Booster Course Wave 3 for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is here, and we’re checking out All Changes
and differences made for the returning courses. The third race of the Rock Cup is 3DS Rock Rock
Mountain. That’s a whole lot of rock! Also known as 3DS Alpine Pass, the course takes drivers along
a high mountain ridge with air-blasting pipes, through a Swoop-infested cavern,
over an evergreen forest, and up a steep slope with tumbling boulders for a rockin’ good time.
So how does the most recent update differ from past instalments? Let’s find out!
Rock Rock Mountain in Mario Kart 7 provided an ever-evolving experience through the varied
landscape by use of air pipes that activated over time for opportunities to get ahead. Tour revamped
the art style, removed the first ramp, and altered the later pipes to blow air consistently. The
latest version uses Tour’s model with improved texture and lighting, reverts the pipe function
back to being timed, and even includes antigravity on the incline with Spin Boost Pillars. Nice!
Naturally, there have been various gameplay changes. Straight away,
the barrier blocks to the side were adjusted in Tour to end before the starting line, with the
support pipes moved to the ground. The stabilising ropes that were added in Tour now are bound by
stakes. You actually can hit these now. In the original, air flowed from the left pipe here at
a point when drivers were on Lap 2 or 3, but it actually activated specifically at 1:11. In Tour,
this pipe turned on for the second lap only. Now, this pipe and the shortened and adjusted
pipe by the cave entrance are spouting air from the start, but two more pipes turn on at 1:16,
reachable when racing in 200cc. Sweet like rock candy! What’s not so sweet is that the perforated
arrow ramp from 3DS was removed in Tour and hasn’t returned. But was it really that great?
Air from this pipe after the Glide Ramp originally started flowing at 0:46 into the race,
typically for Lap 2. However, during multiplayer, this seemed to happen when racers were ready for
the Final Lap, but those playing online never would see the second coin ring. In Tour, the
pipe updraft was active at all times. Both coin rings were present, but now, the first coin ring
is gone, regardless of mode. The pipe that expels air perpetually is joined by two unreachable pipes
at 1:36, as well as two side pipes that push drivers that pass through the streams. The
latter type could be used to perform tricks ever since Tour. But because of gliding physics, the
first fallen tree just ahead no longer can be used for tricking, explaining why Toads now occupy that
spot. The second fallen tree still can be used that way, and it has been given a related stump
during the Tour makeover. Some other trees around here changed positions or were uprooted entirely.
The side of the mountain left of the road was extended at that point, too. An Antigravity Panel
now features at the start of the incline, with the Dash Panels to the sides of the ramp removed. The
lone Dash Panels after the first pair and after the second pair were replaced with one- and two
Spin Boost Pillars, respectively. Rock on! Some of the visual changes may rock your world,
while others may just rock the boat. In the original, a cloud or fog blanket lay beneath
the course in addition to the clouds above and the patches of fog in different locations. In Tour,
air fog seemed to be removed, while the style of the clouds in the sky and the blanket below
changed drastically, with an angle that revealed a large body of water obscured by both distant
and nearby clouds, with the latter being modelled. At the same time, the Sun was put in a different
position than before. Now, fog is in the air again, especially accumulating in certain spots,
as well as at a high altitude over the water below. The surface of the cliffs was altered quite
a bit with Tour’s modifications, switching from a dark grey to a very rocky tan with leaves sticking
out. Just look at that jagged crag! There are some rather brownish wavy hills in the distance, too,
being a distinct blue before. All of these hills were rearranged and recoloured from their initial
appearances. They used to have big spots! What also had big spots were the barrier blocks
at the start of the course. These were made fairly plain in Tour, but the blocks and the starting
line checks became light blue rather than teal. Of course, the sign was given a new look compared to
7. In addition, the banner used to be intangible, but ever since Tour, it could be hit, causing
it to spin without impacting gliding. And now it flaps briskly in the wind. The metal track grating
switched from a hexagonal style to diamond, while support beams were installed below. Additional
support braces were given to the entrance to the cavern. Mist is more prevalent here now,
and the reduced lighting activates headlights. Ever since Tour, the texturing in the cave became
more akin to the mountainside, while the hanging roots that were in the original were pulled out.
Sunbeams coming from natural skylights after the first rock pillar and those from the side openings
that allowed Swoops to enter were swapped out in favour of lit hanging lanterns for every support
arch in the cave, excluding the entrance: two before the rock pillars, one between,
and two after. The middle structure was not in the 3DS version. Though a minor tweak, the
outlines of the arrow signs disappeared for Tour. The cave exit became lined with rocks darker than
the rest of the face, visible even now. The fence leading to the Glide Ramp originally was iron, but
Tour switched it to wood. The red arches here were modified from a pentagonal shape to being M-like,
with crossing braces running across the support beams. These were mounted to the cliffside before,
but since Tour, they have stood on the ground, steady as a rock. Looking above again, we see that
the pipes to the right and below the grating were shortened a bit. We still can’t reach them!
After taking the leap, everything ahead starts to come into view. In 7,
there used to be layered grass lining the ridges to the sides and path, as well as ferns in field
below. The lining became simplified for Tour, and in place of ferns were various generic plants and
flowers—albeit in different spots. Along with rocks, some of these elements have moved or
were substituted for the latest version, with tall plants and grass clumps introduced, along with 8’s
flower type with butterflies hovering over some. Originally, a leafless trunk was just up ahead,
seen over to the right. This and others like it on the left at the bottom—such as this one,
and this one—all had leaves on the map. Whoops! Tour seemed to remove the tree on the right and
any remaining upright trees were given foliage. Orange and blue traffic cones were added at the
start of the slope, but these were moved up a bit and all were made orange. The fence at the top
that was installed originally was demolished for Tour, with the ridge securing the sides instead.
Almost there! There are birds that land on the track throughout, but those are tiny compared to
the condor or eagle that scouts the area like in several other courses! Could a nest be around here
somewhere? Oh yeah; speaking of birds, chirping could be heard when approaching the forested
areas in 7, but Tour didn’t have this at all. We’re glad to have that soundscape back!
The music style for this course is—you guessed it—rock. In particular, it’s a classic rock with
a touch of blues, using guitars and a rock organ, with an A minor intro to an A major, a special
reference, and a wild A9sus4 guitar lick. We already could rock out to the original...
Rock ‘n’ roll, baby! Does the middle sound familiar? This likely is a Mach Rider reference in
the same key as the source, but with the last note placed a half step down rather than a whole...
Close enough! The Final Lap variation had a unique start with a drum fill and a more
playful organ run, with the key in A# major... Cool! Unfortunately, this bonus never returned,
just shifting to C# minor for Tour, and now A# minor. For the latest cover, the guitar lines
are much more authentic and the organ has better presence in the intro, but other than that, it
sticks to the original composition very well... Now that’s a performance
that could make a rock legend proud! And that’s about it for All Changes we
found in 3DS Rock Rock Mountain! The returning timed opportunities from the later pipe updrafts,
along with the big slope alterations, make this revision feel rock solid. But what do you think?
Have you found any notable changes that we missed? Let us know in the comments below. And of course,
stay tuned to GameXplain for more on Booster Course Wave 3 for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,
and other things Nintendo, too. Thanks for watching! Until next time, keep on rockin’!