Rainbow line

“	Make loops, launch Kirby into the air, or protect him from obstacles and enemies. Get creative and see what you and your rainbow rope can do as you navigate Kirby through seven big levels.”
	— Kirby and the Rainbow Curse website

KatRC Rainbow Loop Kirby — *Kirby and the Rainbow Curse* artwork

Rainbow lines (also called rainbow ropes) are integral gameplay elements for Kirby: Canvas Curse and Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. They are rainbow-colored lines drawn by the player via the console's Touch Screen.

Background[]

Rainbow lines are made by entities besides Kirby. In Kirby: Canvas Curse, it's the player who controls the Magical Paintbrush to draw strokes of lines to help Kirby traverse while cursed in his ball form. In Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, Elline assumes the roll of the player's stylus being able to draw lines as well as perform other touch actions caused by the player.

Gameplay[]

Rainbow lines can be drawn as long as the player has enough ink in their ink gauge indicated on the screen. This gauge will slowly refill when the player isn't drawing lines but will refill more quickly if Kirby is on the ground. The player can draw multiple lines however the earliest line to be drawn will disappear faster than each corresponding new one. In addition, drawing a rainbow line over a previous already existing line will destroy the overlapped line.

When the player draws a rainbow line to help Kirby traverse the level, Kirby will always roll in the direction the line was drawn. If Kirby rolls into a vertical rainbow line, he will roll in the opposite direction. The player can also draw lines for defense as well, making walls or ceilings to protect Kirby from various hazards such as beams and lasers. Some strong enemies such as Thudd cannot be blocked by rainbow lines, shattering and going through them during their attacks.

In both games, there exist large areas indicated by gray gradients that prevent the player from drawing lines. In these zones, the player must use the Touch Devices to help traverse Kirby around. Trying to draw lines in these zones will destroy the line even if the beginning of the line was drawn outside of the zone.

In Games[]

Kirby: Canvas Curse[]

The basics of the rules for drawing rainbow lines are established in this game focusing heavily on transportation and defense. Players are expected to keep track of their gauge constantly as there are no alternatives to refilling the gauge via items or as a reward for completing a gauntlet. When the player starts to run out of ink while drawing, the ends of the rope will flash orange and a sound will play. If the player draws a loop, Kirby will automatically do a Tap Dash. This action, however, does not activate Waddle Doo or King Dedede's Beam Attack and hammer swing, respectively.

In the Medal Swap, players can exchange medals for customizable lines during gameplay. There are three unlockable lines to obtain, each of them costing six medals.

KCC Ink Bottle — Ink bottle for Line Trials

Also unlocked with Medal Swap are Rainbow Run courses. The player can purchase six Rainbow Run courses for three medals each with each course centering around a certain Copy Ability. When participating in a Rainbow Run course, the player can select Time Trials or Line Trials. During Line Trials, the player gets a giant ink bottle on the top screen. The goal of the mode is to make it to the end of course using as little ink as possible. The more ink there is in the bottle when the stage is complete, the more medals the player is rewarded.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse[]

Ink Gauge

Rainbow lines now play a more prominent role with in terms of interactions with other entities besides Kirby. They can be used to block waterfalls and displace large areas of clay to make a path. With the addition of multiplayer, Players 2, 3, and 4 can control colored Bandana Waddle Dees and use the rainbow lines drawn by Player 1 with the Wii U GamePad as platforms to help Kirby in his adventures.

Rainbow lines in this game appear to be weaker than the ones drawn in the previous game in terms of integrity, shattering more easily to obstacles.^{[citation needed]} To compensate, the ink gauge is slightly more lenient giving players more ink and even offering Ink bottles across the stages that immediately fill the gauge. The player can also draw a loop to increase Kirby's speed when he performs one. When the line begins to disappear, it will turn yellow.

New to this game is the use of transformations, all of which require the use of Rainbow Lines to help with their abilities. The Kirby Tank transformation turns Kirby into a heavy tank that cannot go up steep lines nor go upside down. Kirby Submarine's missiles can be guided with lines, automatically riding alongside the lines when in contact with one and will fly straight when it leaves the line. Kirby Rocket must be guided constantly with rainbow lines as he flies off to avoid obstacles.

Related Quotes[]

“	When you slide your stylus across the Touch Screen, you draw a rainbow line. When Kirby rides on rainbow lines, he rolls in the direction the line was drown.”
	— Kirby: Canvas Curse manual

“	Kirby rolls in the direction the line was drawn. Each time you draw a rainbow line, your ink gouge on the Top Screen will be depleted. The gouge refills automatically whenever you aren't drawing lines. When Kirby is an the ground or on a ledge, it refills more quickly.”
	— Kirby: Canvas Curse manual

“	Each time you draw a rainbow line, the ink in the bottle decreases. Try to use as little ink as passible to reach the goal. You can earn up to three medals.”
	— Line Trials • Kirby: Canvas Curse manual

“	If you draw two rainbow lines, the first one will disappear quickly. To ovoid this problem, instead of drawing two lines to protect Kirby from two enemies, draw one line that protects him from both...”
	— Using Rainbow lines Adeptly • Kirby: Canvas Curse manual

“	When you want Kirby to dive underwater, draw rainbow lines down from above to guide Kirby deeper into the water. Otherwise, he will try to surface.”
	— Using Rainbow Lines Underwater • Kirby: Canvas Curse manual

“	Use the stylus to draw rainbow ropes on the GamePad screen. Kirby can ride these ropes and will move in the direction you drew the line.”
	— Use Rainbow Ropes to Guide Kirby • Kirby and the Rainbow Curse e-manual

“	Some areas are filled with clay. You can erase the clay by drawing a rainbow rope over them, allowing you to find hidden routes and items.”
	— Clay-filled Areas • Kirby and the Rainbow Curse e-manual

“	On some stages, you will find grey-out areas where colours don't exist and rainbow ropes can't be drawn.”
	— Grey Zones • Kirby and the Rainbow Curse e-manual