Super Mario Kart

Super Mario Kart was a 1992 racing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the first game in the spin-off Mario Kart series, and the game that popularized the kart racing style of video game. It spawned many imitators that tried to emulate the Mario Kart formula of simple, fast paced racing with a focus on traps and items, but none have been as successfull as the original series.

Drivers
Super Mario Kart has 8 available drivers. In Super Mario Kart, unlike later games, there is not the usual Lightweight/Middleweight/Heavyweight distinction, but instead there are four categories. These categories have no official name, but are referred to as "Class 1", "Class 2", "Class 3" and "Class 4" to help distinguish them.

Class 1
These characters have a high top speed, good steering, but only average acceleration. They also get bumped around alot, because of their low weight.

Koopa Troopa
Main article: Koopa Troopa

One of the basic enemies introduced in Super Mario Brothers, Koopa Troopa is arguably the most popular driver in the game. When the computer uses him, he will sometimes throw green shells at the player. Super Mario Kart is, apart from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, the only game where the player or the CPU can drive with a Koopa Troopa.

Toad
Main article: Toad

Another character introduced in Super Mario Brothers, and one of few friendly characters from that game. When the computer uses Toad, he will sometimes throw mushrooms in front of you that will shrink you if you hit them.

Class 2
These characters have excellent acceleration, good top speed, and medium weight, but suffer from poor handling.

Princess Peach
Main article: Princess Peach

Peach was again, one of the characters introduced in Super Mario Brothers. She is the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom. When the computer users her, she will sometimes throw mushrooms at you that shrink you if you hit them.

Yoshi
Main article: Yoshi

Yoshi is a friendly green dinosaur like creature, first introduced in Super Mario World. When the computer uses him, he will sometimes throw eggs at you.

Class 3
These characters have high weight and top-notch steering, but suffer from only average top speed and bad acceleration.

Mario
Main article: Mario

Mario is the main hero of the Mario series, first introduced in the wildly popular arcade game Donkey Kong. When the computer uses him, he will sometimes use Star power (invincibility).

Luigi
Main article: Luigi

Mario's much less famous brother, who first appeared in the game Mario Brothers as a pallete swap for use as a second player in multiplayer games. When the computer uses him, he will sometimes use Star power (invincibility).

Class 4
These characters have good acceleration and the highest weight of any driver in the game, along with decent handling, but suffer from a slow top speed.

Bowser
Main article: Bowser

Bowser is another character introduced in Super Mario Brothers, and the game's main villain, aswell as the villian of most games in the Mario series. When the computer uses him, he will sometimes throw lava balls at you.

Donkey Kong Jr.
Main article: Donkey Kong Jr.

Donkey Kong Jr. is the son of Donkey Kong and one of the more obscure characters in the series. He made his debut in his self-titled game. When the computer uses him, he will sometimes throw bananas at you.

Mushroom Cup

 * Mario Circuit 1
 * Donut Plains 1
 * Ghost Valley 1
 * Bowser Castle 1
 * Mario Circuit 2

Flower Cup

 * Choco Island 1
 * Ghost Valley 2
 * Donut Plains 2
 * Bowser Castle 2
 * Mario Circuit 3

Star Cup

 * Koopa Beach 1
 * Choco Island 2
 * Vanilla Lake 1
 * Bowser Castle 3
 * Mario Circuit 4

Special Cup

 * Donut Plains 3
 * Koopa Beach 2
 * Ghost Valley 3
 * Vanilla Lake 2
 * Rainbow Road