Drag Race
| ||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||
| “ | Race to the finish line on a perfectly straight course. Machines with high-level acceleration and top speed abilities will have an advantage. | ” | — Kirby Air Ride North American instruction booklet, page 30 |
Drag Race is a Stadium mode in Kirby Air Ride, having a chance to appear at the end of City Trial on default settings. It tasks the racers to take 1st on a long and straight course.
Overview
When a Drag Race begins, the contestants are placed at the start of a long straight course, with the objective being to reach the goal first. Depending on the course, there will be a number of different obstacles on the path, though none of them are dangerous. Contestants can attack each-other, and if a racer is KO'd, they will be forced to retire. Naturally, vehicles selected and patched for sheer speed will do well here.
Stages
There are four distinct Drag Race courses, with the fourth requiring a Checklist objective met before it is unlocked. All four courses borrow their aesthetic from the Checker Knights course. They are as follows:
Stage 1
The first course is a straightforward affair, with no obstacles save a few Copy Chance Wheels and a few Dash Panels.
Checklist objectives
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 1 Finish in less than 00:20:00!" (Reward: Music: Rowdy Charge Tank)
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 1 Finish in less than 00:24:00!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 1 Finish under 00:17:00 on Formula Star!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 1 Finish under 00:26:00 on Warpstar!"
- Drag Race 1.jpg
screencap from Stage 1.
Stage 2
The second course has a split path near the start which bends a little before returning back to the main course. From there, further in are a couple grind rails which move back and forth.
Checklist objectives
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 2 Finish in less than 00:20:00!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 2 Finish in less than 00:24:00!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 2 Finish under 00:27:00 on Wagon Star!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 2 Finish under 00:29:00 on Winged Star!" (Reward: Color: Brown Kirby)
- Drag Race 2.jpg
screencap from Stage 2.
- Checkerknights.jpg
another screencap from Stage 2.
Stage 3
The third course has a couple retractable walls which can be triggered using floor switches. After that, the path leads through some narrows, then off a ramp.
Checklist objectives
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 3 Finish in less than 00:27:00!" (Reward: Stadium: Drag Race 4)
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 3 Finish in less than 00:35:00!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 3 Finish under 00:28:00 on Swerve Star!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 3 Finish under 00:31:00 on Wheelie Bike!"
- Drag Race 3.jpg
screencap from Stage 3.
Stage 4
The fourth course contains several elevated and lowered paths side-by-side. It also leads through a building, urging caution for flying machines.
This course is initially locked. To unlock it, the player must finish Drag Race 3 in less than 27 seconds.
Checklist objectives
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 4 Finish in less than 00:19:00!" (Reward: Music: Drag Race (theme))
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 4 Finish in less than 00:24:00!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 4 Finish under 00:24:00 on Rex Wheelie!"
- "Stadium: DRAG RACE 4 Finish under 00:33:00 on Turbo Star!"
- Drag Race 4.jpg
screencap from Stage 4.
