5. Bowser's Castle
Bowser's Castle courses always impress, but none quite like this. The flames spewing out of his massive castle right at the beginning of the race really sets the mood for the epic, intense drive throughout his castle full of fire wheels, lava hazards, and a gigantic stone Bowser that punches with his fists of lava. Fists of lava.
4. Thwomp Ruins
Thwomp Ruins is set in the Mushroom Cup, so racers will be able to see this course early on, and it isn't mind-blowingly epic like Bowser's Castle, but what it does have that makes it even better is the route selection. After you leave the first tunnel, you come into a clearing. Where do you go? To the sides to avoid the Thwomp in the middle? Or do you risk the tricky flight? Would you rather just dive into the water and drive from there? The choices makes this course a really cool one. Not to mention all of the things that have been done to the design to make it look old and ruin-y.
3. Shy Guy Falls
Another early-on course is that of Shy Guy Falls. Shy Guy Falls, for the most part only has one route to take, so alternate routes aren't its strong point, but the overall design is a thing of beauty. Driving up a waterfall is cool, but driving down one is even more so. Another characteristic of this course that makes it so awesome is all of the working Shy Guy, making a living by mining the precious diamond of Shy Guy Falls.
2. Rainbow Road
There is surprisingly a lot of criticism for Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8, but I believe it is a masterpiece. Critics are saying it isn't a "rainbow" or a "road", it's just a space station. It's a Mario Kart TV space station. THAT'S FLIPPIN COOL. (Just don't ask how they're gliding in space)
1. Mount Wario
Mount Wario is not only the coolest course in Mario Kart 8, but in the entire series. And that is saying quite a bit. But here's why:
Mount Wario sets the mood right away, when you start inside of helicopter. From there, you drop onto the snow and begin to race. Once on the ice, you slide around to the bottom of the ice paths. Now you are in a cave, which starts the beginning of both the second lap and the anti-gravity segment. What makes the cave a cool place is the multiple routes available, you can either stay on the anti-grav walls or drop down to the water. There are also flying segments and at the end of the cave chaos comes a brief moment of normality, before entering your second anti-gravity segment, in which you drive horizontally across the face of what appears to be a dam. Once across the dam face, you jump down onto the snow and enter a forest. Once again, the path forks in nearly every direction, and you choose how to get through the maze of trees. And once you find your way out, here is the big finale. Lap 3 begins and you begin to drive down a ski slope. Flags and fences and all. Look to your left and see cheering fans. Look to your right and see Shy Guys snowboarding down the other side of the slope. Then you cross some moguls, and enter one last anti-gravity section which sends you hurtling towards a huge ramp, which allows you to then take to the air and fly down to one last turn before finishing.
What makes this course special is not only the fact that you start in a Mario Kart TV helicopter, but you get to see all of the detail poured out into this level. Shy Guys snowboard alongside you in Lap 3. Fallen trees and logs on the ground act as ramps in lap 2. Overall, the experience of Mount Wario is a spectacular one, and we all can enjoy it come May 30th.
