Mario Kart 64 (マリオカート64, Mario Kāto Rokujūyon) is the second installment in the Mario Kart series. It features updated graphics, all-new courses, different characters and modified gameplay mechanics. It's also the first game in the series to feature Donkey Kong and Wario as playable characters.
Mario Kart 64 was released on the Virtual Console in 2007. However, ghosts cannot be saved, as this originally required a seperate peripheral. It has new courses and features that will be in later Mario Kart games like Wario Stadium and Sherbet Land. This was also placed Number 4 in Nintendo Power's Greatest Games of All Time in 1997.
The replacement of the item panels with item blocks. Unlike the panels, the blocks regenerate.
Additionally, trap blocks were added.
The addition of voices for some of the characters, although some characters speak to a very minor extent in Super Mario Kart.. The rest have sound effects.
The famous hero that everyone loves has returned into another Mario Kart game since Super Mario Kart. He has average stats on everything, explaining his middleweight. His first appearance was in Donkey Kong in 1981. His kart is powered by what appears to be a twin-cylinder two stroke.
Mario's younger brother has returned in this game as a playable character. He has average stats on everything, explaining his middleweight. His debut was Mario Bros in 1983. He shares the same kart engine as his brother.
This princess of the Mushroom Kingdom reappeared in another Mario Kart game ever since Super Mario Kart. She has high top speed and acceleration, explaining her lightweight. Her debut was Super Mario Bros in 1985. Her kart is powered by what appear to be high-revving, single-cylinder two stroke. Despite it's smaller than the Mario Bros., it has surprisingly high torque and power which make it faster than the two.
Toad is one of the racers in this game and is considered one of the best racers along with Yoshi. He has top stats on acceleration and top speed, explaining his lightweight. His debut was the same as Peach's. His debut was Super Mario Bros. in 1985. Toad is unique that his kart is powered by a distinctive engine; a smooth-sounding, twin-cylinder four stroke that offers fairly powerful horsepower and torque.
The loyal friend of Mario and Luigi has decided to hit the roads with his incredible racing skills as he is one of the best racers. He has high acceleration and top speed, explaining his lightweight. His debut was in Super Mario World in 1991. He shares the same engine as Peach's.
Mario's first rival. This gorilla is one of the racers in the game and has replaced Donkey Kong Jr. from Super Mario Kart. He has low stats, explaining his heavyweight. His debut was the same as Mario's. He debuted in Donkey Kong in 1981. Much like Toad, his kart is powered by a distinctive engine, but this time it appears to be a V-twin four stroke with deep-sounding exhausts. The engine sound is said to be similar to those heard on 1990's motorcycles.
The rival of Mario hits the roads in this game and replaces Koopa Troopa from Super Mario Kart. He has low stats, explaining his heavyweight. He debuted in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins in 1992. His kart is powered by a powerful-sounding, high-revving triple-cylinder four stroke.
The long time rival of Mario and Luigi appears as a powerful racer in the game. He however has low stats, explaining his heavyweight. His debut was same as Toad and Peach's. His debut was Super Mario Bros. in 1985. He shares the same engine as Wario's.
Although attracting a small amount of criticism for elements such as the revised Battle mode, the game's reception was overwhelmingly positive, particulary as 4-player multiplayer made its debut.
Trivia
As Yoshi's Story had not yet been released, Yoshi does not speak in the game. He instead uses the sound generated when Mario mounts him in Super Mario World.
Luigi, Peach, Toad and Wario's voice clips in the Japanese version were later reused for Mario Kart: Super Circuit and in the first two Mario Party games.
Tupac Shakur were originally going to be the Music Composer for this game due to his passing in September 1996 he later got replaced to Kenta Nagata who just joined Nintendo since April 1996 to Composed the Music for the Final Game