In Mario Kart DS, there are many beta tracks hidden away which have been added early during the game's development. Some are retro tracks from past games, and some are all new tracks never really seen before. Some seem to have been for testing, some for legitimate purposes. Either way, here is some information and videos about each of them.
Mario Circuit GCN
Also known as the Mario Circuit level from Mario Kart Double Dash on the Gamecube. Nothing is new, but there seems to be no enemies for some reason or distinction between grass and track. It's actually quite an easy track to find your way around, as the walls show up as darker colours (shades of grey) and the castle is recognisable quite easily. A fun track to play in all.
Photos
None yet. Uploading later.
Videos
Untextured version playable with Action Replay DS
My Dry Bomber Time Trial Record for this track
Full Replay Video of my Current Time Trial Record
Video of the screwed up celebration forced to take place on GCN Mario Circuit
Beta Textured Version from Youtube (not by me or the site)
Donokan Course
A weird course which looks almost blank without textures but with a very lightly grey track if you tilt the DS correctly, but a pipe level above the clouds when textured, I have no idea what this track was meant to be. Best guess was a track that was in the Nitro GP somewhere, but got cut out some stage in development.
Note: Falling off freezes the game!
Photos
None yet. Uploading later.
Videos
Untextured Version of trackTextured Version of track
Textured version from Youtube
Edit: Seems like Donokan means an underground pipe.
Test Circle
A really short (but not shortest) track, this is just a plain circle. Over in about five seconds, and a choice of those cheating via Parallel Hacking. Not much to see though, textures or no textures.
Photos
None yet. Uploading later.
Videos
Untextured version played with AR
Textured version from Youtube (not by this site)
Wario Stadium (untextured)
Just an untextured version of the Wario Stadium track. No idea why this version even exists as it's practically identical to the in game version normally played. Seems to be the same with Peach Gardens according to Youtube uploaders.
Photos
None yet. Uploading later.
Videos
Video of Wario Stadium without textures
Waluigi Pinball Beta
There are many versions of this track shown on Youtube. Some are like the finished version, two other versions are nothing like it or each other. Nintendo seems to have been playing around with ideas a lot, as one is normal, one has a giant slot machine you go over and stuff and one has you go through flippers and avoid bumpers as you go down the track normally.
Beta Version 1
Beta Version 2
Delfino Square Beta
Seems to have fountains of normal Mario characters. Only in Kiosk ROM.
Video by NeoWynaut
DK Pass Beta
Seems to have no grass and normal boulders rather than snowballs. We don't have an official video, seeing as it's not unlockable via Action Replay, but there is one video on Youtube:
Gamecube Block City Battle Arena
Untextured, and seems to be the arena in question from Mario Kart Double Dash.
Unlike most beta levels, wasn't too keen on this being in, so I'm grateful it was not included. I don't have a video on the site, but here is a Youtube video of the level by someone called mkdsbeta:
Nokonoko Course
Seems to be a beach based level. A video is below, but I had to use a Bullet Bill to know where the track is among the white void.
Edit: Thanks to a correction by NeoWynaut, this track is proven to not be Koopa Troopa Beach, but an all new track. A textured video of the track is below:
Photos
None yet. Uploading later.
Videos
Note: Falling in the invisible water freezes the game.
Staffroll Level
I don't really know what this level, or the point of it even is, but it seems to be a very short level which ends about half a second after starting. There is water to the left, and the game does not freeze if you fall in. It's also too narrow for eight karts, so when an eight player race starts, half fall in the water and have to fished out by Lakitu.
Edit: As suspected, it's the track used for the credits sequence. A video is below:
Photos
None yet. Uploading later.
Videos
Award
Certainly not a beta track, but the version of Figure Eight Circuit shown in award celebrations. Nice enough music, is one lap long and has absolutely no item boxes whatsoever. Nice for really hardcore racing with no gimmicks or items at all.
Beta Versions of Other Tracks
Nitro GP
Retro GP
Beta Battle Arenas
Nintendo DS:
Pipe Plaza
Block Fort
Other
King Boo Battle Arena outside of Mission Mode, Untextured
Thanks to
- Datel for making the Action Replay devices for all consoles.
- Nintendo for making Mario Kart DS and the DS/DS Lite.
- Myself for videos at DS Ultimate.net
- mkdsbeta from Youtube for videos.
- NeoWynaut from Youtube for videos and corrections.
- NeoKamek from Youtube for videos.
- All hackers for Action Replay code creation and ROM hacking to show the world these beta tracks.