Luigi Circuit

Luigi Circuit is a series of racecourses from the Mario Kart series, named for Mario's brother Luigi. This course, in some form or another, appears in the majority of Mario Kart installments and is usually among the simplest tracks. Even though they all are usually the simplest tracks, they all differ in size, features, and hazards. The course doesn't appear until Mario Kart 64. From that point on, Luigi Circuit has made an appearance in every Mario Kart to date (excluding the Mario Kart Arcade GP series).

Mario Kart 64
Luigi Circuit makes its first appearance in Mario Kart 64, better known as Luigi Raceway outside Japan. This circuit is the first racecourse of the Mushroom Cup.

The course is simple, featuring open turns through which the racer may employ powersliding. The race begins near a stand full of fans, atop which is a large model of Luigi's green cap. Following a long straightway and a wide banked turn is a tunnel, followed by another long turn and a short straightway leading back to the starting line. Small shortcuts may be gained by cutting across the grass and sand on the turns while using a Mushroom or Star. A more substantial shortcut requires a Mushroom and involves jumping over the brick wall shortly after the tunnel, which saves around seven seconds per lap.

During the race, a balloon portraying Luigi's head dips onto the course at the end of the first straightway, hanging an Item Box beneath. The item is always a Spiny Shell and may be obtained if a racer hops just as the balloon reaches its lowest point of descent.

This course features no hazards. The only threat the course has to the players is either the other racers, the trees, or the offroad sections of the track.

If a player beats the time of 1:52:00 on this course in Time Trial mode, he or she unlocks a Luigi Staff ghost.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario Kart: Super Circuit's Luigi Circuit is unique in that it is the only Luigi Circuit not to be the starting course for the game. Further, this version holds the distinction of being the only Mario Kart track to ever take place in the rain.

This course is the first in the Lightning Cup and is set on what appears to be an airfield filled with rain puddles, which when driven through cause drivers to spin out. In the background are hangars numbered "64" and "65", flanking a radio control building. In the third lap, a Luigi blimp takes off and flies around (and is later seen in Sky Garden). The course features many tight turns and winds around circuitously several times. As in other Super Circuit tracks many shortcuts can be achieved.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Luigi Circuit is the first race track that appears in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! in the Mushroom Cup. The track is a stretched figure 8 with ramps on the sides. Because of this, racers can see other racers going up the track while they are going down. In any setting except for 50cc, the guard rail is removed, and the racers can even collide with each other. To avoid cheating in the course, the drivers have to pass the Dash Panel on both ramps in order to complete the round. Additionally, in the higher settings there are several shortcuts around the track, with Item Boxes in them. In the All-Cup Tour in Double Dash!!, it is always the first race to start.

The track starts off next to what looks like a building for box seats with a garage below. This could be where the karts are repaired or put together, but it is unknown. Going to the right side of the merged lanes, the racers will eventually run into a giant Chain Chomp. If the difficulty is above 50cc, players can go left on the main road, or right on a detour with double item blocks. However this way is protected from the Chain Chomp. After this, the racers will make the first of two turns on boosters. In the background, a rank "A" mansion from the end of Luigi's Mansion can be seen. After the turn, players will once again enter the merged lane on their way back up to the starting line. On the right a lake can be seen, but no life is seen in it. Before the turn, if the difficulty is above 50cc, players can veer right onto a smaller path for an extra item block. After the last wide turn the lap is completed. It seems that this course was inspired by the Luigi Circuit from Mario Kart 64 basing on its layout.

To unlock the staff ghost (using Luigi/Mario in the Red Fire kart), the player must achieve a time faster than 1:29.000.

Official Descriptions

 * Official website: “A great beginner’s course, Luigi Circuit has long straightaways and big, loping curves on either end.”
 * Official Australian website: “Long and lanky, like Luigi himself, Luigi Circuit is also home to a Chain Chomp that snaps at any racers who dare to come close.”

Mario Kart DS
While there was no new Luigi Circuit in Mario Kart DS, a port of the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Luigi Circuit is found in the Shell Cup, plus a port of Mario Kart: Super Circuit ' s Luigi Circuit belongs to the Leaf Cup. Instead of Luigi having a circuit in this game, he now has a mansion for a racetrack, called Luigi's Mansion, which is based off the game of the same name.

GBA Luigi Circuit
Mario Kart: Super Circuit ' s port is the same excluding a few background details that have been modified to be three-dimensional. The rain now also appears to be flying at the screen, as it would if one were passing through it at high speed. The course is not available in Wi-Fi mode.

GCN Luigi Circuit
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! ' s rendition of Luigi Circuit is pretty much the same, although the long straightaways are notably wider. The blimp as seen in the GBA version of Luigi Circuit is also visible. The background has also been reduced to a flat image instead of actual models. The course is playable over the game's Wi-Fi.

Staff Ghost
1:29.759 using Luigi in the Poltergust 4000

Mario Kart Wii
In Mario Kart Wii, Luigi Circuit is once again the starting track of the Mushroom Cup. The track is similar to its 64 and Double Dash counterparts in that it is a giant semi-oval shaped track. It features a long boosted turn which was featured in both previous console versions. It seems to be styled similar to New Super Mario Bros., sharing the same colored hills. There are several signs all along the track saying Luigi and Luigi Kart. If the player tries to leave the course or goes too far off track, he/she will hit a fence.

Course Layout
The track starts out in front of a massive stand of Miis cheering on racers with Luigi's Hat Emblem from the 64 Version of the track. On the right, a building can be seen that is also a garage. At the end of the first straight away a giant statue of Luigi can be seen with Miis standing in front of it. When playing as a Mii, Luigi's head is replaced with that of a Mii's. After the first non-boosted turn, racers will see the return of the Cheep-Cheep balloon, a staple of the Mario Kart series long missing since the Nintendo 64 incarnation, on the right. On the left, a ramp surrounded by dirt can be used to pull off a trick, but a Mushroom should be used to cross the dirt to get to it. The final turn is made in front of the massive set of bleachers with many boost panels in a row similar to Double Dash with a giant statue of Luigi's hat. The last part of the track is a short straight to the start/finish line.

Shortcuts
The small ramp just before the last turn can be used to gain an extra item block but provides a negligible time gain. A Mushroom is required to access this ramp without losing time. Players possessing a Mushroom can also skip the last turn by boosting through the dirt while being careful to avoid the warp pipes sticking out of the ground.

Staff Ghost
There are two Staff Ghosts in Luigi's Circuit. One is available from the start and has a time of 1:29.670, using Luigi in the B Dasher Mk. 2. The second ghost is unlocked if the player gets a time of 1:26.394 or less; this ghost's time is 1:19.419, using Luigi on the Mach Bike.