A quick reference guide to anyone who's stuck in the game. Hope this helps some people!
Secret Characters
Note that you only get most of these in 150cc. So if you beat 150cc entirely, you'll easily unlock everyone.
Daisy
Win 150cc Mushroom Cup
Wario
Win 150cc Flower Cup
Rosalina
Win 150cc Star Cup
Metal Mario
Win 150cc Special Cup
Shy Guy
Win 150cc Shell Cup
Honey Queen
Win 150cc Banana Cup
Wiggler
Win 150cc Leaf Cup
Lakitu
Win 150cc Lightning Cup
Mii
Win all cups at any difficulty level
Kart Parts
You unlock these every 100 or so coins you get in the game. It's kind of random what parts you get for each amount of coins.
Mirror Mode
Beat all cups in 150cc.
Stars by Name
Beat all cups with a certain star rank (either at least one star on each, at least two stars on each or at least three stars on each). The lowest rank is what counts, so if all but one have three stars and that missing one has just one star, you'll have one star next to your name.
You can see it next to your name in your profile in the 'Mario Kart Channel' section.
'Expert' Staff Ghosts
There are two 'ghosts' for each track, usually including one by Nintendo and another by Retro Studios. However, the default one doesn't seem particularly good, does it? Well, no worries, there's a proper staff ghost (who's a lot better at the track in question) that's unlocked if you beat the first one. For example, for Bowser's Castle, the 'crap' staff ghost is:
Ret★Matt M
02:34:815
While the decent one is:
Ret★Tom
02:15:244
Note how much better the unlockable one is compared to the first guy.
Golden Tires
Get at least a one star rank on every cup. Extremely easy actually.
Rocket Start
Hold down A from when the 2 is disappearing in the pre race countdown to do a rocket/turbo start when the race begins.
Drafting
Not a cheat, but the manual still fails to mention it. Basically, stay closely behind someone for a few seconds (you'll see speed lines coming from your kart if you do it correctly), and you'll gain a boost of speed that will rocket you forwards. Watch out for items though, you've got no way to block them while drafting. Surprisingly, this does actually work in real life.
Character Stats
From Mario Wiki:
First number is speed, second acceleration, third weight, fourth handling and fifth off road.
[font=courier new,courier,monospace]Toad, Koopa Troopa, Lakitu, Shy Guy 3 4 2.25 3 4
Peach, Daisy, Yoshi 3.25 3.5 2.75 3 3.75
Mario, Luigi, Mii 3.5 3 3.25 2.75 3.75
Donkey Kong, Rosalina, Wiggler 3.75 2.5 3.75 2.5 3.75
Bowser, Wario, Metal Mario, Honey Queen 4 2 4.25 2.5 3.5[/font]
Intended Shortcuts
These are the ones Nintendo deliberately placed in the track, and some are surprisingly hard to find.
Toad Circuit
N/A
Daisy Hills
Just before the ramp leading to the section where you glide past some balloons to the windmills on the other side, there's a smaller ramp with boost pads to the left.
Cheep Cheep Lagoon
When you exit the water for the first time, take the left most path in the cave, which lets you glide over the water section which the others players have to take.
Shy Guy Bazaar
In the market, take the right most ramp and then follow the path across the rooftops of the various market stalls.
Wuhu Island Loop
When you get past the first 'checkpoint', and then the tunnel, you'll see a cave in the mountain below and to the right of the track. Drop down and follow the path to reach a gliding section which places you further out along the track. You can also continue gliding to a ramp to the left, to do some tricks and save even more time.
Bit further up there's some rocks sticking out the sea, one with a boost pad on it. Jump across them (it's harder than it looks).
Finally, while not exactly a 'short' cut, after the third 'checkpoint' the path splits. Take the one by the lighthouse to pass some boost pads and a glider section, which takes you around a fair bit of the course.
Mario Circuit
N/A
Melody Motorway/Music Park
After the Piranha Plants, there's a ramp to the left. Use a Mushroom to cross the grass and boost off it, then a trick to gain speed/save time.
After the music notes that bounce up and down, there's a bouncy drum platform just to the right of the track. Jump to it, and jump back to the track at the other side for a minor corner cut.
Alpine Pass
Just before the slope with all the boulders, there's a ramp in the grass. Boost over and jump off it to potentially save time.
Piranha Pipeway
At the end, you can glide over the castle's roof for coins. You can also blast past the cardboard bush ahead of you to get through a not very well hidden hole in the fence and cut the last corner.
Wario Galleon
There are a ton of different paths (at the start, in the ship's hull, at the end of the level), but none are too much shorter than each other to be honest. There's also a ramp right near the end that lets you cut off a bit of the last corner.
Koopa City/Neo Bowser City
At the end of the track, you can glide to the left and over a copy of the Koopa Clown Car (which is causing an updraft), to skip most of the first straightway.
Wuhu Mountain Loop
A bit after the start, and past the early 'ramps' you can see alternate roads and some ramps leading up to them. Jump off the ramps to the pieces of road in the grass and use them both to save some time (one leads directly to the next).
After the cave and first checkpoint, you can either go into the lake to the left for an alternate underwater route, or go through the castle's front door and follow the path to cut a corner. Both are useful to save a few seconds.
At the end, there also seems to be a boost pad on the roof of the hotel, which you can use with extremely good aim/timing.
Donkey Kong Jungle
Prior to the ramps leading to the Golden Temple, there's a ramp by one of the pools of mud. Go up it to get to use your glider and soar over the other races on the approach to the temple.
At the end, when the path splits, take the one without the coins to save some time.
Rosalina's Ice World
In the ice cave, stick to the right wall to find a hidden passage filled with boost pads that will save a ton of time. Or play the track against the computer opponents in 150cc, the best ones there tend to use the shortcut every single time.
Bowser's Castle
Just before the second Thwomp, look to the left to see a path leading through a tunnel, which brings you out on top of the rotating log found a bit later in the course.
The course is also absolutely filled with small jumps over lava, which can save some time and let you do some tricks for quick boosts of speed.
Rainbow Road
Just after the first checkpoint, you can jump across the corner that comes up, cutting much of it and saving some time.
List of 'Expert' Staff Ghost Times
New Tracks
Toad Circuit
Nin★Ishi 01:26:632
Daisy Hills
Nin★SASAKI 01:51:111
Cheep Cheep Lagoon
Nin★Tkdr 01:42.011 (with first person view)
Shy Guy Bazaar
Ret★RWO 02:14:714
Wuhu Island Loop
Nin★nkm 01:32:854
Mario Circuit
Nin★raba 02:10:018
Melody Motorway
Nin★Masa 02:07:511
Alpine Pass
Nin★Hiroma 02:19:149
Piranha Pipeway
Nin★JIKU 02:06:540
Wario Galleon
Nin★syun1 02:12:313
Koopa City
Ret★Matt M 01:58:996
Wuhu Mountain Loop
Nin★chucky 01:39:361
DK Jungle
Ret★Dupree 02:10:777
Rosalina's Ice World
Ret★Dax 02:13:091
Bowser's Castle
Ret★Tom 02:15:244
Rainbow Road
Nin★Asakur 01:52:077
Retro Tracks
Luigi Raceway
Nin★miyakw 01:52:206
Bowser Castle 1
Nin★hokwai 01:22:221
Mushroom Gorge
Ret★Jay 01:50:526
Luigi's Mansion
Ret★Vince 01:58:539
Koopa Troopa Beach
Nin★ueda 01:42:909 (with first person view)
Mario Circuit 2
Not sure
Coconut Mall
Ret★RyanP 02:14:167
Waluigi Pinball
Nin★Nshhr 02:27:574 (with first person view)
Kalimari Desert
Nin★KOZ★ 01:48:707
DK Pass
Not sure
Daisy Cruiser
Ret★Carlos 01:43:341
Maple Treeway
Ret★Bill 02:34:877
Koopa Cape
Ret★Shane 02:28:585
Dino Dino Jungle
Not sure
Airship Fortress
Ret★Shane 02:07:704
Rainbow Road (SNES)
Nin★SRIWtm 01:21:994
Not sure means I haven't beat them or played the track yet, so don't know the time for the better ghost. Get close to the above times and you'll presumably make them appear on the list.
Dodge a Blue Shell
You need a Mushroom unfortunatly, but use it just as the shell is falling on you and you'll blast out the way of it, dodging the shell at the last second and hopefully keeping your lead.
It's possible to get Mushrooms in first as well, but they're rare. The item box on DK Pass will always give you an item that allows you beat the Blue Shell...
Hope this guide of sorts helps.
Secret Characters
Note that you only get most of these in 150cc. So if you beat 150cc entirely, you'll easily unlock everyone.
Daisy
Win 150cc Mushroom Cup
Wario
Win 150cc Flower Cup
Rosalina
Win 150cc Star Cup
Metal Mario
Win 150cc Special Cup
Shy Guy
Win 150cc Shell Cup
Honey Queen
Win 150cc Banana Cup
Wiggler
Win 150cc Leaf Cup
Lakitu
Win 150cc Lightning Cup
Mii
Win all cups at any difficulty level
Kart Parts
You unlock these every 100 or so coins you get in the game. It's kind of random what parts you get for each amount of coins.
Mirror Mode
Beat all cups in 150cc.
Stars by Name
Beat all cups with a certain star rank (either at least one star on each, at least two stars on each or at least three stars on each). The lowest rank is what counts, so if all but one have three stars and that missing one has just one star, you'll have one star next to your name.
You can see it next to your name in your profile in the 'Mario Kart Channel' section.
'Expert' Staff Ghosts
There are two 'ghosts' for each track, usually including one by Nintendo and another by Retro Studios. However, the default one doesn't seem particularly good, does it? Well, no worries, there's a proper staff ghost (who's a lot better at the track in question) that's unlocked if you beat the first one. For example, for Bowser's Castle, the 'crap' staff ghost is:
Ret★Matt M
02:34:815
While the decent one is:
Ret★Tom
02:15:244
Note how much better the unlockable one is compared to the first guy.
Golden Tires
Get at least a one star rank on every cup. Extremely easy actually.
Rocket Start
Hold down A from when the 2 is disappearing in the pre race countdown to do a rocket/turbo start when the race begins.
Drafting
Not a cheat, but the manual still fails to mention it. Basically, stay closely behind someone for a few seconds (you'll see speed lines coming from your kart if you do it correctly), and you'll gain a boost of speed that will rocket you forwards. Watch out for items though, you've got no way to block them while drafting. Surprisingly, this does actually work in real life.
Character Stats
From Mario Wiki:
First number is speed, second acceleration, third weight, fourth handling and fifth off road.
[font=courier new,courier,monospace]Toad, Koopa Troopa, Lakitu, Shy Guy 3 4 2.25 3 4
Peach, Daisy, Yoshi 3.25 3.5 2.75 3 3.75
Mario, Luigi, Mii 3.5 3 3.25 2.75 3.75
Donkey Kong, Rosalina, Wiggler 3.75 2.5 3.75 2.5 3.75
Bowser, Wario, Metal Mario, Honey Queen 4 2 4.25 2.5 3.5[/font]
Intended Shortcuts
These are the ones Nintendo deliberately placed in the track, and some are surprisingly hard to find.
Toad Circuit
N/A
Daisy Hills
Just before the ramp leading to the section where you glide past some balloons to the windmills on the other side, there's a smaller ramp with boost pads to the left.
Cheep Cheep Lagoon
When you exit the water for the first time, take the left most path in the cave, which lets you glide over the water section which the others players have to take.
Shy Guy Bazaar
In the market, take the right most ramp and then follow the path across the rooftops of the various market stalls.
Wuhu Island Loop
When you get past the first 'checkpoint', and then the tunnel, you'll see a cave in the mountain below and to the right of the track. Drop down and follow the path to reach a gliding section which places you further out along the track. You can also continue gliding to a ramp to the left, to do some tricks and save even more time.
Bit further up there's some rocks sticking out the sea, one with a boost pad on it. Jump across them (it's harder than it looks).
Finally, while not exactly a 'short' cut, after the third 'checkpoint' the path splits. Take the one by the lighthouse to pass some boost pads and a glider section, which takes you around a fair bit of the course.
Mario Circuit
N/A
Melody Motorway/Music Park
After the Piranha Plants, there's a ramp to the left. Use a Mushroom to cross the grass and boost off it, then a trick to gain speed/save time.
After the music notes that bounce up and down, there's a bouncy drum platform just to the right of the track. Jump to it, and jump back to the track at the other side for a minor corner cut.
Alpine Pass
Just before the slope with all the boulders, there's a ramp in the grass. Boost over and jump off it to potentially save time.
Piranha Pipeway
At the end, you can glide over the castle's roof for coins. You can also blast past the cardboard bush ahead of you to get through a not very well hidden hole in the fence and cut the last corner.
Wario Galleon
There are a ton of different paths (at the start, in the ship's hull, at the end of the level), but none are too much shorter than each other to be honest. There's also a ramp right near the end that lets you cut off a bit of the last corner.
Koopa City/Neo Bowser City
At the end of the track, you can glide to the left and over a copy of the Koopa Clown Car (which is causing an updraft), to skip most of the first straightway.
Wuhu Mountain Loop
A bit after the start, and past the early 'ramps' you can see alternate roads and some ramps leading up to them. Jump off the ramps to the pieces of road in the grass and use them both to save some time (one leads directly to the next).
After the cave and first checkpoint, you can either go into the lake to the left for an alternate underwater route, or go through the castle's front door and follow the path to cut a corner. Both are useful to save a few seconds.
At the end, there also seems to be a boost pad on the roof of the hotel, which you can use with extremely good aim/timing.
Donkey Kong Jungle
Prior to the ramps leading to the Golden Temple, there's a ramp by one of the pools of mud. Go up it to get to use your glider and soar over the other races on the approach to the temple.
At the end, when the path splits, take the one without the coins to save some time.
Rosalina's Ice World
In the ice cave, stick to the right wall to find a hidden passage filled with boost pads that will save a ton of time. Or play the track against the computer opponents in 150cc, the best ones there tend to use the shortcut every single time.
Bowser's Castle
Just before the second Thwomp, look to the left to see a path leading through a tunnel, which brings you out on top of the rotating log found a bit later in the course.
The course is also absolutely filled with small jumps over lava, which can save some time and let you do some tricks for quick boosts of speed.
Rainbow Road
Just after the first checkpoint, you can jump across the corner that comes up, cutting much of it and saving some time.
List of 'Expert' Staff Ghost Times
New Tracks
Toad Circuit
Nin★Ishi 01:26:632
Daisy Hills
Nin★SASAKI 01:51:111
Cheep Cheep Lagoon
Nin★Tkdr 01:42.011 (with first person view)
Shy Guy Bazaar
Ret★RWO 02:14:714
Wuhu Island Loop
Nin★nkm 01:32:854
Mario Circuit
Nin★raba 02:10:018
Melody Motorway
Nin★Masa 02:07:511
Alpine Pass
Nin★Hiroma 02:19:149
Piranha Pipeway
Nin★JIKU 02:06:540
Wario Galleon
Nin★syun1 02:12:313
Koopa City
Ret★Matt M 01:58:996
Wuhu Mountain Loop
Nin★chucky 01:39:361
DK Jungle
Ret★Dupree 02:10:777
Rosalina's Ice World
Ret★Dax 02:13:091
Bowser's Castle
Ret★Tom 02:15:244
Rainbow Road
Nin★Asakur 01:52:077
Retro Tracks
Luigi Raceway
Nin★miyakw 01:52:206
Bowser Castle 1
Nin★hokwai 01:22:221
Mushroom Gorge
Ret★Jay 01:50:526
Luigi's Mansion
Ret★Vince 01:58:539
Koopa Troopa Beach
Nin★ueda 01:42:909 (with first person view)
Mario Circuit 2
Not sure
Coconut Mall
Ret★RyanP 02:14:167
Waluigi Pinball
Nin★Nshhr 02:27:574 (with first person view)
Kalimari Desert
Nin★KOZ★ 01:48:707
DK Pass
Not sure
Daisy Cruiser
Ret★Carlos 01:43:341
Maple Treeway
Ret★Bill 02:34:877
Koopa Cape
Ret★Shane 02:28:585
Dino Dino Jungle
Not sure
Airship Fortress
Ret★Shane 02:07:704
Rainbow Road (SNES)
Nin★SRIWtm 01:21:994
Not sure means I haven't beat them or played the track yet, so don't know the time for the better ghost. Get close to the above times and you'll presumably make them appear on the list.
Dodge a Blue Shell
You need a Mushroom unfortunatly, but use it just as the shell is falling on you and you'll blast out the way of it, dodging the shell at the last second and hopefully keeping your lead.
It's possible to get Mushrooms in first as well, but they're rare. The item box on DK Pass will always give you an item that allows you beat the Blue Shell...
Hope this guide of sorts helps.
Last edited by a moderator:
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