Paris Promenade (combined)

This refers to Paris Promenade's combined form. For information on Paris Promenade 1, see Paris Promenade.

Paris Promenade
Information
First appearance	Mario Kart Tour (2019)
Latest appearance	Mario Kart 8 (Switch version; Booster Course Pass Wave 1; 2022)
Cup	Golden Dash Cup (Mario Kart 8 for Nintendo Switch; Booster Course Pass)
Retro Cup	Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo Switch version; Booster Course Pass; Golden Dash Cup)

Paris Promenade is a race course from Mario Kart Tour, first appearing in the Paris Tour of 2019. It takes place in Paris, the capital city of France, hence its name.

Layout

Paris Promenade's layout consists of five main paths. These paths have various landmarks of Paris, and their composition is either asphalt, or brick.

The central path runs east to west, with three roundabouts: one near its western terminus where the Arc de Triomphe is located with the northern road branching off, one where it intersects the eastern road with the Luxor Obelisk, and one at its eastern terminus. The finish line is located at this road's centre, and the western terminus has a sharp curve to the south, where the southern road begins. This road is involved in all routes.

The southern path is the longest road. Its western terminus coincides with that of the central road, and it curves eastward. The Jardins du Trocadéro is in-line with the finish line, and east of that is a three-way intersection with the mid-eastern road's southern terminus. The Eiffel Tower straddles a section to the east of that, and farther to the east is the eastern terminus of this path, where the far east road's southern terminus is located. The first route uses this road fully.

The northern path is fully driven for Paris Promenade 2. Its western terminus is at the roundabout at the Arc du Triomphe, where it branches off the north of the roundabout before curving east. A bit to the east of the middle is a three-way intersection where the mid-east road ends at the north, and further east is the eastern terminus, where the far east road ends at the north.

The mid-east path intersects with the central path at the Luxor Obelisk. It and the far east path are similar in their lengths. The mid-east path has its terminī at the north and south edges of the city, intersecting with the north and south paths a bit to the west of the Eiffel Tower. This is the only path to never be driven on fully in the same direction, although Paris Promenade 3 uses it fully.

The far east path is a short road located at the far east side of the city. Its southern terminus coincides with the southern path's eastern terminus, and it continues north to a roundabout where the central path's eastern terminus is located. Farther north is the northern terminus, where a curve left leads to the north path. This path is fully used in Paris Promenade 2.

A sixth, short path branches off the roundabout with the Arc de Triomphe, but is never used in races.

Paris Promenade 1

Paris Promenade 1 is the first layout, being first featured in the Paris Tour of 2019. The racers begin on the central path, facing west. After they bypass the Arc de Triomphe to the south or take a shortcut (though they would have to destroy the cutout blocking the path), the racers transition to the south path by taking a left at the western terminus, gliding over the Jardins du Trocadéro. Afterwards, they pass under the Eiffel Tower and turn left, going up the far east path from the south. When they reach the roundabout where the central path begins, they turn left and go south to bypass the Obelisk and then take the west exit, heading back to the start/finish line. This layout is used for the first half of lap 1 in Mario Kart 8, but rather than heading back to the start/finish line immediately, they continue north at the roundabout that serves as the central path's eastern terminus, just like in Paris Promenade 2. Afterwards, they switch to Paris Promenade 3, taking the next left and heading south towards the Luxor Obelisk, then turning right and taking the west exit. Additionally, the north half of the Arc de Triomphe is no longer blocked off, but the north exit is until the first part of lap 3. Additionally, in the second half of lap 3, the racers have a choice of going in reverse down this route or in reverse down Paris Promenade 3, and as in the first two laps, both sides of the Arc de Triomphe are available, but the north exit is again blocked when they return to the Arc.

Paris Promenade 2

Paris Promenade 2 is the second layout, being first featured in the Valentine's Tour of 2020, a nod to the nickname "the city of love" referring to the city itself. The racers begin on the central path, but they face to the east. When the race begins, they turn right at the roundabout with the Obelisk, heading south. They then turn left and pass beneath the Eiffel Tower, then turn left and drive along the far east path. This transitions into the north path when the racers turn left after the roundabout at the far east. The racers will eventually reach the roundabout with the Arc de Triomphe, where they turn left onto the central path. This route is driven in reverse for the first half of the final lap, transitioning into Paris Promenade 1 in reverse. Alternatively, at the far east roundabout, the racers can switch over to Paris Promenade 3 in reverse.

Paris Promenade 3

Paris Promenade 3 is the third layout, being the longest of the three. It starts as Paris Promenade 1, but the south half of the roundabout bearing the Arc de Triomphe is blocked off instead of the north half, though the north exit is still unavailable. After this roundabout, the racers transition to the south path, just as they did in Paris Promenade 1. After gliding over the Jardins du Trocadéro, however, they turn left and approach the roundabout with the Luxor Obelisk from the south. They take a right turn and go out the east exit, turning left at the roundabout at the far east. It then continues north onto the north path. When the racers reach the three-way intersection at the northern edge, they turn left and head south back to the roundabout with the Luxor obelisk, where they turn right and take the west exit, heading back to the start/finish line. This layout is used for the second half of Lap 1 and the entirety of Lap 2, except the south half of the roundabout with the Arc de Triomphe is no longer blocked off. For lap 3, the racers can turn right at the roundabout where the Big Piranha Plant lurks to continue down this route in reverse.

In Mario Kart 8

Paris Promenade returns in this game to start the Booster Course Pass, though only in the Switch version since the original version lacked this feature. It is featured in the Golden Dash Cup, preceding 3DS Toad Circuit. As with other city courses, Paris Promenade has multiple routes for its layout, but unlike other city courses, and like Los Angeles Laps, Paris Promenade's first variant is not fully followed for the first lap.

First Lap

Paris Promenade's first lap starts with Paris Promenade 1 and switches to Paris Promenade 3.

The racers start on the central road, facing due west (upwards on the map, which has been rotated 90 degrees) towards the roundabout with the Arc de Triomphe. Unlike in Paris Promenade 1, where they were restricted to the south side or the shortcut running through the middle, they can now use the north side, though they still need a Dash Mushroom to go through the shortcut. Afterwards, the racers turn left, heading south. The path curves left to the southeast direction, then due east. After this curve, the racers can tag a Glider Ramp to fly over the Jardins du Trocadéro. They then proceed eastward, passing under the Eiffel Tower before turning left at the southeast corner and approaching the roundabout at the central road's eastern terminus from the south. Unlike in Paris Promenade 1, the racers will be forced to take the north exit, as in Paris Promenade 2. The road turns left at the course's northeastern corner, after which the racers approach a three-way intersection from the west. They must turn left and take the south path, heading towards the roundabout with the Luxor Obelisk from the south. Afterwards, they must turn right, taking the roundabout's west exit.

Second Lap

This lap remains largely faithful to Paris Promenade 3. It starts identically to the first, even having the south half of the roundabout with the Arc de Triomphe available (The racers were restricted to the north half and central shortcut in the original version.). However, after the racers glide over the Jardins du Trocadéro, they will be forced to turn left, heading towards the Luxor Obelisk from the south. They must turn right and take the east exit, where they meet up with the roundabout at the east of the city again. The racers must go out the north exit, sticking to Paris Promenade 3 for the rest of the lap.

Final Lap

This lap starts as Paris Promenade 2, though driven in reverse. It then switches over to one of the other two routes driven in reverse, and the racers can switch between 1 in reverse and 3 in reverse when they approach the Arc de Triomphe.

After the racers pass through the starting gate, they will be restricted to the north half of the roundabout, going out of the north exit. They pass the Église Saint-Augustin, then proceed eastward. They can tag a Glide Ramp before the intersection to gain brief flying time. Afterwards, the racers turn right and reach the roundabout at the far east, where they can take either the south or the east exits, going in reverse through Paris Promenade 1 or Paris Promenade 3, respectively. Both paths meet up west of the Eiffel Tower, where the racers find a new Glide Ramp activated. However, if the racers fall short when they glide over the Jardins du Trocadéro, they will be fall out of bounds, having to be fished out. Afterwards, the racers make a gradual 90-degree right turn followed by a sharper one, heading east towards the Arc de Triomphe, where they can go around either side or through the centre, although once again, they need a Dash Mushroom to go through the centre of the roundabout. After the paths meet up, the starting line lies past a straightaway, so racers finish in the opposite direction.

Trivia

• This is the first course in the Booster Course Pass where the racers cross the finish line three times going in one direction and once in the opposite direction. This would be repeated in certain later courses such as DS Peach Gardens and Tour Bangkok Rush. Additionally, as with DS Peach Gardens, the first three laps start in the same direction, and the final lap ends in the opposite direction.

Gallery

To view Paris Promenade (combined)'s image gallery, click here.

See also

• For the first route, which visits the south half of the city, see Paris Promenade, referring to Paris Promenade 1.
• For the second route, which puts more emphasis on the north half of the city, see Paris Promenade 2.
• For the third route, which visits the southwestern and northeastern corners of the city, see Paris Promenade 3.