Is there anybody on this planet who doesn't enjoy Mario Kart? I mean, you'd have to be a soulless twat who smells like a dirty sock in order to not find enjoyment in Mario Kart. I may be more of Mario Party guy, but I know wholeheartedly that Mario Kart is Nintendo's very best. That's right, suck it Zelda and Link.
When talking Mario Kart, the topic of Rainbow Road follows suit. This is not without good reason. It is probably the best concept for a track imaginable. It's creative, and the majority of the time, it is the best-looking track from an artistic standpoint. I mean, it would be hard not to be that. It's a road made of a freakin' rainbow.
That being said, My personal favorite Rainbow Road can be found within the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Kart. However, I have come to terms long ago with the fact that it is objectively the worst from a gameplay standpoint.
This one sentence will prove this point entirely: the entire track has railing. Rainbow Road is well-known for being as brutal as some Mortal Kombat fatalities. You are meant to fall off the side of the road, ruining your chances for glory. That track has settled many disputes between friendships in its hay day. It is the ultimate proving ground. However, when you to stick a guardrail on the entire track, it takes away all the skill needed. That is a fatal flaw within the design of this version of the track.
However, that does not mean that it is no longer my favorite track in the history of Mario Kart. It's purely based around nostalgia, but being nostalgic isn't always a bad concept. The N64's Rainbow Road was a major part of my childhood. It is more than likely THE most important game of my childhood.
I remember being a little kid playing that game with a bunch of people and we would have to take turns racing. It was rare when you got to be a part of the group that got to play Rainbow Road, and when you got that chance, you savored it. It is remarkably beautiful in almost every single way. I love the giant colorful lights of the characters you pass under as you race. I love the way the Rainbow Road itself looks.
It's just a great track that always brings warm memories of childhood to the forefront. It is a pleasant reminder of a simpler time when the biggest worry you had in life was being able to race on the Rainbow Road. Back when the world was still creative and colorful and just kind of fun. That, to me, breaks any guard rail flaw that track posses. It's an iconic track that helps keep the child within you happy. A memory to forever cherish.
