Rainbow Road

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Rainbow Road is the name given to the 'final' track, at the end of the Special Cup, in every Mario Kart game. All of the Rainbow Roads have basic common elements - they are all suspended in space or a dark void, and naturally the road itself is very colourful (in bands) and occasionally transparent. The same uplifting theme music has remained with Rainbow Road throughout the series. Starting with Super Mario Kart, each game has featured different twists on the classic Rainbow Road formula:

• Super Mario Kart - The original Rainbow Road is characterised by hairpin corners, splits in the narrow track and a complete lack of crash barriers. This makes the course particularly lethal for light characters, who are easily shunted into the abyss. Invulnerable flashing Thwomps complete the nightmarish effect.
• Mario Kart 64 - In contrast to the SNES iteration, this track is lined with crash barriers. A steep drop at the start can be used as a shortcut by skilled players who make a well-timed jump. Chain Chomps roam the track, which is surrounded by the enormous neon visages of the game's stars.
• Mario Kart Super Circuit - A particularly devious take on the course, with well-placed speed boost and jump pads enabling skilled players to complete laps at breakneck speed. However, one should be careful as once again the course has very few barriers to prevent the reckless from flying into space. Bowser's starship hovers ominously in the distance.
• Mario Kart: Double Dash!! - Perhaps the most complex Rainbow Road yet, involving racing on multiple levels, speed boosts around banked helices, chicanes and a levitation tunnel that propels racers upwards and back towards the start of the course. While many of the corners have barriers, holes await to catch out the unwary.
• Mario Kart DS - Similar to Double Dash, a 360-degree loop of turbo boosts is also added. Narrow in places and highly dangerous for lighter characters.
• Mario Kart Wii - Mario Kart Wii's version is the first Rainbow Road that is based on video game, that one being Super Mario Galaxy. You'll find starbits hovering above and a star launcher that will shoot you to another portion of the stage. The entire world can be seen below the stage and other planets, including one that has a striking resemblance to Saturn, can be seen in the background.