Fake Item Box

The Fake Item Box (occasionally called just Fake Item) is a common Mario Kart item resembling an Item Box. The only differences are the occasional red glare and the upside-down question mark. Though it appears to be colored similarly to a normal Item Box from farther away, it looks more reddish the closer someone is to it. When a driver makes contact with one, their car flips, as if they got hit with a green or red shell, except it electrocutes the kart by playing a red lightning-like effect. Fake Item Boxes appear more frequently in positions near the front of the pack. Usually, the Fake Item Box is unable to block the items behind the user, but some games allow the Fake Item Box to block items and be placed in midair.
The Fake Item Boxes possessed several unique attributes in their debut appearance of Mario Kart 64: namely they could block incoming shells and could float in midair, but they could only be dropped backwards. Later games remove these qualities, instead making the Fake Item Box a purely offensive item that is affected by gravity and can be thrown forwards. The removal of these unique properties and the fact that they can be easily noticeable are two possible reasons why the item has been removed from console Mario Kart games as of Mario Kart 7.
Different canonical games have different designs for the Fake Item Box, with each redesign usually being made in order to match it with real Item Boxes. The ones in Mario Kart 64, the Mario Kart Arcade GP series, and Mario Kart DS, for instance, greatly resemble normal Item Boxes in terms of their color, with the sole difference being that the Fake Item Box either has an upside-down question mark (as in the first two games mentioned) or no question mark altogether (as in the third game mentioned). Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart Wii instead invert each game's respective Item Box design and recolor it red, making its imitation status obvious; the latter game also gives the upside-down question mark a purple outline in order to make it stand out against the red. In Mario Kart Wii, Fake Item Boxes take on the color of user's team in Team Battle/Races. Therefore, the item can also be blue instead of red and bear closer resemblance to a normal Item Box than usual.
In the Mario Kart Arcade GP games, a Fake Item Box would cover the screen with a jack-in-the-box character for a second. The player will not lose much momentum, unlike the other counterparts.
==Appearances==
=== FingerFace Co.'s Koopa Kart series ===
==== Koopa Kart ====
Fake Item Boxes appear in Koopa Kart with their usual function.
=== Mario Kart series ===
==== Mario Kart: Double Dash 2!! ====
Fake Item Boxes appear in Mario Kart: Double Dash 2!! as a basic item.
==== Mario Kart Silver ====
Fake Item Boxes appear in Mario Kart Silver. In this game, they look like regular Item Boxes, except that they have an upside down question mark. It causes opponents to flip over should they drive into it.
==== Mario Kart DS Redux, Mario Kart Wiidux, Mario Kart 7 Redone, and Mario Kart 8 Rebuilt ====
The Fake Item Box returns in Mario Kart DS Redux, Mario Kart Wiidux, Mario Kart 7 Redone, and Mario Kart 8 Rebuilt, returning to its Mario Kart 64 appearance (same color as an Item Box, but with an upside down question mark), as well as getting back its properties from said game (having the ability to block items, float in mid-air, and blasting the unfortunate victim into the air similar to a Bob-omb or Blue Spiny Shell), except it can also be thrown forward, like in its appearances post-Mario Kart 64.
==== Mario Kart Twinsanity ====
The Fake Item Box returns in 2034's Mario Kart Twinsanity after last being seen in Mario Kart Wii. It retains its properties from HammerBro101's Mario Kart remakes. The Triple Fake Item Box is also a new item in this game.
==== Super Mario Kart 8+ ====
Though the Fake Item Box did not return for the original release of , the item does once again return in its updated enhanced port Super Mario Kart 8+. The Fake Item Box acts identically to its previous appearances post-Mario Kart 64 and pre-Mario Kart 7 (the game of its removal), though it has once again been redesigned in order to match with the game's aesthetics. In this game the Fake Item Box possesses a monotonous color scheme and mirrors the question mark within it horizontally instead of vertically.
====Mario Kart: Ancient Circuit====
Fake Item Boxes appear here, too, functioning the same as they did in past Mario Kart games. There are also Triple Fake Item Boxes, which function just like the other triple items did in Mario Kart 8/Deluxe. In other St. Clair Publications media, they're sometimes called "Spanish Item Boxes", likely due to the upside down question mark.
====Mario Kart Neon====
Fake Item Boxes return in this game, with a look similar to the one in Mario Kart DS (same as normal, but without the ? in the middle). It functions the same as in the previous entries. There are also double and triple variants. It can ne obtained from 1st to 8th place.
===HammerBro101's Koopa Kart series===
====Koopa Kart 64====
The Fake Item Box makes its Koopa Kart series debut in Koopa Kart 64, where it can be obtained from 1st to 5th place. It appears identical to a real Item Box with a key difference: the question mark is upside down. Any kart that collides with one will be blasted into the air. It can be used to block incoming items, though it can only be dropped behind the kart.
====Koopa Kart Advance====
The Fake Item Box returns in Koopa Kart Advance, serving the same role as in Koopa Kart 64. Like in the previous game, it is obtainable from 1st to 5th place
====Koopa Kart: Double Trouble!!====
In Koopa Kart: Double Trouble!!, the Fake Item Box is colored red, making it easier to distinguish from real Item Boxes. However, the color is obscured when seen from a distance; it will only appear solid red as the player approaches. Racers who hit a Fake Item Box will emit red electricity while tumbling. It can now be thrown forward. Just like the previous two installments, it is available to players from 1st to 5th place.
====Koopa Kart DS====
The Fake Item Box's next Koopa Kart appearance is in Koopa Kart DS. It has a new set of differences from a real Item Box: it lacks a question mark entirely and does not rotate. Its overall behavior is much the same as the previous game, though it doesn't bounce when thrown. Additionally, it gets knocked away upon collision instead of exploding like all other iterations of this item do. The range for this item ranges from 1st to 5th place.
====Koopa Kart Wii====
The Fake Item Box returns to its Koopa Kart: Double Trouble!! look in Koopa Kart Wii, with a style change to match the new style of the real Item Boxes, as well as being larger than in previous games. Like in Double Trouble!!, the Fake Item Box can hide its color from a distance, only on approaching does it turn red, and it can only be destroyed by colliding with it. Due to the addition of 16 player racing per track, it can be obtained from 1st to 7th place.
====Koopa Kart 7====
The Fake Item Box returns to its Koopa Kart 64 look in Koopa Kart 7, with a style change to match the new style of the real Item Boxes, as well as being larger like in Koopa Kart Wii. Like in its first two appearances, it can block items and be placed in mid-air, as well as only being able to drop it behind the kart. As the game goes back to 12 player racing, it is obtainable from 1st to 5th place.
====Koopa Kart 8====
The Fake Item Box retains its properties from the previous game in Koopa Kart 8, though the player can now throw it forward. However, it is affected by gravity when thrown forward, meaning it will only defy gravity when placed backward. Like in Koopa Kart Wii, it can be obtained from 1st to 7th place.
====Koopa Kart Tour====
The Fake Item Box returns in Koopa Kart Tour, serving the same purpose as in Koopa Kart 7 and Koopa Kart 8. As in Koopa Kart 7, the item is obtainable from 1st to 5th place.
====Koopa Kart Live====
The Fake Item Box returns in Koopa Kart Live, serving the same purpose as in Koopa Kart 7, Koopa Kart 8, and Koopa Kart Tour. As in Koopa Kart 7 and Koopa Kart Tour, the item is obtainable from 1st to 5th place. A triple variant known as the Triple Fake Item Box makes its debut in this game.
==Gallery==
Fake Item Box - Mario Kart 64.png|Mario Kart 64 and Koopa Kart 64
Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Super Circuit.png|Koopa Kart Advance
Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Double Dash.png|Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Koopa Kart: Double Trouble!!
Fake Item Box - Mario Kart DS.png|Mario Kart DS and Koopa Kart DS
Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Wii.png|Mario Kart Wii and Koopa Kart Wii
Convincing Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Wii.png
FakeItemBoxMK7.png
N64FakeItemBoxMK7.png|Mario Kart 7 Redone and Koopa Kart 7
ConvincingFakeItemBoxMK7.png
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Fake Item Box.png|Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
FakeItemBoxMK8.png|Unused artwork for Mario Kart Insanity.
N64FakeItemBoxMK8.png|Mario Kart Tour: Done Right Edition, Mario Kart 8 Rebuilt, Koopa Kart 8, and Koopa Kart Tour
ConvincingFakeItemBoxMK8.png
Fake Block.png
FakeItemBoxMKC.png|Mario Kart Connect
Fake Item Box MKACL.png|Super Mario Kart 8+
Fake Item Box (DS-Inspired).png|GoldM's Mario Kart 9
Double Fake Item Box.png
DoubleFakeItemBoxMK8.png
Triple Fake Item Box.png
TripleFakeItemBoxMK8.png
Double Fake Item Box 2.png
Triple Fake Item Box Mario Kart 7.png
Fake Item Box - Dry Bones Kart Arcade GP DX.png|Dry Bones Kart Arcade GP DX
N64 Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Wii.png|Mario Kart Wiidux
DS Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Wii.png|DS Version From Mario Kart Wii.
DS Fake Item Box Mario Kart 7.png|DS Version in the style of Mario Kart 7.
Fake Item Box - Dry Bones Kart Arcade GP.png
Empty Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Wii.png
WiiEmptyFakeItemBoxMK8.png
Fake Item Box MKDB.png|Mario Kart: Double Blast!!
FakeItemBoxMKH.png|Mario Kart Havoc
N64 Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Double Dash.png|Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Remastered
N64 Fake Item Box - Mario Kart DS.png|Mario Kart DS Redux
Ghost Item Box - Mario Kart Wii.png|A similar item, the Ghost Item Box
Blue Fake Item Box MKDB.png|Blue Version of Mario Kart: Double Blast!!
BlueFakeItemBoxMKH.png|Blue version of Mario Kart Havoc
MK8 Blue Fake Item Box.png
Mario Kart Wii-Blue Fake Item Box.png
MK7 Blue Fake Item Box.png
DoubleBlueFakeItemBoxMK8.png
Triple Blue Fake Item Box.png
Double Blue Fake Item Box Mario Kart 7.png
Double Blue Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Wii.png
Blue Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Double Dash.png
Triple Blue Fake Item Box Mario Kart 7.png
Empty Blue Fake Item Box - Mario Kart Wii.png
WiiEmptyBlueFakeItemBoxMK8.png
Fake Item Box MKACL (Alternate).png
Fake Item Box MKDB (Alternate).png
AlternateFakeItemBoxMKH.png
Fake Item Box - Mario Kart X.png|Mario Kart X
FakeItemBoxMKJoyride.png
Fake Item Box MK8DXEP.png|Mario Kart Reunion
FakeItemBoxCard MPX.png|Mario Party X
==See also==
*? Block
*Item Box
*Ghost Item Box
*Fake Smash Ball: An item from the Smash Bros. series that may have been inspired by the Fake Item Box.
Category:Items
Category:Mario Items
Category:Mario Kart Machinima
Category:Mario (series)
Category:Mario Kart (series)
Category:1996
Category:Mario Kart Items
Category:Koopa Kart 64 Items
Category:Koopa Kart Advance Items
Category:Koopa Kart: Double Trouble!! Items
Category:Koopa Kart DS Items
Category:Koopa Kart Wii Items
Category:Koopa Kart 7 Items
Category:Koopa Kart 8 Items
Category:Koopa Kart Tour Items
Category:Koopa Kart Live Items