Rainbow Road in Mario Kart World is the best track ever - Reader's Feature
A reader is impressed by the version of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart World and considers it the ultimate example of the game's joyful invention.
There is something almost mythic about Rainbow Road, isn't there? Across generations of Mario Kart titles it has always stood as the final test – a kaleidoscopic gauntlet of speed, skill, and spectacle. But in the latest entry on the Nintendo Switch 2 Rainbow Road isn't just a track. It's a love letter to everything the series has ever been, and a breathtaking glimpse into what it dares to become.
From the moment your kart launches off the starting line, you're not just racing, you're soaring. The new iteration of Rainbow Road is unreal. Literally unreal. The Switch 2's graphical power brings this celestial canvas to life in 4K brilliance, with dynamic lighting that reflects off your kart and refracts through the translucent track beneath your wheels. It's not just beautiful, it's well… it's alive!
But Rainbow Road's beauty isn't just visual. It's emotional. There's a kind of quiet awe that settles in as you drift around a curve and see the track spiral into a double helix of light, or when you launch off a ramp and find yourself weightless, floating through a meteor shower. The music swells with orchestral wonder, blending nostalgic motifs from past games with new, sweeping arrangements that feel both epic and intimate. It's as if the game is saying, 'You've made it. This is your moment.'
The track design is a masterclass in balance – challenging without being punishing, thrilling without being chaotic – well unless it's Knockout Tour mode and then everything is chaos! There are anti-gravity sections that twist and loop like roller coasters, zero-friction zones that let you glide, and shortcuts that reward daring over caution. Every lap feels like a dance between control and surrender, where the joy comes not just from winning, but from daring to take on the rhythm of the road.
What makes this version especially joyful is how it embraces the open world spirit of Mario Kart World. You don't just race on Rainbow Road, you arrive there. After unlocking the Special Cup by completing the game's other Grand Prix circuits, you're treated to a cinematic transition that lifts you into orbit. It's a journey, not just a destination. And once you're there, the track feels like a culmination of everything you've learned – every drift, every boost, every banana dodge leading to this final, glorious ballet in the stars.
There's also a sense of community woven into the experience. With up to 24-player races. and new multiplayer modes like Knockout Tour, Rainbow Road becomes a shared celebration. You're not just racing against others, you're marvelling together. There's laughter when someone misjudges a jump and sails into the void, cheers when a friend nails a perfect drift, and that collective gasp when the track suddenly inverts and sends everyone spiralling through a wormhole of colour. It's chaos, yes – but it's brilliant chaos.
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
And perhaps that's the heart of it. Rainbow Road on Switch 2 is beautiful not just because of how it looks, but because of how it feels. It captures the essence of play – the wonder, the challenge, the camaraderie. It reminds us that games can be art, that competition can be celebration, and that sometimes, the most meaningful journeys are the ones that take us farthest from the ground. More Trending
So, the next time you find yourself on Rainbow Road, don't just race. Look around. Listen. Feel the hum of the stars beneath your wheels. And remember: this isn't just a track. It's a tribute – to imagination, to joy, and to the endless road ahead. Let's-a go!
By reader BaldB3lper
The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email.
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Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Rainbow Road in Mario Kart World is the best track ever - Reader's Feature
A reader is impressed by the version of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart World and considers it the ultimate example of the game's joyful invention. There is something almost mythic about Rainbow Road, isn't there? Across generations of Mario Kart titles it has always stood as the final test – a kaleidoscopic gauntlet of speed, skill, and spectacle. But in the latest entry on the Nintendo Switch 2 Rainbow Road isn't just a track. It's a love letter to everything the series has ever been, and a breathtaking glimpse into what it dares to become. From the moment your kart launches off the starting line, you're not just racing, you're soaring. The new iteration of Rainbow Road is unreal. Literally unreal. The Switch 2's graphical power brings this celestial canvas to life in 4K brilliance, with dynamic lighting that reflects off your kart and refracts through the translucent track beneath your wheels. It's not just beautiful, it's well… it's alive! But Rainbow Road's beauty isn't just visual. It's emotional. There's a kind of quiet awe that settles in as you drift around a curve and see the track spiral into a double helix of light, or when you launch off a ramp and find yourself weightless, floating through a meteor shower. The music swells with orchestral wonder, blending nostalgic motifs from past games with new, sweeping arrangements that feel both epic and intimate. It's as if the game is saying, 'You've made it. This is your moment.' The track design is a masterclass in balance – challenging without being punishing, thrilling without being chaotic – well unless it's Knockout Tour mode and then everything is chaos! There are anti-gravity sections that twist and loop like roller coasters, zero-friction zones that let you glide, and shortcuts that reward daring over caution. Every lap feels like a dance between control and surrender, where the joy comes not just from winning, but from daring to take on the rhythm of the road. What makes this version especially joyful is how it embraces the open world spirit of Mario Kart World. You don't just race on Rainbow Road, you arrive there. After unlocking the Special Cup by completing the game's other Grand Prix circuits, you're treated to a cinematic transition that lifts you into orbit. It's a journey, not just a destination. And once you're there, the track feels like a culmination of everything you've learned – every drift, every boost, every banana dodge leading to this final, glorious ballet in the stars. There's also a sense of community woven into the experience. With up to 24-player races. and new multiplayer modes like Knockout Tour, Rainbow Road becomes a shared celebration. You're not just racing against others, you're marvelling together. There's laughter when someone misjudges a jump and sails into the void, cheers when a friend nails a perfect drift, and that collective gasp when the track suddenly inverts and sends everyone spiralling through a wormhole of colour. It's chaos, yes – but it's brilliant chaos. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. And perhaps that's the heart of it. Rainbow Road on Switch 2 is beautiful not just because of how it looks, but because of how it feels. It captures the essence of play – the wonder, the challenge, the camaraderie. It reminds us that games can be art, that competition can be celebration, and that sometimes, the most meaningful journeys are the ones that take us farthest from the ground. More Trending So, the next time you find yourself on Rainbow Road, don't just race. Look around. Listen. Feel the hum of the stars beneath your wheels. And remember: this isn't just a track. It's a tribute – to imagination, to joy, and to the endless road ahead. Let's-a go! By reader BaldB3lper The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Square Enix should hire the Expedition 33 team for Final Fantasy 17 - Reader's Feature MORE: I bought GTA 5 for the third time and it's still one of the best games ever - Reader's Feature MORE: We have to accept the Nintendo Switch 2 is not for hardcore gamers - Reader's Feature
Metro
3 days ago
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We have to accept the Nintendo Switch 2 is not for hardcore gamers
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Daily Mirror
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- Daily Mirror
PS5 Pro fans can pick up disc drive bundle on Very for a limited time
Very is selling a PS5 Pro bundle that lets gamers upgrade with ease For gamers wanting to grab a PS5 Pro but have been waiting for a great deal - now might be the chance thanks to a limited time deal by Very. The tech experts are selling a great bundle for PS5 Pro for £758 on Very. The good news is that it now includes a disc drive attachment, so gamers can enjoy all the games they bought on physical media. Separately, these would cost around £800, but Very has knocked a healthy £40 off the price for payday. The PS5 Pro is Sony's newest and greatest console that it has released with some big upgrades so games run games like Ratchet and Clank, God of War and more at the best possible FPS and resolution as well as more consistent frame rates for silky smooth gameplay with support for 60Hz and 120Hz displays. That's thanks to the upgraded GPU with 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory, resulting in 45% faster rendering. For shoppers wanting some alternatives, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here right now for shoppers wanting the new console, and Nintendo is selling it right here. Amazon is also selling the Nintendo Switch OLED for £240 if the newest console isn't in your budget. When it first released, I queued to pre-order the console, and in the months since my partner and I have been impressed. One game I tried was Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which honestly looked awful when I first played it. It had a blur that made me feel like my glasses weren't strong enough, however, the PS5 Pro has completely changed how this game looks. Instead of a slick blur in the distance, there's now an option that allows you to output an upscaled 4K resolution with 60fps, whereas the standard console allowed only 4K 30 or a lower resolution at 60fps. PS5 Pro eliminates that, and the game looks fantastic. Background textures and imagery look gorgeous, but Final Fantasy isn't the only game that looks great. Horizon Forbidden West got some great upgrades. Compared to the inconsistent FPS drops I got with the original PS5, FPS drops are now non-existent and the image quality 'pops' far more compared to the old console. It feels much closer to games on my high-end PC rather than playing older console – one of my biggest gripes with the original PS5. Should shoppers spend close to £699 on the PS5 Pro? Personally, I believe the majority of people still probably don't need the console, unless gamers need the best possible frame rates and resolution to justify the high price.
