Editing Mario Kart 64

{{Game
| name=Mario Kart 64
| image=[[Image:Mariokart64.jpg|250px]]
| bgcolor=silver
| fgcolor=black
| developer=[[Nintendo EAD]]
| publisher=[[Nintendo]]
| system=[[Nintendo 64]], [[Virtual Console]] ([[Wii Virtual Console|Wii]], [[Wii U Virtual Console|Wii U]])
| release='''Nintendo 64'''<br />JP December 14, 1996<br /> US February 10, 1997<br />EU June 24, 1997<br />'''Wii Virtual Console'''<br />EU January 25, 2007<br />US January 29, 2007<br />JP January 30, 2007<br />'''Wii U Virtual Console'''<br />JP January 6, 2016<br />PAL January 21, 2016<br />US December 29, 2016
| gallery=[http://www.gamehiker.com/gallery/index.php?cat=45 GH Gallery]
| genre= [[Racing]]
| rating=ESRB: K-A
|}}

'''Mario Kart 64''' is a racing game that acts as a 3-D sequel to the original ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''. It featuredsan expanded four-player multiplayer mode along with new items and characters.

=Gameplay=

''Mario Kart 64'' plays similarly to the previous game, but with polygonal graphics. The characters of [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] and the [[Koopa Troopa]] have been replaced with [[Donkey Kong]] and [[Wario]]. As before, items could be used to sabotage other racers. This installment introduces the infamous Spiny Shell, which homes in on the player in first place and blows them up. In addition to the standard racing mode, there are extras which include mirrored tracks and the option to race against "ghosts" of previous plays of stages. The ghosts in Time Trial mode could only be saved to the Nintendo 64 Controller Pak.

This installment was known for its multiplayer, which underwent a natural expansion due to the transition from Super NES to Nintendo 64. Up to four players could compete in races or Battle Mode.

==Playable Characters==

The game featured the following eight racers:

*[[Mario]]
*[[Luigi]]
*[[Princess Peach]]
*[[Toad]]
*[[Yoshi]]
*[[Wario]]
*[[Bowser]]
*[[Donkey Kong]]

==Tracks==
{| style="text-align: left; width: 80%; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"
!bgcolor= "#ABCDEF" align= "center" |Mushroom Cup
!bgcolor= "#ABCDEF" align= "center" |Flower Cup
!bgcolor= "#ABCDEF" align= "center" |Star Cup
!bgcolor= "#ABCDEF" align= "center" |Special Cup
|-
|Luigi Raceway
|Toad's Turnpike
|Wario Stadium
|DK's Jungle Parkway
|-
|Moo Moo Farm
|Frappe Snowland
|Sherbet Land
|Yoshi Valley
|-
|Koopa Troopa Beach
|Choco Mountain
|Royal Raceway
|Banshee Boardwalk
|-
|Kalimari Desert
|Mario Raceway
|Bowser's Castle
|Rainbow Road
|}

*[[Mario Kart Tracks]]

=Legacy=

''Mario Kart 64'' was a very popular game and established the ''Mario Kart'' series in a 3-D environment. It acted as an influential game for ''Mario Kart'' games moving forward. It also was the first racing game and ''Mario'' spin-off game in general to incorporate Wario and the modern incarnation of Donkey Kong into the playable roster. The roster of eight characters featured in this game would go in to appear in nearly every following ''Mario Kart'' game and most of the other ''Mario'' spin-off games moving onwards.

Various courses from this game would reappear in later ''Mario Kart'' games (starting with ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'') as Retro courses.

==Sequels==

The next ''Mario Kart'' game was ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' for the [[Game Boy Advance]], which blended elements from ''Super Mario Kart'' with ''Mario Kart 64''. The next console ''Mario Kart'' was ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''.

==Ports and Remakes==

*''Mario Kart 64'' was released for download over the [[Wii]]'s [[Wii Virtual Console|Virtual Console]] in early 2007 and the [[Wii U]]'s [[Wii U Virtual Console|Virtual Console]] in 2016.
*In October 2021, it was among the initial wave of games in the [[Nintendo Switch]]'s library of Nintendo 64 games that were made available with the purchase of the Expansion Pack for [[Nintendo Switch Online]]. This supported the multiplayer of ''Mario Kart 64'' and allowed it to be played online.

{{Mario Kart Series}}

[[Category: Video Games]] [[Category: Nintendo 64 Games]] [[Category: Virtual Console Games]] [[Category: Mario Games]] [[Category: Player's Choice]]