The jump to 3D brought tracks with bridges, tunnels, and the eternal Rainbow Road, but it hid a magician's trick: the racers aren't 3D models at all but pre-rendered sprites shown from multiple angles, a decision that freed up the power needed for four-player split-screen mode. The blue shell debuted here to punish whoever was in the lead, institutionalizing the most democratic — and beloved — injustice in video game history.
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