Mario Kart 64: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox

|released='''Nintendo 64:'''<br>{{released|Japan|December 14, 1996|USA|February 10, 1997|Mexico|February 10, 1997<ref>''Nintendo.com.mx'' "[https://web.archive.org/web/19980530123552/http://www.nintendo.com.mx/lanza/mkart/mkart.html Página Oficial de Mario Kart 64] (in Spanish)", (Archived from [http://www.nintendo.com.mx/lanza/mkart/mkart.html the original]).</ref>|UK|June 13, 1997<ref>''Nintendo Official Magazine'' (UK) issue 59, pages 5 and 27.</ref>|Europe|June 24, 1997|Australia|July/August 1997<ref>''Nintendo Magazine System'' (AU) Issue #49, page 41.</ref>}} '''iQue Player:'''<br>{{released|China|December 25, 2003}} '''Virtual Console (Wii):'''<br>{{released|Europe|January 26, 2007|Australia|January 26, 2007|USA|January 29, 2007|Japan|January 30, 2007|South Korea|April 26, 2008}} '''Virtual Console (Wii U):'''<br>{{released|Japan|January 6, 2016|Europe|January 21, 2016|Australia|January 22, 2016|USA|December 29, 2016}} '''Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online:'''<br>{{released|USA|October 25, 2021<ref>Nintendo (September 23, 2021). [https://youtu.be/dG9fAtmYdlM?t=1260 Nintendo Direct - 9.23.2021]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved September 24, 2021.</ref>|Japan|October 26, 2021<ref>Nintendo 公式チャンネル (September 24, 2021). [https://youtu.be/MegZz4gKSPk?t=1142 Nintendo Direct 2021.9.24]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved September 24, 2021.</ref>|Europe|October 26, 2021<ref>@NintendoEurope (September 23, 2021). [https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1441166363037364229?s=20 ''"Play a growing library of Nintendo 64 and SEGA Mega Drive games anytime, anywhere with #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack, a new membership launching in late October."''] ''Twitter''. Retrieved September 24, 2021.</ref>|Australia|October 26, 2021<ref>@NintendoAUNZ (September 24, 2021). [https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZ/status/1441167178850390018?s=20 ''"Play a growing library of Nintendo 64 and SEGA Mega Drive games anytime, anywhere with #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack, a new membership launching in late October."''] ''Twitter''. Retrieved September 24, 2021.</ref>|HK|October 26, 2021<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/topics/article/a_211015_02.html 《集合啦！動物森友會》將於11月5日發布免費更新（Ver.2.0），以及發售付費新增內容《集合啦！動物森友會 快樂家樂園》。] ''Nintendo HK''. Retrieved October 16, 2021.</ref>|South Korea|October 26, 2021<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.kr/news/view.php?no=Q0tKRlVXa25aZkFlY2RCaENKYWZOZz09 「Nintendo Switch Online」을 더욱 즐겁게! 「Nintendo Switch Online + 추가 팩」이 10월 26일(화)부터 시작!] ''Nintendo Korea''. Retrieved October 16, 2021.</ref>}}

|genre=[[Genre#Racing|Racing]]

|modes=1–4 players simultaneous

|media={{media|n64=1|iqp=1|wiidl=1|wiiudl=1}}

|input={{input|n64=1|iqp=1|iqm=1|classic=1|wiigcn=1|wiiu=1|wiiuclassic=1|wiiupro=1|joy-con=1|nspro=1|nsn64=1}}

'''''Mario Kart 64''''' is a [[Genre#Racing|racing]] game that is part of the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series, originally released for the [[Nintendo 64]] in 1996 in Japan and 1997 worldwide. Being an upgrade from its predecessor, ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', it features a similar base to that game in which players select a ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' cast member to drive in [[kart]]s, employing a weapon-based system to benefit the player and hinder opponents, though it has expanded gameplay, such as the introduction of [[Mini-Turbo]] boosts from [[drift]]ing and four-player support. It is the first game in the series to use three-dimensional graphics for its environment design, such as the addition of elevation, advanced collision physics, expanded camera controls, real walls that can obscure views, and increased aesthetic fidelity; however, the characters, items, and some track obstacles in-game remain as two-dimensional, pre-rendered sprites, which are rendered for game optimization. Additionally, the game contains unique track designs rather than multiple variants of the same track, and it introduces various track tropes that would later be reused in later ''Mario Kart'' installments, such as [[Luigi Circuit]] being the first track. Other elements would become series mainstays, such as its racer weight classification, the introduction of [[Wario]] and [[Donkey Kong]] as playable characters, and several new items such as the [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]] and triple variants of [[Green Shell]]s and [[Red Shell]]s.

The game was commercially successful and received a [[Player's Choice]] edition, being the second-best-selling game on the Nintendo 64, beaten out only by ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', and it was generally well-received by critics. ''Mario Kart 64'' later became available for the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console#Wii|Virtual Console]] in 2007 and the [[Wii U]]'s [[Virtual Console#Wii U|Virtual Console]] in 2016, and it is one of the launch titles for [[Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online]].

[[File:D.K.'s Jungle Parkway 3.png|thumb|left|Donkey Kong racing in [[N64 DK's Jungle Parkway|D.K.'s Jungle Parkway]]]]

''Mario Kart 64'' plays similarly to its predecessor, ''Super Mario Kart'', where players accelerate on a kart by holding down the {{button|n64|A}} button and use the [[Nintendo 64]] Controller's control stick to steer. The {{button|n64|B}} button is used to brake, and it can put the kart into reverse if the Control Stick is held down. If {{button|n64|A}} and {{button|n64|B}} are held in conjunction, players can perform a [[Spin Turn|Spin-Turn]], where they can turn sharply at a standstill. The {{button|n64|B}} button can also be used to stop players from spinning out when they drive into a [[Banana]] while driving straight; if the players brake at the right time, a musical note (♪) will appear over the character's head and nullify the effect of the Banana. Similarly, in 150cc and Extra Mode, steering in one direction and then immediately in the opposite results in the kart skidding and then spinning after a short time, and even in this case, braking results in the spinning being avoided with the musical note appearing.

Players can [[hop (move)|hop]] if they press the {{button|n64|R}} trigger, allowing the kart to turn around tight corners. If they hold the {{button|n64|R}} trigger after a hop, they perform a [[Drift|slide]], which allows them to handle tight corners while losing less speed; the smoke generated first resembles ''V''{{'}}s and then ''E''{{'}}s. Introduced in ''Mario Kart 64'' is the ability to perform a [[Mini-Turbo|Mini Turbo]]. While sliding, if players steer in the opposite direction while they are steering and back, the ''E''{{'}}s change into a yellow color, and if the action is done again, the ''E''{{'}}s turn red; releasing the slide causes a small speed boost and the character to exclaim. However, if the Control Stick is held down too long in the opposite direction while sliding, the character spins out and loses the Mini Turbo charge.

''Mario Kart 64'' introduces auxiliary features that take advantage of the increased number of buttons on the Nintendo 64 Controller. Pressing {{button|n64|Cup}} changes the camera angle from the standard angle to a wide-angle lens view. When players press {{button|n64|Cright}}, they have the option of various screen displays. By default, the screen displays a map on the right, where player characters are represented by a kart colored to the corresponding character color while purple dots are represented by CPU players. Elements on the map that flash indicate that they are in first place. When the elements are changed, players can view a speedometer or a display where the character's UI laps around the screen, with line color indicating what lap they are on. Finally, pressing {{button|n64|L}} sets different volume levels for the background music, from on to half to off.

At the beginning of every race, [[Lakitu]] appears and gives a countdown signal. The positioning of the racers is dependent on their prior positions, though when starting a Grand Prix, players first start out in 8th place. In two-player Grand Prix, Player 1 by default starts out in 8th while Player 2 starts in 7th; in Versus Mode, all players start in the same positions. If players time their acceleration when the signal changes from red to blue, they can start out quicker or even perform a [[Rocket Start]], though if players press too early, they spin out and start slower than average. As opposed to in the previous game, a standard race now has three laps rather than five due to the much longer raceways compared to those found in ''Super Mario Kart''. Every time a lap is crossed, Lakitu signals the player by appearing and holding a green sign for the second lap. When the third lap is crossed, a jingle is played, Lakitu holds a blue Final Lap sign, and the background music speeds up as a result; this jingle does not play when succeeding players also cross the line.

Integral to the ''Mario Kart'' series is its item-based system. In order to receive items, the character must drive through an [[Item Box]]. Once that happens, an item roulette appears with medium sound, and when it stops, it "dings." Players can press the {{button|n64|Z}} trigger or {{button|n64|Cdown}} during the roulette to stop the roulette early. Players can use items by pressing the {{button|n64|Z}} trigger or {{button|n64|Cdown}}. Players can hold [[Banana]]s, shells, and [[Fake Item Box|Fake Items]] by holding the {{button|n64|Z}} trigger or {{button|n64|Cdown}}, and they can pick up another item while one of those items is currently being deployed; releasing the trigger also releases the item. Items are dependent on the position the player is in, where further behind players are more likely to receive powerful items such as the [[Super Star]], [[Lightning|Thunder Bolt]], and [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]], while first place generally receives Bananas and [[Green Shell]]s. Unlike ''Super Mario Kart''{{'}}s [[? Panel|Question Blocks]], Item Boxes respawn very quickly, as soon as a player drives through them.

If the player holds {{button|n64|start}} before turning on the console, there is a Controller Pak Manager built into the game, which will show all saves from other games that use the accessory. When the player holds {{button|n64|start}} while opening the iQue Player release, this does not appear.

|{{button|ns|Leftstick}} / {{button|ns|Pad}}

|{{button|ns|Stick}}

|{{button|ns|A}}

|{{button|ns|jc-right}}

|{{button|ns|B}}

|{{button|ns|jc-bottom}}

|{{button|ns|B}} + {{button|ns|leftstick}} down

|{{button|ns|jc-bottom}} + {{button|ns|Stick}} down

|{{button|ns|A}} + {{button|ns|B}}

|{{button|ns|jc-right}} + {{button|ns|jc-bottom}}

|{{button|ns|ZL}} / {{button|ns|rightstick}} down / {{button|ns|X}} / {{button|ns|ZR}} + {{button|ns|B}}

|{{button|ns|SL}} / {{button|NS|jc-top}} / {{button|ns|minus}}{{button|ns|plus}} + {{button|NS|jc-bottom}}

|{{button|ns|R}}

|{{button|ns|SR}}

|{{button|ns|rightstick}} up / {{button|ns|ZR}} + {{button|ns|X}}

|{{button|ns|minus}}{{button|ns|plus}} + {{button|NS|jc-top}}

|{{button|ns|rightstick}} right / {{button|ns|ZR}} + {{button|ns|A}}

|{{button|ns|minus}}{{button|ns|plus}} + {{button|NS|jc-right}}

|{{button|ns|L}}

|{{button|ns|minus}}{{button|ns|plus}} + {{button|ns|Stick}}

|{{button|ns|plus}}

|{{button|ns|minus}}{{button|ns|plus}} + {{button|ns|L}}{{button|ns|R}}

[[File:2player-MK64.png|thumb|[[Luigi]] and [[Wario]] racing each other in Grand Prix]]

The main mode of the game that allows up to two players, Grand Prix involves players racing computer-controlled opponents in four cups, designated as the [[Mushroom Cup]], [[Flower Cup]], [[Star Cup]], and [[Special Cup]], with four races in each cup. These cups are further divided into three different difficulty settings of increasing engine sizes: 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. 50cc is the slowest speed available, while 150cc is the fastest. After every race is completed, points are tallied depending on how the player has ranked. If players score 5th or below, they must restart the race; when two players are active, only one player is required to place 4th or above to continue the race. Unlike in ''Super Mario Kart'', players can now try again as many times as they wish after they finish in 5th or below. At the end of a Grand Prix, they can receive a [[trophy]] on a podium depending on how well they placed, with bronze, silver, and gold being the worst to best trophies; the trophy model additionally changes with each increase in engine class size. However, if players place 4th at the end of a Grand Prix, a special cutscene plays, in which the player character watches the top three characters place on a podium, then drives away and gets followed and attacked by a [[Mini Bomb Kart]], with the words ''"What a pity! You placed 4th. Maybe next time!"'' popping up. A similar cutscene plays if players place lower than 4th at the end of a Grand Prix. When players earn Gold in all cups in 150cc, Extra, known as [[Mirror Mode]] in later installments, allows players to racecourses in 100cc but flipped horizontally. In addition to unlocking Extra, the title screen changes.

In [[Mario Kart (series)#Modes of play|Time Trial]], players must race for the fastest time. After setting a record, players can challenge that record and race against themselves, represented by a [[Ghost (Mario Kart series)|Ghost]] of their character-of-choice. The Ghost will be saved only if the player does not crash into an obstacle, does not drive in reverse, or does not fall off the road during the race. The original release of this game uses 123 pages of the [[Memory Card|Controller Pak]] to record Ghost Data, which would occupy all the space in the Controller Pak. However, later versions of the game used 121 pages on the Controller Pak, leaving only two pages free. Because none of the available controllers have a Controller Pak Slot, it is impossible to record Ghost Data on the Wii or Wii U Virtual Console versions of the game.

Versus Mode involves two or more players racing each other on selected racecourses of their choice. After the players finish a selected racecourse, a point is given to the first-place winner as a tally, and players can race again or select another course. There is no set number of races, and the points do not signify anything. When two or more players are racing together, [[Mini Bomb Kart]]s appear on the courses.

[[File:MK64 Skyscraper.png|thumb|left|[[Donkey Kong]] and [[Princess Peach|Peach]] battling each other in Battle Mode]]

Available only to two or more players, [[Battle Mode]] is a competitive mode where players combat each other in an arena rather than reach the [[Finish Line (object)|finish line]] in a race. Each player starts with three [[Battle Mode#Balloon Battle|balloon]]s, color-coded to the character they are using, and they lose a balloon when hit by any item or if they fall off-track. It is also possible to lose a balloon if a heavier player, such as [[Bowser]], hits a lighter player, such as [[Toad]], with great enough speed (more details below, in the "Drivers" section). When a player has lost all balloons, the player loses and becomes a Mini Bomb Kart. Mini Bomb Karts are controllable, and they can be attacked and stunned by items, though they explode if they run into another player; if they explode, the player is permanently defeated. The last surviving player wins the round.

''Mario Kart 64'' has a total of eight racers, the same number as ''Super Mario Kart''. All characters from ''Super Mario Kart'' return, except [[Koopa Troopa]] and [[Donkey Kong Jr.]], who are replaced by [[Wario]] and [[Donkey Kong]]. In addition, characters receive voices for the first time in the ''Mario Kart'' series. Characters also come with their marked color schemes that color their vehicle icons on the map as well as their balloons in Battle Mode.

Characters are divided into three classes depending on their weight: light, medium, and heavy.

An asterisk (*) indicates that the character is a new driver for the ''Mario Kart'' installments overall.

<gallery perrow=4>

Mario MK64.png|'''{{color-link|Mario|red}}''' (medium)

MK64 Luigi.png|'''{{color-link|Luigi|green}}''' (medium)

MK64 Peach.png|'''[[Princess Peach|{{color|Peach|magenta}}]]''' (light)

MK64 Toad.png|'''{{color-link|Toad|blue}}''' (light)

MK64 Yoshi.png|'''{{color-link|Yoshi|limegreen}}''' (light)

MK64 DK.png|'''{{color-link|Donkey Kong|gold}}'''* (heavy)

MK64 Wario.png|'''{{color-link|Wario|purple}}'''* (heavy)

MK64 Bowser.png|'''{{color-link|Bowser|darkorange}}''' (heavy)

</gallery>

Lightweight drivers have the highest acceleration and highest top speed in the game. They receive the most speed from [[Mini-Turbo]]s and lose the least amount of speed when off-road. Additionally, lightweights (and the heavyweight character Bowser) get the greatest benefit from the triple-tap {{button|n64|A}} acceleration recovery technique (tapping the gas button three times and then holding to accelerate more quickly after spinning out or otherwise losing speed).<ref name="TASVideos ''Mario Kart 64'' Document">[http://tasvideos.org/GameResources/N64/MarioKart64.html#DriverAttributes TAS Videos page on ''Mario Kart 64''] "TASVideos.org". Retrieved September 19th, 2020</ref> A major downside to lightweight characters is that they spin out more easily from contact with heavier characters, which puts them at a disadvantage in Battle Mode. Toad, in particular, spins out when "bumped" by any other character. Another downside is that they have the widest turning radius on or off-road and they lose the most speed from turning without drifting,<ref name="Mario Kart 64 Instruction Booklet, Pg. 6">[https://www.mariomayhem.com/downloads/mario_instruction_booklets/Mario_Kart_64_-_Manual_-_N64.pdf ''Mario Kart 64'' instruction booklet, page 6] "mariomayhem.com". Retrieved September 19th, 2020</ref> which gives them the worst handling in the game. As with their weight, however, this disadvantage is negligible outside Battle Mode.

Middleweight drivers are described in the instruction booklet as having no "extreme pros or cons,"<ref name="Mario Kart 64 Instruction Booklet, Pg. 7">[https://www.mariomayhem.com/downloads/mario_instruction_booklets/Mario_Kart_64_-_Manual_-_N64.pdf ''Mario Kart 64'' instruction booklet, page 7] "mariomayhem.com". Retrieved September 19th, 2020</ref> but they actually have the slowest acceleration of all the weight classes and have the same top speed as the heavyweights. Their acceleration diminishes at a constant rate as they approach their top speed, unlike for drivers in the other weight classes, whose speeds change more erratically. They also get the same increase in speed from Mini-Turbos as heavyweights. They are faster off-road than heavyweights, however. They can also turn corners better than the other characters without drifting, losing less speed than lightweights while covering the least ground of all weight groups. This can be useful in Battle Mode or Versus Mode on tracks with hairpin turns, and it allows them the best overall handling in the game. Lastly, Mario is slightly heavier than Luigi and will thus win head-on collisions.<ref name="TASVideos Mario Kart 64 Document">[http://tasvideos.org/GameResources/N64/MarioKart64.html#DriverAttributes TAS Videos page on ''Mario Kart 64''] "TASVideos.org". Retrieved September 19th, 2020</ref>

Heavyweight drivers have slower acceleration than the lightweights, and initially have lower acceleration than middleweights, but reach their velocity faster than the latter after 2.8 seconds. Their top speed is tied with the middleweights. They lose the most speed off-road but lose the least when cornering (even when they are not drifting).<ref name="Mario Kart 64 Instruction Booklet, Pg. 7">[https://www.mariomayhem.com/downloads/mario_instruction_booklets/Mario_Kart_64_-_Manual_-_N64.pdf ''Mario Kart 64'' instruction booklet, page 7] "mariomayhem.com". Retrieved September 19th, 2020</ref> They also have a tighter turning radius than lightweights. Of the heavyweights, Bowser is the heaviest and largest. As mentioned above, he is also the only non-lightweight that gets a maximum recovery from the triple-tap {{button|n64|A}} technique, although his rate of acceleration is slightly different. Donkey Kong is the "smallest" but is slightly heavier than Wario. Donkey Kong and Wario receive the least acceleration from the triple-tap {{button|n64|A}} technique, but they still will reach their top speed faster than Mario or Luigi, albeit in a smaller window.<ref name="TASVideos Mario Kart 64 Document">[http://tasvideos.org/GameResources/N64/MarioKart64.html#DriverAttributes TAS Videos page on ''Mario Kart 64''] "TASVideos.org". Retrieved September 19th, 2020</ref>

Additionally, players can drive a [[Mini Bomb Kart]] when all their balloons disappear in Battle Mode. The Mini Bomb Kart can drive around and explode on other players, but it has only one use for exploding before completely disappearing.

|align="center"|[[Boulder]]s

|align="center"|Cacti

|Chubbies peak out of holes and then jump, launching racers into the air.

|align="center"|{{wp|Cucumis metuliferus|Kiwano}}s

[[File:D.K.'s Jungle Parkway 2.png|140px]]

|align="center"|[[N64 DK's Jungle Parkway|D.K.'s Jungle Parkway]]

|Fruits that are thrown at racers who go off-road, slowing them down until they return to the main track.

[[File:PenguinMK64.png]]

|Penguins are found either sliding or walking around an icicle. Both varieties spin racers out of control if collided with.

|align="center"|[[Lakitu]]

''Mario Kart 64'' contains 16 racetracks in total, organized into four cups. While its number of racetracks is less than its predecessor, ''Super Mario Kart'', the tracks are bigger, more detailed, and unique from each other as opposed to being variations of each other. All playable characters in the game have a racetrack assigned to them, making the game the only ''Mario Kart'' game where every racer has an assigned racetrack. In addition, this is one of two ''Mario Kart'' games to have the [[Special Cup]] available right from the start, the other being ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''.

===Racecourses===

{|width=60% style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-bottom:5px;"align="center"cellpadding="4"

|-bgcolor=

![[File:MK64-MushroomCup.png|90px|link=Mushroom Cup]]

![[File:MK64-FlowerCup.png|90px|link=Flower Cup]]

![[File:MK64 Star Cup Artwork.png|90px|link=Star Cup]]

|-align=center

|[[File:MK64 Luigi Raceway Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Luigi Raceway|Luigi Raceway]]<br>717 m

|[[File:MK64 Toad's Turnpike Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Toad's Turnpike|Toad's Turnpike]]<br>1036 m

|[[File:MK64 Wario Stadium Icon.png]]<br>[[Wario Stadium]]<br>1591 m

|[[File:MK64 DK Jungle Parkway Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 DK's Jungle Parkway|D.K.'s Jungle Parkway]]<br>893 m

|-align=center

|[[File:MK64 Moo Moo Farm Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Moo Moo Farm|Moo Moo Farm]]<br>527 m

|[[File:MK64 Sherbert Land Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Sherbet Land|Sherbet Land]]<br>756 m

|[[File:MK64 Yoshi Valley Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Yoshi Valley|Yoshi Valley]]<br>772 m

|-align=center

|[[File:MK64 Koopa Troopa Beach Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Koopa Troopa Beach|Koopa Troopa Beach]]<br>691 m

|[[File:MK64 Choco Mountain Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Choco Mountain|Choco Mountain]]<br>687 m

|[[File:MK64 Royal Raceway Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Royal Raceway|Royal Raceway]]<br>1025 m

|[[File:MK64 Banshee Boardwalk Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Banshee Boardwalk|Banshee Boardwalk]]<br>747 m

|-align=center

|[[File:MK64 Kalimari Desert Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Kalimari Desert|Kalimari Desert]]<br>753 m

|[[File:MK64 Bowser Castle Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Castle]]<br>777 m

===Battle courses===

{|align=center width=67% cellspacing=0 border=0 cellpadding=3 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial; text-align:center"

|[[File:MK64 Big Donut Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Big Donut|Big Donut]]

|[[File:MK64 Skyscraper Icon.png]]<br>[[N64 Skyscraper|Skyscraper]]

|An item that appears similar to a normal Item Box. When a Fake Item is collided with, however, the racer will be launched instead of getting an item.

|Drops a banana peel, making a racer spin out when it is run over. If a Banana is hit while a racer is driving straight, they will skid for a while before spinning out.

|A shell that can be thrown in a straight line at another racer. If it hits, the racer will flip multiple times.

|A shell that can be thrown at another racer, much like a green one. Unlike Green Shells, however, Red Shells will automatically lock on to the racer directly in front of the item user.

|A shell that automatically follows and targets the racer in first place.

|Makes racers invincible, rendering them impervious to obstacles, other items, or other racers.

|When a Thunder Bolt is triggered, all racers except for the one that used the item will shrink, slowing them down and allowing them to be run over. Items will not be lost as a result.

<nowiki>★</nowiki> - <small>Can be used multiple times.</small><br><nowiki>×</nowiki> - <small>Does not appear in Battle Mode.</small>

The following chart is reported in the Nintendo Player's Guide of ''Mario Kart 64''<ref>''Mario Kart 64'' Nintendo Player's Guide, page 94</ref> and indicates the probability of obtaining a certain item with letter codes that range from '''A''' (frequently obtained item) to '''D''' (unobtainable item).

![[File:MK64Item-Mushroom.png|50px|link=Mushroom#Mario Kart series]]

![[File:MK64Item-TripleMushroom.png|50px|link=Triple Mushrooms]]

![[File:MK64Item-SuperMushroom.png|50px|link=Golden Dash Mushroom]]

![[File:MK64Item-Banana.png|50px|link=Banana#Mario Kart series]]

![[File:MK64Item-BananaBunch.png|50px|link=Banana Bunch#Mario Kart series]]

![[File:MK64Item-FakeItemBox.png|50px|link=Fake Item Box]]

![[File:MK64Item-GreenShell.png|50px|link=Green Shell#Mario Kart series]]

![[File:MK64Item-TripleGreenShell.png|50px|link=Triple Green Shells]]

![[File:MK64Item-RedShell.png|50px|link=Red Shell#Mario Kart series]]

![[File:MK64Item-TripleRedShell.png|50px|link=Triple Red Shells]]

![[File:MK64Item-Boo.png|50px|link=Boo#Mario Kart series]]

![[File:MK64Item-SpinyShell.png|50px|link=Spiny Shell (blue)]]

![[File:MK64Item-ThunderBolt.png|50px|link=Lightning#Mario Kart series]]

![[File:MK64Item-SuperStar.png|50px|link=Super Star#Mario Kart series]]

*In [[N64 Kalimari Desert|Kalimari Desert]], the [[train (obstacle)|train]]s have a tender and only one passenger car attached to them, as opposed to a tender and five passenger cars.

*The [[Penguin|giant penguin]] was removed from the ice platform in [[N64 Sherbet Land|Sherbet Land]].

*In [[N64 DK's Jungle Parkway|D.K.'s Jungle Parkway]], the paddle boat is absent.

[[File:Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks.jpg|thumb|Album art for the ''Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack'']]

The ''[[Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks]]'' are the game's official albums, the former published and released in Japan on September 19, 1997, by {{wp|Pony Canyon}}, while the latter was released in North America in 1997. The ''Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack'' contains 28 pieces from the game, voice tracks for all characters, and special effects as their own track, while ''Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks'' features 21 tracks in its listing while jingles, voices, and sound effects are listed under bonus tracks. ''[[Mario Kart 64: Greatest Hits Soundtrack]]'' is an additional album dedicated to ''Mario Kart 64''.

For the instruments in the soundtrack, [[Kenta Nagata]] mainly used samples from Roland's {{wp|Roland Sound Canvas|Sound Canvas SC-88}} module, among other equipment like the {{wp|E-mu Proteus|E-MU Proteus/3}} and Digidesign's SampleCell II sound card. The sound card was also used to create instrument banks, which were later converted to the [[Nintendo 64]]'s native format for use in the game.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVDYxbMdClM&lc=Ugx-InrA4PY5TXSmdK14AaABAg.9ApOyX883hR9BxheZPQO7L</ref><ref>https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JJBlHHDc65fhZmKUGLrDTLCm6rfUU83-kbuD8Y0zU0o/edit?pli=1#gid=717751203</ref><ref>https://equipboard.com/pros/koji-kondo/digidesign-samplecell-ii</ref>

''[[Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit]]'' was a soundtrack released exclusively in Japan in December 1997. It is composed of game sound effects and voices sampled with original, electronic music and rearranged original pieces. Eight interludes contain the game's original soundtrack.

''Mario Kart 64'' was developed by a considerably larger team of staff than ''Super Mario Kart''. [[Hideki Konno]] has directed ''Mario Kart 64'', who served as key staff for most mainline ''Mario Kart'' entries. The game's soundtrack was composed by [[Kenta Nagata]], who would later compose soundtracks for succeeding ''Mario Kart'' installments, ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''. As ''Mario Kart 64'' is the first game in the series to introduce character voices, [[Charles Martinet]] provided voices for [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], and [[Wario]], while [[Leslie Swan]] portrayed Peach and [[Isaac Marshall]] provided Toad's voice in international versions of the game, while the voices for the Japanese cast used different voice actors.

{{quote|So you want to know what changed from Super Mario Kart to Mario Kart 64, and what stayed the same... hmmm... that's a tough one. Mario Kart, you see, was meant to appeal to a wide audience. We wanted to make a game where anyone, from age 3 to 100, could jump in and start competing right away, regardless of their skill level. So in making a sequel, we decided that we didn't want to change most of the basic elements of the game. People have been saying "video games are evolving", and while there are some things that surely have to change, the truth is, keeping things the same does make it easier for the average person, doesn’t it? (laughs)|Shigeru Miyamoto}}<ref name="shmuplations">[http://shmuplations.com/mariokart64/ ''Mario Kart 64'' – 1996 Developer Interview originally featured in the ''Mario Kart 64'' JP strategy guide] ''shmuplations''. Retrieved November 30, 2020.</ref>

When deciding how to develop the game, Miyamoto stated that he wanted the game to adhere to a wide audience, and therefore not much was changed upon developing a sequel to ''Super Mario Kart''.<ref name="shmuplations"/> 4-player was one of the team's development themes, and the game was designed with how to handle it in mind. Miyamoto noted how challenging it was to balance the 4-player Battle Mode, as he wanted it to be as accessible as the racing mode and that four screens mean quadruple the processing power required to run, as well as addressing smaller resolution that causes the display quality to suffer. ''Mario Kart 64''{{'}}s ROM compilation format allowed eight different karts, four different players, and 16 tracks at once, as well as character animations and voice samples that can be accessed real-time. Hideki Konno had stated that the team liked cars, and if "were left to our own devices, I'm sure we would create a game that would be way too hardcore and niche for general audiences," and had to suppress that desire throughout development. Mini-Turbos were added to increase the gameplay depth and were, at first, hidden mechanics; the team wanted to give players a visual reward for racing well, which is how color was then added to the smokes. The team also made enemy AI take advantage of the drift system as well. ''Mario Kart 64'' had a no-items mode to appeal to ''F-Zero'' fans at some point, though it was dropped because everyone who demoed ''Mario Kart 64'' did not play the mode. Tadashi Sugiyama, the visual director of the game, stated that the 3D graphics were the biggest change from ''Super Mario Kart''; one of the reasons the game does not offer a view beyond the third-person camera was that the game would otherwise be too shaky or rotate too much. Sugiyama admitted the game did not change much from ''Super Mario Kart'', though in order to differentiate further, the team added many little details to the tracks, such as the train in Kalimari Desert. One of the courses the team had to drop was "a big, multi-story parking garage-like structure which you'd race around and around as you ascended it," since it made players feel sick. Another track that got cut was a big city track "with a castle, and a nice pond, where you got to race around all these different houses and buildings," due to it being too large and too time-consuming to race through. Masato Kimura, the main programmer of ''Mario Kart 64'', admitted that collision detection was the most difficult part of development, as ''Mario Kart 64'' operated on 3D graphics with very complicated maps as opposed to ''Super Mario Kart''{{'}}s 2D graphics. He was proud of how the shells performed in the game, as they required a lot of CPU power and collision detection had to be performed for every shell. Kenji Yamamoto, a programmer who handled the kart handling, said that the team at first simulated physics of real cars, but it was dropped to the standard kart-racing model as it was not as fun. Yamamoto had stated that he wanted the drifting to be done by just manipulating the Control Stick, but it made the controls too difficult.

Tomoaki Kuroume, the character designer of the game, had stated that [[Mario]] was the most difficult character to render. While he already had Mario's model from ''Super Mario 64'', translating his pose to make him sit on a kart and grasp the steering wheel required a lot of tweaks, on an individual body part-to-body part basis to be made to the model. Kuroume has mentioned that other characters have their own quirks that are uniquely difficult, such as having a tail or wearing a dress. One of the ideas for Yoshi was to have his tail stick through the back of the kart, though Kuroume settled on a slightly bent posture with his tail sticking up. Kuroume has also noted the difficultly of creating animations, as it meant that with the use of multiple angles, thousands of different animations had to be made and those had to be checked and rechecked constantly. He noted that an accident happened in development during a decision for the Player Select screen, where characters were initially static and had no animations, though the team wanted to implement animations. A hard disk got corrupted, and while the team had back-ups, some data could not be recovered; around 80% of the character models ended up getting remade twice.

Development for ''Mario Kart 64'' started under a tentative title ''Super Mario Kart R'', where the "R" stood for "rendered," referencing the game's use of 3D graphics, and it was developed around the same time as ''Super Mario 64''.<ref>[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/mariokart/0/0 Iwata Asks: ''Mario Kart Wii'': It Started With A Guy In Overalls.] Retrieved November 30, 2020.</ref> Initially, Konno had a difficult time translating to 3D since he lacked knowledge about it. While the game was theoretically possible to run with characters being in 3D graphics, Konno chose to make them pre-rendered sprites since it slows down the game and that it would not be able to render eight racers at once. The team drew images from various angles and put them on 2D planes to be animated. The sprites always face the camera, which is a technique called "billboarding" in 3D graphics; Miyamoto gave an example using the [[Keronpa Ball]], [[Bob-omb]]s, and [[Wiggler]] from ''Super Mario 64''. Billboarding was a technique used to save memory, which made four-player battles possible. For the design of the Spiny Shell, Konno stated that in ''Mario Kart 64'', he wanted to have a Spiny Shell where "everyone was in it until the end," but processing power limited that and thus made the game have racers typically stay close to each other.<ref>Stephen Totilo. (March 9, 2011). [https://kotaku.com/the-maker-of-mario-kart-justifies-the-blue-shell-5780082 The Maker Of ''Mario Kart'' Justifies The Blue Shell.] ''Kotaku''. Retrieved November 30, 2020.</ref>

When the game was shown off at Shoshinaki Video Game Show in Japan, ''Nintendo Power'' interviewed Miyamoto, Tezuka, and Konno, where the game was compared to ''Wave Race 64''; Konno had stated that ''Mario Kart 64'' was aimed towards everyone while ''Wave Race 64'' was aimed at an older audience. Konno said that they were originally planning to use both the Control Stick and the Control Pad to play the game, though Konno settled on focusing with the Control Stick and wanted to make players feel as if they were controlling an RC car, and he even bought a few RC vehicles to get a feel for it while the programmers made simulations for it.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20092%20%28January%201997%29#page/n53/mode/2up ''Nintendo Power 1988-2004)''. ''Nintendo Power''. Retrieved November 30, 2020.</ref><ref name="shmuplations"/> However, the RC cars did not feel like go-karts; the team had girls try it, and it felt unplayable to them.

[[Kamek]] was originally intended to be one of the playable characters, but he ended up being replaced by [[Donkey Kong]]. The Player Select screen was also different; the characters faced the player, and Kamek can be seen in Donkey Kong's space. Faces of the early Player Select screen in the final release such as those of Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad are used when the player selects the number of players in the main menu. The working title of this game was ''Super Mario Kart R''. [[Boo]]s from [[N64 Banshee Boardwalk|Banshee Boardwalk]] also had a different look, the HUD was different from the final version, and [[Item Box]]es were also completely black with colored question marks on them. The [[Cape Feather]], which was in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', was also intended to be included, as seen in a certain screenshot of ''Super Mario Kart R''. This particular screenshot can be seen on the back of the packaging of the [[Nintendo 64]] system.

===Falling Through the Bridge===

[[File:MK64 FrappeSnowland ClipGlitch.gif|left|thumb|The glitch in Frappe Snowland]]

This glitch occurs only in [[N64 Frappe Snowland|Frappe Snowland]] in the bridge part before the finish with a second player. The second player must drive off the bridge into the water at a certain point, so that [[Lakitu]] picks the player up and drops them onto the bridge. If the area Lakitu is dropping off seems to be the last line on the bridge closest to the finish line, Lakitu drops the player directly through the bridge into the water. If the second player happens to spin out while trying to accelerate, the player still falls into the water. This glitch will happen continuously until the player is helped out of this situation.

===Skip All of Yoshi Valley===

{{see also|tcrf:Mario Kart 64#Version Differences{{!}}tcrf:Mario Kart 64 § Version Differences}}

|footer=''Marioro'' (above), a sponsor based on Marlboro, present in the Japanese version of the game, was replaced with ''Mario Star'' (below) in international versions of the game.

In the Japanese version, Luigi, Toad, Princess Peach, and Wario have different voiceovers than in the international versions; the Japanese voiceovers were eventually used overseas in the first two ''[[Mario Party (series)|Mario Party]]'' games (aside from Peach's) and ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', with Toad's voiceovers also being in ''[[Mario Party 3]]''. Also, Toad, Donkey Kong, and Bowser are referred to as Kinopio, D. Kong, and Koopa, respectively. Additionally, the title screen features Japanese children shouting, "Mario Kart!" with a generic narrator used as the system voice. In the international releases, Mario shouts, ''"Welcome to Mario Kart!"'' on the title screen, and he is also used as the system voice.

The billboards in the Japanese version use parodies of real-life companies that were sponsors of {{wp|Formula One}} races at the time. These include ''Marioro'' (a play on "{{wp|Marlboro (cigarette)|Marlboro}}"), which was changed to "Mario Star"; ''Luigip'' (a play on "{{wp|Agip}}"), which became "Luigi's"; ''Yoshi 1'' (a pun on "{{wp|Mobil 1}}"), which became "Yoshi" with a pawprint replacing the "1"; ''Koopa Air'' (which parodied {{wp|Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear}}, including the blue-and-yellow color scheme, which was changed in international versions); and an orange ''64'' ball (which was a reference to the {{wp|76 (gas station)|76 gas station}} chain, though the ball's color was changed to blue in the international versions).

The Japanese version has collision on the grass above the tunnel on Luigi Raceway, which can be reached by bouncing off another racer and flying over the wall; this was removed in international versions. Also, whereas English-language credits sequences exist in both the Japanese and international releases, the Japanese version also contains a Japanese-language version of the sequence that is seen when a player clears the Special Cup in Extra.

{|class="wikitable review_template"style="border: 2px solid black; width:100%; font-size: 100%; text-align:center; margin-bottom: 5px;"cellpadding="4"

*Longest Track in the Mario Kart Series - [[N64 Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] - ''[[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book of World Records]] Gamer's Edition 2009&ndash;2013''{{page needed}}

[[File:MK64Gag.jpg|thumb|Cover for the ''Mario Kart 64'' edition of [[4-koma Gag Battle]]]]

''Mario Kart 64'' is referenced in four volumes in the ''[[Super Mario-kun]]'' manga, being volumes 15, 16, 17, and 18. Volume 15 has a collection of 4koma-styled gags based on the game. Volume 16 has an arc that crosses over with ''Mario Kart 64'' in one chapter, while volumes 17 and 18 have dedicated arcs, alongside the ''[[Super Mario 64]]'' arc. Volume 17 features ''Mario'' characters on the various racetracks of the game, while volume 18 includes stories based on Battle Mode.

Two 4koma manga series, [[4koma Manga Kingdom]] and [[4-koma Gag Battle]], have volumes dedicated to ''Mario Kart 64''.

Donkey Kong Kart.jpg|A remote-controlled kart with Donkey Kong

Mariokartcandy.jpg|Kart figurine candy containers that have two different figures: Mario and Donkey Kong. They contain sour-fruit crunchy candies.

DonkeykongMK.jpg|Donkey Kong with a Banana Bunch

*''[[Super Mario 64]]'': In the track [[N64 Royal Raceway|Royal Raceway]], there is a part where the racer can turn off the road and arrive at the [[Peach's Castle|Mushroom Castle]] exactly as it appeared in this game. It is also where the Award Ceremony is held.

*''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'': This is the first appearance of the ''Donkey Kong Country'' version of Donkey Kong in the main ''Mario'' franchise. In fact, the sprite resembles the one Donkey Kong had in that game. [[Nintendo]] also mentions in the credits the 3D model of Donkey Kong originally came from [[Rare]], the developers of the [[Donkey Kong Country (series)|''Donkey Kong Country'' trilogy]].

*''[[Game Boy Camera]]'': An image of Peach and Wario can be seen while a photo is being transferred from a Game Boy Camera to another in the American and European version.

* ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'': Many graphics from this game were reused, such as characters, karts, and character screen portraits as well as Luigi's, Peach's, Wario's, and Toad's voice clips from the Japanese version. A similar thing is that while losing characters turn into [[Mini Bomb Kart]]s in ''Mario Kart 64'', losing characters turn into [[Bob-omb]]s in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''.

*''[[Mario Kart DS]]'': The name [[DS Wario Stadium|Wario Stadium]] is reused in this game. Also, the courses [[N64 Moo Moo Farm|Moo Moo Farm]], [[N64 Frappe Snowland|Frappe Snowland]], [[N64 Choco Mountain|Choco Mountain]], and [[N64 Banshee Boardwalk|Banshee Boardwalk]] and the battle stage [[N64 Block Fort|Block Fort]] reappear in this game.

*''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' / ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'': Toad's Turnpike, [[N64 Royal Raceway|Royal Raceway]], [[N64 Yoshi Valley|Yoshi Valley]], and [[N64 Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] reappear in these two games. The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akdLMnIV7Jc&hd=1 unused split screen] for multiplayer in this game is also used here.

*''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'': Koopa Troopa Beach, Kalimari Desert, [[N64 Frappe Snowland|Frappe Snowland]], [[N64 Choco Mountain|Choco Mountain]], and Royal Raceway reappear in this game. The results theme is an arrangement of the winning results theme of ''Mario Kart 64''. The new [[N64 Kalimari Desert 2|Kalimari Desert 2]] course allows racers to race inside the train tunnel, similar to how players could be able to go inside Kalimari Desert's train tunnel in ''Mario Kart 64''.

Mk64dk.png|[[Donkey Kong]]

==Name in other languages==

|Jap=マリオカート<span class="explain" title="六十四">64</span>

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