Lakitu (Mario Kart referee): Difference between revisions

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(→‎Mario Kart: Double Dash!!: In the first three games, the lights go from top to bottom. Double Dash has a new version going from left to right.)
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====''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''====
====''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''====
[[File:MKDD Lakitu.png|thumb|right|Lakitu before counting down the start of the race in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''.]]
[[File:MKDD Lakitu.png|thumb|right|Lakitu before counting down the start of the race in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''.]]
Lakitu reprises his roles in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''. Occasionally, in this game, a [[Cheep Cheep]] will be caught on their device that counts down the start of the race. This is merely a gag, and does not affect the gameplay. This game introduces a U-turn arrow sign to alert players when they are driving the wrong way; this sign becomes the permanent one used in later titles. Also, this game is the first ''Mario Kart'' game to have him shown on the left or right side of the player when they cross the finish line to start another/begin the next lap, depending on the course’s last turn.
Lakitu reprises his roles in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''. Occasionally, in this game, a [[Cheep Cheep]] will be caught on their device that counts down the start of the race. This is merely a gag, and does not affect the gameplay. This game introduces a U-turn arrow sign to alert players when they are driving the wrong way; this sign becomes the permanent one used in later titles. Also, this game is the first ''Mario Kart'' game to have him shown on the left or right side of the player when they cross the finish line to start another/begin the next lap, depending on the course’s last turn. In addition, this game introduces a new signal light that counts down from three going from left to right.


====''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' series====
====''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' series====

Revision as of 10:52, December 24, 2022

Lakitu
Lakitu giving tips in Mario Kart Tour.
Artwork of Lakitu from Mario Kart Tour
Species Fishin' Lakitu[1]
First appearance Super Mario Kart (1992)
Latest appearance Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (2020)
Latest portrayal Tadd Morgan (2011–present)

Lakitu is a character appearing in the Mario Kart series, guiding the race most of the time. He most prominently appears as the referee, holding a starting light with a fishing pole that tells the drivers when the race begins (except in Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Tour), and signals the drivers what lap or section they are currently on or in (appearing on the left/right side of the player, depending on the race’s final turn to the finish line since Mario Kart: Double Dash!!). Another role he has is signaling the players if they are driving the wrong way. If the driver crosses the finish line at the end of the race, then Lakitu comes in, waving the checkered flag.

Another role Lakitu has is helping out the drivers when they are in a bad situation by transporting them back onto the track. This applies when the racers are falling into a void, a body of water that they cannot drive through, or lava, or when they are going out of bounds of the track. However, as a penalty for falling, they have to wait a few seconds before they can drive again, usually losing some position, and in Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Lakitu also takes up to three of the player's coins if they have any.

History

Mario Kart series

Super Mario Kart

Lakitu first appears as the race guide beginning with Super Mario Kart. In this game, Lakitu displays a yellow flag with an "X" on it if players are driving the wrong way. Lakitu's sprites in Super Mario Kart are very similar to Fishin' Lakitu's sprites in Super Mario World. While Fishin' Lakitus in Super Mario World have red eyes, while Lakitu in Super Mario Kart has green eyes, making him appear similar to a Lakitu in a Pipe.

Mario Kart 64

Lakitu's reverse sign.

In Mario Kart 64, Lakitu reprises his roles. Their sign for when a player is driving the opposite way in this game is a red, flashing sign saying "REVERSE".

Group artwork from this game that includes Lakitu is reused as a premade image in Mario Artist: Paint Studio.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Lakitu reprises his roles in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, also bearing the same "REVERSE" sign from Mario Kart 64.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Artwork of Lakitu in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Lakitu before counting down the start of the race in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.

Lakitu reprises his roles in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Occasionally, in this game, a Cheep Cheep will be caught on their device that counts down the start of the race. This is merely a gag, and does not affect the gameplay. This game introduces a U-turn arrow sign to alert players when they are driving the wrong way; this sign becomes the permanent one used in later titles. Also, this game is the first Mario Kart game to have him shown on the left or right side of the player when they cross the finish line to start another/begin the next lap, depending on the course’s last turn. In addition, this game introduces a new signal light that counts down from three going from left to right.

Mario Kart Arcade GP series

Lakitu appears in Mario Kart Arcade GP, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, Mario Kart Arcade GP DX and Mario Kart Arcade GP VR with his original role.

Mario Kart DS

Lakitu reprises most of his roles in Mario Kart DS, with the exception of not performing the countdown to signify the start of the race. It is instead indicated by numbers appearing on screen.

Mario Kart Wii

Lakitu reprises his roles in Mario Kart Wii. In this title, Lakitu can be crushed by a Thwomp when signaling the player about going the wrong way. This visual gag does not return for the following installments.

Mario Kart 7

Lakitu reprises his original role in Mario Kart 7. In races that contain underwater driving, Lakitu sports a snorkeling mask along with his cloud that has a similar pair of goggles. The race tracks that use this are Cheep Cheep Lagoon, Piranha Plant Slide, Wario Shipyard, Rosalina's Ice World, N64 Koopa Beach, GCN Daisy Cruiser and Wii Koopa Cape.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Lakitu as he appears in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the referee and filming for Mario Kart TV.
Lakitu as he appears in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the referee and filming for Mario Kart TV.
Lakitu as he appears in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the referee and filming for Mario Kart TV.

Lakits reprises his role in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, also introducing his role of filming for Mario Kart TV. This lets the player replay the whole race or the best highlights. Other characters, such as Toads, film for the service as well. If the player fails to finish in the top three, Lakitu appears clapping in place of a trophy on the results screen, and "Nice try!" is shown instead of "Congratulations!". Additionally, if the CPU on an end-of-race results screen happens to get stuck on a wall, then they are pulled by an invisible Lakitu. In these games, Lakitu appears immediately to rescue the drivers without them having to fully plummet off-screen when falling off as they would in prior games.

Mario Kart Tour

Lakitu reprises most of his roles in Mario Kart Tour, except for counting down the start of the race. He gives out tips to the player on the loading screen of bonus challenges and announces the results in ranked cups. Occasionally, he wears costumes themed after the tour, such as a Halloween costume during the 2020 Halloween Tour, a New Year's costume during the 2020 Winter Tour and Rosalina Tour, a Spring costume during the 2021 Yoshi Tour, and a Summer costume during the Summer Tour.

Lakitu in his New Year's costume debuts in the New Year's 2021 Tour as a playable character, known as "Lakitu (Party Time)" in-game, and features the Lucky Seven as his special item, which marks this Lakitu's first playable appearance.[2]

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

In Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, Lakitu serves as the guide for the tutorials and the referee for the races.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Lakitu, using his artwork from Mario Kart: Super Circuit, appears as a sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Nintendo Badge Arcade

Lakitu appears as a badge in Nintendo Badge Arcade in a set based on Mario Kart 8.

Paper Mario: Color Splash

Luigi mentioning Lakitu in Paper Mario: Color Splash.
Luigi mentioning Lakitu.

While Lakitu does not appear in Paper Mario: Color Splash, Luigi briefly mentions that "Lakitu's not here to save us" while they drive across the Rainbow Road leading to Black Bowser's Castle.

Profiles and statistics

Super Smash Bros. Brawl sticker

Name Image Artwork from Effect in The Subspace Emissary
Lakitu A sticker of Lakitu in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, originally Mario Kart: Super Circuit artwork. Mario Kart: Super Circuit [Leg] - Attack +13
Usable by: Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser

Mario Kart Tour

Statistics
Special skill Lucky Seven from Mario Kart Tour Lucky Seven
Favorite courses
(Three items per Item Box)
RMX Rainbow Road 2 from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Rainbow Road 2 		DS Waluigi Pinball from Mario Kart Tour
DS Waluigi Pinball 		DS Waluigi Pinball R from Mario Kart Tour
DS Waluigi Pinball R 		RMX Rainbow Road 1R from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Rainbow Road 1R 		MKT Icon Rosalina's Ice World.png
3DS Rosalina's Ice World
MKT Icon Kalimari Desert T.png
N64 Kalimari Desert T 		MKT Icon Mario Circuit 3T.png
SNES Mario Circuit 3T 		MKT Icon Mario Circuit 3R.png
SNES Mario Circuit 3R 		Berlin Byways 2R from Mario Kart Tour
Berlin Byways 2R 		Merry Mountain T from Mario Kart Tour
Merry Mountain T
Paris Promenade 2T from Mario Kart Tour
Paris Promenade 2T 		Paris Promenade 2R from Mario Kart Tour
Paris Promenade 2R 		MKT Icon Donut Plains 2T.png
SNES Donut Plains 2T 		MKT Icon Yoshi Circuit T.png
GCN Yoshi Circuit T 		GBA Bowser's Castle 2T from Mario Kart Tour
GBA Bowser's Castle 2T
RMX Choco Island 2T from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Choco Island 2T 		3DS Rainbow Road R from Mario Kart Tour
3DS Rainbow Road R 		Tokyo Blur 4R from Mario Kart Tour
Tokyo Blur 4R 		MKT Icon Airship Fortress RT.png
DS Airship Fortress R/T 		Tokyo Blur 3R from Mario Kart Tour
Tokyo Blur 3R
RMX Ghost Valley 1R from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Ghost Valley 1R 		Singapore Speedway from Mario Kart Tour
Singapore Speedway 		MKT Icon Sky Garden T.png
GBA Sky Garden T 		MKT Icon Daisy Cruiser T.png
GCN Daisy Cruiser T 		MKT Icon Ghost Valley 2T.png
SNES Ghost Valley 2T
Favored courses
(Two items per Item Box)
RMX Rainbow Road 2R from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Rainbow Road 2R* 		MKT Icon Kalimari Desert.png
N64 Kalimari Desert** 		DS Waluigi Pinball T from Mario Kart Tour
DS Waluigi Pinball T 		RMX Rainbow Road 1T from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Rainbow Road 1T* 		MKT Icon Rosalina's Ice World T.png
3DS Rosalina's Ice World T***
MKT Icon Rosalina's Ice World R.png
3DS Rosalina's Ice World R** 		MKT Icon Mario Circuit 3.png
SNES Mario Circuit 3 		Berlin Byways 2 from Mario Kart Tour
Berlin Byways 2 		MKT Icon Shy Guy Bazaar.png
3DS Shy Guy Bazaar 		Merry Mountain R from Mario Kart Tour
Merry Mountain R
MKT Icon Donut Plains 2.png
SNES Donut Plains 2 		GBA Bowser's Castle 2R from Mario Kart Tour
GBA Bowser's Castle 2R 		RMX Choco Island 2R from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Choco Island 2R 		MKT Icon DK Summit R.png
Wii DK Summit R 		MKT Icon Ghost Valley 1.png
SNES Ghost Valley 1
3DS Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Tour
3DS Rainbow Road 		Tokyo Blur 4R/T from Mario Kart Tour
Tokyo Blur 4R/T 		Tokyo Blur 4 from Mario Kart Tour
Tokyo Blur 4 		MKT Icon Shy Guy Bazaar RT.png
3DS Shy Guy Bazaar R/T 		RMX Choco Island 1R/T from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Choco Island 1R/T
Tokyo Blur 3R/T from Mario Kart Tour
Tokyo Blur 3R/T 		RMX Ghost Valley 1 from Mario Kart Tour
RMX Ghost Valley 1 		3DS Bowser's Castle R from Mario Kart Tour
3DS Bowser's Castle R 		Singapore Speedway R/T from Mario Kart Tour
Singapore Speedway R/T 		MKT Icon Sky Garden R.png
GBA Sky Garden R
Sky-High Sundae from Mario Kart Tour
Sky-High Sundae 		Sky-High Sundae R/T from Mario Kart Tour
Sky-High Sundae R/T 		MKT Icon Luigi Raceway R.png
N64 Luigi Raceway R

* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3. ** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8.

Gallery

Artwork

Sprites and models

Screenshots

Video games

Animation

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese ジュゲム[?]
Jugemu 		Lakitu
フィッシングジュゲム[1]
Fisshingu Jugemu 		Fishin' Lakitu

References

  1. ^ a b 「ちなみに本名は〝フィッシングジュゲム〞どうぞよろしくお願いします。」(By the way, my real name is “Fishing Jugem,” it’s a pleasure to meet you.). Shesez (July 15, 2022). Japanese Mario Kart is VERY Different - Region Break (sourced from page 1 of the Japanese Super Mario Kart instruction booklet). YouTube. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  2. ^ Post about the drivers of the New Year's 2021 Tour from the official English Mario Kart Tour Twitter account

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