SNES Rainbow Road

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The original Rainbow Road debuted in Super Mario Kart, as the last course of the Special Cup, starting the Mario Kart series tradition of having Rainbow Road as the last course of the final cup. It is the shortest Rainbow Road to date, and it is the most common retro track in the series, having appeared six times in different games, more than any other Mario Kart track.

This course is unique in Super Mario Kart in the fact that it is the only track in the game that is not numbered compared to the others, and thus it is the game's only unique track. It is the only track in the Special Cup with normal traction, but lacks rails entirely and has only 90-degree turns. Rainbow-colored tiles and a few jumping bumps cover the track's surface, and the yellow tiles conceal Coins. This course features Star Thwomps which can wipe out a racer by touch, unlike regular Thwomps, as well as by crushing, unless the racer uses a Super Star or a Boo.

Course layout

Rainbow Road
Donkey Kong Jr. racing on Rainbow Road

The track begins with racers taking a turn to the right, where they will find ? Panels to gather items. There are some Jumps, followed by four Thwomps. After this, racers turn to the right again where they can collect some coins, followed by another turn to the right, where there is once again a path with jumping bumps with an incoming turn that might cause racers to fall. After this turn, the track gets narrower and follows a long path where more coins and Thwomps are found along the way with another turn awaiting the player. It is here where the track gets even more narrow increasing the risk of falling. Before the final turn, the track splits into two roads; the left side contains coins while the right side has two ? Panels, both have a pair of Thwomps near the part where these roads merge. Alternatively, there are two jumping bumps in the middle gap; if any racers use a Mushroom while they are heading for them, they can jump over the gap for a significant shortcut. After the final turn, before the finish line, there is another quartet of Thwomps, but this time there is no space between them to pass, with players only being able to pass them by driving on the side or when the Thwomps are rising.

Mario Kart: Super Circuit

MKSC SNES Rainbow Road Extra Cup Map.png
on the menu.
MKSC SNES Rainbow Road Mini Map.png
in the race.
Luigi racing through the track

Rainbow Road reappeared in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, as the last track of the Extra Special Cup. The background is from that game's own Rainbow Road, but with only the sparkles, foreground clouds, and moon appearing; like that track, this one is also translucent. The Thwomps and jumping bumps are removed. The coins' placement is also changed so that all coins are on blue tiles, making it much easier for players to collect them.

Mario Kart 7

Overview of the track in Mario Kart 7.

Rainbow Road returns again as the last course of the Lightning Cup in Mario Kart 7, being the first Rainbow Road to reappear as a Retro track in another Mario Kart (besides its reappearance in Mario Kart: Super Circuit).

Even though this track is short, and is one of the shortest tracks in the game, there are only three laps instead of five. The course uses a similar background to that of DS Waluigi Pinball.

Unlike previous incarnations, this new version has the characteristic "glistening" sound effect when drifting on it, a common feature of all Rainbow Roads starting from the GCN rendition.

Unlike in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, the Thwomps (now with their New Super Mario Bros. Wii appearance) return. They are now larger (which reduces their number in the track, from sixteen to seven), and now form ripples on the track upon impact, which the player can trick off of. Also, howling noises can be heard near the Super Thwomps.

The tiles' colors are similar to those of Rainbow Road from Mario Kart: Super Circuit, with pink replacing the red tiles and cyan replacing the turquoise tiles. In first-person view, the player can see through the breaks in the tiles. The widest part of the gap in the forked road is two tiles shorter, but the gap itself is also seven tiles shorter, making the shortcut easier to use. Also, the section of tiles before the fork (from the orange tiles on the narrow part of the straight after turn 7 to the purple tiles before the gap) is wider: the first orange, blue, yellow, and last purple tile rows before the gap are now two tiles wider. The finish line is also two tiles long, removing the red tiles that used to be in front of it.

Ramps replace the yellow bumps, though the first two bumps were removed entirely, the last pair at the fork is now a single taller ramp in front of the gap, and a ramp was added on the inside of the second U-turn, adding a new shortcut (requiring a Mushroom or Mini-Turbo to get across); the ramps are only two tiles wide, rather than three, like the bumps.

Like most other SNES and GBA Retro courses, a starting banner stylized after the Mario Kart 64 starting banners is added in this course.

Aside from the addition of cymbals, the music sounds the way it did in the SNES version.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

SNES Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 8 - The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8.
Overview of the track in Mario Kart 8.

Rainbow Road returns for the third time in the Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack of Mario Kart 8 and in the base game of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, appearing as the second course in the Triforce Cup. As a result, for the first time, a Rainbow Road course is not the last track in a cup.

The track's layout is similar to its appearance in Mario Kart 7. The tiles revert to their original colors, though their color pattern is reversed, and they are now flashing LED lights, like on N64 Rainbow Road. There are now eight different colors of tiles, instead of seven from its previous appearances (adding cyan between turquoise and blue), and the tiles the Thwomps land on are now white. The course itself is also larger, wider and banked (namely, the inclined third U-turn). Tiles at the edges of the track now have borders on the outer edges. The forked road is also altered further, with the narrow part of the hole's end filled in, and the ramp in front reverted to the original bumps' height and position. The music is also deeper-pitched and remixed, as with the other retro courses in this game.

The Thwomps work as they do in Mario Kart 7, but they now have sparkles, a mosaic-like appearance, horizontal rainbow lines running from bottom to top of them, and the species' Super Mario Galaxy appearance, like the other Thwomps in Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8, rather than their spiked New Super Mario Bros. Wii design in Mario Kart 7. Additionally, all of the Thwomps are bigger except the last two. Unlike before, when they start to crash down, they will create rainbow waves above them. Also, when they shake before falling, and the moment they land, they make metallic glistening sounds. The waves on the track they create are now bigger, move more quickly, and disappear faster than in Mario Kart 7, making tricks more difficult to perform.

SNES Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 8 - The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8.
The course, as seen at the starting line.

The course now takes place in a cloudy night sky with the moon visible, just like in Super Circuit, but it now has color-changing hills that stick above them. Various Toad Houses litter the landscape below the course, which in itself is similar to SNES Donut Plains 3. The starting banner is now redesigned, with colored blocks with a Star on top of it; the banner also stands on two walled areas, now making the start the only walled part of the course. Also, when a player approaches a turn, two green arrow holograms will appear behind the turn, and indicate in which direction the player must drive (similar to Super Circuit's Nitro courses). Once the player has made the turn, the arrows will disappear.

Staff ghost

The staff ghost for this track is Cat Peach on the Cat Cruiser, with a time of 1:46.599. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 200cc, the staff ghost is Tanooki Mario with a time of 1:12.762.

Mario Kart Tour

The course's icon in Mario Kart Tour

Rainbow Road reappears in Mario Kart Tour, mostly taking on the appearance of its Mario Kart 7 iteration. However, the ramp inside the second U-turn is absent, the hole in the road is even smaller than it was before, the last two Thwomps are further apart, the red tiling on the course and banner returns (in place of the pink ones in Mario Kart 7), the track edges are beveled, the track itself is thicker, and the arrow signs and Thwomp designs from the Mario Kart 8 rendition return. This course is favored by Rosalina, Metal Mario, Pauline (Party Time), and Ice Mario.

Tokyo Tour

In the Tokyo Tour, Rainbow Road appears as the third course in the Rosalina Cup, the second course in the Peach Cup, the location of the challenge in the Toad Cup, and the location of the challenge in the Wario Cup. It also has a Reverse variant that appears as the second course in the Peachette Cup, and a Trick variant that appears as the first course in the Baby Rosalina Cup.

The icon of the Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Rosalina Cup
SNES Rainbow Road
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaFile:MKT Icon Metal Mario.png Cloud 9Kabuki Dasher Oilpaper UmbrellaGold Glider
Two Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngLemmy KoopaLudwig von KoopaMarioPrincess Peach Bull's-Eye Banzai (kart)DaytripperSoda JetGold Blooper Parachute (glider)Peach Parasol (glider)Full Flight
The icon of the Peach Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Peach Cup
SNES Rainbow Road
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaFile:MKT Icon Metal Mario.pngPrincess Peach DaytripperCloud 9Kabuki Dasher Oilpaper UmbrellaGold GliderPurple Oilpaper Umbrella
Two Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngLemmy KoopaLudwig von KoopaPrincess Peach Bull's-Eye BanzaiGold BlooperQuickshaw Parachute (glider)
Baby Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour Baby Rosalina Cup
SNES Rainbow Road T
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngFile:MKT Icon Metal Mario.png RoyaleBlue Badwagon BBIA ParafoilGold Glider
Two Star BowserMarioMario DaytripperSoda JetGold Blooper Paper GliderOilpaper UmbrellaLightning Oilpaper
Peachette Cup from Mario Kart Tour Peachette Cup
SNES Rainbow Road R
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star Lemmy KoopaPeachette Koopa ClownBlack Circuit Full FlightBullet Bill Parachute
Two Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngRosalinaFile:MKT Icon Metal Mario.pngPrincess Peach Cheep ChargerRoyaleQuickshawBlue Badwagon BBIA ParafoilOilpaper UmbrellaPurple Oilpaper Umbrella

Halloween Tour

In the Halloween Tour, Rainbow Road appears as the third course in the Shy Guy Cup, the second course in the Wario Cup, and the location of the challenge in the Dry Bones Cup. It also has a Reverse variant that appears as the first course in the Metal Mario Cup, and a Trick variant that appears as the third course in the Morton Cup.

The icon of the Shy Guy Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Shy Guy Cup
SNES Rainbow Road
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngRosalinaFile:MKT Icon Metal Mario.png Cloud 9Kabuki Dasher Oilpaper UmbrellaGold GliderRainy Balloons
Two Star Lemmy KoopaLudwig von KoopaPrincess PeachRosalinaKing Boo Bull's-Eye Banzai (kart)DaytripperGold Blooper Parachute (glider)Peach Parasol (glider)Full Flight
The icon of the Wario Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Wario Cup
SNES Rainbow Road
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaFile:MKT Icon Metal Mario.pngRosalina Cloud 9Kabuki Dasher Oilpaper UmbrellaWaluigi WingGold Glider
Two Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngLemmy KoopaLudwig von KoopaWarioPrincess Peach Bull's-Eye BanzaiDaytripperGold BlooperQuickshawBadwagon Parachute (glider)Piranha Plant ParafoilRainy BalloonsWicked Wings
Morton Cup from Mario Kart Tour Morton Cup
SNES Rainbow Road T
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngFile:MKT Icon Metal Mario.png RoyaleBlue Badwagon BBIA ParafoilGold Glider
Two Star MortonBowserMarioMarioRosalinaKing Boo DaytripperGold BlooperTricksterGhost Ride Paper GliderOilpaper UmbrellaLightning Oilpaper
The icon of the Metal Mario Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Metal Mario Cup
SNES Rainbow Road R
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star Lemmy KoopaFile:MKT Icon Metal Mario.png Koopa ClownBlack Circuit Bullet Bill Parachute
Two Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngRosalinaPeachetteRosalina Cheep ChargerCircuit SpecialBlue Badwagon BBIA ParafoilOilpaper UmbrellaGold GliderFull Flight

Winter Tour

In the Winter Tour, Rainbow Road has a Reverse and Trick variant which appears as the first course in the Metal Mario Cup and the third course in the Peachette Cup.

The icon of the Metal Mario Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Metal Mario Cup
SNES Rainbow Road R/T
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaRosalina (Halloween)Pink Gold PeachKing Boo (Luigi's Mansion) Poltergust 4000Bumble V Le TricoloreStarchute
Two Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngPaulineMetal MarioMario (Santa) Cloud 9Circuit SpecialMacharonGold Train Gold GliderFare Flier
Peachette Cup from Mario Kart Tour Peachette Cup
SNES Rainbow Road R/T
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaRosalina (Halloween)Pink Gold PeachKing Boo (Luigi's Mansion) Poltergust 4000Bumble V Le TricoloreStarchute
Two Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngPeachettePaulineMario (Santa) Cloud 9MacharonWildfire FlyerGold Train Fare FlierStrawberry CrêpeRoyal Parachute

London Tour

In the London Tour, Rainbow Road appears as the second course in the Toad Cup, the first course in the Mario Cup, and the location of the challenge in the Koopa Troopa Cup. It also has a Reverse variant which appears as the third course in the Luigi Cup and the first course in the Rosalina Cup, and a Trick variant which appears as the second course in the Shy Guy Cup.

The icon of the Toad Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Toad Cup
SNES Rainbow Road
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaMetal Mario Cloud 9Kabuki DasherCheermellowRed B Dasher Oilpaper UmbrellaGold Glider
Two Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngLemmyLudwigToadPeach (Kimono)Rosalina (Halloween)Daisy (Holiday Cheer) Bull's-Eye BanzaiDaytripperGold BlooperStreamlinerRibbon RiderGold Train ParachutePiranha Plant ParafoilWaluigi WingGlitter GliderCloud GliderRainy Balloons
The icon of the Luigi Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Luigi Cup
SNES Rainbow Road R
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star LemmyMario (Santa) Koopa ClownBlack CircuitGold Train Soaring JackBullet Bill Parachute
Two Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngRosalinaLuigiMetal MarioPeachetteRosalina (Halloween)Waluigi (Bus Driver) Cheep ChargerPoltergust 4000Double-DeckerBlue Badwagon Droplet GliderBBIA ParafoilOilpaper UmbrellaFull FlightLe Tricolore
The icon of the Shy Guy Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Shy Guy Cup
SNES Rainbow Road T
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngMetal MarioMario (Santa)Pink Gold Peach RoyaleRibbon RiderBlue Badwagon BBIA ParafoilGold GliderLe Tricolore
Two Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngBowserMario (Musician)Mario (Hakama)Rosalina (Halloween)Daisy (Holiday Cheer) Bullet BlasterDaytripperGold BlooperTricksterCarrot Kart Bob-omb ParafoilOilpaper UmbrellaLightning OilpaperWaluigi WingGlitter Glider
The icon of the Mario Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Mario Cup
SNES Rainbow Road
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaMetal Mario Cloud 9Kabuki DasherCheermellowRed B Dasher Oilpaper UmbrellaGold Glider
Two Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngLemmyLudwigMarioPeach (Kimono)Rosalina (Halloween) Bull's-Eye BanzaiDaytripperGold BlooperB DasherGold Train Super GliderParachutePiranha Plant ParafoilWaluigi WingRainy Balloons
The icon of the Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Rosalina Cup
SNES Rainbow Road R
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star LemmyRosalinaMario (Santa) Koopa ClownBlack CircuitGold Train Oilpaper UmbrellaBullet Bill Parachute
Two Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngMetal MarioPeachetteRosalina (Halloween) Cheep ChargerSoda JetBlue Badwagon BBIA ParafoilFull FlightLe TricoloreSoaring Jack

Valentine's Tour

In the Valentine's Tour, Rainbow Road appears as the third course in the Daisy Cup, the second course in the Toad Cup, and the location of the challenge in the Bowser Cup. It also has a Trick variant which appears as the third course in the Baby Rosalina Cup, and a Reverse variant which appears as the third course in the Waluigi Cup.

The icon of the Daisy Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Daisy Cup
SNES Rainbow Road
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaMetal MarioPauline (Party Time)Ice Mario Cloud 9Red B DasherKabuki DasherCheermellow Oilpaper UmbrellaGold GliderNew Year's Kite
Two Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngLemmyLudwigDaisyPink Shy GuyPeach (Kimono)Rosalina (Halloween)Peach (Vacation)Shy Guy (Pastry Chef) Bull's-Eye BanzaiDaytripperGold BlooperGold Train ParachutePiranha Plant ParafoilWaluigi WingCrimson CraneRainy Balloons
The icon of the Toad Cup from Mario Kart Tour. Toad Cup
SNES Rainbow Road
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star RosalinaMetal MarioIce MarioPauline (Party Time) Cloud 9Red B DasherKabuki DasherCheermellow Oilpaper UmbrellaGold GliderNew Year's Kite
Two Star File:MKT Icon Shy Guy.pngLemmyLudwigToadPink Shy GuyPeach (Kimono)Rosalina (Halloween)Baby Peach (Cherub) Bull's-Eye BanzaiDaytripperGold BlooperGold TrainApple Kart ParachutePiranha Plant ParafoilWaluigi WingCrimson CraneRainy BalloonsSweetheart Glider
Baby Rosalina Cup from Mario Kart Tour Baby Rosalina Cup
SNES Rainbow Road T
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngMetal MarioMario (Santa)Pink Gold Peach RoyaleBlue Badwagon BBIA ParafoilGold GliderLe Tricolore
Two Star BowserMario (Musician)Mario (Hakama)Rosalina (Halloween)Peach (Vacation)Shy Guy (Pastry Chef) DaytripperGold BlooperTricksterCarrot KartRibbon Rider Oilpaper UmbrellaLightning OilpaperWaluigi WingHeart BalloonsNew Year's Kite
Waluigi Cup from Mario Kart Tour Waluigi Cup
SNES Rainbow Road R
Characters Karts Gliders
Three Star LemmyIce MarioMario (Santa)Baby Peach (Cherub) Koopa Clown Black CircuitGold Train Crimson CraneBullet Bill ParachuteBlizzard Parasol
Two Star File:MKT Icon Baby Rosalina.pngRosalinaWaluigiMetal MarioPeachetteRosalina (Halloween)Peach (Vacation)Shy Guy (Pastry Chef)Pauline (Party Time) Cheep ChargerBlue BadwagonApple Kart BBIA ParafoilOilpaper UmbrellaFull FlightLe TricoloreSoaring Jack

Gallery

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart Tour

WarioWare Gold

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese レインボーロード[?]
Reinbō Rōdo
Rainbow Road
Chinese 彩虹之路
Cǎihóng zhī Lù
彩虹桥 (Simplified, MK7, MKSC prototype)
Cǎihóng Qiáo
[?]
Rainbow Road

Rainbow Bridge
Dutch Regenboogbaan[?] Rainbow Track
German Regenbogen-Boulevard[?] Rainbow Boulevard
Italian Pista Arcobaleno[?] Rainbow Track
Korean 무지개 로드[?]
Mujigae Rodeu
Raindow 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 Trail

Trivia

  • Super Mario Kart composer Soyo Oka considers this course's theme one of her favorite compositions.[1]
  • SNES Rainbow Road is the only course in Mario Kart 7 not to have a Dash Panel/ramp, and one of four courses not to have a glider pad/ramp; the others are N64 Luigi Raceway, GCN Daisy Cruiser, and Rosalina's Ice World.
    • Also, in Mario Kart 8, it is one of the two only courses that does not have any Dash Panels, glider pads, underwater sections, or anti-gravity sections, with the other being GCN Yoshi Circuit. Coincidentally, both of these courses are part of DLC Pack One.
  • In Mario Kart 8, SNES Rainbow Road, N64 Rainbow Road, the new Rainbow Road and GCN Baby Park are the only courses in the game to have the map in different colors instead of just blue.
  • The track's location has alternated between each of its appearances. In Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 7, and Mario Kart Tour, it is in space, but in Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart 8, it is in the night sky.
  • Part of the music for Rainbow Road in Super Mario Kart has been referenced in the theme for Rainbow Road in Mario Kart: Super Circuit.

References

  1. ^ Interview between Rocketbaby and Soyo Oka. Retrieved February 12, 2015.

Template:Racecourses