Rocket Start

A Rocket Start (also called a Turbo Start or Boost Start) is a speed technique introduced in Super Mario Kart and featured in every Mario Kart game since. It allows players to burst out of the starting line with blazing high speed, gaining a head start over any racer that simply drives out of the starting line. Similar to Mini-Turbos, Rocket Starts all vary slightly from game to game. You must press the Acceleration button at different times during the Pre-race countdown. Super Mario Kart's version had to be prepped right after the first light, and Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart: Super Circuit was the exact opposite, on the final light. Since Mario Kart DS, Rocket Starts can be performed by holding A right after the 2 on the countdown fades (2 in Mario Kart Wii or Y in Mario Kart 7). In Mario Kart Wii, you must press the acceleration button when the number two is visible on the screen, not when it fades.

The technique was given a name in the instruction manual for Mario Kart 64.

Despite their advantages, Rocket Starts can be a bit tricky to perform. Performing the Rocket Start too early will result in the kart performing a Lemon Start and as a result, stalling, so proper timing is needed, or you can get a really bad result.

Depending on the difficulty level, a varying number of computer opponents will utilize the rocket start. On lower difficulties, very few computer opponents will utilize the rocket start successfully, giving every racer that uses the rocket start a massive advantage over them. As the difficulty increases, more opponents will use it. On Mirror Mode, very few opponents will stall at or drive out of the starting line.

Rocket Start

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