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{{italic title}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox
{{media missing}}
{{game infobox
|image=[[File:Captain Rainbow cover.jpg|250px]]
|image=[[File:Captain Rainbow cover.jpg|250px]]
|developer=skip Ltd.
|developer={{wp|Skip Ltd.}}
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|released={{released|Japan|August 28, 2008|ROC|August 28, 2008}}
|release={{flag list|Japan|August 28, 2008|ROC|August 28, 2008}}
|languages={{languages|jp=y}}
|genre=Action-adventure
|genre=Action-adventure
|ratings={{ratings|cero=B}}
|ratings={{ratings|cero=B}}
|platforms=[[Wii]]
|platforms=[[Wii]]
|media={{media|wii=1}}
|format={{format|wii=1}}
|input={{input|nunchuk=1}}
|input={{input|nunchuk=1}}
|serials=RVL-R7CJ-JPN
}}
}}
'''''Captain Rainbow''''' (Japanese: キャプテン★レインボー ''Kyaputen''★''Reinbō'') is a game for the [[Wii]] that was released in Japan on August 28th, 2008. It was developed by skip Ltd. and is published by [[Nintendo]]. The game's hero is a character called Nick. He has an alter-ego, Captain Rainbow. Several Nintendo characters make an appearance in the game.
'''''Captain Rainbow''''' (Japanese: キャプテン★レインボー ''Kyaputen''★''Reinbō'') is a game for the [[Wii]] that was released in Japan on August 28th, 2008. It was developed by Skip Ltd. and is published by [[Nintendo]]. The game's hero is a character called Nick. He has an alter-ego, Captain Rainbow. Several Nintendo characters make an appearance in the game.


The game was only released in Japan and Taiwan. The UK-based ''Official Nintendo Magazine'' mentioned a possible release of ''Captain Rainbow'' in Europe in summer 2009. However, this did not happen for unknown reasons.<ref>[http://gonintendo.com/?p=60741 GoNintendo]: Official Nintendo Magazine - tiny bits of info on Pokemon Platinum, Captain Rainbow</ref>
The game was only released in Japan and Taiwan. The UK-based ''Official Nintendo Magazine'' mentioned a possible release of ''Captain Rainbow'' in Europe in summer 2009. However, this did not happen for unknown reasons.<ref>{{cite|date=October 25, 2008|author=rawmeatcowboy|url=gonintendo.com/?p=60741|language=en|title=Official Nintendo Magazine - tiny bits of info on Pokemon Platinum, Captain Rainbow|publisher=GoNintendo|accessdate=August 23, 2024}}</ref>


==Story==
==Story==
Nick comes from Mameruca, "The Land of the Free". His alter-ego Captain Rainbow is a yo-yo-wielding superhero who stars in his own TV show. However, the show isn't popular anymore, because another superhero attracts the interest of the audience. In order to restore his lost popularity, Nick decides to venture to Mimin Island, an island where wishes are said to come true.  
Nick comes from Mameruca, "The Land of the Free". His alter-ego Captain Rainbow is a yo-yo-wielding superhero who stars in his own TV show. However, the show is not popular anymore, because another superhero attracts the interest of the audience. In order to restore his lost popularity, Nick decides to venture to Mimin Island, an island where wishes are said to come true.  


In a dark night, Nick ventures to the island by raft. During his journey, he notices a bunny-like creature desperately paddling in the water. In order to save this being, Nick transforms into Captain Rainbow and jumps into the water. However, his try fails and he sinks. The superhero loses his belt, which is needed for the transformation, and so Captain Rainbow turns back to the ordinary Nick.
In a dark night, Nick ventures to the island by raft. During his journey, he notices a bunny-like creature desperately paddling in the water. In order to save this being, Nick transforms into Captain Rainbow and jumps into the water. However, his try fails and he sinks. The superhero loses his belt, which is needed for the transformation, and so Captain Rainbow turns back to the ordinary Nick.


When Nick regains consciousness, he has been washed up at the beach of Mimin Island. After a short moment of confusion, Nick spots that his belt is missing. Then he sees the belt being carried away by bunny-like creatures who have obtained it. Since this special item is essential for him, Nick starts exploring the island. It doesn't take much time to get the belt back. On Mimin Island, Nick meets various Nintendo characters who also came there because of their own dreams and wishes. During their conversations, he learns that no one's wish has actually been granted so far. Only with the help of a chosen hero, Nick, or rather Captain Rainbow in this case, the wishes can be granted. Nick decides to help the islanders. The hero gets support from bunny-like beings called Mimin, the dominant species of Mimin Island.
When Nick regains consciousness, he has been washed up at the beach of Mimin Island. After a short moment of confusion, Nick spots that his belt is missing. Then he sees the belt being carried away by bunny-like creatures who have obtained it. Since this special item is essential for him, Nick starts exploring the island. It does not take much time to get the belt back. On Mimin Island, Nick meets various Nintendo characters who also came there because of their own dreams and wishes. During their conversations, he learns that no one's wish has actually been granted so far. Only with the help of a chosen hero, Nick, or rather Captain Rainbow in this case, the wishes can be granted. Nick decides to help the islanders. The hero gets support from bunny-like beings called Mimin, the dominant species of Mimin Island.


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
The player's task is to control Nick or his alter-ego in order to enjoy the island life with the other islanders and to help them. They all have their individual requests, which mostly can lead to [[minigame]]s such as boxing or golf. Nick can also do activities like fishing and bug catching. There are no strict presettings for the player what to do on the island.
The player's task is to control Nick or Captain Rainbow in order to enjoy the island life with the other islanders and to help them. They all have their individual requests, which can lead to [[minigame]]s such as boxing or golf. Nick can also do activities like fishing and bug catching. There are no strict presettings for what to do on the island.


By helping the islanders, Nick gets so-called Kirarin (literally "Sparklies"). If 20 Kirarin are collected, a star will fall from the sky, which can grant a wish. It has to be carried to an altar on the top of the island. While doing this, mysterious black creatures named Shadow challenge Nick and want to get the star for themselves, what needs to be avoided. If Nick successfully brought the star to the altar, two choices are left. Nick can either let the star grant his own wish to become popular again or the star grants the wish of an islander. By taking the latter choice, the wish of the islander comes true and Nick has to collect new Kirarin to make another star appear.
By helping the islanders, Nick gets Kirarin (literally "Sparklies"). If 20 Kirarin are collected, a star will fall from the sky, which can grant a wish. It has to be carried to an altar on the top of the island. While doing this, mysterious black creatures named Shadows challenge Nick in order to get the star for themselves. If Nick successfully brings the star to the altar, the player is presented with two choices. Nick can either let the star grant his own wish to become popular again, or the wish of an islander. By taking the latter choice, the wish of the islander comes true and Nick has to collect new Kirarin to make another star appear.


==''Mario'' franchise references in ''Captain Rainbow''==
==References to the ''Super Mario'' franchise==
''Captain Rainbow'' contains characters and other elements from various franchises, some of them being taken from the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'' franchise]].
''Captain Rainbow'' contains characters and other elements from various franchises, some of them being taken from the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]].


===Birdo===
===Birdo===
[[File:BirdoCaptainRainbow.png|thumb|right|Birdo's appearance in the first trailer.]]
[[File:Birdo Captain Rainbow.png|thumb|150px|Birdo's artwork]]
====Description====
====Description====
One of the Nintendo characters who traveled to Mimin Island is [[Birdo]], who claims to be the "Sexy Dynamite Monster". She came to the island to become attractive and popular with boys. Birdo has a very cheerful nature, however, she can get very angry when things go wrong for her. On Mimin Island, Birdo resides in the so-called [[Kawaii Ouchi|Cute Home]]. It is located on a remote place of the island which is separated from the rest of it. The Cute Home represents Birdo's personality and her likings. The interior consists of mostly pink and red furniture decorated with many heart and ribbon emblems.  
One of the Nintendo characters who traveled to Mimin Island is [[Birdo]], who claims to be the "Sexy Dynamite Monster". She came to the island to become attractive and popular with boys. Birdo has a very cheerful nature; however, she can get very angry when things go wrong for her. On Mimin Island, Birdo resides in the so-called [[Kawaii Ouchi|Cute Home]]. It is located on a remote place of the island which is separated from the rest of it. The Cute Home represents Birdo's personality and her likings. The interior consists of mostly pink and red furniture decorated with many heart and ribbon emblems.  


''Captain Rainbow'' also makes reference to Birdo's [[Birdo#Gender|gender controversy]], giving her a distinctly male voice, and by the situations Birdo stumbles into. The voice was first heard in the first trailer of ''Captain Rainbow'', where Birdo introduces Nick and his alter-ego, making her the first confirmed guest character. In the second trailer, Little Mac from ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'' speaks about Birdo. After he calls her a "young lady", he pauses briefly, then says that "Depending on one's viewpoint, she ''is'' a young lady."
''Captain Rainbow'' also makes reference to Birdo's [[Birdo#Gender|gender controversy]], giving her a distinctly male voice, and by the situations Birdo stumbles into. The voice was first heard in the first trailer of ''Captain Rainbow'', where Birdo introduces Nick and his alter-ego, making her the first confirmed guest character. In the second trailer, [[Little Mac]] speaks about Birdo. After he calls her a "young lady", he pauses briefly, then says that "Depending on one's viewpoint, she ''is'' a young lady."


Like it has been done with many characters in the game, Birdo's appearance has been significantly altered. Her head is much bigger in comparison to her torso, and her cheeks are peculiarly stout.
Like it has been done with many characters in the game, Birdo's appearance has been significantly altered. Her head is much bigger in comparison to her torso, and her cheeks are peculiarly stout.


====Role in the Game====
====Role====
[[File:Birdo imprisoned Captain Rainbow.jpg|thumb|left|Birdo yelling while being imprisoned.]]
[[File:Birdo imprisoned Captain Rainbow.jpg|thumb|left|Birdo yelling while imprisoned]]
Birdo is one of the characters who already appears at an early point in the game. She was wrongly suspected of a crime and imprisoned. When Nick finds her, she is imprisoned in a cage at the police box of Mappo, the robot jailer from the game ''GiFTPiA''. Officer Mappo "punished" Birdo because she was using the female bathroom, and the robot did not believe that Birdo is a girl. She is so angry about her prison that her speech is partly censored by audio bleeps and X signs. Birdo asks Nick to go to her Cute Home and find something there that proves that she is female. Nick does so and when he looks into the house, he finds a special object under the pillow on Birdo's bed. It is only mentioned to be proof that the owner is female and is never seen by the player because it is covered by a question mark, though the object in question is heavily implied to be a vibrator.
[[File:CR question mark.png|thumb|Birdo's special object]]


Birdo is one of the characters who already appear at an early point in the game. She was wrongly suspected of a crime and imprisoned. When Nick finds her, she is imprisoned in a cage at the police box of Mappo, the robot jailer from the game ''GiFTPiA''. Officer Mappo "punished" Birdo because she was using the female bathroom, and the robot didn't believe that Birdo is a girl. She is so angry about her prison that her speech is partly censored by audio bleeps and X signs. Birdo asks Nick to go to her Cute Home and find something there that proves that she is female. Nick does so and when he looks into the house, he finds a special object under the pillow on Birdo's bed. It is only told to be a proof that the owner is female and is never seen by the player, because it is covered by a question mark.
Nick then returns to the police box and shows Mappo the object. Being convinced now that Birdo is a girl, the officer lets her out of the cage. In order to thank him for her rescue, Birdo "kisses" Nick (in the form of a floating heart), which knocks him out for a moment. Birdo gets a crush on Nick, calling him her boyfriend.
[[File:CR question mark.png|thumb|right|Birdo's special object]]
 
Then Nick returns to the police box and shows Mappo the object. Being convinced now that Birdo is a girl, the officer lets her out of the cage. In order to thank him for her rescue, Birdo "kisses" Nick (in the form of a floating heart), which knocks him out for a moment. Birdo gets a crush on Nick, calling him her boyfriend.


Birdo eventually goes back to her house. She enjoys going on strolls and watching the beautiful nature. Nick can accompany Birdo during her trips, making her very happy. Birdo also likes to sing while doing so.
Birdo eventually goes back to her house. She enjoys going on strolls and watching the beautiful nature. Nick can accompany Birdo during her trips, making her very happy. Birdo also likes to sing while doing so.
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After a Star has fallen from the sky, Nick can offer Birdo to carry the star with her to the altar on the island's top. When the team manages to get to the altar with the Star without being beaten by the Shadows, Nick has the choice between Birdo's and his own wish. By choosing Birdo's wish, she adheres to the Star and flies with it towards the night sky and disappears. For a brief moment, Birdo's face is seen in the sky.
After a Star has fallen from the sky, Nick can offer Birdo to carry the star with her to the altar on the island's top. When the team manages to get to the altar with the Star without being beaten by the Shadows, Nick has the choice between Birdo's and his own wish. By choosing Birdo's wish, she adheres to the Star and flies with it towards the night sky and disappears. For a brief moment, Birdo's face is seen in the sky.
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Birdo Captain Rainbow.png|<center>Birdo's artwork.
File:Birdo CR Model.png|Birdo's model
File:Birdo thanking Captain Rainbow.png|<center>Birdo thanking Nick for her rescue.
BirdoCaptainRainbow.png|thumb|Birdo's appearance in the first trailer
File:Birdokawaiihome.png|<center>Artwork of Birdo's house, the Kawaii Ouchi.
Birdo thanking Captain Rainbow.png|Birdo thanking Nick for her rescue
Birdokawaiihome.png|Artwork of Birdo's house, the Kawaii Ouchi
</gallery>
</gallery>


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After Birdo's wish has been granted, a gallery with concept art of Birdo and the Cute Home will be unlocked. When viewing the gallery, Birdo's theme song from the game plays, which is, in accordance with Birdo's personality, a cheerful song featuring singing. As for most characters, the gallery has three pages.
After Birdo's wish has been granted, a gallery with concept art of Birdo and the Cute Home will be unlocked. When viewing the gallery, Birdo's theme song from the game plays, which is, in accordance with Birdo's personality, a cheerful song featuring singing. As for most characters, the gallery has three pages.
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Birdo Gallery 1 Captain Rainbow.png|Four pieces of Birdo concept art.
File:Birdo Gallery 1 Captain Rainbow.png|Four pieces of Birdo concept art
File:Birdo Gallery 2 Captain Rainbow.png|Views of the Cute Home from inside and outside.
File:Birdo Gallery 2 Captain Rainbow.png|Views of the Cute Home from inside and outside.
File:Birdo Gallery 3 Captain Rainbow.png|Another concept art of Birdo, showing her with a lot of [[Birdo Egg|eggs]].
File:Birdo Gallery 3 Captain Rainbow.png|Another concept art of Birdo, showing her with a lot of [[Birdo's Egg|eggs]].
</gallery>
 
===Ossan===
[[File:Ossan CR.png|thumb|left|150px|Artwork of Ossan]]
Ossan, the golfer seen in ''[[Golf]]'', appears in this game. Despite being depicted as Mario in ''Golf'', this game depicts Ossan as a separate character from him with a more unique design.
<gallery>
Ossan CR Model.png|Ossan's model.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{stub|section=y}}
{{br|left}}


===Piranha Plant===
===Piranha Plant===
[[File:Piranha Plant Captain Rainbow.png|thumb|right|The Piranha Plant.]]
[[File:Piranha Plant Captain Rainbow.png|thumb|The Piranha Plant.]]
Another creature from the ''Mario'' series appearing in the game is a [[Piranha Plant]], though its role isn't as significant as Birdo's. The Piranha Plant is found in the garden of Lip's house. Lip is a fairy and the protagonist of the game ''[[Panel de Pon]]'', which was remade into ''[[Tetris Attack]]'' for the west. When the Piranha Plant feels bad and hangs its head to the ground, Lip casts a spell on the plant. After doing so, the Piranha Plant is healed and straightens up at once. At a later point, the plant is decorated with a blue ribbon.
Another creature from the ''Super Mario'' franchise appearing in the game is a [[Piranha Plant]], though its role is not as significant as Birdo's. The Piranha Plant is found in the garden of Lip's house. Lip is a fairy and the protagonist of the game ''[[Tetris Attack#Panel de Pon|Panel de Pon]]'', which was remade into ''[[Tetris Attack]]'' for the west. When the Piranha Plant feels bad and hangs its head to the ground, Lip casts a spell on the plant. After doing so, the Piranha Plant is healed and straightens up at once. At a later point, the plant is decorated with a blue ribbon.


The Piranha Plant's involvement was confirmed by the second trailer of ''Captain Rainbow''. The appearance of it is altered as well. Its sharp teeth are irregularly arranged and of different size, unlike the teeth of the Piranha Plants seen in the ''Mario'' games.
The Piranha Plant's involvement was confirmed by the second trailer of ''Captain Rainbow''. The appearance of it is altered as well. Its sharp teeth are irregularly arranged and of different size, unlike the teeth of the Piranha Plants seen in the ''Super Mario'' games.
<br clear="all">
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Piranha Plant sick Captain Rainbow.png|<center>Lip casting a spell on the sick Piranha Plant.
File:Piranha Plant sick Captain Rainbow.png|Lip casting a spell on the sick Piranha Plant.
File:Piranha Plant healed Captain Rainbow.png|<center>The Piranha Plant has been healed by Lip's spell.
File:Piranha Plant healed Captain Rainbow.png|The Piranha Plant has been healed by Lip's spell.
</gallery>
</gallery>


===Cheep-Cheeps and Bloopers===
===Cheep Cheeps and Bloopers===
[[Cheep-Cheep]]s and [[Blooper]]s are among the sea creatures which are catchable in the fishing minigame.
[[Cheep Cheep]]s and [[Blooper]]s are among the sea creatures which are catchable in the fishing minigame.


===Warp Pipes===
===Warp Pipes===
[[File:Warp Pipe Captain Rainbow.png|thumb|left|Artwork of a yellow Warp Pipe.]]
[[File:Warp Pipe Captain Rainbow.png|thumb|left|Artwork of a yellow Warp Pipe.]]
Different colored [[Warp Pipe]]s are found on Mimin Island. Like in the ''Mario'' series, Warp Pipes are used for quick transportation from one point to another. When using a Warp Pipe, the well-known Warp Pipe sound from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' is heard. The remote place where Birdo's Cute House is located can be reached via a pink Warp Pipe.
Different colored [[Warp Pipe]]s are found on Mimin Island. Like in the ''Super Mario'' franchise, Warp Pipes are used for quick transportation from one point to another. When using a Warp Pipe, the well-known Warp Pipe sound from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' is heard. The remote place where Birdo's Cute House is located can be reached via a pink Warp Pipe.


===Mario===
===Mario===
[[File:Mario Link portraits Captain Rainbow.png|thumb|right|Portraits of Mario and Link above Tracy's throne.]]
[[File:Mario Link portraits Captain Rainbow.png|thumb|Portraits of Mario and Link above Tracy's throne.]]
Though [[Mario]] himself does not make a direct appearance in the game, there is a Mario cameo nonetheless. A portrait of him is above Tracy's throne, next to a portrait of [[Link]]. The Mario picture is actually [[:File:MarioMPDS.png|artwork]] from ''[[Mario Party DS]]''. The portraits were first seen in the fifth trailer.
Though [[Mario]] himself does not make a direct appearance in the game, there is a Mario cameo nonetheless. A portrait of him is above Tracy's throne, next to a portrait of [[Link]]. The Mario picture is actually [[:File:MarioMPDS.png|artwork]] from ''[[Mario Party DS]]''. The portraits were first seen in the fifth trailer.


==List of Characters==
==List of characters==
The Nintendo characters appearing in the game are all characters who didn't make it to stardom. Furthermore, they all originate from past games released in the 1980s and 1990s, except for the characters from games developed by skip. The following play important roles in the game:
The Nintendo characters appearing in the game are all characters who didn't make it to stardom. Furthermore, they all originate from past games released in the 1980s and 1990s, except for the characters from games developed by skip. The following play important roles in the game:
 
*[[Birdo]] (Catherine) from ''[[Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic]]'' / ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]''
*[[Birdo]] (Catherine) from ''[[Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic]]''/''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]''
*Hikari from ''Shin Onigashima''
*Hikari from ''Shin Onigashima''
*Ossan from ''[[Golf]]''
*Ossan from ''[[Golf]]''
*[[Little Mac]] from ''Punch-Out!!'' (originally ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'')
*[[Little Mac]] from ''Punch-Out!!'' (originally ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'')
*Mappo from ''GiFTPiA''
*Mappo from ''GiFTPiA''
*[[Takamaru]] from ''Nazo no Murasamejō''
*Takamaru from ''Nazo no Murasamejō''
*[[zeldawiki:Crazy Tracy|Tracy]] from ''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening''
*[[zeldawiki:Crazy Tracy|Tracy]] from ''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening''
*Famicom Soldiers from ''Famicom Wars''
*Famicom Soldiers from ''Famicom Wars''
*Tao from ''GiFTPiA''
*Tao from ''GiFTPiA''
*[[Assist Trophy|Devil]] from ''Devil World''
*Devil from ''Devil World''
*Lip from ''Panel de Pon''
*Lip from ''[[Tetris Attack#Panel de Pon|Panel de Pon]]''
*Drake Redcrest (Gitchoman) from ''Chibi-Robo!''
*Drake Redcrest (Gitchoman) from ''Chibi-Robo!''
 
Besides these, some generic enemies from the ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]'' franchise also appear:  
Besides these, some generic enemies from the ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' franchise also appear:  
*[[Piranha Plant]] (Packun Flower) from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
*[[Piranha Plant]] (Packun Flower) from ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
*[[Cheep-Cheep]]s (Pukupuku) from ''Super Mario Bros.''
*[[Cheep Cheep]]s (Pukupuku) from ''Super Mario Bros.''
*[[Blooper]]s (Gessō) from ''Super Mario Bros.''
*[[Blooper]]s (Gessō) from ''Super Mario Bros.''
New characters with important roles created for the game:
New characters with important roles created for the game:
*Nick a.k.a. Captain Rainbow
*Nick a.k.a. Captain Rainbow
*Mimin
*Mimin
*Shadows
*Shadows
==Critical reception==
{| class="wikitable reviews"
!colspan="4"style="font-size:120%; text-align:center; background-color:silver;"|Reviews
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|Release
|Reviewer, Publication
|Score
|Comment
|-
|[[Wii|Nintendo Wii]]
|Stuart Reddick,<br>[http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/04/captain_rainbow_wii Nintendo Life]
|8/10
|''While it's hardly the deepest experience on the Wii, Captain Rainbow is one of the most bizarre games Nintendo has published in ages. From the game’s wacky graphics to the unique gameplay, Captain Rainbow has plenty going for it. The language barrier presents something of an issue, and it's worth bearing in mind that the game hasn’t been confirmed for a release outside of Japan, and may never be localized because of some of the content. Most of the game’s characters are of Japanese origin and have never seen the light of day in North America, which obviously causes some problems. However, Nintendo has taken a chance on quirky games before, so we can always hope for a worldwide release. In the meantime, if you're lucky enough to own a Japanese Wii then you should certainly try this out.''
|-
|Nintendo Wii
|Richard Eisenbeis,<br>[https://kotaku.com/no-gold-at-the-end-of-this-rainbow-5916775 Kotaku]
|N/A
|''While there were some very funny moments to be found in Captain Rainbow, they are ultimately overshadowed by the sheer amount of mindless boredom that permeates the rest of the game. The gameplay is uninspired, the mini-games flawed, and the constant waiting unbearable. There is a reason Captain Rainbow was a commercial and critical failure here in Japan: It's a boring, monotonous game.''
|-
|Nintendo Wii
|Rudy Lavaux,<br>[http://www.cubed3.com/review/865/1/captain-rainbow-wii.html Cubed3]
|8/10
|''The sole fact that it's full of long lost or forgotten Nintendo characters, all in goofy roles and humorous situations should be enough to tease any long time Nintendo fan, especially if you played Nintendo games in the mid 80's to mid 90's, or like to play games from those eras. Unfortunately it's necessary to understand Japanese at least a little bit to really appreciate the story, humour, and most of all to understand what you have to do in the game. Luckily walkthroughs exist on the Internet to help you know what to do if you're stuck, and a fan group has taken on the task of translating the game in English and Italian, providing gamers a patch to be used with an original copy of the game when work on it is done. If you're up for an uncommon gaming experience, Captain Rainbow is sure to deliver this and leave you with a good feeling after playing it.''
|-
!colspan="4"style="font-size:120%; text-align:center; background-color:silver;"|Aggregators
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|colspan=2|Compiler
|colspan=2|{{nw|Platform / Score}}
|-
|colspan=2|GameRankings
|colspan=2|[https://www.gamerankings.com/wii/950769-captain-rainbow/index.html 80.00%]
|}
===Sales===
Captain Rainbow sold an estimated 6,361 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|language=en|archive=web.archive.org/web/20090211182505/http://chartget.com/2008/10/media-create-sales-0922-0928-software.html|title= Media Create Sales: 09/22 - 09/28 (Software)|date=October 1, 2008|accessdate=August 23, 2024|publisher=ChartGet!}}</ref> By the end of 2008, around 22,682 copies had been sold.<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20090830044033/http://geimin.net:80/da/db/2008_ne_fa/index.php|title=2008年テレビゲームソフト売り上げTOP500（ファミ通版）|language=ja|publisher=Geimin.net|accessdate=August 23, 2024}}</ref>


==Staff==
==Staff==
{{main|List of Captain Rainbow staff}}
{{main|List of Captain Rainbow staff}}
==Media==
 
{{more media|Mario-related media|section=yes}}
==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|ChiT=彩虹隊長<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20130122210132/http://www.nintendo.tw/wii/wii_software.htm|title=Ｗｉｉ遊戲軟體|publisher=Nintendo of Taiwan|language=zh-hant|accessdate=August 23, 2024}}</ref>
|ChiTR=Cǎihóng Duìzhǎng
|ChiTM=Rainbow Captain
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Both Birdo and the Piranha Plant are seen on the cover of the game's instruction booklet.
*Both Birdo and the Piranha Plant are seen on the cover of the game's instruction booklet.
*The name of the country, ''Mameruca'', is a pun on "[[United States of America|America]]".


==External Links==
==Gallery==
{{NIWA|ZeldaWiki=1|StrategyWiki-p=Captain★Rainbow|NWiki=1}}
<gallery>
{{wikipedia}}
Birdo Info CR.jpg|Birdo's information page on the official Japanese website on ''Captain Rainbow''
*[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/r7cj/index.html Official Japanese Website]
</gallery>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sglnx0deSdw Captain Rainbow "Furious! Enter a New Hero" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8PzU01nLvU "The Intense Punch of Love" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSFwqGbyaA "The Intense Punch of Love" Birdo's lines - YouTube]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpYyLjdSt9w "The Failure of the Light Diet" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OaeldV8JOA "Sure-kill! Takamaru's Infinite Iaigiri" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBeG4ZrOgaw "The Fascinating Dynamite Body" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLEHK0NT3Sc "March Towards the Setting Sun" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP2QTHvEhbc "Lip and Mishter Flower's Day of Fun" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
==External links==
{{NIWA|NWiki=1|SmashWiki=List of SSB4 trophies (Others)#Captain Rainbow|StrategyWiki=Captain★Rainbow|ZeldaWiki=1}}
{{TCRF}}
{{wikipedia}}
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/r7cj/index.html Official Japanese Website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sglnx0deSdw Captain Rainbow "Furious! Enter a New Hero" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8PzU01nLvU "The Intense Punch of Love" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSFwqGbyaA "The Intense Punch of Love" Birdo's lines - YouTube]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpYyLjdSt9w "The Failure of the Light Diet" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OaeldV8JOA "Sure-kill! Takamaru's Infinite Iaigiri" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBeG4ZrOgaw "The Fascinating Dynamite Body" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLEHK0NT3Sc "March Towards the Setting Sun" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP2QTHvEhbc "Lip and Mishter Flower's Day of Fun" trailer with English subtitles - YouTube]


{{Wii}}
{{Wii}}
[[Category:Japan Only Games]]
[[Category:Crossover games]]
[[Category:Crossover Games]]
[[Category:Wii games]]
[[Category:Wii Games]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:2008 games]]
[[Category:2008 games]]
[[de:Captain Rainbow]]

Latest revision as of 19:06, September 27, 2024

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Captain Rainbow
Japanese cover Captain Rainbow
Developer Skip Ltd.
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Wii
Release date Japan August 28, 2008[?]
ROC August 28, 2008[?]
Language(s) Japanese
Genre Action-adventure
Rating(s)
CERO:B - Twelve years and older
Format
Wii:
Optical disc
Input
Wii:
Serial code(s) RVL-R7CJ-JPN

Captain Rainbow (Japanese: キャプテン★レインボー Kyaputen★Reinbō) is a game for the Wii that was released in Japan on August 28th, 2008. It was developed by Skip Ltd. and is published by Nintendo. The game's hero is a character called Nick. He has an alter-ego, Captain Rainbow. Several Nintendo characters make an appearance in the game.

The game was only released in Japan and Taiwan. The UK-based Official Nintendo Magazine mentioned a possible release of Captain Rainbow in Europe in summer 2009. However, this did not happen for unknown reasons.[1]

Story[edit]

Nick comes from Mameruca, "The Land of the Free". His alter-ego Captain Rainbow is a yo-yo-wielding superhero who stars in his own TV show. However, the show is not popular anymore, because another superhero attracts the interest of the audience. In order to restore his lost popularity, Nick decides to venture to Mimin Island, an island where wishes are said to come true.

In a dark night, Nick ventures to the island by raft. During his journey, he notices a bunny-like creature desperately paddling in the water. In order to save this being, Nick transforms into Captain Rainbow and jumps into the water. However, his try fails and he sinks. The superhero loses his belt, which is needed for the transformation, and so Captain Rainbow turns back to the ordinary Nick.

When Nick regains consciousness, he has been washed up at the beach of Mimin Island. After a short moment of confusion, Nick spots that his belt is missing. Then he sees the belt being carried away by bunny-like creatures who have obtained it. Since this special item is essential for him, Nick starts exploring the island. It does not take much time to get the belt back. On Mimin Island, Nick meets various Nintendo characters who also came there because of their own dreams and wishes. During their conversations, he learns that no one's wish has actually been granted so far. Only with the help of a chosen hero, Nick, or rather Captain Rainbow in this case, the wishes can be granted. Nick decides to help the islanders. The hero gets support from bunny-like beings called Mimin, the dominant species of Mimin Island.

Gameplay[edit]

The player's task is to control Nick or Captain Rainbow in order to enjoy the island life with the other islanders and to help them. They all have their individual requests, which can lead to minigames such as boxing or golf. Nick can also do activities like fishing and bug catching. There are no strict presettings for what to do on the island.

By helping the islanders, Nick gets Kirarin (literally "Sparklies"). If 20 Kirarin are collected, a star will fall from the sky, which can grant a wish. It has to be carried to an altar on the top of the island. While doing this, mysterious black creatures named Shadows challenge Nick in order to get the star for themselves. If Nick successfully brings the star to the altar, the player is presented with two choices. Nick can either let the star grant his own wish to become popular again, or the wish of an islander. By taking the latter choice, the wish of the islander comes true and Nick has to collect new Kirarin to make another star appear.

References to the Super Mario franchise[edit]

Captain Rainbow contains characters and other elements from various franchises, some of them being taken from the Super Mario franchise.

Birdo[edit]

Birdo
Birdo's artwork

Description[edit]

One of the Nintendo characters who traveled to Mimin Island is Birdo, who claims to be the "Sexy Dynamite Monster". She came to the island to become attractive and popular with boys. Birdo has a very cheerful nature; however, she can get very angry when things go wrong for her. On Mimin Island, Birdo resides in the so-called Cute Home. It is located on a remote place of the island which is separated from the rest of it. The Cute Home represents Birdo's personality and her likings. The interior consists of mostly pink and red furniture decorated with many heart and ribbon emblems.

Captain Rainbow also makes reference to Birdo's gender controversy, giving her a distinctly male voice, and by the situations Birdo stumbles into. The voice was first heard in the first trailer of Captain Rainbow, where Birdo introduces Nick and his alter-ego, making her the first confirmed guest character. In the second trailer, Little Mac speaks about Birdo. After he calls her a "young lady", he pauses briefly, then says that "Depending on one's viewpoint, she is a young lady."

Like it has been done with many characters in the game, Birdo's appearance has been significantly altered. Her head is much bigger in comparison to her torso, and her cheeks are peculiarly stout.

Role[edit]

Birdo yelling while being imprisoned.
Birdo yelling while imprisoned

Birdo is one of the characters who already appears at an early point in the game. She was wrongly suspected of a crime and imprisoned. When Nick finds her, she is imprisoned in a cage at the police box of Mappo, the robot jailer from the game GiFTPiA. Officer Mappo "punished" Birdo because she was using the female bathroom, and the robot did not believe that Birdo is a girl. She is so angry about her prison that her speech is partly censored by audio bleeps and X signs. Birdo asks Nick to go to her Cute Home and find something there that proves that she is female. Nick does so and when he looks into the house, he finds a special object under the pillow on Birdo's bed. It is only mentioned to be proof that the owner is female and is never seen by the player because it is covered by a question mark, though the object in question is heavily implied to be a vibrator.

Birdo's special object

Nick then returns to the police box and shows Mappo the object. Being convinced now that Birdo is a girl, the officer lets her out of the cage. In order to thank him for her rescue, Birdo "kisses" Nick (in the form of a floating heart), which knocks him out for a moment. Birdo gets a crush on Nick, calling him her boyfriend.

Birdo eventually goes back to her house. She enjoys going on strolls and watching the beautiful nature. Nick can accompany Birdo during her trips, making her very happy. Birdo also likes to sing while doing so.

After a Star has fallen from the sky, Nick can offer Birdo to carry the star with her to the altar on the island's top. When the team manages to get to the altar with the Star without being beaten by the Shadows, Nick has the choice between Birdo's and his own wish. By choosing Birdo's wish, she adheres to the Star and flies with it towards the night sky and disappears. For a brief moment, Birdo's face is seen in the sky.

  • Birdo's model

    Birdo's model

  • Birdo's appearance in the first trailer

    Birdo's appearance in the first trailer

  • Birdo thanking Nick for her rescue

    Birdo thanking Nick for her rescue

  • Artwork of Birdo's house, the Kawaii Ouchi

    Artwork of Birdo's house, the Kawaii Ouchi

Birdo Gallery[edit]

After Birdo's wish has been granted, a gallery with concept art of Birdo and the Cute Home will be unlocked. When viewing the gallery, Birdo's theme song from the game plays, which is, in accordance with Birdo's personality, a cheerful song featuring singing. As for most characters, the gallery has three pages.

  • Four pieces of Birdo concept art

    Four pieces of Birdo concept art

  • Views of the Cute Home from inside and outside.

    Views of the Cute Home from inside and outside.

  • Another concept art of Birdo, showing her with a lot of eggs.

    Another concept art of Birdo, showing her with a lot of eggs.

Ossan[edit]

Artwork of Ossan from Captain Rainbow
Artwork of Ossan

Ossan, the golfer seen in Golf, appears in this game. Despite being depicted as Mario in Golf, this game depicts Ossan as a separate character from him with a more unique design.

  • Ossan's model.

    Ossan's model.

threads/17764 This section is a stub. You can help the Super Mario Wiki by expanding it.

Piranha Plant[edit]

Piranha Plant
The Piranha Plant.

Another creature from the Super Mario franchise appearing in the game is a Piranha Plant, though its role is not as significant as Birdo's. The Piranha Plant is found in the garden of Lip's house. Lip is a fairy and the protagonist of the game Panel de Pon, which was remade into Tetris Attack for the west. When the Piranha Plant feels bad and hangs its head to the ground, Lip casts a spell on the plant. After doing so, the Piranha Plant is healed and straightens up at once. At a later point, the plant is decorated with a blue ribbon.

The Piranha Plant's involvement was confirmed by the second trailer of Captain Rainbow. The appearance of it is altered as well. Its sharp teeth are irregularly arranged and of different size, unlike the teeth of the Piranha Plants seen in the Super Mario games.

  • Lip casting a spell on the sick Piranha Plant.

    Lip casting a spell on the sick Piranha Plant.

  • The Piranha Plant has been healed by Lip's spell.

    The Piranha Plant has been healed by Lip's spell.

Cheep Cheeps and Bloopers[edit]

Cheep Cheeps and Bloopers are among the sea creatures which are catchable in the fishing minigame.

Warp Pipes[edit]

A yellow Warp Pipe
Artwork of a yellow Warp Pipe.

Different colored Warp Pipes are found on Mimin Island. Like in the Super Mario franchise, Warp Pipes are used for quick transportation from one point to another. When using a Warp Pipe, the well-known Warp Pipe sound from Super Mario Bros. is heard. The remote place where Birdo's Cute House is located can be reached via a pink Warp Pipe.

Mario[edit]

Portraits of Mario and Link above Tracy's throne.
Portraits of Mario and Link above Tracy's throne.

Though Mario himself does not make a direct appearance in the game, there is a Mario cameo nonetheless. A portrait of him is above Tracy's throne, next to a portrait of Link. The Mario picture is actually artwork from Mario Party DS. The portraits were first seen in the fifth trailer.

List of characters[edit]

The Nintendo characters appearing in the game are all characters who didn't make it to stardom. Furthermore, they all originate from past games released in the 1980s and 1990s, except for the characters from games developed by skip. The following play important roles in the game:

  • Birdo (Catherine) from Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic / Super Mario Bros. 2
  • Hikari from Shin Onigashima
  • Ossan from Golf
  • Little Mac from Punch-Out!! (originally Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!)
  • Mappo from GiFTPiA
  • Takamaru from Nazo no Murasamejō
  • Tracy from The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
  • Famicom Soldiers from Famicom Wars
  • Tao from GiFTPiA
  • Devil from Devil World
  • Lip from Panel de Pon
  • Drake Redcrest (Gitchoman) from Chibi-Robo!

Besides these, some generic enemies from the Super Mario franchise also appear:

New characters with important roles created for the game:

  • Nick a.k.a. Captain Rainbow
  • Mimin
  • Shadows

Critical reception[edit]

Reviews
Release Reviewer, Publication Score Comment
Nintendo Wii Stuart Reddick,
Nintendo Life 		8/10 While it's hardly the deepest experience on the Wii, Captain Rainbow is one of the most bizarre games Nintendo has published in ages. From the game’s wacky graphics to the unique gameplay, Captain Rainbow has plenty going for it. The language barrier presents something of an issue, and it's worth bearing in mind that the game hasn’t been confirmed for a release outside of Japan, and may never be localized because of some of the content. Most of the game’s characters are of Japanese origin and have never seen the light of day in North America, which obviously causes some problems. However, Nintendo has taken a chance on quirky games before, so we can always hope for a worldwide release. In the meantime, if you're lucky enough to own a Japanese Wii then you should certainly try this out.
Nintendo Wii Richard Eisenbeis,
Kotaku 		N/A While there were some very funny moments to be found in Captain Rainbow, they are ultimately overshadowed by the sheer amount of mindless boredom that permeates the rest of the game. The gameplay is uninspired, the mini-games flawed, and the constant waiting unbearable. There is a reason Captain Rainbow was a commercial and critical failure here in Japan: It's a boring, monotonous game.
Nintendo Wii Rudy Lavaux,
Cubed3 		8/10 The sole fact that it's full of long lost or forgotten Nintendo characters, all in goofy roles and humorous situations should be enough to tease any long time Nintendo fan, especially if you played Nintendo games in the mid 80's to mid 90's, or like to play games from those eras. Unfortunately it's necessary to understand Japanese at least a little bit to really appreciate the story, humour, and most of all to understand what you have to do in the game. Luckily walkthroughs exist on the Internet to help you know what to do if you're stuck, and a fan group has taken on the task of translating the game in English and Italian, providing gamers a patch to be used with an original copy of the game when work on it is done. If you're up for an uncommon gaming experience, Captain Rainbow is sure to deliver this and leave you with a good feeling after playing it.
Aggregators
Compiler Platform / Score
GameRankings 80.00%

Sales[edit]

Captain Rainbow sold an estimated 6,361 copies in its first week.[2] By the end of 2008, around 22,682 copies had been sold.[3]

Staff[edit]

Main article: List of Captain Rainbow staff

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Chinese (traditional) 彩虹隊長[4]
Cǎihóng Duìzhǎng 		Rainbow Captain

Trivia[edit]

  • Both Birdo and the Piranha Plant are seen on the cover of the game's instruction booklet.

Gallery[edit]

  • Birdo's information page on the official Japanese website on Captain Rainbow

    Birdo's information page on the official Japanese website on Captain Rainbow

References[edit]

  1. ^ rawmeatcowboy (October 25, 2008). Official Nintendo Magazine - tiny bits of info on Pokemon Platinum, Captain Rainbow. GoNintendo (English). Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  2. ^ October 1, 2008. Media Create Sales: 09/22 - 09/28 (Software). ChartGet! (English). Archived February 11, 2009, 18:25:05 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  3. ^ 2008年テレビゲームソフト売り上げTOP500（ファミ通版）. Geimin.net (Japanese). Archived August 30, 2009, 04:40:33 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Ｗｉｉ遊戲軟體. Nintendo of Taiwan (Traditional Chinese). Archived January 22, 2013, 21:01:32 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 23, 2024.

External links[edit]

Captain Rainbow coverage on other NIWA wikis:
An unused smiley face (likely a placeholder) from Super Mario Bros. 2 The Cutting Room Floor has an article on Captain Rainbow.
The English Wikipedia logo, for use on the Wikipedia template. Wikipedia has an article on Captain Rainbow.
[Edit]
Wii games
Super Mario franchise Super Paper Mario (2007) • Mario Strikers Charged (2007) • Mario Party 8 (2007) • Super Mario Galaxy (2007) • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007) • Mario Kart Wii (2008) • Mario Super Sluggers (2008) • Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2009) • New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009) • Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010) • Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition (2010) • Mario Sports Mix (2010) • Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (2011) • Mario Party 9 (2012)
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (2007) • Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010)
Wario franchise WarioWare: Smooth Moves (2006) • Wario Land: Shake It! (2008)
Other Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) • Captain Rainbow (2008) • Punch-Out!! (2009) • Rhythm Heaven Fever (2011) • Fortune Street (2011) • Skylanders: SuperChargers Racing (2015)
New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2008) • Mario Power Tennis (2009)
Downloadable Dr. Mario Online Rx (2008) • WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase (2009) • Virtual Console games (2006–2010)
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