Wii Rainbow Road

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This article is about the race course from Mario Kart Wii. For Rainbow Road as a whole and other versions of the track, see Rainbow Road.
Rainbow Road
Rainbow Road
Information
Appears in Mario Kart Wii (2008)
Mario Kart Tour (2023)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Booster Course Pass, Wave 6) (2023)
Cup(s) Special Cup (Wii)
Spiny Cup (8 Deluxe)
Tour(s)
Based on Super Mario Galaxy
Online play No longer available (Wii)
Available (Switch)
Music sample
Mario Kart Wii / Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (frontrunning)
Course map
Mario Kart Wii
Rainbow Road
Mario Kart Tour
Map of Wii Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Tour
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Map of Wii Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Staff ghost(s)
Wii Nin★Konno
3:05.895 Sprite of RosalinaShooting Star
Wii Expert Nin★Syun1
2:44.734 Sprite of RosalinaThe model for Rosalina's Jetsetter from Mario Kart Wii
8DX 150cc Nin★Leonel
2:49.574 Mario's head icon in Mario Kart 8Mario, Baby Mario, and red Mii's Standard Kart body from Mario Kart 8StandardSuper Glider from Mario Kart 8
8DX 200cc Nin★Yuya
2:06.146 Luigi's head icon in Mario Kart 8Mach 8 body from Mario Kart 8SlimThumbnail of Luigi, Baby Luigi and Green Mii's Super Glider (with 8 icon), in Mario Kart 8.

Rainbow Road is the fourth and last course of the Special Cup in Mario Kart Wii. The course is located over Earth's atmosphere. If a driver falls off the course, they will burn up in the atmosphere (even if there is a section of the course below them) before getting picked up by Lakitu.

This course has a Super Mario Galaxy theme to it, featuring a Launch Star and floating Star Bits as elements of the track's design and theming. A large galaxy can be seen in the background, as well as sunlight on the Earth's surface. Both of the course's staff ghosts are driven with Rosalina. The opening to the course's music is similar to the opening portion of Rainbow Road's music from Mario Kart DS; later, it uses "Egg Planet", Good Egg Galaxy's theme, as a countermelody underneath its own main melody. An arrangement of this course's music appears as one of the selectable songs in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

This Rainbow Road returns in Mario Kart Tour as a classic course starting in the 2023 Space Tour. It also returns in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the Booster Course Pass as the fourth and final course of the Spiny Cup, and the final course in the game overall.

In Mario Kart Wii, the course appears to be located over the eastern parts of North America, as well as some parts of Europe, Africa, and South America. In Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the course instead takes place above parts of Europe and Asia.

Mario Kart Wii[edit]

Course layout[edit]

The downhill portion of the track

The course is the longest original course in Mario Kart Wii. It begins with a brief straightaway which has guard rails on both sides. The guard rails then immediately end as the track curves downward and racers drive along a very steep downhill. The downhill immediately contains a dash panel that spans the width of the track, followed by two smaller dash panels on the right and left sides of the track respectively. The track then curves upwards, ending in a dash panel ramp. The first set of Item Boxes can be found between this ramp and the steep downhill. After landing, racers gradually descend as they take a left turn followed by three dash panels and another left turn. On the outside of the second turn is a brief half-pipe with three Item Boxes on top and some short guard rails on both sides. After the turn there is a portion of track which is moderately wavy at the beginning of the race but becomes more and more wavy as time goes on; racers can perform tricks off of the waves and can also make use of the dash panel ramp at the end of this track. There are also three pairs of Item Boxes along the wavy track.

Upon landing from the dash panel ramp, racers reach a much wider portion of track that has guard rails and curves upward on both sides and leads them into a figure-8 shaped section. In this section, there are two large circular holes in the middle of the track that racers must go left or right around. On both sides of the track there are long half-pipes with sets of Item Boxes on top. The holes in the middle of the track are also entirely lined with simple ramps. After the figure-8, the track makes a slight curve to the right as it narrows and the left guard rail ends. The track then takes a left turn; along this turn, colliding with the right guard rail is able to bump racers, sometimes far enough to knock them off the other side of the track. The right guard rail then ends and there is a more gradual U-turn to the right. Towards the end of this U-turn is another item set, and the U-turn ends with a Launch Star cannon. This Launch Star sends racers at a steep angle upwards through a rainbow-colored tunnel to a much higher part of the track.

After the Launch Star ends, racers take a slight right turn followed by a slight left turn. Along the slight left turn are guard rails and four dash panels, and it ends with a unique type of half-pipe ramp that makes racers take a left turn over a gap while they pass through several star-filled rings. As racers land, the track is once again wider but quickly splits into two narrow paths. The right path quickly curves left to cross over to the left side while the left path quickly curves right to cross under to the right side, then both curve again to go the same direction. The right path briefly has guard rails on the right side while it's crossing over, but the paths otherwise function very similarly; each have a small dash panel on the outside of the curve before it crosses over, a small dash panel on the inside of the curve after it crosses over, and a ramp at the end. In both cases, the ramp has guard rails on both sides, three dash panels, and three Item Boxes on top. Racers then reach the final part of the track which is a singular wide U-turn to the left; it has no guard rails, curves downward on both sides, and takes racers through a tunnel of stars and a slight rainbow moving backwards. At the start there is a small dash panel on the inside of the turn, followed by a dash panel on the outside of the turn, and then one last dash panel on the inside of the turn at the end. This then leads into a slight turn right followed by the finish line.

Both the normal and expert staff ghost of this course make appearances as staff ghosts in Mario Kart 7. The normal ghost, Nin★Konno, appears as the normal staff ghost for DS Luigi's Mansion, while the expert staff ghost, Nin★Syun1, appears as the expert staff ghost for Wario Shipyard.

Shortcuts[edit]

Funky Kong flying over the slope in Rainbow Road.
Funky Kong flying over the slope

The first notable set of shortcuts can be found at the beginning of the track. By using a Mushroom and jumping at the correct time just before the track curves downwards, the player can fly over the downhill portion and land just before the subsequent dash panel ramp. This saves time due to the player's ground speed not being affected by gravity, thus traveling directly forwards through the air clears the section faster than driving on the track at an angle. Additionally, the player is able to cut off the following turn if they are using an outside drift type vehicle and drift left off the dash panel ramp at the correct angle.

The second notable set of shortcuts can be found at the figure-8 section of the track. By using any speed item, the player is able to fully jump over the holes in the middle. A separate shortcut can also be performed afterwards by simply going off the left side of the track at full speed where the left guard rail ends. If angled correctly, the player gets enough height to clear the gap and skip the left turn, and this can be done without an item.

Tournaments[edit]

The November 2009 2nd Tournament

November 2009's second tournament required players to complete a Time Trial on a version of Rainbow Road with Chain Chomps added: There is one Chain Chomp roaming near the first half-pipe, two rolling around the figure-8 section, one roaming where the track splits, and one roaming along the final left turn. Players start the Time Trial with a set of Triple Mushrooms. This tournament could be a reference to the Mario Kart 64 iteration of Rainbow Road, as Chain Chomps were also present there. The tournament was restricted to karts only. The official description stated, "Chain Chomps have taken over Rainbow Road in this karts-only Time Trial. Anticipating their movements and avoiding them is the key to a good score."

This tournament was repeated as the first tournament of December 2010, but without restrictions. It was later repeated as the second tournament of August 2011, and the first tournament of November 2012, with the karts only restriction intact for the August 2011 tournament.

Mario Kart Tour[edit]

View of Wii Rainbow Road in Mario Kart Tour
View of the course in Mario Kart Tour

This version of Rainbow Road makes its classic course debut in Mario Kart Tour, starting from the 2023 Space Tour. This makes it the first Mario Kart Wii Special Cup course to reappear in a future installment of the series, the sixth Wii course in Mario Kart Tour, the first Wii course since Wii Koopa Cape in the May 2022 Peach vs. Bowser Tour seventeen tours prior, and the second Wii course to make its classic course debut in Mario Kart Tour, the first one being Wii DK Summit in the Snow Tour forty-nine tours prior. The most notable change is that the course has been converted into a two-section track like Tokyo Blur 4, New York Minute 4, and N64 Kalimari Desert 2, with the second section beginning at the Launch Star cannon.

The course layout itself has also received some alterations. The wavy part of the track is now consistent and doesn't change over time, the simple ramps that lined the holes at the figure-8 section are gone, the Launch Star now has a glide ramp, and the previously unique half-pipe jump is now effectively parallel to where racers land from the jump, presumably due to the game's different half-pipe physics. Additionally, there are different Item Box placements: Most previous Item Boxes are gone, with the set just before the Launch Star and the set at the end of the split paths as the only retained ones. Instead, an item set is found just before the downhill and a set is found just before the wavy track. Lastly, many more guard rails appear along the sides of the track: The whole portion between the first dash panel ramp and the three subsequent dash panels is covered on both sides, the slight right turn after the Launch Star is mostly covered on both sides, the track just before the split path is covered on both sides, the right path is covered on the left side at its second curve, and the slight right turn at the end is covered on both sides. Unlike other classic courses in Tour, Wii Rainbow Road's scale is larger compared to the original course, most noticeable following the figure-8 section.

The course has also received numerous graphical updates. The starting line and various other course elements now have technicolor ring designs. The road texture is now animated, with pinpricks of light following the path of the course. The background has received quite a few changes, such as the Earth being moved closer to the track and Saturn being moved from the last turn to being right after the cannon. Most notably, the moon is now modeled, is much closer to the track, and has a rocket ship based on the ones from 3DS Rainbow Road. The floating arrows now take on their appearance from SNES Rainbow Road. The wavy road no longer has a different texture from the main road, and the road texture no longer highlights arcs for the subsequent half-pipes. The two launch stars at the rainbow tunnel are now larger and have been redesigned; they are now big stars with a ring encompassing the inner corners of them. The tunnel now cycles through colors. The launch star at the end of the rainbow tunnel now briefly spins when any racers pass through it, but does not launch them. The tunnel of light surrounding the last bend now has a pattern of rings moving forward with rotating sun-shaped entrances and exits, with the mandatory half-pipe jump also now having a version of this tunnel with simpler entrance and exit points.

This course also appears as Rainbow Road R (reversed), Rainbow Road T (with ramps), and Rainbow Road R/T (reversed with ramps). In the T variant, there are only three Item Boxes, with players being able to collect a fourth via the use of item tickets. Because players cannot get Frenzies from back-to-back Item Boxes, it is the first and only course where receiving three Frenzies is impossible. It is also significantly shorter due to the first two turns being entirely skipped. In the R/T variant, there are three pairs of Star Thwomps along the second section, and racers briefly drive underneath the figure-8 section.

The course icon for the R/T variant is slightly incorrect: in it, only one Star Thwomp is shown on the left side of the Kanaami Road near the figure-8 portion, but when racing, there are two Star Thwomps on each side.

Appearances[edit]

For this course's tour appearances, see List of Wii Rainbow Road tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Top-tier and middle-tier items[edit]

Select "show" to reveal the drivers, karts, and gliders for which Wii Rainbow Road and its variants are always favored or favorite courses. For instances in which additional drivers, karts, and gliders temporarily had this course and its variants as favored or favorite courses, see List of Wii Rainbow Road tour appearances in Mario Kart Tour.

Course Three-item drivers Bonus points ×2 karts Combo bonus ×3 gliders Two-item drivers Bonus points ×1.5 karts Combo bonus ×2 gliders
Wii Rainbow Road from Mario Kart Tour
Normal variant
Chargin' Chuck (Gold)Dry Bones Mii Racing SuitLarry (Wintertime)Mario (Satellaview)Purple Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Chef)Santa Mii Racing Suit Armored Rider from Mario Kart TourThe Blooper Shuttle from Mario Kart TourGold 8-Bit Pipe Frame from Mario Kart TourGold Bullet Blaster from Mario Kart TourLightning Streamliner from Mario Kart TourRainbow Streetle from Mario Kart TourThe Rainbow Taxi from Mario Kart TourSleigh Rider from Mario Kart TourThe Swift Talon from Mario Kart Tour Black Starchute from Mario Kart TourGold Umbrella from Mario Kart TourGreen Cat Parafoil from Mario Kart TourIcy Mario's Mustache from Mario Kart TourLuigi's Mustache from Mario Kart TourMario's Hat Balloon from Mario Kart TourRainbow Fare Flier from Mario Kart TourThe Wonderful Garnet from Mario Kart Tour Bowser Mii Racing SuitCat LuigiDr. PeachKing Bob-omb Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Chef)Luigi (Knight)Mario (King)Pastry Chef Mii Racing SuitPetey Piranha from Mario Kart TourRocky Wrench Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Volendam)Toad (Astronaut)White Tanooki Mario from Mario Kart Tour The Blue Speeder from Mario Kart TourCream B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourGold Capsule Kart from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Jingle Bell from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Lunar Cruiser from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Trickster from Mario Kart TourGoo-Goo Black from Mario Kart TourThe Holiday Speeder from Mario Kart TourIce-Cream Minibus from Mario Kart TourMetal B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourThe Moo Moo Offroader from Mario Kart TourThe Pink Sneeker from Mario Kart TourRed Offroader from Mario Kart TourShielded Speedster from Mario Kart TourTaiko Drum Dasher from Mario Kart Tour***Tuk-Tuk Kart from Mario Kart TourWild Gold from Mario Kart Tour Flybrary Book from Mario Kart TourGold 8-Bit Glider from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Cloud Balloons from Mario Kart TourGold Hard Hat Balloon from Mario Kart TourGold Meteors from Mario Kart TourGreen Sprout from Mario Kart TourLuigi Parafoil from Mario Kart TourNew Year's 2023 from Mario Kart TourOrigami Glider from Mario Kart TourRed and Gold Umbrella from Mario Kart TourTulip Corsage from Mario Kart TourYukata Ribbon from Mario Kart Tour
Green Toad (Pit Crew)Red Toad (Pit Crew) Rambi Rider from Mario Kart Tour
Wii Rainbow Road R from Mario Kart Tour
R variant
Bowser Mii Racing SuitCat Mii Racing SuitChain Chomp Mii Racing SuitDaisy (Sailor)King Bob-omb Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Knight)Mario (Golf)Pastry Chef Mii Racing SuitPink Shy Guy (Ninja)Toadette (Astronaut)White Mii Racing Suit The Blazing Eagle from Mario Kart TourGreen B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourGreen Cat Cruiser from Mario Kart TourThe Pink Speeder from Mario Kart TourRed Offroader from Mario Kart TourShielded Speedster from Mario Kart TourStrawberry Soft Swerve from Mario Kart TourThe Swift Talon from Mario Kart TourTaiko Drum Dasher from Mario Kart TourYellow 8-Bit Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Bright Balloons from Mario Kart TourThe Calico Toe-Bean Balloons from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Cloud Balloons from Mario Kart TourMario's Mustache from Mario Kart TourMint & Berry Balloons from Mario Kart TourNew Year's 2022 from Mario Kart TourOrigami Glider from Mario Kart TourRed and Gold Umbrella from Mario Kart TourTropical Balloons from Mario Kart Tour Cat LuigiChargin' Chuck (Gold)Donkey Kong Mii Racing SuitDr. BowserDr. Mario from Mario Kart TourDr. PeachDry Bones Mii Racing SuitKitsune LuigiPetey Piranha (Gold)Petey Piranha Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Chef)Santa Mii Racing SuitSilver Mii Racing SuitToad (Astronaut)***Wario Mii Racing Suit The Black Carriage from Mario Kart TourThe Blooper Shuttle from Mario Kart Tour***Cact-B from Mario Kart TourCream B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourFlowery Badwagon from Mario Kart TourGold Bullet Blaster from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Eagle from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Quickshaw from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Rambi Rider from Mario Kart TourGold Standard from Mario Kart TourGreen-Yellow Capsule Kart from Mario Kart TourThe Holiday Speeder from Mario Kart TourThe Pink Sneeker from Mario Kart TourRainbow Pipe Buggy from Mario Kart TourSleigh Rider from Mario Kart TourStar Broom from Mario Kart TourWild Gold from Mario Kart Tour Aurora Balloons from Mario Kart TourCream Toe-Bean Balloons from Mario Kart TourGold Eggshell Glider from Mario Kart TourIcy Mario's Mustache from Mario Kart TourLuigi Parafoil from Mario Kart TourNew Year's 2023 from Mario Kart TourPink Magniflying Glass from Mario Kart TourRainbow Fare Flier from Mario Kart TourSakura Origami Glider from Mario Kart TourSilver Luigi's Mustache from Mario Kart TourTulip Corsage from Mario Kart TourThe Wonderful Garnet from Mario Kart Tour
Light-blue Toad (Pit Crew)Orange Shy Guy**Red Toad (Pit Crew) The Pink Turbo Yoshi from Mario Kart Tour
Wii Rainbow Road T from Mario Kart Tour
T variant
Builder Mario from Mario Kart TourDonkey Kong Mii Racing SuitDr. Mario from Mario Kart TourKitsune LuigiLarry (Wintertime)Luigi (Golf)Reindeer Mii Racing SuitRosalina (Volendam)Shy Guy (Ninja)Silver Mii Racing SuitWario Mii Racing Suit The Blue Speeder from Mario Kart TourClassic B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourThe Flaming Speeder from Mario Kart TourFlowery Badwagon from Mario Kart TourGold 8-Bit Pipe Frame from Mario Kart TourGoo-Goo Black from Mario Kart TourIce-Cream Minibus from Mario Kart TourThe Pink Sneeker from Mario Kart TourSakura Sports Coupe from Mario Kart TourTuk-Tuk Kart from Mario Kart Tour Fire Manta Glider from Mario Kart TourGlittering Parasol from Mario Kart TourGold 8-Bit Glider from Mario Kart TourLuigi Parafoil from Mario Kart TourMagniflying Glass from Mario Kart TourPink Magniflying Glass from Mario Kart TourSilver Luigi's Mustache from Mario Kart TourTulip Corsage from Mario Kart TourThe Wonderful Garnet from Mario Kart TourYukata Ribbon from Mario Kart Tour Black Mii Racing SuitBowser Mii Racing SuitBuilder LuigiCat Mario from Mario Kart TourCat Mii Racing SuitChargin' Chuck (Gold)Daisy (Sailor)Daisy (Thai Dress)Dry Bones Mii Racing SuitKing Bob-omb Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Chef)Luigi (Knight)Mario (King)Pastry Chef Mii Racing SuitPeach (Yukata)Petey Piranha from Mario Kart TourToadette (Astronaut)***White Mii Racing Suit Coral Jet Cruiser from Mario Kart TourGold Bullet Blaster from Mario Kart TourGold Capsule Kart from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Double-Decker from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Eagle from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Jingle Bell from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Quickshaw from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Rambi Rider from Mario Kart TourGreen B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourGreen Cat Cruiser from Mario Kart TourLightning Streamliner from Mario Kart TourThe Moo Moo Offroader from Mario Kart TourPink Capsule Kart from Mario Kart TourThe Pink Speeder from Mario Kart TourRainbow Pipe Buggy from Mario Kart TourShielded Speedster from Mario Kart TourThe Swift Talon from Mario Kart TourYellow 8-Bit Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Black Starchute from Mario Kart TourThe Festive Holly from Mario Kart TourGold Candlelight Flight from Mario Kart TourGold Hard Hat Balloon from Mario Kart TourGreen Sprout from Mario Kart TourIcy Mario's Mustache from Mario Kart TourLuigi's Mustache from Mario Kart TourMario's Hat Balloon from Mario Kart TourMint & Berry Balloons from Mario Kart TourOrigami Glider from Mario Kart TourRed and Gold Umbrella from Mario Kart TourSakura Origami Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Rambi Rider from Mario Kart Tour The Pink Turbo Yoshi from Mario Kart Tour
Wii Rainbow Road R/T from Mario Kart Tour
R/T variant
Cat LuigiGreen Mii Racing SuitLuigi (Chef)Mario (King)Peach (Yukata)Toad (Astronaut)Yellow Mii Racing Suit The Black Carriage from Mario Kart TourThe Blazing Eagle from Mario Kart TourThe Blooper Shuttle from Mario Kart TourBlue-Green Capsule Kart from Mario Kart TourCream B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourGold Capsule Kart from Mario Kart TourGoo-Goo Pink from Mario Kart TourThe Holiday Speeder from Mario Kart TourLunar Cruiser from Mario Kart TourThe Moo Moo Offroader from Mario Kart TourRainbow Pipe Buggy from Mario Kart Tour Aurora Balloons from Mario Kart TourCream Toe-Bean Balloons from Mario Kart TourThe Festive Holly from Mario Kart TourGold Candlelight Flight from Mario Kart TourNew Year's 2023 from Mario Kart TourPink Gold Meteors from Mario Kart TourPlanet Glider from Mario Kart TourSakura Origami Glider from Mario Kart Tour Builder LuigiBuilder Mario from Mario Kart TourChain Chomp Mii Racing SuitLarry (Wintertime)Mario (Golf)Pink Gold Peach from Mario Kart TourPurple Mii Racing Suit***Reindeer Mii Racing SuitRosalina Mii Racing SuitSanta Mii Racing SuitToadette (Astronaut)White Mii Racing Suit Coral Jet Cruiser from Mario Kart TourGold 8-Bit Pipe Frame from Mario Kart TourGold Hop Rod from Mario Kart Tour***Gold Kiddie Kart from Mario Kart TourThe Gold Lunar Cruiser from Mario Kart Tour***Goo-Goo Black from Mario Kart TourGreen Cat Cruiser from Mario Kart TourKamek's Zoom Broom from Mario Kart TourMetal B Dasher Mk. 2 from Mario Kart TourPink Capsule Kart from Mario Kart TourThe Pink Speeder from Mario Kart TourRainbow Streetle from Mario Kart TourThe Rainbow Taxi from Mario Kart Tour***Sakura Sports Coupe from Mario Kart Tour**Star Broom from Mario Kart TourWild Gold from Mario Kart Tour Black Starchute from Mario Kart TourBright Balloons from Mario Kart TourThe Calico Toe-Bean Balloons from Mario Kart TourGold Umbrella from Mario Kart TourGreen Cat Parafoil from Mario Kart TourMario's Hat Balloon from Mario Kart TourMario's Mustache from Mario Kart TourRainbow Fare Flier from Mario Kart Tour***Silver Luigi's Mustache from Mario Kart TourSky-High Flyer from Mario Kart TourTropical Balloons from Mario Kart Tour
Pink Toad (Pit Crew)
* indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 3.
** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 6.
*** indicates a favored course upgraded to a favorite course after reaching level 8 for High-End items.

Bonus challenges[edit]

Time Trial
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Grand Star scores Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Chargin' Chuck Cup challenge from the 2023 Ninja Tour; a Time Trial challenge set on Wii Rainbow Road Regular Metal Mario's icon from Mario Kart Tour.
Metal Mario
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 1:38.00
  • 1:34.00
  • 1:30.00
Ninja Tour (2023) Chargin' Chuck Cup from Mario Kart Tour
Chargin' Chuck Cup
Combo Attack
Icon Course variant Chosen
driver
Chosen
kart
Chosen
glider
Highest combo counts Tour appearances Cup
Thumbnail of the Metal Mario Cup challenge from the 2023 Space Tour; a Combo Attack challenge set on Wii Rainbow Road T T Metal Mario's icon from Mario Kart Tour.
Metal Mario
Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Pipe Frame
Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour
Super Glider
  • 10
  • 14
  • 20
Space Tour (2023) The icon of the Metal Mario Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Metal Mario Cup
Big Reverse Race
Icon Course variant Opponents Tour appearances Cup
7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Extra
Thumbnail of the Rosalina Cup challenge from the 2023 Space Tour; a Big Reverse Race challenge set on Wii Rainbow Road Regular Driver Koopa Troopa's icon from Mario Kart Tour. Luigi's icon from Mario Kart Tour. Toad's icon from Mario Kart Tour Peach MKT Icon Bowser.png MKT Icon Yoshi.png MKT Icon DonkeyKong.png Mario's icon from Mario Kart Tour. Space Tour (2023) The icon of the Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour.
Rosalina Cup
Kart Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour Pipe Frame from Mario Kart Tour
Glider Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour Super Glider from Mario Kart Tour

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]

Wii Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

This version of Rainbow Road reappears in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the sixth and final wave of the Booster Course Pass DLC. It is the fourth and last course of the Spiny Cup, the forty-eighth and last course in the DLC and the ninety-sixth and last course in the game overall. It is also the only course from Mario Kart Wii added in the 2023 half of the Booster Course Pass not to be the third course of its cup. The course is largely based on its appearance from Mario Kart Tour, only with significant visual upgrades. Unlike other Booster Course Pass tracks, the course model has not been upscaled from Tour, meaning the track is narrower than most other ones in the pass, matching the Mario Kart Wii version. The entire course is now in anti-gravity, making it the only Rainbow Road, and one of six courses in the game with this distinction, alongside Mute City, GCN Baby Park, Big Blue, Sky-High Sundae, and the battle course Lunar Colony. Two Spin Boost Pillars have been added along the track; one at the left turn after the figure-8 section and the right turn before the launch star tunnel. In the figure-8 section of the course, the ramps lining the holes and the Item Boxes above the half-pipes have returned, and there are Double Item Boxes at the set before the wavy track. Also, the boost panel at the end of the wavy track now remains slanted upwards, instead of moving along with the wave. Additionally, the wavy section does not get increasingly more bumpy as the race goes on. The required half-pipe jump has been modified from Tour to be closer to the Wii original, though it is not identical. The dash panels along the second curve of each split path are now on the outside of the curve, and each dash panel along the final U-turn has been moved to the opposite side of the track. Even more guard rails have been added along the sides of the split path part of the track: Both paths are fully covered on the outside of both of their turns. In the case of the first turns, there are no guard rail gaps between them and the start of the section, and in the case of the second turns, there are no guard rail gaps between them and the dash panel ramps. Unlike in Mario Kart Tour, the course has reverted to having three laps instead of two sections. It is the longest three-lap course in the game, beating Toad Harbor from the original Mario Kart 8 and DS Waluigi Pinball and Wii Maple Treeway from previous waves of the Booster Course Pass.

Visually, the course is also noticeably paler in color compared to how it appeared in Mario Kart Tour, making it closer resemble how it originally appeared in Mario Kart Wii. Additionally, the tiles on the road are smaller compared to how they appear in Tour, giving the road somewhat of a resemblance to Mario Kart 8's own Rainbow Road. The launch star rainbow tunnel has colors stretching from the start to the end like in Mario Kart Wii. The other two tunnels, the one for the half-pipe jump and the other for the bend before the start-and-finish, have their designs look like how the tunnel for the bend was designed in Mario Kart Wii with the latter having the lights and the rainbow moving backwards once again. The sound effect of the wavy road, the sound effect for the cannon, and the sound effect of the rainbow tunnel of the U-turn have been brought back after being absent in Mario Kart Tour. The minimap has been rotated 90° counterclockwise and lacks a drop-shadow. Additionally, the effect of characters burning up when they fall off the course was retained from Mario Kart Wii, though the effect is shorter and racers fall off more horizontally.

It is also one of two courses from Mario Kart Wii to appear in Wave 6, the other being Wii Daisy Circuit. Its music was used for the course overview trailer for Wave 6.[1]

Profiles[edit]

Mario Kart Wii[edit]

The Rainbow Road card from the Mario Kart Wii trading cards
  • European website bio: Don't get caught stargazing as you power round the multicoloured Rainbow Road. The multiple speed boosts could hurry you along to the finish line or over the edge to your demise. Remember; don't look down!
  • Trading card bio: The layout of Rainbow Road has changed over the years as it has appeared in a variety of incarnations; the challenge factor has always been high. It's a long track with plenty of opportunities to fall off into space. In Mario Kart Wii, at least one of those opportunities can become a shortcut if you play it right.

Mario Kart Tour[edit]

  • Mario Kart Tour Twitter: The New Year's Tour is coming to a close, but there's still plenty to look forward to in #MarioKartTour! Next up is the Space Tour where you can race down the new Wii Rainbow Road course!

Gallery[edit]

Mario Kart Wii[edit]

Mario Kart Tour[edit]

Course icons[edit]

Screenshots[edit]

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese レインボーロード
Reinbō Rōdo
Rainbow Road

Chinese 彩虹之路
Cǎihóng zhī Lù
Rainbow Road

Dutch Regenboogbaan
Rainbow Track
French Route Arc-en-ciel
Rainbow Road
German Regenbogen-Boulevard
Rainbow Boulevard
Italian Pista Arcobaleno
Rainbow Track
Korean 무지개 로드
Mujigae Lodeu
Rainbow Road

Portuguese (NOA) Avenida Arco-íris
Rainbow Avenue
Portuguese (NOE) Estrada Arco-Íris
Rainbow Road
Russian Трасса Радуга
Trassa Raduga
Rainbow Track

Spanish Senda Arco Iris
Rainbow Path

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nintendo of America (November 1, 2023). Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass Wave 6 - Course Overview. YouTube. Retrieved November 1, 2023.