FAQ/Strategy Guide - Guide for Mario Kart 7

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==============================================================================
				 Mario Kart 7
==============================================================================
				  By: KOH13
			       Copyright: KOH13
==============================================================================
Table of Contents
==============================================================================

Version History		[VH]
0. Introduction		[000]
I. Disclaimer		[001]
II. Controls		[002]
III. Power-ups 		[003]
IV. Characters		[004]
V. Karts		[005]
VI. Races		[006]
VII. Other Modes	[007]
VIII. Unlockables	[008]
IX. Special Thanks	[009]
X. Contact		[010]

==============================================================================
Version History								[VH]
==============================================================================

December,28,2011

- Guide is created and posted on Gamefaqs

January,05,2012

- Added Rosalina to crusierweight
- Thanked SuperPhillip

January,07,2012

- I swicthed the parts I got to random as I played the game again and didn't 
get what I got the first time so sorry

==============================================================================
0. Introduction								[000]
==============================================================================

Hello guys and welcome to my guide for Mario Kart 7, this guide will help out 
with the Karts, Races and how to unlock secret items. Hopefully this will 
help you out, enjoy plz. I also welcome any kind of help for my guide as you
be credited.

==============================================================================
I. Disclaimer								[001]
==============================================================================

This guide is written by KOH13. This may be not be reproduced under any 
circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any 
website or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. 
Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display 
is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright.

==============================================================================
II. Controls								[002]
==============================================================================

Analog: Steer Vehicle 
A: Accelerate
B: Brake/Reverse 
X: Use Item
Y: Accelerate
L: Use Item
R: Hop
D-Pad: Switch between views
Select: Not Used
Start: Pause Game
Steer + Hop: Drift

==============================================================================
III. Power-ups								[003]
==============================================================================

So these are the items you can use in the game,

MYSTERY BOX: This is a cube with a question mark on it, hit it to receive an 
random item.

COINS: These are to help Kart go faster as well unlock special items [10 
Coins per race and 40 per cup]

BANANA: Karts that hit these will spin out. [They come in a single or a trio]

GREEN SHELL: Travels in a straight line and will stop when it hits a Kart. 
[They come in a single or trio, also these will keep bouncing off walls unless
it hits a Kart, falls off, or runs out of time]

RED SHELL: Tracks the closest Kart to you to hit. [They come in a single or a 
trio, these are really OP since they can travel for a long time going over 
jumps and certain things]

SPINY SHELL: They shell that hits anyone in its path but mainly goes after the 
person who is currently in first, it will hover and make a mini explosion.

BOB-OMB: A bomb with a nice surprise for any Karts near it.

MUSHROOM: This will give you a hefty speed boost for short amount of time. 
[These come single or in a trio]

GOLDEN MUSHROOM: This is holy grail of mushrooms, this will keep giving you a 
speed boost for an unlimited time till the shroom runs out.

BULLET BILL: Why drive when you can hitch a ride with the Bullet Bill Express,
this you make you invincible as well give you a nice speed boost hitting Karts
if in the way. 

BLOOPER: This squid will pour out his ink to make your vision blurred for all 
the Karts in front of you. [To counter this use a Mushroom, Turbopad or get a 
speed boost from a ramp to get rid of the ink]

LIGHTING: This will make all the Karts except for you small, slow and lose 
their current item for a short time. [You can flatten players by driving over 
them]

SUPER STAR: This will make you invincible and increases you speed for a short 
period of time.

FIRE FLOWER: Allows you to throw fireballs and make other Karts spin out if 
they are hit.

SUPER LEAF: This is give you a tail so you can either hits enemies close to 
you or deflect items that are heading for you.

LUCKY SEVEN: This will give you seven items hence the name 'LUCKY SEVEN' the 
items you get are a 

==============================================================================
IV. Characters								[004]
==============================================================================

So there are a total of 17 characters in the game, 8 are already unlocked 
while the 9 you have to unlock;

STARTING CHARACTERS: Here are the 8 starting characters

Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Toad, Koopa Troopa

UNLOCKABLE CHARACTERS: Here are the other 9 characters

Daisy: Unlocked after winning 150cc Mushroom Cup

Wario: Unlocked after winning 150cc Flower Cup

Rosalina: Unlocked after winning 150cc Star Cup

Metal Mario: Unlocked after winning 150cc Special Cup

Shy Guy: Unlocked after winning 150cc Shell Cup

Honey Queen: Unlocked after winning 150cc Banana Cup 

Wiggler: Unlocked after winning 150cc Leaf Cup

Lakitu: Unlocked after winning 150cc Lighting Cup

Mii: Unlocked after winning all cups in any cc

==============================================================================
V. Karts								[005]
==============================================================================

So in this section I will show you the stats of each kart and some other 
things as well.

KART STATS: There are 5 stats for each Kart which is usually out of 6.

SPEED: This determines the kart overall top speed, the higher it is the faster 
will go, the lower the stat the slower the speed.

ACCELERATION: Shows how fast the Kart can accelerate to reach maximum speed, 
the higher it is the faster it is to reach maximum speed, the lower it is the 
longer it takes to reach maximum speed.

WEIGHT: This shows how heavy your kart is, the higher it is the easier it is 
for you to push someone as well not get pushed to easily, the lighter you are 
the harder it is to push someone.

HANDLING: Shows for well the steering the kart is, the higher it is the easier 
is to make tight turns and drifts, the lower it is the harder it is to 
control you kart.

OFF-ROAD: This shows how well your kart does driving off the main road 
[usually for shortcuts] the higher it is the easier it is to give through 
tough terrain, the lower it is the harder it is to get through.

WEIGHT CLASSES: So there are 5 different kinds of classes in the game;

FEATHER: These drivers have good acceleration and off road driving but lack 
the need for speed. They are easier pushed over since they are light but can 
avoid this with their handling skills.

Characters: Koopa Troopa, Lakitu, Shy Guy, Toad

LIGHT: These drivers are almost like the feather class but they have more 
weight and speed but at the cost of acceleration. 

Characters: Daisy, Peach, Yoshi

MEDIUM: These drivers are in the middle which means they are the most overall
drivers in each stat in the game.

Characters: Luigi, Mario, Mii, 

CRUISER: These drivers are meant for speed but they sacrifice handling and 
acceleration for it, meant for the people you like going fast.

Characters: Donkey Kong, Wiggler, Rosalina

HEAVY: These are for people who like the need for speed but must give up 
acceleration, handling and off road stats for it, for the best of the best.

Characters: Bowser, Honey Queen, Metal Mario, Wario

KARTS: These are the Karts already unlocked at the beginning, I will try my 
best to give stats for each kart. These karts stats are based from the 
STANDARD kart since this kart does not give any bonuses at all.

========
STANDARD
========

Speed: 0
Acceleration: 0
Weight: 0
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

==========
BOLT BUGGY
==========

Speed:  +0.25
Acceleration: -0.5
Weight: +0.25
Handling: -0.25
Off-Road: +0.25

=============
BIRTHDAY GIRL
=============

Speed: -0.5
Acceleration: +0.5
Weight: -0.25
Handling: +0.5
Off-Road: -0.25

These are the karts that have to be unlocked to be used

========
B DASHER
========

Speed: +0.5
Acceleration: -0.5
Weight: 0
Handling: +0.25
Off-Road: -0.25

============
BARREL TRAIN
============

Speed: +0.25
Acceleration: 0
Weight: +0.25
Handling: -0.25
Off-Road: 0

==========
BLUE SEVEN
==========

Speed: +0.5
Acceleration: -0.5
Weight: +0.25
Handling: -0.25
Off-Road: 0

=======
BRUISER
=======

Speed: +0.5
Acceleration: -0.25
Weight: +0.25
Handling: -0.5
Off-Road: 0

========
BUMBLE V
========

Speed: 0
Acceleration: +0.5
Weight: -0.25
Handling: -0.5
Off-Road: +0.25

======
CACT-X
======

Speed: -0.25
Acceleration: -0.25
Weight: 0
Handling: +0.25
Off-Road: +0.25

=======
CLOUD 9
=======

Speed: -0.5
Acceleration: +0.25
Weight: -0.25
Handling: +0.5
Off-Road: 0

=====
EGG 1
=====

Speed: -0.25
Acceleration: +0.5
Weight: -0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

=============
GOLD STANDARD
=============

Speed: +0.5
Acceleration: -0.25
Weight: +0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: -0.5

===========
KOOPA CLOWN
===========

Speed: 0
Acceleration: -0.25
Weight: 0
Handling: +0.5
Off-Road: -0.25

==========
PIPE FRAME
==========

Speed: -0.25
Acceleration: +0.25
Weight: -0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: +0.25

========
SODA JET
========

Speed: +0.25
Acceleration: +0.25
Weight: -0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: -0.25

========
TINY TUG
========

Speed: -0.5
Acceleration: 0
Weight: +0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: +0.25

========
ZUCCHINI
========

Speed: +0.5
Acceleration: -0.25
Weight: 0
Handling: -0.25
Off-Road: 0

WHEELS: These are the wheels for customizing your karts. These are based from
the STANDARD wheels since they give no bonuses.

========
STANDARD
========

Speed: 0
Acceleration: 0
Weight: 0
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

=======
MONSTER
=======

Speed: +0.75
Acceleration: -0.75
Weight: +1
Handling: -1.25
Off-Road: +1.25

======
ROLLER
======

Speed: -.075
Acceleration: +0.75
Weight: -1
Handling: +2
Off-Road: -1.25

These wheels you have to unlock

==========
GOLD TIRES
==========

Speed: +1
Acceleration: -0.5
Weight: +0.5
Handling: -1.25
Off-Road: -2.5

========
MUSHROOM
========

Speed: +0.25
Acceleration: -0.25
Weight: -0.5
Handling: +1.25
Off-Road: -1.25

===========
RED MONSTER
===========

Speed: +0.75
Acceleration: -0.5
Weight: +0.75 
Handling: -1.25
Off-Road: +1.25

=====
SLICK
=====

Speed: +1
Acceleration: -0.25
Weight: +0.25
Handling: -1.25
Off-Road: -2.25

====
SLIM
====

Speed: -0.25
Acceleration: +0.25
Weight: -0.25
Handling: +1.25
Off-Road: -1.25

======
SPONGE
======

Speed: -0.25
Acceleration: +0.5
Weight: -0.75
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

====
WOOD
====

Speed: -0.5
Acceleration: +0.5
Weight: -0.5
Handling: +1.25
Off-Road: 0

GLIDERS: There are the gliders for when you hit the blue turbopad. These are 
based on the SUPER GLIDER since it gives no bonuses

============
SUPER GLIDER
============

Speed: 0
Acceleration: 0
Weight: 0
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

These gliders you have to unlock

============
BEAST GLIDER
============

Speed: 0
Acceleration: 0
Weight: 0
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

=============
FLOWER GLIDER
=============

Speed: 0
Acceleration: +0.25
Weight: -0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

===========
GOLD GLIDER
===========

Speed: 0
Acceleration: 0
Weight: 0
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

==========
PARAGLIDER
==========

Speed: 0
Acceleration: +0.25
Weight: -0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

=============
PEACH PARASOL
=============

Speed: 0
Acceleration: +0.25
Weight: -0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

=======
SWOOPER
=======

Speed: 0
Acceleration: +0.25
Weight: -0.25
Handling: 0
Off-Road: 0

==============================================================================
VI. Races								[006]
==============================================================================

So in the game there are 8 cups with 4 races in each cup, the top half is all 
new courses or courses that have been redone for the 3DS and the bottom half 
are the retro courses.

I’m also putting some tips for each course in every cup to help you beat 
other players and be the best.

MUSHROOM CUP: Toad Circuit, Daisy Hills, Cheep Cheep Lagon, Shy Guy Bazaar

============
TOAD CIRCUIT
============

- Not really hard course, really simple with some turns
- The glider pad comes up on the 2nd lap by the pylons

===========
DAISY HILLS
===========

- Jump on the logs so you get some speed boost near the beginning
- After passing the sheep, drift right onto the wood and hitting the turbo 
pads for some boost. 
- Before you go down the bridge go left to another path and hit the glider pad
but need to dodge the windmills for safe flight 

=================
CHEEP CHEEP LAGON
=================

- Drift at the beginning of the course when you see the first arrow to make 
a nicer turn
- When you drop into the water watch out for clams as they will eat you if you 
lay in their shell
- After coming out of the water, take a left to a small path to a glider pad 
so you don’t have to go into the water

==============
SHY GUY BAZAAR
==============

- After reaching the bazaar, go right to a turbo pad but start drifting right 
so you don’t hit the wall, then drift left when you see the other pad.  
- After guys in green baskets, go left to drop to a turbo pad.

FLOWER CUP: Wuhu Loop, Mario Circuit, Music Park, Rock Rock Mountain

=========
WUHU LOOP
=========

- There are 3 sections of the course which are basically 3 laps
- 1st part; really simple just drive and avoid the cars near the end
- 2nd part; after making the second drift drop to the right to go into a 
tunnel for a glider pad
- 3rd part; just like the first part except some rocks at the beginning and 
more drifting 

=============
MARIO CIRCUIT
=============

- Really basic course but lots of drifting
- After drifting through the castle and gliding, look for a tub with wind so 
you can reach the tube faster
- Don’t go for grey ramps as they are useless unless mushroom or star on.

==========
MUSIC PARK
==========

- After you get on the piano, go right and drift to the turbo pads
- Be careful of piranha plants  
- After the glider, glide past all the boulders so you don’t need to drive

==================
ROCK ROCK MOUNTAIN
==================

- Enter the tunnel and watch out for the bats
- When you reach the mountain, use the turbo pads to get up and avoid the 
boulders
- After gliding you can glide over the banner and to the power-ups

STAR CUP: Piranha Plant Pipeway, Wario’s Shipyard, Neo Bowser City, Maka Wuhu

=====================
PIRANHA PLANT PIPEWAY
=====================

- Go down slide and watch out for the piranha (it will attack you depending 
on which side it is facing)
- Lots of drifting in this stage
- After going underwater, hit the turbo pad and watch for the piranha at the 
end here
- Glide then drift but watch out for the goombas

================
WARIO’S SHIPYARD
================

- After you reach the water, stay right then go to the middle
- After tube vent, take a right but make a sharp right at the end
- Dodge all the crabs then glide to the left and drift for the turbo

===============
NEO BOWSER CITY
===============

- This is pretty much a drifting course because of the turns and small path
- Careful of the puddles at the end of the course  
- After gliding look left for some wind to boost you over

=========
MAKA WUHU
=========

- There are 3 sections of the course which are basically 3 laps
- 1st part; After the turbo pad go right a path and follow it, then drift 
after you get off
- 2nd part; After coming out of the cave and see water, jump in then make a 
left into the castle after you get out
- 3rd part; drift but watch for rocks then glider, go left or right to get 
more glider and then make your way to the 

SPECIAL CUP: DK Jungle, Rosalina’s Ice World, Bowser’s Castle, Rainbow Road

=========
DK JUNGLE
=========

- Fork in the road doesn’t matter
- After the second set of power-ups go left over the mud to get a glider the 
glide to the turbo pads
- After the second glider and near the end take a left for a faster way

====================
ROSALINA’S ICE WORLD
====================

- After the 1st power-up stay left and drift
- Try to stay on the ice but will most likely fall in the water
- After the icicles, go right and drift but be care as you can fall off easily

===============
BOWSER’S CASTLE
===============

- Hit the top part when gliding
- Then watch out for the blocks, after the power-ups here. Go left into the 
tube for a shorty
- After in the water, dodge the lava but try and get a jump boost if no lava 
then the end is a glider

============
RAINBOW ROAD
============

- There are 3 sections of the course which are basically 3 laps
- 1st part; After turbo pad, drift around and then bounce to next part
- 2nd part; You glide to the rinds, drift to the turbo then glide some more, 
hit the star, drift more and onto the turbo then to the craters watch for 
some big balls
- 3rd part; Drift on arrows to go faster then hit the trubos, at the end hit 
the glider for easy passage, then hit all the stars while avoiding the 
asteroids, then one big drift and done
- See the credits after this

SHELL CUP: Luigi Raceway, Bowser Castle 1, Mushroom Gorge, Luigi’s Mansion

=============
LUIGI RACEWAY
=============

- After getting the first power-up go right to a blue ramp and start drifting
and hitting the turbo
- After the tunnel do the same thing

===============
BOWSER CASTLE 1
===============

- This course has a lot of turns so good turning is a must
- Watch out for the blocks above you
- After the 1st lap the glider pad comes up near the lava

==============
MUSHROOM GORGE
==============

- 1st fork in the road, take a right for quicker route
- 2nd fork in the road, take a left but be careful as it is easy to fall
- Watch for the goombas near the end of the race

===============
LUIGI’S MANSION
===============

- After entering the mansion start drifting to the right till you see the 
chandelier at the bottom
- After exiting the mansion, go left for the glider pad and either fly over 
the fence or be daring and fly through the small hole at the bottom
- Then drift through the forest

BANANA CUP: Koopa Beach, Mario Circuit 2, Coconut Mall, Waluigi Pinball

===========
KOOPA BEACH
===========

- The shortcut at the end is hard to do as you need enough speed which usually
requires a mushroom or a star to get
- Watch out for crabs

===============
MARIO CIRCUIT 2
===============

- Simple course but watch out for black spills
- This is a lot of drifting but a lot of fun

============
COCONUT MALL
============

- Go up the escalators with arrows going up as it makes you go faster while 
the down arrows make you go a little slower
- After up the 1st escalators stay right and up top to hit more escalators
- After coming down you want go left or right to hit the turbo then drift up 
and stay to the left to hit a turbo which will lead you to a glider pad
- Near the end are cars which you have to avoid

===============
WALUIGI PINBALL
===============

- Make sure at the beginning glide that you hold up the whole time till you 
exit
- Then comes the drifting part with a pinball chasing you or you chasing it
- When you make it to the actual pinball place there are 3 ways to go; left 
and right are the safe and the same thing but will take longer than going 
straight through which is annoying since there is a pinball and rotating 
things here but is the quickest route

LEAF CUP: Kalimari Desert, DK Pass, Daisy Cruiser, Maple Treeway

===============
KALIMARI DESERT
===============

- Mostly off road course cause of the desert and small course
- Watch out for the train
- Use the ramps for boosts and drift a lot
- Don’t use train track shortcut unless you have star or golden mushroom

=======
DK PASS
=======

- When you get to the second power-up a snowball will fall
- Drift carefully as you can fall
- Use the ramps for boosts
- Then glider pad, watch out for snowmen when drifting to finish line

=============
DAISY CRUISER
=============

- Take a left in the fork in the road, then go through the pool and drift down
- Watch out for the moving tables
- After the moving tables and the turn, drop into the water for the turbo and 
nice shortcut to the finish 

=============
MAPLE TREEWAY
=============

- This is a drifter course
- After gliding through the trees, you’ll pass through some centipedes then 
some more turbo after this
- After the second glider go right or left to hit a turbo for some boost

LIGHTING CUP: Koopa Cage, Dino Dino Jungle, Airship Fortress, Rainbow Road 

==========
KOOPA CAGE
==========

- After the turbo, watch out for the goombas
- Drift to the glider
- After entering the tube, watch for the fish near the end
- After out of the water stay left as the current will sweep you away

================
DINO DINO JUNGLE
================

- After the long turn, watch out for the dino legs
- 3 ways on the bridge, take a sharp right and look for a small bridge and
turbo but near the end make a hard turn
- After cans, go right past the mud to a glider then watch for dino head on 
the second glider
- Then near the end watch out for the geysers

=================
AIRSHIPE FORTRESS
=================

- Watch out for bullet bill at the beginning 
- Then drift through the manholes then drift down
- Watch out for the lasers then glider pad
- Then make your way down the winding castle to the finish line 

============
RAINBOW ROAD
============

- Drifter course with small paths
- Careful of the blocks as they shake the course as well as hurt you
- One shortcut requires a mushroom, when they are 2 blocks on both sides and 
a ramp in the middle, use the mushroom in the middle for a nice boost

==============================================================================
VII. Other Modes							[007]
==============================================================================

So there are 3 other game modes instead of the grand prix, there is time 
trial, balloon battle and coin runners.

TIME TRIAL: So this is pretty much like doing a grand prix except your not 
racing to win, your racing to post the best time for each cup and race.

BALLOON BATTLE: So you get 3 balloons which means 3 lives, the object of the 
game is to hit the other players score points but if you lose all your 
balloons you lose 3 points.

COIN RUNNERS: Like battle except you collect coins instead of hitting people 
with items, the point of the game is to have the most coins at the end of 
the round.

==============================================================================
VIII. Unlockables							[008]
==============================================================================

Here’s a list of unlockable stuff in the game.

CHARACTERS: What you need to do to unlock them

Daisy: Unlocked after winning 150cc Mushroom Cup
Wario: Unlocked after winning 150cc Flower Cup
Rosalina: Unlocked after winning 150cc Star Cup
Metal Mario: Unlocked after winning 150cc Special Cup
Shy Guy: Unlocked after winning 150cc Shell Cup
Honey Queen: Unlocked after winning 150cc Banana Cup 
Wiggler: Unlocked after winning 150cc Leaf Cup
Lakitu: Unlocked after winning 150cc Lighting Cup
Mii: Unlocked after winning all cups in any cc

COIN/KART PARTS: I’m not sure if you get random stuff but this is what I got 
when I got these many coins

50 Coins: Can customize karts now and Paraglider
100 Coins: Random Part
150 Coins: Random Part
200 Coins: Random Part
250 Coins: Random Part
300 Coins: Random Part
400 Coins: Random Part
500 Coins: Random Part
600 Coins: Random Part
700 Coins: Random Part
800 Coins: Random Part
900 Coins: Random Part
1000 Coins: Random Part
1200 Coins: Random Part
1400 Coins: Random Part
1600 Coins: Random Part
1800 Coins: Random Part
2000 Coins: Random Part
2500 Coins: Random Part
3000 Coins: Random Part
3500 Coins: Random Part
4000 Coins: Random Part
4500 Coins: Random Part
5000 Coins: Beast Gilder

==============================================================================
IX. Special Thanks							[009]
==============================================================================

- I like to thank SuperPhillip for the random part guide as the parts are
really random

==============================================================================
X. Contact								[010]
==============================================================================

If you got any tips or information that is useful for the FAQ, please email me 
@ [email protected], you get credited for sharing this info with 
me but make sure you check the FAQ before emailing me, it might be covered in 
the FAQ.

==============================================================================


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