Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Donut Plains 2

Donut Plains 2 is the eighth track in Super Mario Kart and the third track in the Flower Cup. It is slightly more difficult and more narrow than Donut Plains 1.

Layout and Origin
Like before, Donut Plains is based off the area with the same name in Super Mario World. If compared to Donut Plains 1, it slightly resembles a mirrored version of so. A new and dreaded obstacle is the Monty Mole. Mark my words, do not run into one of these. If said thing happens, you will be slowed down and the little demon will attach to your kart until you get rid of it. The only way to do so is toggle with the d-pad until it falls off. Anyway, the race starts off quite easy, with a few coins and some item panels. Turning, you see a long path with a few coins. Up next is a z like turn, which contains our little demon
friends. A large u turn, a small u turn and you find a huge
u turn with a bunch of Monty Moles. Go up to find another u turn
with plenty coins. One last u turn, but it has Monty Moles, so
don't go too far to the end. After this, only four more laps to go.

Future Appearances
Donut Plains 2 has only appeared in Mario Kart:
Super Circuit without Monty Moles. Otherwise, it
has not made any other future appearances.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Ghost Valley 2

Ghost Valley 2 is the seventh track in Super Mario Kart and the second track in the Flower Cup. It is not as spacey as the first Ghost Valley, so it is more of an intermediate stage.

Layout and Origin
Like the first one, Ghost Houses in Super Mario World, although the track appears to be an old bridge. The obstacles and hazards are the same also, rails that fall down and a black abyss. It has a fair amount of sharp turns also. You start with two instant right turns. In between them is a lot of item panels. After the second right is an instant left. Afew coins rest here, so try to grab them. Turn left then instantly turn right. Grab some coins and drive till the right turn arrives. Drive a little longer and turn left. This turn is slightly narrow because it appears the bridge is starting to fall down here. Turn right and
meet a slight shift to the right. Turn right one last time
and use the yellow boost pad if your timing is right and
\make the finish line.

Future Appearances
In Mario Kart Wii
It reappeared in Mario Kart: Super Circuit with not much changed. The track returned in Mario Kart  Wii as the third track in the Shell Cup. Like the other tracks, only three laps are needed to finish.

Choco Island 1

Choco Island 1 is the sixth track in Super Mario Kart and the first track in the Flower Cup. It is relatively easy, but is recommended for intermediate players. It, along with its second rendition, are two of my favorite tracks in the game, mostly because of the laid back music.

Layout and Origin
Choco Island 1 is based off of the Chocolate Island area in Super Mario World. The track has fairly easy turns. Though curvy, it isn't that much of a bother. The main obstacles are Piranha Plants, which will cause the racer to spin out of control, and mud, which will slow the kart down. You start with a slight curvy turn. Then turn left to see a lot of item panels and a lot of bumps. Slightly turn in an s shape to see many more bumps and some hidden coins. Turn left to see slightly less bumps and a lot more coins. Avoid
the mud puddles and any bumps around them. Drive
through the curvy, bumpy, muddy monster and turn
left to see the finish line straight ahead.

Future Appearances
Choco Island 1 has only appeared in Mario Kart:
Super Circuit without Piranha Plants. Otherwise, it
has not made any other future appearances.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Mario Circuit 2

Mario Circuit 2 is the fifth track in Super Mario Kart and the last in its Mushroom Cup. The track is a good start for players who have gotten the hang of the game.

Layout and Origin
The origin should be the same as its first rendition. The track is rather curvy and may be a little hard to navigate. Not many obstacles are here, these being two oil spills, which cause you to spin out of  control, the dirt, which can slow you down and pipes,  which may be in the road. You start with an instant left turn. You find some coins before making a curvy turn. You then see  many item panel. Next turn is a long path, but try to dodge the oil spill on the right of the road, You then turn left and overall make a slight s shape once you turn right. After a long drive you turn right, but don't stay too close to the left of the road or you'll hit the other oil
spill. Collect a few coins and make a u-turn to find a
powerful boost pad that takes you to the other side
of the road, but if you mess up while airborne, you
will end up back on the previous road you were on.
After crossing the boost pad, make one last turn and
In Mario Kart 7
cross the finish line.

Future Appearances
It reappeared in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, only without the oil spills. The track returned in Mario Kart 7 as the second track in the Banana Cup with an added glide pad at the end. Like other Snes tracks, it has three laps instead of five.

Bowser Castle 1

Bowser Castle 1 is the fourth track in Super Mario Kart and its Mushroom Cup. It isn't hard, but it is one of the harder tracks in the beginner's area.

Layout and Origin
The track is based off Bowser's ever so famous castle. The music, on the other hand, is a remix of the final battle with Bowser in Super Mario World. The track is mostly made of stone with lava surrounding it. The only dangerous obstacle is the lava, which racers can fall in if they play with the controls too much. You also run into walls, which may slow you down. Like several other tracks, you start fairly easy with a long lane and a few coins. You then turn left and find a lot of items and another
easy path with a few coins. On the next turn there are a few speed pad which are slightly useful if you somehow end  up losing, but try not to get stuck in
the edges or you will end up losing. You then make a
little u-turn with a few jump pads which you must use
to jump over the lava pools. Next is another  u-turn
with a lot of coins in it. After turning are more jump
pads and more lava pools. One more u-turn and you
have hit the finish line.

Future Appearances
Bowser Castle 1 has only appeared in Mario Kart:
Super Circuit. Otherwise, it has not made any other
future appearances.

Ghost Valley 1

Ghost Valley 1 is the the third track in Super Mario Kart and the third track in its Mushroom Cup. Because of this, it is also a beginner track.

Layout and Origins
Ghost Valley is based off the Ghost Houses in Super Mario World, though the biggest resemblance is the music. The track is fairly easy and barely has any obstacles besides barriers that fall if ran into, which players can then fall through if they run into the same area, and bouncy pads that can become enemies if used carelessly. It overall appears to be a bridge of a sort. Boos appear in the background, though they do not harm or bother the racers in any way. You start with a long path ahead of you with a few coins and a lot of item tiles. Up next is a slightly sharp turn, which there are a lot of in this track. These are what may make you run into barriers and possibly fall if it been already hit. You then meet a small u-turn with a few coins. You make your next turn and find a yellow
jump pad, then a few coins and then two other jump
pads with item pads that are nearly impossible to reach
if you use the pads. Then there's the next turn and
another jump pad which must be used to cross a broken
part of the bridge. You can then either make a an easy
right turn, grab a few coins, turn left and cross the finish
line, or you can master a really hard shortcut using a
Cape Feather, grab four coins, turn left and make the finish
line.

Future Appearances
Ghost Valley 1 has only appeared in Mario Kart: Super
Circuit with no jump pads. Otherwise, it has not made
any other future appearances.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Donut Plains 1

Donut Plains 1 is the second track in the Mushroom Cup and the second track in Super Mario Kart. It is also the first Donut Plains track. Like Mario Circuit 1, it is a fairly easy and laid back track for all beginners.

Layout and Origins
Although it does not represent it too well, Donut Plains is based off of the Donut Plains area from Super Mario World. Like I already mentioned, the track is very laid back There are no road hazards besides pipes on the sides of the road and a few mud puddles which can slow you down. There are also small water puddles that your kart can fall in, but that can only happen if you decide to drive in the grass for no reason. The track starts fairly easy with slight turns, coins and many item tiles. After this you meet a small bridge that leads you to your next turn.
You then meet a u-like turn. You can either take it or
take the nearby shortcut between the fence if you have
a Mushroom (check map). You then take a large turn,
but do not stay too close to the right side of the turn
because one of those mud puddles are near it. You then have a long lane and a few coins ahead before making your next turn. Drive down this lane and you meet your last turn, a big
In Mario Kart DS
but not hard one. Once again, another mud puddle in the same spot so keep clear from it. One last lane and you've made it to your next lap.


Future Appearances
It reappeared in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, without green pipes. The track returns in Mario Kart DS as the first track in the Banana Cup. Like the others, you only have to race three laps.