N64 Rainbow Road: Difference between revisions

{{about|the race course originally from ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' and featured as a retro course in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''|Rainbow Road as a whole and other versions of the track|[[Rainbow Road]]|the course's music and later references to it|{{classic-link|N64|Rainbow Road (theme)}}}}

|image={{tabber|title1=''Mario Kart 64''|content1=[[File:Rainbow Road MK64.png|300px]]|title2=''Mario Kart 8''|content2=[[File:MK8-Course-N64 RainbowRoad.jpg|300px]]}}

|online_play=No longer available ([[Wii U]])<br>Available ([[Nintendo Switch|Switch]])

'''Rainbow Road''' is the fourth and last race of the [[Special Cup]] in ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', as well the sixteenth and last course in the game. It is the longest race course in ''Mario Kart 64'', at 2,000 meters (2 kilometers), and requires about two minutes per lap, making it the longest three-lap track in the whole series. The track differs from the other Rainbow Roads in that it has rails throughout the entire track. The track features a translucent multicolored glass path with star-shaped rails running throughout the entire course. Neon-light pictures of the eight playable characters and a portrait of a [[Boo]] and a [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]] are found in the distance and float in the void. Moreover, a big three-dimensional smiling star lies in a curved section of the track. [[Chain Chomp|Chomps]] also appear throughout the course as obstacles. It reappears as a [[classic course]] in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' as the fourth and final course of the [[Lightning Cup]].

[[File:Mk64rainbowroad.png|thumb|right|upright=1.2|The big drop at the start. The player can make a long jump over it by hopping with precise timing when the road starts to descend, as seen in this picture.]]

The course begins with a long straightaway where the track curves downward and then more gently curves upward before soon becoming level again. Racers then pass through a rainbow ring and take a long gradual right turn, encountering the first set of [[Item Box]]es and passing neon signs of [[Mario]], [[Princess Peach|Peach]], and [[Luigi]] which all lie outside the turn. The track then briefly straightens out as racers reach another item set before there is a slight left turn with the track curving down. Here there is a neon [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]] sign to the right of the track. The track then evens out and makes a very slight right turn before making a 360° counterclockwise loop around a large star. At the beginning of this loop is another item set, and at the end of this loop there is a neon [[Boo]] sign to the right of the track. A gradual right turn follows with another item set in the middle, then racers drive straight before making a gradual U-turn to the left. On the outside of this U-turn are neon signs of [[Donkey Kong]] and [[Yoshi]], with a neon [[Bowser]] sign in the distance. There is then another brief straight with another item set before the track makes a slight right turn and curves downward. It soon after curves upward and then evens out as racers continue driving straight, and then the track makes a very long and gradual U-turn to the right. At the start of this turn is another item set and a neon [[Toad]] sign on the outside, and towards the end of the turn is a neon [[Wario]] sign on the outside. Racers then reach another item set and make an equally long loop to the left as they pass the aforementioned neon Bowser sign. After this loop is one last item set followed by two very slight turns, and then racers reach the finish line.

This version of Rainbow Road makes its classic course debut in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', where it is the fourth and last course of the [[Lightning Cup]]. The course is now section-based, and takes place above a brightly-lit city near a coast at night instead of the deep space from the original. The Princess Peach Statue of Liberty from [[Toad Harbor]] and the course itself can be seen in the city setting, and in the center of the city below, there is a tower that faintly resembles the [[Eiffel Tower]], with four [[? Block]]s, a Mushroom, and a spinning [[Star]] visible on top of it. Christmas trees can also be seen scattered throughout the city. Also, there is a moon in the sky that can be seen right after the starting line. The road is now formed by multicolored tiles made of glowing {{wp|LED lamp|LED lights}} (similar to {{classic-link|SNES|Rainbow Road}}) laid out in a diagonal color pattern within a golden frame, as opposed to the slightly translucent glass stripes from the original version. A flying train travelling around the course was also added, ridden by [[Toad (species)|Toad]]s who throw coins onto the track.

The starting banner is now a rotating, star-shaped {{wp|planetary gear}}. When players nearly reach the finish line, the outer gears will change shape by expanding their star-shaped appendages wide and closing in upon themselves. A scrolling LED sign reading "RAINBOW ROAD" in the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] font can be seen in the inner part of the gears.

Mk64rainbowroad4.png|A [[Chain Chomp|Chomp]] approaching Yoshi

|FreA=Route arc-en-ciel

|FreAM=Rainbow Road

|FreE=Route Arc-en-ciel

|FreEM=Rainbow Road