Anti-gravity
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| Anti-gravity | |
|---|---|
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 of Mario in the Standard Kart | |
| First appearance | Mario Kart 8 (2014) |
| Latest appearance | The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) |
| Effect | Allows vehicles to drive on walls and ceilings and perform Spin Boosts |
Anti-gravity, also written as antigravity, is a vehicle state in the Mario Kart series, allowing racers to curve onto walls and other surfaces that would normally be impossible to navigate. Additionally, it allows racers to perform Spin Boosts by colliding with other racers or with Spin Boost Pillars.
When a vehicle enters anti-gravity mode, its tires become parallel to the ground, and the entire vehicle starts to hover slightly above the ground. When a four-wheeled vehicle turns, the wheels opposite to the direction of turning will slightly lift off of the ground. To allow bikes to rotate when entering anti-gravity mode, their tires are attached to the frame from one side of the bike rather than both sides.
In anti-gravity mode, parts of a vehicle start to glow blue. When activating a Mini-Turbo in anti-gravity mode, this glow will change to match the corresponding Mini-Turbo level's color: orange for a Super Mini-Turbo and purple for an Ultra Mini-Turbo. Additionally, some vehicles will change shape entirely in anti-gravity mode. For example, the Koopa Clown activates a pair of propellers, while the Streetle's wings open.
Concept and creation[edit]
During the development of Mario Kart 8, the game's development team wished to introduce a mechanic that would serve a similar central role as the glider and underwater modes did in Mario Kart 7. One mechanic that the team explored was driving through the ground using drills mounted on racers' vehicles. However, this mechanic was discarded, and the team later converged on anti-gravity as the game's central mechanic.[1]
F-Zero and Super Mario Galaxy, previous Nintendo games that incorporated anti-gravity mechanics, were cited as inspirations for anti-gravity in Mario Kart 8.[2] The portion of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 7 taking place on the moon was also cited as an inspiration;[3] fittingly, this part of the course would become an anti-gravity section upon its addition in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, and Lunar Colony in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe likewise features anti-gravity on the moon.
After implementing the anti-gravity mechanic, the Mario Kart 8 course designers implemented a track with a Möbius strip layout. Because the Möbius strip resembled the symbol "8", the name "Mario Kart 8" was chosen for the game.[1] In the final game, a Möbius strip layout would be prominently used in Mario Circuit.
Anti-gravity also influenced the overall art direction of Mario Kart 8, with the game's sleek style echoing anti-gravity's transformation of vehicles into futuristic hovercraft.[4]
History[edit]
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
Anti-gravity first appears as a central mechanic of Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Characters and vehicle parts have different top speed and handling stats in anti-gravity mode, which are not shown by the game. When in anti-gravity mode, the anti-gravity stats are used, regardless of whether or not the anti-gravity segment takes place underwater (such as in Twisted Mansion). However, even when anti-gravity is active, the vehicles' top speed and traction are still affected by off-road terrain and slippery surfaces.
Most courses featuring anti-gravity have designated sections in which it is activated that start with antigravity panels, though there are some courses set entirely in anti-gravity with all drivers already in anti-gravity mode at the start. Wild Woods uniquely starts in an anti-gravity section with all drivers already in anti-gravity mode but is not entirely set in anti-gravity. The first time a driver enters an anti-gravity section, they will audibly react to this, usually saying something related to the activation of anti-gravity mode.
Almost every new course in both games features anti-gravity. Excitebike Arena, Animal Crossing, Super Bell Subway, and Yoshi's Island lack any anti-gravity whatsoever. Mute City, Big Blue, and Sky-High Sundae take place entirely in anti-gravity. Additionally, 27 classic courses feature anti-gravity (7 from the Mario Kart 8 base game, 5 from its DLC, and 9 from the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass):
- GBA Mario Circuit
- N64 Toad's Turnpike
- 3DS DK Jungle
- DS Wario Stadium
- GCN Sherbet Land
- 3DS Piranha Plant Slide
- N64 Rainbow Road
- Wii Wario's Gold Mine
- GCN Baby Park (set entirely in anti-gravity)
- GBA Cheese Land
- 3DS Neo Bowser City
- GBA Ribbon Road
- GBA Boo Lake
- 3DS Rock Rock Mountain
- Merry Mountain
- 3DS Rainbow Road
- GCN Waluigi Stadium
- Wii Koopa Cape
- Tour Vancouver Velocity
- SNES Bowser Castle 3
- Wii Rainbow Road (set entirely in anti-gravity)
Additionally, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the Battle courses Battle Stadium and Lunar Colony feature anti-gravity, with the latter being set entirely in anti-gravity. In the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass, half-pipes take the appearance of antigravity panels and cause drivers who jump off of them to be in anti-gravity mode until they land (though they will still remain in anti-gravity mode afterward if they land in an anti-gravity section). The following courses have anti-gravity only by using such half-pipes:
- Wii Maple Treeway
- Wii DK Summit
- Tour Athens Dash
- Squeaky Clean Sprint
- Tour Los Angeles Laps
- GCN DK Mountain
- 3DS Rosalina's Ice World
Several course and background elements are also shown to use anti-gravity. Submarines in Water Park and minecarts in Wii Wario's Gold Mine that use anti-gravity travel on rails alongside racers and double as Spin Boost Pillars. Additionally, Shy Guys in the background of Wild Woods travel along vines using anti-gravity wheel mechanisms.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit[edit]
In Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, the Koopa Clowns used by Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings are permanently set in anti-gravity mode during races.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Standard Karts used by Shy Guys that act as stage hazards in Mario Circuit are in anti-gravity mode. Unlike in the course of the same name that the stage is based on, these karts remain in anti-gravity mode throughout the entire track.
Super Mario Maker[edit]
In Super Mario Maker, the Kart Mario costume depicts Mario's Standard Kart entering anti-gravity mode when Mario jumps.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a kart is shown having its anti-gravity feature tested before the main characters and the Kong army travel down Rainbow Road. Rainbow Road has a number of inversions, and Bowser's army jumps onto Rainbow Road in pursuit of the heroes, meaning there is an action sequence which calls for a number of characters to have their kart or bike use antigravity mode to proceed. There are no Antigravity Panels in the movie, so karts enter antigravity mode without using them. The karts and bikes that Bowser's army uses have red glows instead of blue when using anti-gravity.
Just after Mario's kart reaches the first 90 degree rotation in the first of a series of corkscrews, the kart emits a light siren before entering anti-gravity mode on its own. A Koopa Troopa's bike is seen in anti-gravity mode alongside two karts driven by Koopa Troopas that are not in anti-gravity mode on a non-inverted part of Rainbow Road. Princess Peach uses a touchscreen on her bike's dashboard to manually exit anti-gravity mode, allowing her to drop from an inverted portion of Rainbow Road in order to rescue Toad from a fall. When in antigravity mode, the touchscreen has a concentric circle pattern, which shrinks and disappears after Peach presses it. After leaving Rainbow Road, Peach uses her bike's anti-gravity mode to hover across a body of water in the Mushroom Kingdom, then up a steep cliff to quickly enter Toad Town.
Super Nintendo World[edit]
At the Super Nintendo World theme park, the vehicles that guests ride in the Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge attraction are based on the Standard Kart from Mario Kart 8 in anti-gravity mode. Additionally, the vehicles used by characters featured in the attraction enter anti-gravity mode at the start of the race and remain in the mode for the duration of the race.
Gallery[edit]
Key artwork from Mario Kart 8
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 of Mario in his Standard Kart
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 of Mario in his Standard Kart
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 of Mario in his Standard Kart
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 of Peach on her Standard Bike
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 of Yoshi in his Mach 8
Artwork from Mario Kart 8
Stamp from Mario Kart 8
Screenshot from Mario Kart 8 of Larry charging a Super Mini-Turbo on his Standard Bike while in anti-gravity mode
Screenshot from Mario Kart 8 of Peach on her Standard Bike entering anti-gravity mode
Cover art from Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack
Key artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe of Mario in his Standard Kart
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe of Peach on her Standard Bike
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe of Bowser in his Standard ATV
Screenshot from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe of Baby Luigi and Birdo on opposite roads in Electrodrome, both in anti-gravity
Screenshot from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Artwork from Super Nintendo World
Stamp from Super Nintendo World
Key artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass of Mario in his Standard Kart
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass of Luigi on his Standard Bike
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass of Peach in her Standard Kart
Artwork from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass of Toad in his Standard ATV
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Multimedia[edit]
 Entering anti-gravity mode - The sound effect heard in Mario Kart 8 when a vehicle enters anti-gravity mode | File info |
| Mario - "Wheels up!" - A line uttered by Mario in Mario Kart 8 upon entering an anti-gravity section | File info |
| Exiting anti-gravity mode - The sound effect heard in Mario Kart 8 when a vehicle exits anti-gravity mode | File info |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 反重力 Hanjūryoku | Antigravity | [?] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 反重力 Fǎnzhònglì (Mandarin) Fáanchúhnglihk (Cantonese) | Antigravity | [?] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 反重力 Fǎnzhònglì (Mandarin) Fáanchúhnglihk (Cantonese) | Antigravity | [?] | |
| Dutch | Antizwaartekracht | Antigravity | [?] | |
| French | Antigravité | Antigravity | [?] | |
| German | Antigravitation | Antigravity | [?] | |
| Italian | Antigravità | Antigravity | [?] | |
| Korean | 반중력 Banjungnyeok | Antigravity | [?] | |
| Portuguese | Antigravidade | Antigravity | [?] | |
| Russian | Антигравитация Antigravitatsiya | Antigravity | [?] | |
| Spanish | Antigravedad | Antigravity | [?] |
Notes[edit]
- While anti-gravity does not return in Mario Kart World, several mechanics emulate its implementation:
- Wall riding allows vehicles to travel along walls in a manner comparable to anti-gravity, though wall riding can be performed on any surface and only lasts for a few seconds.
- Some courses are designed with steep angles, albeit still with the direction of gravity always pointing downwards.
- Rainbow Road uniquely features sections that go perpendicular or upside-down compared to the rest of the course. In these sections, the camera angle and direction of gravity are always normal to the road surface, though kart physics are otherwise unchanged from normal.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Cipriano, Jason (June 17, 2013). E3 2013: Nintendo's Hideki Konno Pulls Back The Curtain On 'Mario Kart 8'. MTV Multiplayer. Archived June 24, 2014, 13:40:37 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ^ boulapoire (June 28, 2013). Interview - Mario Kart 8 : les développeurs répondent. Gamekult (fr-fr). Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ^ GamersPrey (April 30, 2014). Mario Kart 8 - Direct Presentation 30.04.2014 [HD] (2:19). YouTube. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ^ "For Mario Kart 8, based on the concept of vehicles transforming to be like hovercraft, we opted for a futuristic and sophisticated design." – May 21, 2025. Ask the Developer Vol. 18, Mario Kart World — Part 1. Nintendo of America. Retrieved September 6, 2026. (Archived May 24, 2025, 15:52:20 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
