Editing Rocket Start

{{distinguish|[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit#Karts|Rocket Kart]]}}

{{quote|Be patient, drivers! If you tap the screen too early, you'll fail the Rocket Start and be at a disadvantage.|Lakitu|Mario Kart Tour}}

A '''Rocket Start''' (also referred to as a '''Rocket Boost''',<ref>{{cite|author=Owsen, Dan, Scott Pelland, and Paul Shinoda|language=en-us|date=1997|publisher=Nintendo of America|title=''Mario Kart 64'' Player's Guide|page=12, 32, 36, 44, 47, 48, 52, 56, 76, 79, 80, and 91}}</ref> '''Turbo Start''',<ref>{{cite|date=2001|publisher=Nintendo of America|language=en-us|title=''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' instruction booklet|page=26}}</ref> '''Boost Start''',{{ref needed}} '''Head Start''',{{ref needed}} '''Start Dash''',<ref>[https://youtu.be/SRdBuDOUiv4 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Wii Playthrough - I Will Miss the Tokyo Olympics 2020]</ref> or '''starting dash'''<ref>[https://youtu.be/09goaFyQS1E Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games (Wii) Festival Mode Metal Sonic]</ref>) is a racing technique appearing mainly in games of the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]]. A Rocket Start is a powerful burst of speed that occurs at the beginning of every race, and it easily accelerates racers to top speed from standing still.

==History==

===''Mario Kart'' series===

[[File:Ninja Hideaway Race Start MK8 Deluxe.jpg|thumb|The flames coming out of the vehicle's exhaust pipes determine the strength of the Rocket Start, as demonstrated by a [[Mii]] in ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''.]]

In the ''Mario Kart'' series, the Rocket Start technique is executed by holding the acceleration button at the correct time in the starting countdown, with each game having different timing to do so, although the general timing of the technique in most games is to press the button sometime when the number '''2''' or equivalent appears onscreen. If the player holds the button too early and over-revs when the final beep sounds, the player's vehicle will backfire and stall for a few seconds at the beginning of the course (sometimes known as a '''Dud Start'''{{ref needed}} or '''Fail Start'''{{ref needed}}).

[[File:MK7RocketStartReady.jpg|left|thumb|The technique can be used by holding {{button|3ds|A}} or {{button|3ds|Y}} while '''2''' appears onscreen in ''Mario Kart 7''.]]

{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" width=75%

!Game !! Control !! Timing !! Failure

|''[[Super Mario Kart]]''||Hold {{button|snes|B}}||Right as the beep sound from the first light stops||The kart's tires do a burnout, and it accelerates slowly at the start.

|''[[Mario Kart 64]]''||Hold {{button|n64|A}} or tap it three times in sync with the lights||When the light turns blue||The kart's tires do a burnout with no forward movement.

|''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''||Hold {{button|gba|A}}||Halfway between the second yellow light and the blue light||The kart accelerates slowly at the start.

|''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''||Hold {{button|gcn|A}} or tap it in time with the lights||When the light turns green||The kart's rear wheels do a burnout, preventing movement for a few seconds.

|''[[Mario Kart DS]]''||Hold {{button|ds|A}}||rowspan="2" |When the number "2" starts fading||rowspan="6" |The kart's engine backfires and stalls for a second or two.

|''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''||With [[Wii#Wii Wheel|Wii Wheel]] or [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]] – {{button|wii|2}}  

 

With [[Wii#Classic Controller|Classic Controller]] – {{button|wii|cca}}  

 

With [[Nintendo GameCube#Nintendo GameCube Controller|GameCube Controller]] – {{button|gcn|A}}

 

With Wii Remote and [[Wii#Nunchuk|Nunchuk]] – {{button|wii|A}}

|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''||Hold {{button|3ds|A}} or {{button|3ds|Y}}||rowspan="3" |When the number "2" fully appears

|''[[Mario Kart 8]]''||With [[Wii U#Wii U GamePad|Wii U GamePad]]/[[Wii U#Wii U Pro Controller|Wii U Pro Controller]] – {{button|wiiu|A}}, {{button|wiiu|Y}}, or {{button|wii|CCStickR}} (tilt forward)

 

With Wii Wheel or Wii Remote – {{button|wii|2}}

 

With Wii Remote and Nunchuk – {{button|wii|A}}

|''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' / ''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]'' || With horizontal [[Nintendo Switch#Joy-Con|Joy-Con]] – {{button|switch|jc-right}}

 

With Dual Joy-Con or [[Nintendo Switch#Nintendo Switch Pro Controller|Nintendo Switch Pro Controller]] – {{button|switch|A}}

|''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''||Hold finger on the screen and release before "GO!" appears||Before or as the number "2" fully appears

In ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'', Rocket Starts are performed the same as in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' and ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'' In ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP 2]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'', they are performed by pressing down on the accelerator when "1" appears on the screen.

 

 

{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" width=75%

!Game !! Control !! Timing !! Result !! Failure

|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''||Press {{button|N64|A}}||As soon as the words "Get Ready" have almost completely faded||rowspan="2"|If the A Button is sustained, turquoise fire and black smoke will appear. If the A Button is released and then pressed again, green fire and rainbow smoke will appear.||rowspan="2" |The vehicle accelerates slowly at the start.

|''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''||Press {{button|DS|A}}||As soon as the word "Go!" appears onscreen

|''[[Donkey Kong Barrel Blast]]''||Shake {{button|wii|Wiimote}} and {{button|wii|Nunchuk}} simultaneously||Right as the word "Start!" appears onscreen|| ||The player may either accelerate slowly or jump by accident.

===''Super Mario Galaxy''===

[[File:SMG Freezeflame Frosty Cosmic Luigi Race.png|thumb|left|[[Luigi]] preparing for a Start Dash]]

At the beginning of a [[Cosmic Mario]] or Cosmic Luigi race in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'', if the player holds {{button|wii|Stick}} up, then {{button|wii|Z}} when the timer reaches "2," and then hits {{button|wii|A}} just as the race starts, [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]] will get an extra boost at the beginning of the race. This can be shown by a yellow color appearing on Mario or Luigi, shrinking gradually, showing the end of the speed boost.

*'''Instruction booklet:''' ''When you start, if you press the {{button|n64|A}} Button when the signal changes from red to blue, you can make a dash start at maximum speed (called a "Rocket Start"). But if you press too early, the tires will spin and you will start even slower, so be careful.''

*'''Instruction booklet:''' ''If you press the {{button|gba|A}} button at just the right moment before the light turns green, you'll start the race with a huge burst of speed.''

*'''Electronic manual:''' ''When the race is starting, if you press on the accelerator after the second signal flashes--and with just the right timing--you will perform a Rocket Start and shoot off the starting line.''

*'''Instruction booklet (Rocket Start):''' ''If you press {{button|gcn|A}} just as Lakitu's start signal turns green, you'll perform a Rocket Start.''

*'''Instruction booklet (Double Dash):''' ''In co-op play you can get an even better launch if both the front and rear perform a Rocket Start at the same time. This is called a Double Dash.''

*'''Instruction booklet:''' ''During the countdown to the start, hold {{button|ds|A}} down with the right timing to rev up your engine and give yourself a burst of speed off the starting line.''

*'''Instruction booklet:''' ''Press and hold {{button|wii|2}} at just the right time during the countdown to rev up your engine and give yourself a burst of speed off the starting line.''

*'''Electronic manual:''' ''If you press and hold {{button|3ds|Y}} or {{button|3ds|A}} at just the right time during the starting countdown, you will launch off the starting line much faster than normal.''

*'''Electronic manual:''' ''Get off to a Rocket Start! To launch from the starting grid at a high speed, press and hold {{button|wiiu|A}} at just the right moment during the countdown.''

*'''Guide:''' ''Timing a perfect Rocket Start can determine the whole nature of a Grand Prix race's first lap, and this technique is essential for posting record-breaking Time Trials. When Lakitu begins the countdown, start accelerating when "2" is on screen and the second red light is lit. If this is well timed, you'll have a perfect Rocket Start.''

*'''In-game manual:''' ''Get off to a Rocket Start! To launch from the starting grid at a high speed, press and hold {{button|switch|A}} at just the right moment during the countdown.''

*'''Guide:''' ''Timing a perfect Rocket Start can determine the whole nature of a Grand Prix race’s first lap, and this technique is essential for posting record-breaking Time Trials. Pay attention to Lakitu’s countdown, and begin accelerating immediately after the “2” appears onscreen, accompanied by a tone. Properly done, you’ll rocket off the line with a Mushroom-like boost. If you begin accelerating too soon, as the tone sounds and the 2 appears, rather than just after, you’ll stall at the starting line.''

*'''Tips & Tricks:''' ''At the race's start, tap the screen and hold on 2, then release at GO to take off with a Rocket Start! The closer you are to GO when you release, the longer your dash will last and the more bonus points you'll get. But be careful... You'll stall if you tap too early!''

*'''FYI! (From [[Ready, Set, Rocket Start]]):''' ''Tap and hold the screen when the countdown reaches 2, release at GO for a Rocket Start!''

 

MK8 Twisted Mansion Rocket Start.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 8]]''

Rocket Start MK8 Deluxe.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''

|Chi=火箭起步

|ChiR=Huǒjiàn Qǐbù

|ChiM=Rocket Start

|Dut=Superstart <small>(''Mario Kart 7'')</small><br>Raket Start

|PorA=Saída turbo

|PorE=Inicio a Jato

|PorEM=Rocket Start

|Rus=Быстрый старт

|RusR=Bystryy start

|RusM=Fast Start

}}

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