Booster Course Wave 5 for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is here, and we’re checking out All Changes
and differences made for the returning courses.
The first race of the Feather Cup is Tour Athens Dash.
As the capital of Greece and one of the oldest active settlements in the world, this site
hosts the various ruins of the Athenian Acropolis, such as multiple open-air theatres, remnants
of the Roman Agora of the lost empire, and the grand Temple of Athena, known as the Parthenon.
So how does the most recent update differ from its mobile appearance?
Let’s find out!
Athens Dash debuted as part of the Spring Tour in 2023, delivering the first and second
variants.
For the Switch version, these paths are traversed in full as separate laps.
What likely will be the third variant is sandwiched between them as a section, featuring platforms
overseeing the theatre, falling columns in the ruins, and a second theatre.
Even beyond these details, numerous differences set these two versions apart.
And most of these happen to be gameplay changes.
Lap 1 traces the route of the first variant, starting the race at the Parthenon, facing
west.
The ramp at the end of the slope just beyond this point and others like it became a reshaped
wooden type.
Rocks around the cliff in this spot were reformed to accommodate, with the safety cones disappearing
altogether.
Directly below the ramp, the 3 columns leaning against the slope for the R variant were removed,
and falling here results in landing out of bounds.
The broken pillar platforms just after the ramp were simplified with just 2 sets instead
of 3, with the elements beneath them arranged to allow only for traffic to the right of
the rubble for the most part.
It’s possible to cross the gap between the columns and the cliffside even now, but the
position, narrowness, and grass make it difficult to reach and navigate.
The ruins—possibly remnants of the Asclepieion along the Stoa of Eumenes or even part of
the Peripatos—in this lower area also were affected, featuring pillars that fall in different
spots compared to Tour.
These columns are shorter than before, reduced in count from 3 to 2.
The first falls just a few seconds into the race, usually collapsing by the time it is
reached.
Past the steps is the Theatre of Dionysus, which no longer has Dash Panels or chevron
barriers.
Instead, caution barricades were placed at angles and some of the edges were modified
to accommodate and direct traffic.
Any driver who lands on a part of the track here that was not intended for that lap or
section is relocated.
Just around the bend, the cannon and arrow barriers were removed at the Arch of Hadrian,
and the Glide Ramp was expanded and pushed forward for the flight across the gap.
Bats in the Acropolis grotto beyond increased from 4 per line to 6.
The route changes upon approaching the Parthenon again, detouring racers to the left towards
a new starting line banner in the form of an arch, serving as the start of Lap 2—or
Section 2—and what likely will be Athens Dash 3 in Tour.
This guides everyone directly off the cliff and onto a descending series of wire mesh
Kanaami Road platforms with a ramp at the end of each, all leading back to the Theatre
of Dionysus, from the rear this time.
Crossing it once more, racers are channelled through the lower ruins again, only in reverse.
The second column falls at about 0:53, just in time to witness it.
On the other side is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, where the path leads up the partially-buried
stairway.
Another route shift happens here, switching to Athens Dash 2 at the junction, where drivers
ascend the stairs of the Propylaea.
This route continues through the Parthenon again—but in the opposite direction—for
Lap 3.
At the Roman Agora after the U-bend, fallen columns were cleared out, as well as the Thwomp.
Instead, item boxes circle the area.
Dash Panels on the incline back to the Acropolis are a bit thicker now, as well.
Meanwhile, boulders tumble just a bit differently.
The route ends with the second ascension up the Propylaea staircase and back to the Parthenon
to conclude the race.
Ti ékplixi!
(What a surprise!)
That mixes things up nicely!
The aesthetic changes are far fewer, but they are still worth noting.
General texture, lighting, colouration, and spectator differences apply, as usual.
And the mini-map was rotated 90 degrees clockwise again.
But unique to the course is that the mass of clouds in the skybox also was rotated clockwise
a bit, while the sun shifted the other direction slightly.
Like many Tour courses, the flags and banners now wave realistically in the breeze, and
little birds can be found in groups along the path.
At the starting line, splashback was implemented for the statue fountains.
Meanwhile, stone tiles in the Parthenon were remade, with some raised, and many now having
cracks in them.
Even some of the rubble was scattered in different spots across the surface, too.
A red arrow sign before the turn towards the slope was taken out, with a couple of others
like this removed or added.
See if you can figure out which were modified.
Some of the partial tiles in the lower ruins are different, while safety cones at the Theatre
of Dionysus were cleared away.
The wooden Goomba cutouts found on the stairs of the Propylaea at the end of the second
lap were swapped out for wooden Piranha Plant cutouts, likely being a game standard.
Near the start of the final lap, the cascading terraces in the modern area resembling Monastiraki—or
possibly the Plaka Stairs—have a different stone tile texture now.
The potted flowers to the left here have a unique set of petals.
Likewise, flowers and small plants along the winding dirt road back up to the Acropolis
were given a different setup.
Butterflies now occupy some of these flowers.
At the same time, sunlight can be seen peeking through the hole in the nearby tunnel.
Lastly, the sound of water can be heard pouring from the statue fountain urns into the basins,
most audible at the race opening.
And that’s it for this list.
Sýntomo, allá glykó!
(Short, but sweet!)
The music for Athens Dash is very triumphant and empowering, seeming almost Olympian in
nature.
Starting with a glorious fanfare and leading into the main theme, it features brass, violin,
woodwind, and the bouzouki—a classical Greek lute.
The original version captures this feeling fairly well, even with its limited samples...
Mm, fantastikós!
(Mm, fantastic!)
Meanwhile, the arrangement is cleaner, with punchier notes in the intro, as well as personalisation
in the violin and woodwind for the A section.
In the B section, mild strummed chords on the left and subdued rapid arpeggios on the
right were added to help give a fuller feeling, despite the otherwise calmer segment of the
piece.
And the bridge leading back to the beginning has stronger staccato strings and brass played
in triplets, giving more of a Zelda-like march rhythm...
It’s so good that all we can say is: Opa!
And that’s about it for All Changes we found in Tour Athens Dash!
Unlike many other cities that focus on the modern, urban locations, this one embraces
a bygone era in an adventurous romp through the ruins of ancient architectural landmarks
for a welcome change of pace.
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 5 for Mario Kart
8 Deluxe, and other things Nintendo, too.
Thanks for watching!
Until next time, áde ya!