Rainbow Ride is the fifteenth and final main level in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. The course is accessible in the highest room in Peach's Castle once 50 Stars have been collected. The course itself is entered through a square hole located inside a niche on the large room's right.
The course itself takes place in the sky and is mainly traversed through the use of the carpets which travel (slowly) across the rainbows. The course offers various different paths to take all of which have very little backtracking. There are several features of this course which include circle platforms which spin very quickly, Donut Blocks which fall away if stood on, pendulum platforms which swing endlessly, and triangular platforms which can be made walkable by hitting the ! Switch. This course includes several features including a wall-jumping hangout (where the Red Coins and Blue Coins are located), a large Airship which contains one of the Stars, a Manor which houses several treasures such as 1-Up Mushrooms. In the sky, there is also an island near a Rainbow Ring where one of the Stars is located.
There is also a south section with swinging pendulums, platforms, and donut blocks where 2 of the Stars are located. This area can be accessed much quicker by long jumping from the starting point.
The N64 Version offers 2 methods to get this Star, Method 1: use the carpet due right of the starting position, ride it up to the 4 platforms with the Lakitu. Method 2: long jump to the pole back-left of the starting position. Converge: ride the second carpet to the area with two carpets, take the left one (relative to movement). Ride the final one to the ship, dodging platforms along the way. The Star will be on the Bow side of the airship run against the oncoming wind and grab the Star. At the end of the ship's plank is a 1-Up Mushroom.
In the DS remake, the 1-Up Mushroom and the Star have swapped places. The Star is now on the plank meaning you will have to run against the wind. You will need to use Wario's metal abilities to run against the wind without being pushed back and walk the plank and grab the Star.
Alternatively, Yoshi can obtain this Star. To do this, take the right carpet and ride it towards the Manor. When you're just in front of the ship run off and flutter jump towards the Star and then grab it with Yoshi's tongue. This method will most likely cause you to fall into the abyss, die, and lose a life but the Star will still be added to your total.
Star 2: The Big House in the Sky[]
Do the same as star one but take the right carpet. Navigate platforms along the way and climb them whenever necessary, avoid the Flamethrower inside the manor and remain on the carpet during it's ascent. The star will be on top of the "Manor".
In the DS remake, Mario can use the Balloon powers from the Power Flower to float up to the Manor's roof and obtain this Star heaps faster and easier.
Star 3: Coins Amassed in a Maze[]
Ironically the one of the easier red coin stars (considering the overall difficulty of the course). navigate the vertical maze and locate the Red Coins scattered around it. You may need to use triple jumps, backflips, side flips, and wall jumps to reach the ledges to obtain the Red Coins. The Red Coins are in the same general locations so they shouldn't be too hard to find. Nab all 8 Red Coins to earn this star.
Star 4: Swingin' in the Breeze[]
Long jump to the pole back-left of the starting position navigate the steps to the first pendulum (hence the name), you will see two wooden colored platforms called Donut Blocks. Navigate these quickly as they will sink after a few seconds. There'll be a step slide (much like star one, Jolly Roger Bay). you will see another pendulum, navigate this and the flamethrower to get the star.
Star 5: Tricky Triangles[]
Do the same as star four except take the wooden platforms to the other side. Step on the pressure pad to invert the pyramids (hence the name) you will have about 15-20 seconds to navigate. (Fortunately this is one of the few failure tolerant stars on this course so you should be able to try over and over again but be careful not to slide off the edge if the triangles turn back). Land on the platform to the left to claim your star.
Star 6: Somewhere over the Rainbow[]
Talk to the Bob-bomb Buddy to unlock the cannon in the ship (if it isn't already unlocked). Then go to the ship like in Star 1. Go to the cannon (which is at the back of the ship) and then look for a small floating island that's relatively high but is marked with a Rainbow Ring. Blast to the pole in it (try to grab it) (watch out for the Chuck-Ya on here) and hit the ! Block get the star.
In the DS remake, you can get this Star a lot easier as Mario by using the Balloon powers from the Power Flower.
Find the Mario cap or enter the stage as Mario. Then go to the house like in Star 2. Step on the star switch and quickly go to the ? Block to get a Power Flower (which allows Mario to float like a balloon). Float quickly to the roof and get the star. You can also use the carpet to get the Star however this method is far more challenging.
100 coins[]
Like in the other 14 stages, collecting 100 coins makes a star appear. A good place to get coins is where you find the 8 red coins.
Rainbow Cruise as it appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
This course appears in the form of a stage titled Rainbow Cruise, which first appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee and later returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In PAL releases of the former two games, the stage is named "Rainbow Ride," after the course itself.
Trivia[]
True to its World 9 roots, this course has no bosses but has excessively difficult environmental puzzles.
This is one of only two non-Bowser courses to be accessed through a hole. The other one is the bonus course at the opposite end of the room (technically Hazy Maze Cave is accessed through what looks like a tar pit or puddle).
For some reason, all of the balcony courses take place in the sky.
Slip Slidin' Away • Lil' Penguin Lost • Big Penguin Race • Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins • Snowman's Lost His Head • Wall Kicks Will Work (N64)/Mario's Super Wall Kick (DS) • Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain (DS)
Big Boo's Haunt
Go on a Ghost Hunt • Ride Big Boo's Merry Go Round • Secret of the Haunted Books • Seek the 8 Red Coins • Big Boo's Balcony • Eye to Eye in the Secret Room • Switch Star of the Basement
Hazy Maze Cave
Swimming Beast in the Cavern • Elevate for 8 Red Coins • Metal-Head Mario Can Move! (N64)/Metal-Head Wario Can Move (DS) • Navigating the Toxic Maze • A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit • Watch for Rolling Rocks • Underground Switch Star
In the Talons of the Big Bird • Shining Atop the Pyramid • Inside the Ancient Pyramid • Stand Tall On the Four Pillars • Free Flying For 8 Red Coins (5th Star, N64) (7th Star, DS) • Tox Box Switch Star (DS) • Pyramid Puzzle
Snowman's Big Head • Chill with the Bully • In the Deep Freeze (N64) • Yoshi's Ice Sculpture (DS) • Whirl from the Freezing Pond • Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins (N64) • Snowman's Silver Star (DS) • Into the Igloo • Red Coins in the House (DS)
Wet-Dry World
Shocking Arrow Lifts! • Top o' the Town • Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (N64)/5 Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (DS) • Express Elevator--Hurry Up! • Go to Town for Red Coins (N64)/Go to Town for the Red Coins (DS) • Quick Race Through Downtown! • Soaked Silver Stars (DS)
Tall, Tall Mountain
Scale the Mountain • Mystery of the Monkey Cage • Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins • Mysterious Mountainside • Breathtaking View from Bridge (Star 5, N64)/Breathtaking View from the Bridge (Star 7, DS) • Blast to the Lonely Mushroom (Star 6, N64) (Star 5, DS) • 5 Secrets of the Mountain
Roll into the Cage (N64) • Luigi in the Cage (DS) • The Pit and the Pendulums (N64) • The Pendulum Switch Star (DS) • Get a Hand • Stomp on the Thwomp •Timed Jumps on Moving Bars • Stop Time for Red Coins • Tick Tock Silver Stars
Rainbow Ride
Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow • The Big House in the Sky • Coins Amassed in a Maze • Swingin' in the Breeze • Tricky Triangles! • Somewhere over the Rainbow • Switch Star of the Manor
