Editing SNES Rainbow Road

{{about|the Rainbow Road course originally from ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''|Rainbow Road as a whole and other versions of the track|[[Rainbow Road]]}}
{{racecourse
|title=Rainbow Road
|image=[[File:SMK Rainbow Road.png]]
|appearances=''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' ([[List of games by date#1992|1992]])<br>''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' ([[List of games by date#2001|2001]])<br>''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' ([[List of games by date#2011|2011]])<br>''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' ([[The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8|DLC Pack 1]]) ([[List of games by date#2014|2014]]) <br> ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' ([[List of games by date#2017|2017]])
|cups=[[Special Cup]] (SMK)<br>[[Extra Cup|Extra Special Cup]] (MKSC)<br>[[Lightning Cup]] (MK7)<br>[[Triforce Cup]] (MK8/MK8D)
|ghost=1:34.459 by Nin★YABUKI (MK7)<br><small>([[Lakitu]] with the [[Pipe Frame]], [[Slim (tire)|Slim Tires]], & [[Super Glider]])</small><br>Nin★Anne (1:46.599) (MK8) (as [[Cat Mario|Cat Peach]])<br>Nin★Anne (1:40.711) (MK8D) (as [[Cat Mario|Cat Peach]]) (150cc)<br>Nin★Marie (1:12.762) (MK8D) (as [[Tanooki Mario]]) (200cc)
|expert_ghost=1:21.994 by Nin★SRIWtm (MK7)<br><small>([[Lakitu]] with the [[Cloud 9]], [[Roller|Roller Tires]], & [[Parafoil]])</small>
|wifi=Available ([[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]], [[Wii U]], [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]])
|music=''Super Mario Kart''[[File:SMK-Music-RainbowRoad.oga]] 
''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''[[File:MKSC-ExtraCourse-RainbowRoad.oga]] 
''Mario Kart 7''[[File:MK7-Music-SNES-RainbowRoad.oga]] 
''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''[[File:MK8-DLC-Music-SNES-RainbowRoad.oga]] 
|map=''Super Mario Kart''<br>[[File:SNES Rainbow Road.png|140px]]<br>''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''<br>[[File:Super Circuit SNES Rainbow Road.png|140px]]<br>''Mario Kart 7''<br>[[File:MK7 SNESRainbowRoad.png|140px]]<br>
''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
<div style="white-space: nowrap;">[[File:MK8 SNES Rainbow Road Map.png|frameless|upright=0.65]][[File:MK8DX SNES Rainbow Road Map.png|frameless|upright=0.65]]</div>
}}

The original '''Rainbow Road''' debuted in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', as the last course of the [[Special Cup]], starting the [[Mario Kart (series)|''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 five 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 [[jump]]ing bumps cover the track's surface, and the yellow tiles conceal [[Coin]]s. This course features [[Super Thwomp]]s which can wipe out a racer by touch, unlike regular Thwomps, as well as by crushing, unless the racer obtains a [[Star]] or a [[Boo]].
*Unlocking<br>
In Super Mario Kart, the player can unlock the rainbow road in time trial mode by doing this sequence : <br>{{button|snes|l}} {{button|snes|r}} {{button|snes|l}} {{button|snes|r}} {{button|snes|l}} {{button|snes|l}} {{button|snes|r}} {{button|snes|r}} {{button|snes|a}}

==Course layout==
[[File:RainbowRoad-SMK.png|thumb|left|215px|Donkey Kong Jr. racing on Rainbow Road.]]
The track begins with racers taking a turn to the right, where they will find [[? Panel]]s 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 (object)|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.{{br|left}}

==''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''==
{{multiple image
|header=Minimap as seen
|align=left
|direction=horizontal
|image1=GBARainbowroadSNES.png
|width1=64
|caption1=on the menu.
|image2=GBARainbowroadSNESmap.png
|width2=64
|caption2=in the race.
}}
{{right|[[File:SNESRainbowRoad-MKSC.png.png|thumb|200px|right|Luigi racing through the track.]]}}
Rainbow Road reappeared in ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', as the last track of the [[Extra Cup|Extra Special Cup]]. The background is from [[Rainbow Road (GBA)|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 were removed, and the music is higher-pitched. The coins' placement was also changed so that all coins would be on blue tiles, making it much easier for players to find coins.{{br|left}}

==''Mario Kart 7''==
[[File:SNES MK7.png|260px|thumb|left|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 [[Waluigi Pinball (course)|<small>DS</small> 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 [[Rainbow Road (GCN)|GCN rendition]].

Unlike in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', the Thwomps (now with their ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'' appearance and referred to as "Super Thwomps") 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 (GBA)|Rainbow Road]] from ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', with pink replacing the red tiles and cyan replacing the turquoise tiles. In [[First-Person View|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.

==''Mario Kart 8'' / ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''==
[[File:Mk8-DLC-Course-SNES RainbowRoad.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Overview of the track in ''Mario Kart 8''.]]
Rainbow Road returns for the third time in the [[The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8|''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 [[Rainbow Road (N64)|<small>N64</small> 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 its original height and position. The music is also deeper-pitched and remixed, as with the other retro courses in this game.

The Thwomps are the same as they were in ''Mario Kart 7'', but they now have sparkles, a mosaic-like appearance, horizontal rainbow lines running from bottom to top of them, and use the ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' Thwomp appearance, like the other Thwomps in ''Mario Kart 7'' and ''Mario Kart 8'', rather than their spiked ''New Super Mario Bros. Wii'' look 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.
[[File:Mk8-DLC-Course-SNES RainbowRoad-startingline.jpg|thumb|240px|left|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 House]]s litter the landscape below the course, which in itself is similar to [[Donut Plains 3 (course)|<small>SNES</small> Donut Plains 3]]. The starting banner is now redesigned, with the traditional ''Super Mario Kart'' 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.
{{br}}

==Gallery==
===3DS appearance===
<gallery widths=180px>
SNESRainbowRoadMK7StartRace.jpg|The countdown to the start of the race with Bowser on his [[Pipe Frame]].
SNES MK7 Rainbow Road.png|Lakitu and Donkey Kong racing on the retro track.
MK7SNESRainbowThwomp.jpg|Thwomps on the course.
MK7SNESRainbowRoad.jpg|Mario racing on the course.
MK7SNESRainbowJump.jpg|The long jump near the end of the course.
</gallery>

===Wii U / Switch appearance===
<gallery widths=180px>
MK8-DLC-Course-icon-SNES RainbowRoad.png|The track's icon.
Mk8-DLC-Course-SNES RainbowRoad-screenshot01.jpg|[[Toad]], starting the race on the [[Sneeker]].
Mk8-DLC-Course-SNES RainbowRoad-screenshot02.jpg|[[Toad]], turning.
MK8-DLC-Course-SNES RainbowRoad-screenshot-Link.jpg|Super Thwomps, warping the track.
CatPeachRainbow.jpg|[[Cat Mario|Cat Peach]], racing on the track.
Rosalina-SNESRainbowRoad-MK8.jpg|[[Rosalina]], racing on the track, while holding a Green Shell.
DaisyonSNES.jpg|[[Princess Daisy|Daisy]], taking the first shortcut on the track.
DaisyonSNES2.jpg|Daisy, taking the second shortcut on the track.
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=レインボーロード
|JapR=Reinbō Rōdo
|JapM=Rainbow Road
|Spa=Senda Arco Iris
|SpaM=Rainbow Track
|Fra=Route Arc-en-ciel
|FraM=Rainbow Road
|Dut=Regenboogbaan
|DutM=Rainbow Track
|Ger=Regenbogen-Boulevard
|GerM=Rainbow Boulevard
|Ita=Pista Arcobaleno
|ItaM=Rainbow Track
|Por=Estrada Arco-Íris
|PorM=Rainbow Road
|Rus=Трасса Радуга
|RusR=Trassa Raduga
|RusM=Rainbow Track
|Kor=무지개 로드
|KorR=Mujigae Rodeu
|KorM=Raindow Road
|Chi=彩虹之路<br>''Cǎihóng zhī Lù''<br>彩虹桥 (Simplified, ''Mario Kart 7'')<br>''Cǎihóng Qiáo''
|ChiM=Rainbow Road<br><br>Rainbow Bridge}}

==Trivia==
*''Super Mario Kart'' composer [[Soyo Oka]] considers this course's theme one of her favorite compositions.<ref>[http://www.rocketbaby.net/interviews_soyo_oka.html Interview between Rocketbaby and Soyo Oka]. Retrieved February 12, 2015.</ref>
*<small>SNES</small> 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 [[Luigi Raceway|<small>N64</small> Luigi Raceway]], [[Daisy Cruiser|<small>GCN</small> 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 [[Yoshi Circuit|<small>GCN</small> Yoshi Circuit]]. Coincidentally, both of these courses are part of DLC Pack One.
*In ''Mario Kart 8'', <small>SNES</small> Rainbow Road, [[Rainbow Road (N64)|<small>N64</small> Rainbow Road]], the [[Rainbow Road (Wii U)|new Rainbow Road]] and [[Baby Park|<small>GCN</small> 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'' and ''Mario Kart 7'', 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 (GBA)|Rainbow Road]] in ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''.

==References==
<references/>
{{Racecourses}}
{{SMK}}
{{MKSC}}
{{MK7}}
{{MK8}}
[[Category:Super Mario Kart Race Courses]]
[[Category:Mario Kart: Super Circuit Race Courses]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 7 Race Courses]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 8 Race Courses]]
[[Category:Retro Courses]]
[[Category:Downloadable content]]
[[Category:Unlockable Race Courses]]
[[Category:Amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits]]
[[it:Pista Arcobaleno (SNES)]]
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