Train (obstacle)
Trains appear in theSuper Mario franchise as obstacles in theMario Kart series.
History[edit]
Mario Kart 64[edit]
TheKalimari Desert course inMario Kart 64 features two trains, also referred to asKalimari Expresses[1] orN64 Expresses.[2] They are red-and-black coal-powered4-4-0 steam locomotives with one coal tender and five passenger cars, based on a design commonly used on railways throughout North America during the mid-to-late 19th century. Both trains travel along an elliptical track that the player crosses twice; at each crossing lies two crossbucks atop pairs of lights that flash if a train approaches. The player flips over if they hit any part of the train, including the passenger cars. If the player uses a Super Star, they drive through the train unaffected. In VS Mode for two players, every train engine has only one passenger car, while in the Grand Prix for two players, as well as in VS Mode for three and four players, all the passenger cars including the coal tenders are absent.
In theWiiVirtual Console release, the train's wheels are colored black instead of red.
A similar train calledK64 appears inPaper Mario, with the music that plays whenMario rides it being an arrangement of Kalimari Desert's music.
Mario Kart 7[edit]
Trains reappear in theMario Kart 7 rendition ofN64 Kalimari Desert, once again acting as obstacles for drivers. They can be taken out by driving into them whileunder the effects of aSuper Star. The engines now have only three passenger cars each, and they ride slightly more slowly. In the multiplayer mode, only one train is available.
Mario Kart 8 /Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
InMario Kart 8 and itsNintendo Switch port, multiple trains are featured inSuper Bell Subway, travelling in opposite directions on the track's two railroads - the red trains travel in the same direction as the racers on the left railroad, while oncoming blue trains will chug along on the right. Unlike the locomotives in previousMario Kart tracks, the trains appearing in Super Bell Subway use a metro-style design instead of resembling a steam train, withSuper Bell icons decorating the railcars' sides and rooftop grates.
Due to these subway trains' flatter, streamlined design, racers can land and drive on top of them from the raised platforms found at the sides of the subway tunnel - the front and back railcars of both trains even featureDash Panels, rewarding racers who manage to stay on top without falling or land on the edge of the train with a speed boost, in addition to the trains' back end providing atrick opportunity. If a racer is hit by a train, it will sound its horn. Both the red and blue trains feature six railcars.
The cable cars inToad Harbor act like the trains. If the player lands on a cable car while down the steep hill, they will bounce, and can perform a trick.
OnN64 Rainbow Road, a flying train appears.Toads ride on it and throwcoins onto the track for the racers, not too dissimilar to the sand ship inBone-Dry Dunes.
Several tracks with trains were added in theBooster Course Pass DLC forMario Kart 8 Deluxe. OnN64 Kalimari Desert, there is only one train instead of two, akin toN64 Kalimari Desert 2 inMario Kart Tour, though the train moves much faster. Again, the train has three passenger cars. In the background ofSydney Sprint, the Toads riding the train throw coins. On the first lap ofTour Berlin Byways, a train appears in the alternate side route inside of theBerlin Hauptbahnhof. Unlike inMario Kart Tour, the path ends with one Double Item Box.Tour Amsterdam Drift also returns, and the trams found on the course return with it. Unlike inMario Kart Tour, the trains knock over drivers that hit them, similar to previous games. OnMerry Mountain, there is a flying train carrying wrapped presents with a car that resembles a sleigh. LikeN64 Rainbow Road, the Toads riding the train toss coins onto the track.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
InMario Kart Tour, trains launch drivers up in the air while giving them aJump Boost. They can be taken out by hitting them with aSuper Horn or by driving into them whileinvincible orunder the effects of aMega Mushroom, granting points in the process.
As inMario Kart 7, the trains in N64 Kalimari Desert have three passenger cars. InN64 Kalimari Desert 2, only one train is present on the track, moving at a much slower speed. If a player waits long enough after a race, it can be seen that the barriers found at the second intersection in the normal and R variants, or at the first one in the T variant, do not affect the train.
Trains also appear in the background ofSydney Sprint courses. The passengers on the train resembling aSydney Trains Tangara Set throw items such asGreen Shells,Mushrooms, andBob-ombs onto the road.
Amsterdam Drift features two types of train. One of these is a train resembling a cross between aNS VIRM and a TWINDEXX Swiss Express, which travels on a viaduct along a canal that separates theAmsterdam andZaanse Schans segments of the track; the other is a tram pertaining to the Amsterdamtram line 14 that resembles a series 725–779 tram, which moves back and forth along a short portion of the track near thefinish line. The second type also appears inAmsterdam Drift 3.
InBerlin Byways 2, a stationary train set closely resembling theDR Class 270 serves as an alternate side route inside of theBerlin Hauptbahnhof, standing dormant on anS-Bahn along the main path inside the station. This side route is not much faster than taking the main route, but it does contain twoItem Boxes and allows easy access to the trick ramp at the exit of the Hauptbahnhof.
Flying trains appear in3DS Rainbow Road duringRing Races andMerry Mountain. Unlike other flying trains, the flying train in the Ring Race tossesrings and Star Rings that can be glided through.
Mario Kart World[edit]
TheWhistlestop Summit course inMario Kart World features several passenger trains that run along a railway line the spans the entire race course. A train with the same design appears inPeach Stadium's Shell Cup and Battle courses. The trains follow across most of the open world. These trains appear to be modeled after theJNR Class D51 steam locomotive, the most mass-manufactured locomotive in Japanese rail history. However, they have a 2-6-4 wheel arrangement similar to theJNR Class C10, rather than the D51's 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. There is now an open window on the conductor car, allowing theYellow and Green Toad conductors to be seen. A train can also be seen flying aroundRainbow Road, carrying elements from different courses near the finish line.
Gallery[edit]
Model of the train inMario Kart 64
Squared screenshot of the train forMario Kart 64
Japanese commercial forMario Kart 64
Artwork of the train forMario Kart 64
The train on aMario Kart 64 trading card
The train in Kalimari Desert's course icon
The train as seen from the front
The train inMario Kart 7
View of the Kalimari Desert train inMario Kart Tour
The first type of train that appears in Amsterdam Drift
The second type of train that appears in Amsterdam Drift
TheN64 Kalimari Desert train inMario Kart 8 Deluxe
The Merry Mountain train inMario Kart 8 Deluxe
TheTour Amsterdam Drift train inMario Kart 8 Deluxe
TheTour Amsterdam Drift tram inMario Kart 8 Deluxe
TheWhistlestop Summit train inMario Kart World
The train in Whistlestop Summit's icon
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 列車[?] Ressha | Train | |
| れっしゃ[?] Ressha | Mario Kart Tour | ||
| Chinese(Simplified) | 列车[?] Lièchē | Train | |
| Chinese(Traditional) | 列車[?] Lièchē | Train | |
| Dutch | Trein[3] | Train | |
| French | Train[?] | - | |
| German | Zug[?] | Train | |
| Italian | Treno[?] | Train | |
| Korean | 기차[?] Gicha | Train | |
| Portuguese(Brazilian) | Trem[?] | Train | |
| Portuguese(European) | Comboio[4] | Train | |
| Spanish | Tren[?] | Train |
References[edit]
- ^Owsen, Dan, Scott Pelland, and Paul Shinoda (1997).Mario Kart 64 Player's Guide.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 30.
- ^Mario Kart 64: Kalimari Desert. Archived February 24, 1998, 19:35:55 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^NintendoNL (July 30, 2022).Iedereen instappen! Tijd voor de Wildwestwoestijn (Kalamari Desert) uit Mario Kart 64! De versie in de #MarioKart 8 Deluxe – Circuit-uitbreidingspas is elke ronde een beetje anders en laat je ook een sluiproute door de tunnel nemen. Wel uitkijken voor de trein natuurlijk!.X (Dutch). Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^NintendoPT (July 30, 2022).Todos a bordo! Destino: Deserto Kalimari de Mario Kart 64! A versão incluída no #MarioKart 8 Deluxe – Passe de pistas adicionais muda o seu percurso a cada volta, obrigando-vos até a atravessar o túnel. Cuidado com o comboio!.X (European Portuguese). Retrieved January 1, 2023.
