starting line, the Mario Kart logo is now transparent.

The ramp now has evenly spread out five grass arches with ringing bells, which the player can hear when passing by them, hanging on them and the rails on the ramp are redesigned to make it related to Peach's Castle. The long jump section has been shortened and is also a glider segment, which allows players to glide over the large gap and then land gently at the next section. There are hot-air balloons based on Peach, Daisy, and Rosalina's dresses, similar to the balloons present in Daisy Hills from Mario Kart 7. However, the designs for the balloons alternate every race, most noticeable in the one at the end of the glider section. There are also cherry blossom trees like in Mario Circuit from Mario Kart 7 in place of the striped evergreen trees. At the final turns, the grassland areas has been narrowed down to make it less possible for players to slip off the track and end up in the grassland compared to the original.

The road leading to Peach's Castle is now blocked off, meaning it is unable to be driven around compared to the original. Furthermore, the design of Peach's Castle and the area around it have been revised from the original Super Mario 64 version, to look more like a modern interpretation of its design.

Shortcuts
With a Mushroom, it is possible to access a Dash Panel and cut off the fifth turn.

Staff ghost
The staff ghost for this track is Peach on the Prancer, with a time of 2:21.371. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 200cc, the staff ghost is Baby Peach with a time of 1:43.120.

Mario Kart Tour
Royal Raceway reappears in Mario Kart Tour, starting with the Peach Tour. Like GCN Yoshi Circuit, it mostly takes on the appearance of its Mario Kart 8 iteration with elements of 3DS Mario Circuit like the hills in the background. The balloons are no longer princess-themed, instead taking their design from the ones seen in this game's iteration of 3DS Daisy Hills. The starting line banner now uses an opaque Mario Kart logo. It is also the first retro course in the game that has not appeared in any handheld Mario Kart installment. The course is a favorite of Peachette, Pauline (Party Time), Peach (Wedding), Toadette (Explorer), Peach (Halloween), and Bowser (Santa). It is also a favorite of Dixie Kong if she is at level 3, and Peach (Kimono) and Pink Gold Peach if they are at level 6.

Despite using its Mario Kart 8 appearance, this course uses N64 Luigi Raceway's music from Mario Kart 7.

Peach Tour
In the Peach Tour, Royal Raceway served as the tour's signature course. It appeared as the first course in the Peach Cup, the third course in the Birdo Cup, the location of the bonus challenges in the Dry Bones Cup, the Koopa Troopa Cup, and the Pink Gold Peach Cup, and the location of the tour's Coin Rush. Its T variant appeared as the third course in the Baby Peach Cup and the second course in the King Boo Cup, and its R variant appeared as the second course in the Larry Cup and the first course in the Roy Cup.



Marine Tour
In the Marine Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the first course in the Yoshi Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Wendy Cup. Its R variant appeared as the third course in the Toad Cup, and its T variant appeared as the second course in the Baby Luigi Cup.



Exploration Tour
In the Exploration Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the second course in the Donkey Kong Cup. Its R variant appeared as the second course in the Roy Cup, and its T variant appeared as the first course in the Yoshi Cup.



Summer Festival Tour
In the Summer Festival Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the third course in the Yoshi Cup. Its T variant that appeared as the second course in the Baby Daisy Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Dry Bones Cup, and its R variant appeared as the first course in the Peachette Cup.



Super Mario Kart Tour
In the Super Mario Kart Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the second course in the Yoshi Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Mario Cup. Its T variant appeared as the second course in the Baby Mario Cup, and its R variant appeared as the first course in the Baby Rosalina Cup.



Sunset Tour
In the Sunset Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the first course in the Baby Rosalina Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Waluigi Cup. Its R variant appeared as the second course in the Toad Cup, and its T variant appeared as the first course in the Baby Daisy Cup.



Rosalina Tour
In the Rosalina Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the second course in the Rosalina Cup. Its R variant appeared as the first course in the Donkey Kong Cup, and its T variant appeared as the second course in the Waluigi Cup.



Cat Tour
In the Cat Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the second course in the Wario Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Peach Cup. Its R variant appeared as the second course in the Toad Cup, and its T variant appeared as the first course in the Pauline Cup.



Peach vs. Daisy Tour
In the Peach vs. Daisy Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the second course in the Baby Luigi Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Birdo Cup. Its T variant appeared as the third course in the Ice Mario Cup, and its R variant appeared as the third course in the Ludwig Cup.



Yoshi Tour (2021)
In the 2021 Yoshi Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the location of the tour's Coin Rush. Its T variant appeared as the location of the bonus challenge in the Dry Bowser Cup, and its R/T variant appeared as the third course in the Yoshi Cup and the second course in the Donkey Kong Cup.



Bowser vs. DK Tour
In the Bowser vs. DK Tour, Royal Raceway appeared as the second course in the Peachette Cup. Its R variant appeared as the first course in the Funky Kong Cup, its R/T variant appeared as the second course in the Peach Cup, and its T variant appeared as the first course in the Wendy Cup.



Mario Kart 64

 * Instruction manual bio: Of the three speedway-type courses, this one covers the greatest distance. The big jump after the dash zone is very dramatic. Without guardrails along the lake, it can be very easy to overshoot the corner and fall in!

Mario Kart 8

 * Facebook page: Princess Peach welcomes you to the blossom-lined roads of Royal Raceway in Mario Kart 8. She has even baked a cake for you!

Mario Kart 64

 * Koopa Air (Signs)
 * Luigi's (Signs)
 * Mario Star (Signs)
 * Yoshi (Trackside banners)

Trivia

 * In Mario Kart 8, the hot air balloons also appear in the far background of GCN Baby Park.
 * The course's online description in Mario Kart 8 refers to the introduction of Super Mario 64 and its remake.