Yoshi Valley is the second track of the Special Cup in Mario Kart 64. It reappears as a retro track in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the last track of the Leaf Cup, and in Mario Kart Tour as of the 2022 Yoshi Tour.
This track takes place on a Yoshi-themed valley with a section with many alternate pathways.
Layout[]
Mario Kart 64[]
The course starts out on a dirt road with grass on the sides, like DK's Jungle Parkway. After a bit, it transitions into a winding maze of roads on cliffs. These paths are very hard to navigate, even if players are with another person. Adding to the difficulty is multiple Porcupines sprawled over sections of the road, and your only option really is to drive through them and hope that you don't get hit. The paths are the following:
- The "main route" is taken by making the first left, then turning right, then turning left. It is the safest option.
- The "long route" is taken by turning right at the two forks prior and is the longest.
- The "narrow route" is the fastest route, but also the riskiest, taken by turning left twice. It is risky, having no railings, but is the fastest route available.
- The "bridge route" is taken by turning right and then left, then right, or left, then right, then left, ending with a man-made bridge that leads into a steep 240-degree left turn.
The paths eventually meet, and after a few turns, there is a bridge which takes players back to the dirt road. Shortly after, the finish line is reached. The course itself has few railings. If players fall off a cliff, they will roll down the hill for a long time. Lakitu will pick them up after they roll all the way down to the bottom, making falls more costly than normal.
Before the bridge, there is a giant Yoshi Egg that spins across a small area. If it rolls over a player, he or she will be flattened, like a player run over a Thwomp or a Mega Mushroom. However, AI-controlled characters cannot be flattened by it. Also, there are black porcupines on some paths that will make one spin out if hit.
The confusing part of this track is that there is no telling who is in which place. Because there are so many different pathways that take the player to different parts of the course, the game can't actually determine which place you're in, so it simply replaces the usual positions with question marks, only revealing the standings for a racer after he or she has crossed the Finish Line. Somehow, items are still given out as if the game knows your current position.
Mario Kart 8/Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
The track returns in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the last course in the Leaf Cup. It receives upgraded visuals as well as several details for aesthetics. More paths have been added to the new retro track. In addition, the course features a cannon, which is also a hang glider section, on one of the course's paths, and the Porcupines have been replaced with Goombas. Also, more guardrails have been placed throughout the track because of how infamous it originally was. The bridge route's bridge is now natural rather than man-made, while the narrow route became a wooden man-made bridge ending in a ramp. Places are shown during the race this time (However, Spiny Shells may malfunction on the track, hitting an incorrect racer with their pounce.). The long falls from falling off the cliff are gone because Lakitu picks racers up quicker. The course used to be a battle stage in the Wii U version but was removed in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, replaced by Urchin Underpass, though it is still available outside of Battle Mode.
The game can finally determine which place you're in, so the placement indicator is on-screen for the entire race.
The music has been remixed with violins and a banjo, with four extra seconds added before the loop.
Mario Kart Tour[]
The track returns in Mario Kart Tour as the spotlight track of the 2022 Yoshi Tour. It's layout and design is the same as in Mario Kart 8 but with lower quality textures. The sharp left turn after the roads merge together and the following right turn also now have Half-pipe ramps. It uses a remix of Mario Kart 64's music. It is also during the day now.
Shortcuts[]
- After you pass the giant egg and the bridge, use a Mushroom to jump off the ramp on the right.✱ for MK8
- At the sharp turn after the roads merge back into one, there is a major shortcut where the player can go over the gap right when it starts to appear on the racer's left-hand side with the use of a Mushroom.✱ for MK64
- If you didn't pass the ramp, use a Mushroom to cut through the entire final turn.✱ for all games
Staff Ghosts[]
Mario Kart 8/Deluxe[]
| Game | Character | Recorder | Time | Vehicle Combination | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Tires | Glider | ||||
| 8 |  |
 Nin★Mark
|
2:28.814 |  |
 |
 |
| 8 Deluxe 150cc | 2:23.688 | |||||
| 8 Deluxe 200cc |  |
 Nin★Yuya
|
1:35.628 |  |
 |
 |
Trivia![]
- This is the only track in Mario Kart history that is multi-route.
- The track is 772 meters long according to the instruction booklet.
- The trees bearing Berries in the Mario Kart 8 version look similar in shape to that of a baobab tree.
- In Mario Kart 8, the long route may not seem worthwhile, but it is the only route to have Item Boxes.
- This is the only track in the entire series that is so confusing that the game can't determine what place you're in.
- One of the Yoshis near the starting line will occasionally hum Totaka's Song. This also occurs in other courses featuring Yoshi's in the audience (Sweet Sweet Canyon, SNES Donut Plains 3, GCN Yoshi Circuit, GCN Baby Park, and Super Bell Subway).
Gallery[]
Mario Kart 64[]
Mario Kart 8[]
Mario Kart Tour[]
Music[]
Previous track:
D.K.'s Jungle Parkway |
Current track:
Yoshi Valley |
Next track:
Banshee Boardwalk |
|---|
Previous track:
3DS Music Park |
Next track:
DS Tick-Tock Clock |
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Previous track:
Wii Mushroom Gorge |
2nd reappearance:
Mario Kart Tour |
Next track:
Amsterdam Drift 1 |
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| Mario Kart 64 courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nitro cups | Mushroom Cup | Luigi Raceway • Moo Moo Farm • Koopa Troopa Beach • Kalimari Desert |
| Flower Cup | Toad's Turnpike • Frappe Snowland • Choco Mountain • Mario Raceway | |
| Star Cup | Wario Stadium • Sherbet Land • Royal Raceway • Bowser's Castle | |
| Special Cup | D.K.'s Jungle Parkway • Yoshi Valley • Banshee Boardwalk • Rainbow Road | |
| Battle Courses | Big Donut • Block Fort • Double Deck • Skyscraper | |