Mario Kart 64
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Copyright 2005 Brian McPhee

Author: Brian McPhee (Kirby021591)
E-mail: [email protected]
Most Recent Update: July 10, 2005
Originally Created: July 10, 2005
Version 1.0

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---------------------------Table of Contents---------------------------
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Section 1*

Introduction*
Navigation*
Characters*
Controls*
Items*
Weight Classes*

Section 2*

Grand Prix*
Mushroom Cup*
Flower Cup*
Star Cup*
Special Cup*
Extra Mode*
Time Trial*
Secrets*

Section 3*

Multi-Player*
Battle Mode*
FAQ*

Section 4*

Credits and Legal Information*
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=======================================================================
=============================Introduction*=============================
=======================================================================

Welcome back!  It's time for another guide, and this time I chose Mario
Kart 64, the best racing game on the N64, in my opinion.  Now, I
practically promised I'd write for the Oracle of Ages/Seasons Zelda
games earlier, but certain circumstances have made this impossible.
You see, my first guide ever was for The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
Adventures, and it was posted on GameFaqs on July 10, 2004.  My
contributing career was "born", I guess, on that day.  To commemorate
this joyous occasion, I decided to write up a quick guide (I could not
possibly write a guide for two Zelda games in such a short amount of
time, or at least do it well) to release on July 10, 2005.  In the end,
no one really cares, but I thought this was the perfect way to cap off
a great year.

After all, Mario Kart 64 is as great as, say, Frosted Flakes (bad joke
alert).  I remember back in the late 90's renting this game.  I was
blown away.  Even though they look a bit bad by today's standards, the
graphics were insanely good back then.  The items play an integral role
in the game (just one of the many reasons why this is better than most
racing games), and you can play as any of eight Mario characters in
Mario-tastic courses.  It does play more slowly than Double Dash, but
it's a big improvement over Super Mario Kart.  But, this was still a
blast from the past for me (and others, I'd imagine), and it's better
than its sequels and prequels in many respects.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! dazzled us on the Game Cube.  With crisp,
undeniably beautiful graphics, faster game play, and lots of secrets
and co-op play, it is an amazing game.  But, Double Dash borrows much
of what people love about it from Mario Kart 64.  From unlocking secret
ghosts to new items... Double Dash will always just be the learner, not
the master.  You will understand after playing this wonderfully
addictive game.  To quote Mario...  Welcome to Mario Kart!

By the by, should you happen to see this guide (or any of my other
guides) on any site but GameFaqs and its affiliates, please contact me
at the e-mail address listed at the top of this guide.  With your help,
this guide won't be plagiarized.  Thanks a million, my friend.

=======================================================================
==============================Navigation*==============================
=======================================================================

If you need to get to a certain section and you're in a hurry, look no
further.  If you press CTRL (Apple if you're using a Mac) and F on your
keyboard, you'll bring up a Find/Search box.  Type in the name of the
section you need, asterisk and all (they're there to distinguish
section names from times I might use them in text... navigation,
navigation, navigation), and then click Find/Search.  You'll be taken
to the Table of Contents and then the beginning of that section.
Pretty nifty, eh?  Glad I could be of service.

=======================================================================
==============================Characters*==============================
=======================================================================

It's time for a ridiculously long character section!  Consider this
your spoilers warning; I am discussing the backgrounds of each playable
character in-depth as of early 2005.  They are listed as they are shown
on the selection screen.

---------------------------------Mario---------------------------------

The character the game is named after, Mario is a big player in the
video game realm.  Having appeared in more games than any other
character on any platform, Mario was popular from the first game he
appeared in.  It was called Donkey Kong, and it was about a carpenter
name Jumpman who hiked up a construction site to rescue his girlfriend,
the Lady.  Primitive arcade graphics dictated how Mario looked.
Because hair was hard to animate, he wore a cap.  Overalls gave his
arms a crude suggestion of movement, and his side burns helped to
differentiate his ears from his face.  A mustache covered his mouth for
just that reason, and his overalls appeared red because it was an easy
color to generate.  And Jumpman was named for his amazing jumping
abilities; he leaped over barrels and other hazards thrown his way by
nemesis, Donkey Kong, and in the end retrieved his girlfriend, who
presumably dumped him later on.

For the inevitable sequel to the popular game, Donkey Kong Jr., Jumpman
was renamed Mario Segali after the Nintendo of America building
landlord who apparently bore resemblance to the pixilated hero.  Donkey
Kong Jr. had DK's son rescue him from a cruel, whip-wielding Mario, but
Mario was completely excluded from the third installment of the Donkey
Kong series.  Instead, he starred in a game with his name in it - Mario
Bros.  Because Mario could travel in pipes, his job as a carpenter was
replaced by a plumbing profession.  And Mario, plus his brother Luigi,
had to clear out the sewers of Brooklyn using the jumping skills that
made him famous.  But Nintendo was not satisfied yet, even though
Mario's games had been popular.  Mario was ready to go in a bold new
direction - the NES.

Yep, Mario came out in style for the system's launch with the instant
classic, Super Mario Bros.  In it, Mario defeated the King of the Koopa,
Bowser, and rescued Princess Peach Toadstool, setting a trend for many
future games.  Mario popularity skyrocketed, and a trilogy was underway.
His most popular game for the NES was the best-seller - Super Mario
Bros. 3.  Oddly, this was Mario's most popular adventure for the old
Nintendo Entertainment System, and yet few new elements of it continued
in the series.

The American Super Mario Bros. 2 was rather odd.  Because Nintendo
didn't want to release the repetitive Japanese version of SMB 2 in the
states, they took a Japanese only game called Doki Doki Panic, made the
main characters into Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad, and called it Super
Mario Bros. 2.  The original was about an Arabian family rescuing kids
from a storybook from a giant frog named Mamu.  While Nintendo kept all
the enemies the same for the most part, with a name change to Mamu to
make him "Wart," they changed the ending of the game.  Apparently,
Mario was dreaming the whole thing.  This attests to an egotistical and
gratifying interior, even if subconscious, under Mario's humble plumber
exterior.  Or maybe Mario just had one too many Mushrooms that day.  He
does love his "Magic Mushrooms"...

With Yoshi as his trusty steed, Mario appeared in Super Mario World to
greet an adoring public.  Though it was not as insanely popular, it did
spawn a sequel that some would say is the best platform game in
existence - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.  It is of particular
interest to us because it attempts to explain the origins of the
plumber.  The Koopa Troop has intercepted the stork as it delivered
Mario and Luigi to their mothers (a Magikoopa has foreseen the trouble
Mario will cause Bowser), but they only manage to capture Luigi and the
hog-tied stork.  Mario escapes to find Yoshi, who plays Baby Mario's
ride until Yoshi can defeat Baby Bowser and set the stork on its way.

Disestablishing the previously established fact that Mario and Luigi
were from Brooklyn, the stork flies them to a house in the Mushroom
Kingdom where the parents receive their new children.  Another
discrepancy here: Mario and Luigi are portrayed as twins.  But,
previous and future games always clarify that Mario is older than Luigi,
and not just by a few minutes.  But, Nintendo has made it clear that,
for the Mario series at least, they do think of a grand linking
storyline for Mario because it limits their creativity or some jazz
like that.  In other words, they apologize for mistakes, but don't
expect better.

Mario got a voice in Super Mario World 2 when he shrieked like a
banshee, but it was in Super Mario 64 that he really started to
exercise those vocal cords.  Voiced by Charles Martinet, Mario's quips
included many stereotypical Italian quotes, such as "Mama mia!" and
various Yahoo!-sounding phrases.  But, Mario is an Italian stereotype
in the good way (otherwise, Bowser would be swimming with the fishes).
But, Super Mario 64 did more than give him a voice.  It was Mario's
first grand 3-D adventure, and he went solo this time to rescue
Princess Toadstool from the confines of the Mushroom Castle, which
Bowser had taken over and locked up using the Power Stars that
protected the castle.  In a game that some claim to be the best ever
made (I think this is going too far, but it was a great game), Mario
could potentially retrieve 120 of the Power Stars and then conquer
Bowser in the skies, just as he did in Super Mario Bros.  In the end,
he even gets to eat cake with Princess Peach.  Luigi was not invited
(although Luigi, Wario, and Yoshi appeared as playable characters in
the port of SM 64, Super Mario 64 DS).

Mario revived his RPG business later on in the lifespan of the N64 - in
2001, to be precise.  A rift between Square-Enix and Nintendo (caused
because of Square's releases on the Playstation) caused Mario's
previous RPG, Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars for the
SNES in 1996, to have no true sequel, but Paper Mario was as close as
it will ever get.  Bowser ascended to the skies and stole the Star Rod,
an object that can grant the wishes of its user (it is used by the Star
Spirits to grant the wishes of the good).  Using it, Bowser became
invincible, and Bowser nearly killed Mario in a battle at the beginning
of the game.  Mario recovered, however, thanks to the intervention of
the Star Spirits' energies, and went on to rescue the seven spirits
from the minions Bowser entrusted them with.  With all seven, they
created an attack called the Star Beam.  Coupled with the prayers of
the people of the Mushroom Kingdom, it disabled the Star Rod long
enough for Mario to kick Bowser to the curb and restore peace to the
world.  However, what makes Paper Mario so interesting is that the
characters look like cardboard cut-outs in a charming and artistic
graphics style.

The Game Cube marked a rather humbling beginning for Mario in Luigi's
Mansion, but he soon got to appear in Super Mario Sunshine.  In it, he
receives the help of a tropical breed of Yoshis and FLUDD, the Flash
Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device created by Professor E. Gadd, as he
goes on vacation with Princess Peach (and no Luigi in sight).  But when
they arrive, Mario is promptly arrested.  Shadow Mario, someone dressed
as Mario, had polluted Isle Delfino with slime and nasty creatures that
lived in it, and Mario was framed.  His punishment?  Clean up the slime.
But as he did so, Peach was kidnapped.  As it turns out, framing Mario
was all part of the plan of... Bowser Jr.!  Yes, Bowser's eighth son
framed Mario to steal the princess.  Upon restoring his good name,
Mario takes off to Mount Corona, an active volcano on the island, where
he defeats Bowser Jr. and his father, Bowser, who coaxed his son into
working for him.  After a shocking display of emotion with a damaged
FLUDD, Mario and Peach can enjoy the rest of their vacation.

With a third RPG added to his repertoire, Mario was not stopping after
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga.  Though he was technically only a co-
hero, Mario still tried to defeat the evil witch Cackletta, who had
stolen Peach's voice.  His fourth RPG, though, was a real sequel.
Called Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario is scheduled to meet
Peach at Rogueport for a vacation when she disappears.  As it turns out,
she was stolen as part of an elaborate plot for world domination by the
tech-savvy X-Nauts, whose leader plans to use Peach's body as a vessel
to revive an ancient demon.  Mario managed to defeat both of them,
however, and he does it all with origami and papery goodness.

And all the while, Mario has time to throw terrific parties, hit the
tennis courts, play golf, take up an assortment of various professions,
and race in wild kart games.  And of course, Mario has a few new sports
titles coming soon (or already released, depending on when you read
this guide), including a Dance Dance Revolution game, Mario-style.  Not
to mention his part-time jobs as mascot of Nintendo.  Can you think of
a cooler plumber?  Didn't think so.

---------------------------------Luigi---------------------------------

Luigi is Mario's little brother, and he's the one who added the "Bros."
to the titles of all your favorite games.  Luigi's first appearance was
a playable one in Mario Bros. in arcades in 1983, two years after his
brother's glorious debut.  Even then, Luigi was not exactly garnering
the spotlight.  Had the game been changed to "Mario and Luigi" or a
similar title, then the Mario series probably would've gone much
differently.  However, it didn't quite work out like that.

Luigi was a pallet swap that Player 2 controlled in Mario Bros.
Wearing green because it was an easy color to generate in the day,
Luigi used the same sprite as his brother with slight changes.  And
unlike Mario, whose fashion choices changed with each of his early
games, Luigi stuck to the same general concept - green and blue.
Although he deviates from it occasionally, Luigi has been consistent.
Then there's his seemingly simple name.  In Japanese, there is very
little distinction between the "r" and "l" sounds.  So, the Japanese
word "ruiji" could be pronounced just like Luigi's name.  And "ruiji"
means "similar" in Japanese (which Luigi is.  He basically entered life
as Mario with different clothes), not to mention the fact that Luigi is
a common Italian name.  Many video game characters (at least for
Nintendo) have puns in their names, and Luigi is no exception.

Any way you slice it, at least Luigi shared screen time with his older
brother in Mario Bros.  Come Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo
Entertainment System, Luigi was the rarely seen Player 2 of the game
who was only playable if you were taking turns in a two-player game.
This marks the beginning of a long series of overlooked appearances for
the green man.

Luigi received more of an identity in Super Mario Bros. 2.  In the
Japanese version, Luigi was differentiated from his brother by having a
higher jump, slower running, and less traction with his boots than
tightly controlled Mario.  In the American version of the game, Luigi
had the highest jump up the lot, complete with a strange bicycle kick
as he jumped, but his upper body strength was lacking.  He plucked
vegetables slower than Mario but faster than Peach, but all of them
were beat by fast-picking Toad.  The tendency for Luigi to be a better
jumper but weaker fighter than Mario continues to this day, right up
into the Super Smash Bros. series and remakes of the classic trilogy.
Also, SMB 2 (USA) gave Luigi his own sprite, and it was the first game
to establish Luigi as taller than Mario, which still holds true today.

But, Luigi went back to sharing a sprite with Mario in another
adventure in Super Mario Bros. 3.  A step back for Luigi, but at least
he got to compete with his glory-hog bros. in a battle mode reminiscent
of Mario Bros. in the game.  Luigi played second fiddle again in Super
Mario World, and his infant self was basically the damsel in distress
waiting to be rescued in Super Mario World 2.  In fact, Luigi was also
excluded from Mario's Game Boy adventures, the better part of Super
Mario RPG, and Super Mario 64.  But, one game changed all that.

Yes, I refer, of course, to "Mario is Missing!", an edutainment
(education + entertainment = edutainment) title that should never be
played by mortals.  Basically, Bowser kidnapped Mario, and it was up to
Luigi to use his advanced knowledge of world geography to track down
Bowser and prevent him from melting the polar ice caps.  And he might
as well rescue Mario while he's at it, too.  Mario headed another
edutainment title around the same time called "Mario's Time Machine,"
in which he must right the wrongs Bowser has done in the past by
filling in the blanks in history class.  As you can see, this was not a
chance for Luigi to shine, but instead a slap in the face.  Geography
has yet to help him since.

Luigi's next big appearance was in Mario Tennis.  It's right around now
that Nintendo started to try to right the wrongs that had for so long
cast Luigi to the side.  How did they do this?  Why make him more like
Mario, of course!  Luigi received his own version of Princess Peach as
Nintendo reintroduced Princess Daisy from Super Mario Land, and his own
rival in Waluigi.  Of course, neither of them was or is nearly as
popular as Peach and Wario, but it's a start.

Then, we have Paper Mario.  In Nintendo's hilarious new RPG, Luigi got
to hang around Mario's house for the entire game, venturing out once
into Peach's castle for the Prologue.  If Mario spin jumps in the right
place in their room, he can find a secret compartment where Luigi keeps
his diaries.  Though they contain mostly embarrassing and trivial
tidbits detailing Luigi's boring life as a homebody, Luigi does write
that, although it's fun racing karts and partying, maybe he liked
giving Mario the spotlight too much.  Maybe he could have a game of his
own, with his name in the title...

That wish came true only months later when the Game Cube was released.
Luigi's Mansion was one of the launch games, and it starred... Luigi!
In it, the L man won a contest he didn't even enter, and the prize was
a brand new mansion.  Mario decided to check it out first, but he had
yet to return.  So, Luigi ventured into his forest-surrounded mansion
to find a dark, gloomy dump.  Upon entering, he finds that it is
haunted.  But, armed with the Poltergust 3000, supplied to him by
eccentric Professor Elvin Gadd (E. Gadd, egad, puns), he was able to
vacuum up ghosts inside as he searched for his brother.

This led to the ultimate realization that a pack of Boos had tricked
him into coming, and that their leader, King Boo, had imprisoned Mario
within a portrait.  Luigi braves scores of ghosts to reach King Boo,
who is masquerading as Mario's archrival in their boss fight!  What a
surprise it is for the player...  But, Luigi was able to force King Boo
out of the costume with reverse suction and bombs, and King Boo was
ultimately captured.  Taking Mario's picture out of the Secret Altar, E.
Gadd uses a machine he has to free him.  Mario is spat out and hits his
head, which causes Luigi to laugh for the first and only time in the
game.  Luigi's Mansion supposedly takes place all in the course of one
night.

Since then, Luigi's been much more recognized in Nintendo's games.
Mario's third RPG was entitled "Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga," and
Luigi played co-hero to his older brother.  Luigi's involvement is not
intentional, though.  Toad informs a showering Mario that Peach is in
trouble.  Mario dresses quickly and runs through the laundry line,
which Luigi is attending to at the time.  Luigi is hopelessly tangled
up with Mario, and Mario moves on with his brother in tow.  Luigi plays
an active role in the game, even dressing as Princess Peach at one
point to fool witch Cackletta (oddly, Luigi mentions having dressed up
as a bridge during one chapter of his adventure in Paper Mario: The
Thousand-Year Door.  Starting a trend, hmm?).

Luigi continued to appear in Mario's many party titles, but he also had
a grand adventure in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.  Or, at least
that's what they say.  The game focuses on Mario the entire way through,
but Luigi pops up in Rogueport for breaks from his adventure after each
chapter ends, and he's always eager to report his travels to Mario.
Luigi even has an assortment of partners who journey with him, and they
sometimes correct Luigi, who tells the story without all of his various
blunders included.  But, because Luigi's adventure is only said-so,
we'll never get to experience it all, unless Nintendo sees fit to make
a Paper Luigi.  That might go the way of Super Mario Land; Luigi could
take over Mario's RPG franchise...  But that's just thinking out-loud
on my part.

Luigi now enjoys a growing fan base, even if it he had to develop a
fear of the dark to get it.  Luigi's infant self is even a playable
character for the first time now.  Talk about appreciation.

----------------------------Princess Peach-----------------------------

What a classy dame; she lets Bowser race and his son race on the same
track as her.  Nonetheless, there's more to her than just being
kidnapped.  But not much else...

The pretty princess in pink is kidnapped a lot.  But, Mario hasn't
always been with her.  Originally, his girlfriend was named Pauline
(named after the damsel in distress in "Perils of Pauline."  But, Mario
presumably dumped her in favor of rescuing Princess Toadstool of the
Mushroom Kingdom in Super Mario Bros., or perhaps the plumber was
dumped.  We never really heard the details.

Toadstool was the only person who could undo some black magic of the
Koopa Troop that transformed the residents of her kingdom into common
objects such as stones and horsehair plants (whatever those are).
Abducted by Bowser to prevent her from doing so, it was up to two
stalwart plumbers - Mario and Luigi - to beat down Bowser and let her
be free.  They succeeded, and Mario got a kiss.  From then on, Mario
and Toadstool were on friendly terms.

Toadstool sends Mario nice letters throughout his journeys in Super
Mario Bros. 3 containing helpful items and pieces of advice.  But, just
as Mario has liberated the last region of the Mushroom World, Bowser
sends him a letter!  Toadstool has been kidnapped, and Bowser is
holding her hostage in Dark Land!  Never fear, though; Mario can handle
it.  And that he does, freeing Toadstool yet again.  Toadstool makes a
lame joke in reference to Toads, her humble servants, and the game ends.

(Mario did stray from Toadstool once, though.  In Super Mario Land,
Mario rescues Princess Daisy of Sarasaland.  But, rather than upset
their relationship, Daisy is looked at more as a match for Luigi
nowadays.  She was reintroduced in Mario Tennis for the N64 along with
Waluigi, a rival for Luigi, as part of Nintendo's grand equalizing of
Mario and Luigi.)

So, now that Mario and Toadstool are great pals, they decide to go on
vacation together, dragging Luigi with them for the heck of it.  But,
just before Super Mario World begins, Peach is kidnapped!  Shocker!  So,
Mario rescues her again.  Poor Bowser, who kidnaps her in Super Mario
World, must feel like a real loser.

At the beginning of Super Mario RPG, Toadstool is flung to the far-off
Booster's Tower during Mario and Bowser's climactic battle when a giant
sword crashes through the castle's roof.  Mario lands at his house, and
he travels around the land to rescue her.  After safely returning her
to her castle, she decided to accompany Mario, Mallow (partner), Geno
(partner), and Bowser (yes, he was a partner!) to help them defeat
Smithy, the master of that giant sword who wants to wreak havoc on the
world.  Bowser wants to defeat Smithy to reclaim his castle.  Toadstool
proves to be a great asset to the team with her healing powers.

Toadstool got to be on more friendly terms with Mario in Super Mario 64.
She invites Mario over for some cake, signing her letter "Peach."  And
she has been referred to as Princess Peach, her first name, after since.
Speaking of which, she was kidnapped in Super Mario 64, too.  But,
Mario alone rescued her that time.

Bowser tried again to abduct the princess in Paper Mario.  But even
making himself absolutely invincible with the magical Star Rod could
not prevent Bowser from losing in the end.  Mario and Peach can even
enjoy fireworks as Bowser's castle explodes and everyone celebrates
with a parade.

Peach was kidnapped yet again in Super Mario Sunshine.  Vacationing
with Mario to the paradise Isle Delfino, she was abducted by "Shadow
Mario," a Mario doppelganger.  This happened as Mario was cleaning up a
mess (this was his punishment for a crime he did not commit; Shadow
Mario covered the island with goop and framed Mario, who then had to
clean it).  Only by collecting the Shine Sprites, the source of power
for Isle Delfino, could Mario venture into Mount Corona where he
confronted Bowser and Bowser Jr.  Bowser Jr., Bowser's eighth child
(the other seven are those accursed Koopalings), had been tricked into
thinking that Peach was his mother and that Mario was holding her
captive, and so he dressed as Shadow Mario to frame the plumber and
take off with his "mama."  Of course, Mario kicked both their hides.
Afterwards, the real vacation began.  And poor, confused Bowser Jr.
realized that Bowser had tricked his son to get cheap labor out of him.

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Peach has decided to go to
Rogueport for a vacation of sorts, and Mario is invited.  Vacations
normally don't bode well for the princess, though, and I wouldn't be
surprised if she ended up kidnapped by a newcomer, Grodus.  His plan
was to use her as a vessel to revive a 1000-year old demon's soul, but
Mario defeats the demon - the Shadow Queen - in battle, and Peach went
back to being just peachy.

---------------------------------Toad----------------------------------

The Mushroom Retainers of Super Mario Bros...  In their first
appearance, seven subjects of Princess Peach - the Mushroom Retainers -
were abducted by Bowser and placed at the end of castles as decoys so
that Mario and Luigi would be lured off the correct path.  So, they
really played a very minor role in the game, other then directing the
plumber brothers to another castle.

They played the same role in the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros.
2.  Come Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA), though, Toad became playable along
with Peach.  Though his color scheme was different from today, Toad was
a fast character with weak jumping abilities.  However, he was the
heavy-lifter of the group (this probably would not hold true in a Mario
game today).  However, Toad was not really a desirable character in
comparison to the all-around Mario, jumping pro Luigi, or the floating
Peach.  Still, Toad wasn't even slowed down by holding the heaviest of
blocks.  Interestingly, Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA) introduced his name
as "Toad" instead of "Mushroom Retainer".

Toad became a generic name for the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom (or
Mushroom World) in Super Mario Bros. 3, however.  Operating any of
several "Toad's Houses," Toad either let you play a horizontal slots
game, a card-matching game, or a random chest-picking game.  There was
also one Toad assigned to each of the Mushroom Kings that ruled over
regions of the Mushroom World (these Toads acting as Mushroom Retainers,
I assume).  But, Toad did not appear for a short time.

Four years after Super Mario Bros. 3, Wario's Woods came out.  Toad had
the honor of being the last playable character on the NES; Wario's
Woods was the last NES game ever released (in 1994, it was about time).
In it, Wario, already popular from his Game Boy excursions, was making
Pleasant Woods very unpleasant, and he and a bunch of loser bosses (the
likes of "Monsieur Boo" or "Carlton", neither of whom look like any
other Mario character) were pitted against Toad and a helpful fairy
named Wanda.  Interestingly enough, Wanda also appeared in Mario vs.
Wario, a Japan-only release, to foil Wario's plans of leading bucket-
blinded characters off of cliffs by making blocks.  Apparently, Wanda
has a grudge against Wario.  Anyways, Toad starred in the Tetris-esque
puzzle game by picking up blocks and setting them down in certain
places to defeat enemies.  Way to go, Toad.

Toad has appeared as a generic citizen of Mushroom Kingdom in the Mario
RPG series (most notably, one official Toad, possibly _the_ Toad,
appeared in Super Mario RPG to explain the game.  He failed to stop
Croco from escaping at one point, and he attributed this to his lack of
bazooka.  Toad has been portrayed as a bit of a coward ever since), but
he served other, more minor roles in other games.  In Super Mario 64,
Toad was trapped within the Mushroom Castle, and he gave useful advice
to Mario (sometimes even Power Stars).  In Luigi's Mansion, Toad was
sent by Peach to find Mario, but the cowardly Toad could do nothing but
save the game for Luigi.  An entourage of Toads accompanied Mario,
Peach, and Toadsworth to Isle Delfino (of course, none of them were
very good at preventing Toad from being kidnapped).

Meanwhile, Toad was appearing in Mario's sports/party-related outings.
He appeared as a driver in Super Mario Kart (and, he's gone on to
appear in every Mario Kart game so far).  In Mario Party and Mario
Party 2, Toad handed out the Stars and gave instructions for mini-games.
However, Mario Party 3 had two new characters - Tumble and the
Millennium Star, respectively - do this job.  Mario Party 5 let Toad
become a playable character in place of Donkey Kong.  And Mario Party 6
cemented Toad's standings as a playable character.  Not only was he
playable there, but his female counterpart Toadette, most likely
introduced to assure players that Toad was all-man, was playable, too.
She was a secret character you had to pay 30 Stars for, but so what?
Toad and Toadette were also secret characters in Mario Kart: Double
Dash!!  Toad also appeared in Mario Tennis (N64) and Mario's Tennis
(Virtual Boy).  In Mario Kart 64, we hear Toad's voice for the first
time.

---------------------------------Yoshi---------------------------------

To understand where Yoshi, that lovable dinosaur from Super Mario World,
came from, you must look back into 1984.  A game called Demon World was
released on the Famicom.  Essentially, it was a clone of Pac-Man.  The
game starred a green creature named Tamagon, who looks like a cross
between Yoshi and a goldfish, who had to clear the maze of demons as he
swallowed dots and fought against Satan himself.  Also, the walls were
painful to him for some reason.

Don't worry if you've never heard of it.  The game never left Japan due
to the Christian imagery, and Nintendo did not want to upset a largely
Christian population at a time when American customers could make or
break them.  In fact, Nintendo hasn't gotten over its fear of upsetting
the Christian gaming community today, either.  In the Japanese version
of Super Smash Bros. Melee, Tamagon has his own trophy.  He does not in
the western versions of the game.

So, did Tamagon, a squat version of Yoshi with fins, influence the look
of Yoshi?  I think so, especially since the two make the same sound
when they hatch from eggs.  So, while Tamagon himself didn't make the
cut as a western video game character, Yoshi did in 1991.  He appeared
in Super Mario World, one of the premiere games for the new Super
Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).  Yoshi is an instant hit.

In Super Mario World, the vacationing plumbers find an egg in the
forest on Yoshi's Island shortly after Peach is kidnapped by Bowser.
It turns out to be Yoshi, one of the local dinosaurs that the island is
named after (or that are named after the island).  Yoshi was locked in
his egg by someone named Bowser, whose airship (from Super Mario Bros.
3) crashed into the waters of Dinosaur Land.  Bowser set up his forces
here, and he kidnapped seven of Yoshi's friends.  They, too, were
trapped within eggs, and the eggs were guarded by each of Bowser's
seven children in fortresses at the end of each region of Dinosaur Land.

So, since Mario and Luigi had to rescue Peach anyways, they decided to
defeat Bowser's children along the way.  Yoshi proved to be invaluable
in their adventure.  The traditional Yoshi that we all know and love is
green, but Yoshi is also the term for an entire race of dinosaur
creatures.  Red, blue, and yellow Yoshis also populated Dinosaur Land,
and each had a special ability.  Red Yoshis turned that which it ate
into fire, blue used eaten objects as fuel to fly, and yellow Yoshis
used it to weigh them down for quake stomps.  And speaking of which,
Yoshis have elastic tongues that they release to wrap around enemies
and swallow them.  Yoshi can digest practically anything, or spit it
out if Mario so desired.  And eating berries yielded strange results.
Yoshi could release a cloud that rained down coins or Mushrooms if he
ate enough berries of certain colors.  And, if Mario needed to reach a
high ledge, Yoshi could jump and Mario could jump off Yoshi for a sort
of double jump.  Yoshi was also resilient to dangerous surfaces; he
could walk across Munchers without taking any damage.

Yoshi did not go unnoticed by fans.  An instant success, he joined the
crew for Super Mario Kart and soon got puzzle games starring him -
Yoshi, Yoshi's Cookie, and eventually Tetris Attack.  Originally a game
called "Panel du Pon," Nintendo replaced the fairy characters with
Yoshi and characters like Raphael the Raven and Lakitu.  The vertical
block-matching game might have been a cheap rip-off of a Japanese-only
title, but so was Super Mario Bros. 2, right?

But a year before Tetris Attack ever appeared, Super Mario World 2:
Yoshi's Island came out.  Hailed as the greatest platform game by some,
the Yoshi herd was responsible for rescuing Baby Luigi and letting the
stork go on to deliver the baby brothers.  Yoshi was able to transform
into several toy-like vehicles in the game, but only the Yoshicopter
ever reappeared (it makes a cameo in the Yoshi Circuit in Mario Kart:
Double Dash!!).

Also in 1996 was Super Mario RPG.  Yoshi played a small role in the
game, though.  Hanging out on Yo'ster Isle with a pack other Yoshis,
the trusty steed gained a one-time rival in Boshi, a black Yoshi.  Only
with Mario's help was Yoshi able to best Boshi in the Mushroom Derby, a
competitive, one-on-one racing tournament, which made Yoshi the boss.
But, much like George Washington, Yoshi gave up his power shortly after
receiving it (his only act was to make the Mushroom Derby a fun race in
which everyone ran.  Also, no gambling).  Winning the race could earn
Mario three Yoshi's Cookies, which could be used to summon Yoshi to the
battlefield.  Yoshi swallowed enemies, releasing an item for Mario.
This was the extent of his appearance, though.

1998 marked the beginning of an all Yoshi franchise.  Yoshi's Story, as
the game was called, had a vindictive Baby Bowser steal the "Super
Happy Tree" from Yoshi's Island, and he then flattened the island into
storybook form.  How would a pack of multicolor Yoshis stop the pint-
sized titan?  By eating fruit, of course.  Finding fruits in looping
levels was not very successful, apparently, and the only-Yoshi
franchise sort of died out.

Yoshi was matched up with Birdo, a supposedly female dinosaur from
Super Mario Bros. 2, in Mario Tennis on the N64, and he would be paired
with her again in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!  However, Yoshi partnered
with Koopa Troopa in Mario Power Tennis.  Birdo is supposed to be a
girlfriend of Yoshi's, but I think some characters are best left single.

Yoshi's next big appearance was on the Game Cube, but the traditional
Yoshi did not appear.  Instead, a tropical breed of Yoshis appeared on
Isle Delfino as nearly extinct, high-pressure spitting dinosaurs.  With
juices matching their body color gushing from their mouths, they were
almost as effective as FLUDD.  And, just like in Super Mario World,
getting on Yoshi added drums to the background beat of the area.  This
tropical breed was probably endangered because they couldn't enter
water.  Doing so made them dissipate, but they turned green before
doing so.  Interesting.

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, a nameless baby Yoshi hatches
from an egg while Mario is in the floating city of Glitzville, and
Mario gets to name it (it also has a randomly generated color).  It's a
little hellion, but it joins Mario as a partner.  Mario's sort of like
its mother/father or something, and the baby Yoshi is really attached.
At the end of the game, he continues Mario's legacy as a fighting
champion by wrestling in the Glitz Pit under the name "The Great
Gonzales Jr." (Great Gonzales was Mario's stage name).

Today, Yoshi joins all of Mario's outings and a few of his adventures.
His first appearance on the Nintendo DS was in Super Mario 64 DS, and
he saved Mario, Luigi, and Wario in it.  He did appear in Super Mario
64 to give out 100 lives to Mario if he could reach the castle's roof
(only achievable if he had all 120 Power Stars), but that's old news.

------------------------------Donkey Kong------------------------------

It is interesting to note that Donkey Kong was not in the beta version
of Mario Kart at all.  Instead, there was a Magikoopa, the bespectacled
Koopa wizards from Super Mario World.  It was a good move on Nintendo's
part to replace Magikoopa with Donkey Kong, though.

An interesting character...  Donkey Kong first appeared in a game of
the same name.  For some reason, he kidnapped a lady and brought her to
the top of a construction site, leaving it up to her devoted boyfriend
- Mario - to save her.  Of course, Mario wins (like usual), and Mario
is a bad winner.  DK's name has a bit of video game myth surrounding it.
It is a popular urban legend that Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of
Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, and many other characters, thought that
"Donkey" was English for "stupid."  Add Kong, which is an ape name
since the film King Kong, and you've got this character.  Regardless of
whether this is true or not, the next game was named after DK's son.

Yep, Donkey Kong Jr. was released later.  In it, Donkey Kong was
captured by Mario, and it was up to Donkey's son to rescue him from
cruel, whip-wielding Mario, using vines and such.  Junior even appeared
in a game in which he did math, an edutainment title.

(Oddly, Donkey Kong Jr. appeared as a playable character in Super Mario
Kart, but not Donkey Kong.  Furthermore, junior appeared in Mario
Tennis for the N64, but was replaced by DK in Mario Kart 64.  Oh well.)

Donkey Kong Jr. sat out the third game in the DK arcade trilogy, though,
as Donkey Kong became a flower's worse nightmare.  Yes, Mario was fazed
out of the series altogether, and it was now up to Stanley the Bugman,
a devoted insect exterminator, to keep DK from lowering himself to the
plants in a green house by spraying bug spray at the ape.  A great new
arcade game that would continue the series, right?

Well, I guess Mario makes the game, because Stanley the Bugman never
appeared again, and Donkey Kong disappeared for a long time, too.
Relegated to simple cameos in games like Mario Tennis for the NES,
Donkey Kong sat out for a long time.  Then came the Donkey Kong Country
trilogy.

A sleek, hip, tie-wearing Donkey Kong emerged from video game obscurity
to appear in SNES game Donkey Kong Country in 1994.  The Donkey Kong
who appeared in the arcades in 1981 was a muscle-bound brute, and even
3-D character models cannot explain the difference in looks.  So, how
did Rare, who now owns DK's rights, explain this difference?

By introducing a grizzly old coot named Cranky Kong.  Cranky claims to
be the original Donkey Kong who threw barrels and kidnapped maidens in
arcade games, and now his lousy grandson/son (the precise relationship
varies with the game) has inherited the family moniker.  The exact
relationship between Cranky and Donkey is yet to be determined, but the
new Donkey Kong is either Donkey Kong Jr. or junior's son.  In any case,
the "new" Donkey Kong appears in Mario Kart 64.

So the trilogy was kicked off.  Donkey Kong and his nephew/little buddy
(again, the familial status changes from game-to-game) Diddy Kong are
the stars of Donkey Kong Country.  As it so happens, the Kremlings, a
band of reptilian baddies led by King K. Rool (pun on cruel or rule,
depending on how you look at it) steal their banana hoard.  Cranky Kong
taunts them a bit before Donkey and Diddy decide to prove themselves as
video game heroes and reclaim their stolen bananas.  The result is a
wildly popular game.

Then came the sequel.  "Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest"
introduced Dixie Kong, but it came at a high price; not only did the
Kremlings, now in pirate getups (King K. Rool is now "Kaptain K. Rool"),
steal the banana hoard, but they kidnapped Donkey Kong to prevent
resistance.  Cranky Kong opens his big, retro video game enthusiast's
mouth, and Diddy and Dixie end up saving Donkey Kong and the bananas.
How embarrassing for DK...

Both Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong were kidnapped in the third installment
of the series, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie's Double Trouble, and it
was up Diddy's girlfriend and the tubby ape she was babysitting to
rescue them from a new, mechanized Kremling army.  This time, King K.
Rool changed his name to Baron K. Roolenstein.  In any case, DK himself
plays a very minor role in the game - he's the he-damsel.

Game Boy re-releases with the same basic plots made up the Donkey Kong
Land series.  In the first game, Cranky argued that DK's SNES adventure
wouldn't have been nearly as popular if it were in black-and-white and
on an 8-bit system like, oh say, the Game Boy.  Donkey and Diddy take
the bait, and so they are tricked into playing a very similar game with
a few new worlds and far worse graphics.  Cranky, you see, in a parody
of old-school gamers, those who claim that video games were better in
the olden days.

The rest of the Donkey Kong Land series follows suit, and this set the
stage for a bold new adventure for the increasingly large Kong family
in Donkey Kong 64 for the N64.  K. Rool's up to his usual antics, but
he's kidnapped a good deal of Donkey Kong's extended family this time.
This includes new characters Tiny Kong, a shameless Dixie Kong knock-
off, Chunky Kong, the older brother of DKC 3 character Kiddy Kong, and
Lanky Kong, whose relations to other Kongs is obscure.  Rescuing them
and using their abilities will allow DK and crew to destroy K. Rool's
cannon that he plans to use to destroy Kong Island.

Aside from usual appearances in Mario's spin-off games like Mario Party
(unfortunately, DK was removed as a playable character in Mario Party 5
in exchange for his own space) and Mario Kart, DK has a series that
really took off.  The Donkey Konga series uses drums and rhythm to
guide DK through levels.  It is quite odd, really, that the most
primitive instrument is the most innovative video game.  Although DK
doesn't go on many huge adventures anymore, he's found a happy place in
a few games as he gradually becomes more and more Mario-related.

---------------------------------Wario---------------------------------

Wario's first Mario Kart game, Wario is said to have stolen the kart of
Koopa Troopa, a driver in Super Mario Kart, to compete in this game.
But how did he reach this point in his career?

A cheesy villain in cahoots with the three little pigs.  That's how
Wario was introduced to the public.  Now, you might think that his name
is a simple flip of an M to get Wario, but that's not the case.  The
name is, like Luigi's name, a pun.  In Japanese, "warui" means "bad."
So, warui + Mario = Wario.  But, just who is this "bad Mario"?

In Super Mario Land, a mysterious alien named Tatanga kidnapped
Princess Daisy of Sarasaland.  Mario rescued her, delivered her to
safety, and then returned to his home - Mario Land (Nintendo never
explains where this corny "Mario Land" came from, but let's be glad
that it has yet to reappear).  But, to our alarm, Mario Land has been
invaded by Wario!  The whole incident with Tatanga was just to get
Mario to leave his castle long enough for Wario take over!  Because as
we all know, Mario cannot resist such a tempting rescue.  Mario claims
that Wario has always been jealous of Mario (although the Nintendo
Power comics on the subject show that Mario apparently bullied Wario),
and now Wario wants to get the best of him.

Mario was forced to clear out the six zones of Mario Land to find six
golden coins (as the name of "Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins"
suggests) that can be used to access Mario's castle.  The coins are
guarded by six nameless bosses, but one of them is an alien that
closely resembles Tatanga.  Anyways, back to the castle...  After
clearing a few simple obstacles within, Mario finds Wario in a throne
room.  Wario can use all of Mario's power-ups, but Mario manages to
defeat the fiend, reclaiming his castle and all.

Wario became an instant hit.  He soon starred as the villain in Mario
vs. Wario (a release only in Japan), but that was a minor title.
Wario's Woods was released in 1993, and it pitted Toad against Wario,
who had fiendishly upset peace in Pleasant Woods.  Also in 1994, a game
called "Wario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!" was released for the Game
Boy.  In it, Wario took on Hudson's character, Bomberman.  It is
interesting to note that Wario has since taken an interest in
explosives.

But the real accomplishment of 1994 was commandeering the Super Mario
Land series on the Game Boy.  Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land was
released, and it would be the last SML title.  In this adventure, Wario
was the main character, not Mario.  And Wario was down in the dumps; he
had lost his castle and the riches in it.  Yes, it was SML 3 that
really delved into Wario's greedy nature.  Luckily, though, Wario heard
that a priceless golden statue of Princess Peach was on Kitchen Island,
held by Syrup, captain of the notorious Black Sugar Pirates.  Wario
traveled through the island to find Syrup Castle.  But, Wario (and
probably the player controlling him) was surprised to find Syrup was a
woman (especially since the manual refers to her as a man).  But, even
with help from a mystical genie, Syrup was no match for Wario's brute
strength, and Wario finally got the statue.  But, in the ending
sequence of the game, Mario swoops in, thanks Wario for finding the
statue, and makes off with it.  Well, easy come, easy go, I guess.  He
did get to keep the genie's lamp, and he wished for a castle of his own.

In 1995, the Virtual Boy had a Wario game in store for it that used the
same magic hat power-ups as SML 3 was released.  Of course, the Virtual
Boy was a very unpopular system, and it was not widely played.  But, in
the game, he visited the Awazon River basin (obviously a pun on Amazon,
only the "m" is flipped over to make it Wario-ized).  While there, he
found hoards of treasure in a cave the natives guarded, and he only had
to play through fourteen levels to reach it.

But, a more popular game was soon in store for the greedy anti-hero.
With riches amassed from his trip to the Awazon River basin and a
castle from Super Mario Land 3, Wario was living the good life in style.
But, he awoke one day to find that his riches had been stolen!  And it
was the Black Sugar Pirates who stole it!  Wario chased them right back
to their castle, and Wario was able to defeat Syrup, reclaim his
pilfered riches, and return to his castle.  This game was not named for
Mario at all.  It was entitled "Wario Land 2."

Wario was sucked into an orgel, a Dutch instrument, in Wario Land 3, by
a mysterious force.  When Wario collected five such instruments, he
could revive the force that had summoned him.  But, as it turns out,
this force merely brought Wario there to be revived, and was actually a
creepy clown named Rudy.  Wario managed to defeat the demented clown,
though, and escape the strange world.

In 2001, Wario was featured in Dr. Mario 64 as a playable character in
the story mode.  At the height of flu season, everyone wants Dr.
Mario's megavitamins, but they were stolen by mad Dr. Scienstein to
cure a weakened Rudy.  While Dr. Mario goes on to defeat Rudy, Wario is
concerned with Scienstein.  Wario has aspirations of selling the cure-
all pills for major money.

The Game Boy Advance featured Wario Land Advance for all of his fans.
Reading the newspaper one day, Wario learns that a pyramid was recently
discovered.  A legend recalls that Princess Shokora was put under a
spell that made her eternally sleep (Zelda II, anyone?) within her
pyramid.  With money in mind, Wario takes off to the pyramid.  He
clears the various routes to reach Shokora, but she is guarded by the
one who cursed her, the Golden Diva.  Wario, who seems to fight many
female villains, soundly defeats her, freeing Shokora of the curse and
earning himself some money.

Wario World came out for the Game Cube in 2003.  Amongst Wario's
treasure was a terrible black jewel, and it envelopes his castle and
treasures.  It's up to Wario to defeat the Black Jewel and win his
stuff back.  It's been Wario's most recent great adventure.

And then came WarioWare, Inc.  This fledgling company was started by
Wario after he heard the news of a popular video game called Pyoro
recently.  Realizing that there was money to be made in the video game
company, Wario bought a computer in hopes of creating his own best-
selling game.  Each WarioWare game featured many five-second micro-
games that range from such simple tasks as waking up a sleeping man to
more complicated ones like defusing bombs.  All of Wario's games in the
WarioWare series have been popular - in Diamond City and in real life.

As you can see, Wario is quite independent of Mario now.  But, he
appeared in Mario Kart 64 in 1997 (in fact, Wario's voice was heard for
the first time in MK 64), and has been appearing in all Mario-related
outings since the N64 hit it big.  And something rather interesting
happened in Mario Tennis on the N64...  Waluigi joins the crew.

--------------------------------Bowser---------------------------------

The King of the Koopa...  Bowser is Mario's recurring rival, and he's
either a fierce enemy or a big joke (or both), depending on the game.
Bowser first appeared in Super Mario Bros.  He is the king of a "dark
tribe" called the Koopa, later renamed the Koopa Troop, and he felt the
urge to invade the Mushroom Kingdom.  Using his Koopa black magic, he
transformed the residents of this seemingly peaceful place into blocks,
stones, and even horsehair plants, oh my!  Only Princess Peach
Toadstool could undo the magic, but he kidnapped her.  Now he just had
to build up his forces.

One castle was stationed at each "world" of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Little did Bowser know that Mario and Luigi were out to free the
princess.  Each castle they visited, though, only contained a Mushroom
Retainer, a.k.a. a Toad.  "Bowser" was at the end of each castle, but
fireballs could burn the costume, revealing that the Bowser at the end
of Worlds 1-7 were actually common soldiers in disguise.  But the
eighth world held the real Bowser, and Mario or Luigi was able to
defeat him.  Set up on a bridge over a pool of lava, the brothers had
to bypass the titan and his obstacles - Podoboos, flame chains, hammers
- to reach an axe.  Pulling it out of the block it rested in caused the
bridge, which was strapped onto the axe by a thin rope, to fall into
the lava.  Bowser would also fall, and so Mario/Luigi rescued the
princess.

Bowser returned in Super Mario Bros. 3 with the entire family.  Yes,
his seven children - Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig
- decided to cause trouble.  Bowser was not officially connected with
his children's mischief at first, though.   Each child, collectively
known as the "Koopalings" or "Koopa Kids," invaded a region of the
"Mushroom World," the lands surrounding the Mushroom Kingdom.  They
stole the wands of the seven kings there and transformed them into
animals.  Then they paraded about their airships.  Mario and Luigi
traveled to each of these lands and defeat each Koopaling to restore
the king to his normal form.  But, after defeating Ludwig von Koopa,
the seventh and final Koopaling (also the oldest), Mario got a letter
from... BOWSER!  It said that he had stolen Princess Peach Toadstool
while Mario was out returning the wands to the kings, and he challenged
Mario to try to rescue her from his home, Dark Land.

Mario fell for the trap and entered Dark Land.  After facing an
onslaught of tanks, the Koopa navy, and the Koopa air force, Mario
reached Bowser's Castle.  At the end, Mario found a much different
Bowser from Super Mario Bros.  The new look of Bowser has stuck since
then.  Originally, Bowser was hunched over with no mane, a weird smile,
and white spikes.  He was also about as tall as Super Mario.  The new
Bowser was huge, with yellow spikes and an awesome red mane.  But,
despite Bowser's newfound might, Mario could still beat him by tricking
the king into busting through his floor.  Bowser lost again.

Apparently, the airship of the Koopalings had crashed in a strange
place called Dinosaur Land.  From there, Bowser and his children
swiftly but secretly spread into the circular Dinosaur Land,
imprisoning the locals and building fortresses.  But, as fate would
have it, Mario, Luigi, and Peach decided to take a vacation to Dinosaur
Land after their stressful Super Mario Bros. 3 adventure.  Bowser
wasted no time.  He abducted Peach, leaving no signs of his presence,
and left the Mario Bros. wondering where she went off to.  But, Mario
and Luigi stumbled upon a large egg that Bowser had imprisoned Yoshi in,
and Yoshi told the brothers of his plight.  Armed with a pair of magic
capes given to them by Yoshi, Mario and Luigi methodically defeated
each Koopaling (in a new order - Iggy, Morton, Lemmy, Ludwig, Roy,
Wendy, Larry) before they could face Bowser in a neon castle in the
Valley of Bowser.

Bowser appeared scarier than ever with sharp teeth, a sinister demeanor,
and white spikes on his back.  He fought in his aircraft - the Koopa
Clown Car - and threw down various objects, including Mechakoopas,
robotic enemies he had made.  Mario or Luigi had to throw them back up
at Bowser eight times before he was defeated, and Peach, Mario/Luigi,
and Yoshi plus friends enjoyed the rest of their vacation to Bowser's
dismay.

Super Mario World 2 reflects back to Bowser's childhood.  As an infant,
Baby Bowser had an advisor Magikoopa named Kamek whom he trusted above
all others.  Really, Kamek is the one who molded Bowser into the fiend
he is today.  Kamek was able to use his magic to foresee all the
trouble that Mario and Luigi would cause the Koopa Troop, and for that
reason he intercepted the stork to kidnap Baby Mario and Baby Luigi.
Unfortunately for Kamek, Baby Mario fell down to Yoshi's Island, which
happened to be below at the time, and right onto the back of a Yoshi.
And try as Kamek may, Yoshi and Baby Mario were able to reach Baby
Bowser's castle and defeat the kiddy king.  Baby Bowser tried to get
revenge on the Yoshi clan in Yoshi's Story, but he was defeated because
the Super Happy Tree dropped fruits that the Yoshis used to beat him up.

In 1996, Bowser and Mario actually became partners.  During the
beginning of Super Mario RPG, Peach is kidnapped and Mario and Bowser
are fighting in Bowser's Keep.  Suddenly, a giant sword (the hilt being
named Exor, the blade being named Neosquid) crashed through the roof
and sent the three flying.  Peach landed in Booster's Tower far away.
Bowser landed in an unknown location, and Mario was shot into his house.
Later on in Rose Way, Mario saw Bowser and his troops marching onward
to find a way back into the castle (the sword destroyed the bridge to
it).  As Mario progressed in his adventure, Bowser eventually lost all
of his troops (they went AWOL on him), and he was crying (not making
this up) at the base of Booster's Tower, unaware that Peach was above
on the balcony.  When Mario came across Bowser, he composed himself and
asked if Mario (along with Mallow and Geno, his partners) would join
the Koopa Troop.  Mario agreed.  You see, Bowser had as much to gain
from beating Smithy, the person who stole his castle, as Mario did.
After all, he wanted his castle back.

Bowser's next big game was for the N64.  In Super Mario 64, Peach
invited Mario over for cake.  In the interval of time between Mario
getting the invitation and Mario arriving, Bowser swept into the
Mushroom Castle, abducted Peach, and locked up the doors so that they
required Power Stars to access.  The paintings in the castle were
actually portals to different worlds, such as Bob-omb Battlefield or
Whomp's Fortress, and Bowser planned to use the Power Stars to not only
open the portal but to release the infinite monsters within to create
an army he could use to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom.  When Mario got
his hands on the Power Stars, though, he used them to reach Bowser in
three separate areas.  The first two fights got him keys to the
basement and second floor, respectively.  The third fight defeated
Bowser, taking his star power, and rescuing Peach (also saving the
kingdom from a potential invasion).  Bowser got to watch the ending
sequence with his minions in disgust.

Then came Paper Mario.  This time, Bowser and his new advisor, Kammy,
flew up to Star Haven and stole the Star Rod.  They then imprisoned the
Star Spirits.  The Star Rod grants the wishes of the user (it was
originally used by the Star Spirits to answer the wishes-upon-a-star of
the people of Earth), and Bowser used it to make himself invincible.
He raided the Mushroom Castle, lifting it up from the roots and taking
it to the skies (Luigi was able to escape the castle as the ground
began to shake).  Mario fought Bowser for Peach, but Mario could not
compete with the might of the Star Rod.  Mario nearly died after being
cast out the window and falling a great distance to the ground, but the
Star Spirits used their energy to save Mario and contact him.  If he
could save them, they could negate the effects of the Star Rod.

To this point, Mario defeated Bowser's minions - the Koopa Bros.,
Tutankoopa, Tubba Blubba, General Guy, the Lava Piranha, Huff N. Puff,
and the Crystal King - to rescue the Star Spirits.  And with the power
of the Star Beam that they taught him coupled with the prayers of the
people of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario was able to temporarily
deactivate the Star Rod.  In that time, Mario defeated Bowser, even
with the power boost provided to him by a machine Kammy used, and
reversed the power of the machine to blow up Bowser's Castle.  The
Mushroom Castle fell to its original location, the Star Rod was
returned to Star Haven, and Mario was a hero yet again.

King Boo used Bowser's reputation to scare Luigi in Luigi's Mansion,
but Bowser himself did not show up in the game; only his costume did.
Bowser's next appearance was at the end of the game in Super Mario
Sunshine.  Coaxing his eighth child, Bowser Jr., into framing Mario and
abducting Peach while he relaxed in a slimy pool atop Mount Corona was
a welcome change for the King of the Koopa, although he did fight, and
lose to, Mario.  In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Bowser gets his body
stolen by the evil witch Cackletta, forming "Bowletta," but I won't
even comment on that freak.  Bowser was similarly humorous in the next
RPG he starred in, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.  He fought
Mario as the second-to-last boss in a last ditch effort to do something
important, but all he does is let Grodus escape with Peach.  Super
Mario 64 DS marked Bowser's first new appearance as his fierce, evil
persona, but that was just a port of one of Mario's earlier adventures.

And that doesn't count Bowser's role as a villain in Mario Party games.
In games like Mario Kart 64 and Mario Tennis, though, Bowser is always
the strong but slow character.  Bowser is a pretty popular villain, but
he isn't Mario's only adversary.  Bowser joins the ranks of the below
characters as final bosses in Mario games (listed by number of games):

King K. Rool, Wario, Donkey Kong, Wart, Syrup, Baby Bowser, Rudy, Mario
(he technically was a villain in a Mario game - Donkey Kong Jr.),
Tatanga, Smithy, King Boo, the Golden Diva, the Black Jewel, Cackletta,
and the Shadow Queen.

The list contains characters from Wario and Donkey Kong games, but they
are Mario characters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A major thanks to spacepope4u.  Without his Mario Series Character
Guide, which I recommend to any Mario fan, I wouldn't know half this
stuff.

Now that we're done with that excruciatingly long section, let's move
on into the actual game-related information.  Yes, it's sad that Koopa
Troopa, Magikoopa, and Donkey Kong Jr. couldn't make it, but I'm sure
you'll get over it eventually.

=======================================================================
===============================Controls*===============================
=======================================================================

This game handles pretty easily, but it has a few slightly advanced
combinations.  Here's how things work in Mario Kart 64.

                      +----------------------+
                      |    Basic Controls    |
                      +----------------------+

Control Stick: This is used to steer the kart.  Tilt it in a certain
direction to move correspondingly.  It is also used to move between
options in menus.

A: Press this button to accelerate.  You need to hold it (keep it
pressed) to keep accelerating.  Otherwise, you will slow down.  This
can also be used to select an option on a menu.

B: When moving, this button causes you to brake (slow down).  If you
are motionless, though, this can be used to move in reverse.  This is
useful when you are jammed up against a wall (this happens frequently
to lightweights) and need to get back onto the course.  Note that to
move in reverse, you must also tilt the control stick down.  Pressing
this on a menu negates a previous choice.

R: This is interesting.  It can be used to hop, which can be useful in
making short jumps over small gaps.  Lighter characters tend to have
higher jumps.  However, R is used for power-sliding and mini-boosting,
and that is explained later as an advanced control.

L: You can use this to lower the volume of the background music or mute
it.  It helps on some stages, I guess.

Z: If you have an item, press this to use it.  Using it in combination
with the control stick (up or down) can let you throw certain items
backward or forward.  If you have an item that is launched or dropped,
like shells, you can hold Z to keep them behind you without launching
them, waiting for the ideal opportunity to use them.

C Up: A handy button, this changes the camera's zoom.  Using this can
be a lifesaver in some courses, especially when driving uphill; it
increases (or decreases) your line of sight.

C Right: This changes the map of the course to the speedometer, which
shows how many kilometers per hour you're going.

                     +-------------------------+
                     |    Advanced Controls    |
                     +-------------------------+

-----------------------------Power-Sliding-----------------------------

This is vital to succeeding in the game, or at least succeeding easily.
When you press R, you hop.  When turning, press R and hold it.  Now
turn the control stick in the direction of your turn.  You will begin
power-sliding, which is the most efficient method of turning.  You
won't lose speed when turning (this is especially true of heavyweights),
and you have the added bonus of facing one direction throughout a turn.
However, your mobility is compromised greatly when turning, and any
obstacles along the way (banana peels come to mind) will likely hit you.
Still, the pros outweigh the cons.

------------------------------Mini-Boost-------------------------------

Although power-sliding is useful in its own right, it has one other use:
starting mini-turbo boosts, which I abbreviate as "mini-boosts".  Start
off by entering a power-slide.  You know that you are power-sliding
when white E's of smoke are rising from your engine.  Now tilt the
control stick in the direction opposite that which you are turning, and
then quickly turn back in the correct direction.  Yellow E's will start
rising from your engine.  Repeat this and the smoke will become red.
While doing this, you must hold the A and R buttons.  Now, when the E's
have turned red, release R.  You will gain a slight boost of speed
momentarily.  It is not vital to racing, but it can be useful.
Sometimes, it's best just to do normal turns, but particularly wide
turns make mini-boosting very natural.

On a side note, something somewhat similar happens when you are driving
right next to another driver.  If you are driving by someone, a sort of
wave of smoke will appear from your engine, giving you a small boost of
speed.  This is most useful in trying to pass the other player.

-----------------------------Rocket Start------------------------------

At the beginning of each race, the eight drivers are lined up (you
always start in eighth place at the beginning of a new cup) before the
finish line.  Lakitu drops down with the headlight and it turns red to
red to blue.  If you press A just as the third light turns blue (or
right after the second fades), you'll get a Rocket Start.  You can
begin at maximum speeds, a nifty head start.  And if you press A at the
exact right moment, right after the second red light fades, you will
get a speed boost, about half that provided by a Mushroom.  However,
press A at the wrong time and you will spin out of control.  The same
goes for when Lakitu is dropping you onto the track because you fell
off; press A as you are set down to take off with a Rocket Start.

-----------------------------The Spin-Turn-----------------------------

This is another way to turn, but this way actually rotates the kart.
If you press A and B simultaneously, you will begin to spin.  When
doing this, release B to drive forward.  When mastered, this can be
used to straighten yourself after a turn or be facing an opponent
before firing a shell or another item.  Personally, I like power-
sliding more.

-------------------------Banana Peel Recovery--------------------------

While driving, hitting a banana peel will cause you to slide out of
control.  However, if you press B just after hitting it, you will not
lose control.  A small music note appears above your character to
indicate that you successfully avoided a spin-out.

And that's everything there is to know about practical controls.  Now,
onto the other very important aspect of the game - items.

=======================================================================
================================Items*=================================
=======================================================================

Items are gotten on the tracks by driving through the multicolor,
somewhat translucent ? Blocks.  A box appears and will "randomly" give
you an item.  The item can then be used by pressing Z.  You can get any
of several items, all of which are listed below.

If I may note something, though...  Mario Kart is a game of comebacks,
and items help a lot in moving you from eighth to first.  That is,
someone lower in the ranks - like sixth place - will tend to get more
powerful items then someone in a higher rank - like second place.  The
person in first has no chance of getting a Thunder Bolt, for example.
However, the person in first has amazing chances of getting green
shells and bananas.  So, depending on your position in the game, you
have chances of getting certain items, but not all items.  I like this,
really.  After all, it would be stupid to give someone in first place
the Spiny's Shell.  And besides, it makes the game more fun for human
players.

Green Shell: These are the shells of Koopa Troopas, the basic unit in
Bowser's army.  However, these items were also on the backs of enemies
called "Shell Creepers" in Mario Bros.  In any case, Mario has used
these to kick into enemies for a long time, and they have a similar
function in this game.  When launched (if you have one, hold Z and tilt
the control stick down to launch it backwards), these bounce around the
arena, hitting walls and such, until they come into contact with
another player or a Banana.  If they hit a player, they will be thrown
up into the air and lose all speed.  When they hit a banana, both are
destroyed.  They also disappear if they fall off an edge.  Though it
rarely happens, two shells colliding will cause them to both be
destroyed.

Red Shell: Red Koopa Troopas were the smarter enemies in the Super
Mario Bros.; the green type would march forward, off cliffs if they
were present, only turning if they bumped into something.  Red Koopa
Troopas would turn around when they reached an edge (also, red Koopa
Paratroopas could actually fly, while green could just flutter around).
But, in Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA), though Koopa Troopas and all other
normal Mario enemies were absent, this red shell was present.  When
plucked from the ground, it could be thrown.  It slid across the floor,
defeating any enemy it hit, and dissipated when it hit a wall.  The Red
Shell item in this game acts much like it does in Super Mario Bros. 2
(USA).  If it hits a wall, it is gone.  However, these shells will
automatically home in on the player ahead of you.  If it hits another
shell, a wall, or a banana along the way, though, it will be no more.

Triple Shells: This is just a grouping of three green or red shells.
However, they act somewhat differently.  Press Z and all three shells
start to circle around you.  If someone drives by this circle and
collides with a shell, they will be hit (and that shell disappears).
If you want to launch the shells, you can only launch them forward.
Also, if you are hit by something or fall off an edge, you will lose
these shells.  Furthermore, when all three shells are circling you,
they do not count as an item, meaning you can collect another item
after that.

Spiny's Shell: This is a blue shell with spikes on it.  Though Spinies
normally have either red or green shells (normally red), blue made it
into this game.  This shell, normally given to players in lower ranks,
is launched forward as a homing device.  It will cross the course until
it hits the first place driver (it will most likely hit other drivers
along the way, though).  It can come in handy if used correctly.  Try
hitting ever player in front of you...

Banana: Donkey Kong's favorite food is the banana, and he often
adventures to retrieve his banana hoard from the thieving King K. Rool.
In this game, banana peels can be dropped onto the course (if you hold
Z and tilt the control stick forward or backward, you can throw the
peels ahead of you or behind you).  If someone should happen to drive
into the banana, they will spin out of control.  For this reason, well-
placed bananas can cause players to slip off the track or fall into one
of the course's trap.  If you press B after driving over one, though,
you will not lose control (see the "Controls" section for more details
on this).  After hitting one, you will lose lots of speed.

Banana Bunch: Quite simply five bananas in a row.  In the Donkey Kong
Country games, there were such groups of bananas to be found (much more
effective than collecting one banana at a time).  Dropping five bananas
can be very effective.  If you are turning as you drop them, you can
make a "line" of bananas to make it impossible for opponents to avoid
them.  Also, these five bananas will trail you once you press Z.  If
you are hit by an item when they are trailing you, you will lose them.
Also, if an opponent runs into the line of bananas behind you, all
bananas will be destroyed (and the player will spin out).  Shells only
take one, though.

Fake Item: This looks like a ? Block that gives items, but it really
isn't.  If you look closely, you'll notice that it has an upside-down
question mark.  Players will fly into the air after hitting these, and
they are, in my opinion, much better items than the Bananas.  Try
leaving this in groups of real ? Blocks.  Drivers will not be able to
tell these apart if left in large groups, and might mistake these for
real blocks.  They drive into it in hopes of getting an item, and bam!
They get hit and you laugh at them (in the game and out of the game).
They can be destroyed by shells and Super Stars, though.

Mushroom: In Super Mario Bros., Mario and Luigi try to rescue the
princess of Mushroom Kingdom, and they often used Magic Mushrooms (the
name was later changed to "Super Mushroom" because the other name can
be a reference to high-inducing mushrooms) to become Super Mario/Luigi,
taller versions of themselves that can be hit twice before losing a
life.  They continued to use these items throughout their adventures,
even as far into the future as Super Mario 64 DS.  In this game,
Mushrooms are used to gain a short but powerful boost of speed.

Triple Mushroom: Quite simply three Mushrooms attached to each other.
You can use their boosts three times (I suppose you have a "Double
Mushroom" after using one), and I recommend waiting out each boost
until you use the next for maximum effects.

Super Mushroom: Because I could not find the official names of these
items in the manual, I will use this name from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Although Mario does not use golden mushrooms in his adventures, that's
what these are.  For a certain amount of time, you may use these for
boosts as many times as you can.  I find it most effective to
continually press Z to keep getting that initial boost of speed.  In
any case, these are very nice items if you're lagging behind the other
racers.

Thunder Bolt: From Super Mario Kart, these bolts of lightning have a
rather unexpected effect.  They shrink every character but you.  If the
character is invisible (Boo) or invincible (Super Star) or is off the
course or spinning from a Banana or reeling from another hazard at the
time, they will not be affected.  However, the majority of players will
be shrunk.  In this state, they drive very slowly (due to their
shrunken engine), and they won't be able to use ramps or boost over
large gaps.  If you drive into a player who is small, you will flatten
them, causing them to float down and eventually resume normal shape to
continue forward.  If used at the right time (like when everyone is
about to use the large ramps in Royal Raceway), the effects can be
enormous (pun!).  Interestingly enough, Mallow had an attack called
Thunder Bolt in Super Mario RPG, although this game was released after
Super Mario Kart.

Super Star: Perhaps the best item in the game aside from the Thunder
Bolt, both of these items are given to characters in lower ranks.
These items have appeared in each installment of the Super Mario Bros.
series (that is, Super Mario Bros., SMB 2 (USA/Japan), and SMB 3), and
in Super Mario World.  However, in the trilogy, this item was a
"Starman", and SMW changed the name to "Super Star".  In these games,
getting a Starman made Mario into Invincible Mario, and he could plow
through enemies in this form without taking any damage.  Stars have
always been icons of Mario games, from their uses to undo the magic of
Bowser in Super Mario 64 to their material value in the Mario Party
games.  In this game, Super Stars make your character invincible.  As
such, your speed increases, you lose no speed by driving off the track,
you can hit any enemy and make them fly into the air (like a shell
would), and you are immune to the ill effects of bananas, fake items,
shells, and other hazards within the courses themselves.  It does not,
however, prevent you from falling off the course (which makes the Super
Star stop working), it's only weakness.  The invincibility wears off
after a set length of time.

Boo: The Boo was originally called "Boo Diddly" in Super Mario Bros. 3.
These Mario ghosts would shy away if Mario looked at them, but they
would lunge at him if he turned his back.  They reappeared in force for
Super Mario World, in which they had their own mini-manors to haunt,
and there also seems to be a monarch system in place among the Boos.
They figure prominently into Luigi's Mansion as the main adversaries.
In this game, using a Boo makes you invisible.  As such, you are immune
to all attacks and can even pass through solid objects (like other
players and obstacles, but not walls).  Falling off the course will end
this, though, and it is only temporary.  Like in Mario Party, using a
Boo will also cause it to steal an item from another player for you.
However, if no other players have items, you will get nothing.  This is
about the only way someone in first or second place could get their
hands on a Super Star or a Thunder Bolt.  It is interesting to note
that when you use a Boo, you actually do become invisible to other
players (I discovered this in multiplayer mode).  However, you can
still see a semi-transparent outline of your character on your screen.

And those are all the items and origins.  Now, let's just cover weight
classes and we can move onto the actual track guides.

=======================================================================
============================Weight Classes*============================
=======================================================================

All the karts in the game are basically the same.  The real difference
lies in color.  Mario has a red one, Luigi and Yoshi have a green one,
Peach has a pink one, Toad has a blue one, Wario's is purple, Bowser's
is orange, and Donkey Kong's is yellow.  So, since they essentially
have the same kart, the player makes the difference in driving, not the
kart (this is another way that Mario Kart is different from most racing
games).  Each character can be given a weight class - light, medium, or
heavy.  Here, I will discuss each category and give a brief summary of
the driving abilities of each character.

                       +--------------------+
                       |    Lightweights    |
                       +--------------------+

Lighter characters are the easiest to use, in my opinion.  They have
excellent acceleration, slightly high top speeds (in comparison to
other weight classes), and will not lose much speed when they drive off
course (although it is still noticeable).  Lightweights will often be
bullied, so to speak, by the heavier characters.  For instance, if Toad
was driving along and Wario rammed into him, Toad would spin out as if
he had hit a Banana.  The reason for this is that Wario (and all other
middleweights and heavyweights) is heavier than Toad, and thus can
throw his weight around.  So, lightweights should avoid contact with
other drivers.  Also, due to their wonderful acceleration, lightweights
can recover from crashes quickly.  Also, note that they lose more speed
when turning (without sliding) than other characters, and their
steering isn't as good.

                                -----
                                Peach
                                -----

Princess Peach is a lightweight.  As such, she accelerates well, has
fairly high top speeds, and has a high jump.  But, you'd better learn
to power-slide if you play as Peach.

                                -----
                                Yoshi
                                -----

Yoshi is pretty good.  He has good acceleration, nice top speeds, and
he probably has the best steering of the lightweights.  However, like
all lightweights, Yoshi cannot turn very well without losing speed, and
thus power-sliding is a must.  I think he's the heaviest lightweight.

                                ----
                                Toad
                                ----

Toad is probably the best, or the most-liked, character in the game.
He has awesome top speeds, somewhat bad steering in comparison to the
likes of Bowser, good acceleration, and one annoying voice.  He is the
lightest character in the game, and so his lightweight attributes stick
out more than Yoshi's or Peach's do.  The downside to this is that he
can drive into a heavyweight who isn't even moving and spin out of
control.  Try him out and see how you do with him.  Toad is the best
character for Time Trials due to his speeds.  But, learn to power-slide.

                       +---------------------+
                       |    Middleweights    |
                       +---------------------+

Simply put, middleweights are average in everything.  Of course, Mario
has been well-rounded in every game he's appeared in since Super Mario
Bros. 2 (Japan), and the formula does not change for this game.  They
lose some speed when turning and going off the track, they can exercise
their weight over lightweights but are weak to heavyweights, and they
have fair acceleration and speed.  But, why settle for average?

                                -----
                                Mario
                                -----

It's-a Mario!  Yes, the star of the game is the most balanced one, too.
Mario is the heaviest middleweight, and he has good steering, okay
everything else.  I suppose you could be good with Mario, but I like my
characters to excel at something.

                                -----
                                Luigi
                                -----

Player 2, err, Luigi is also smack-dab between heavy and light,
although he is a bit lighter than his plump brother.  As such, Luigi is
a bit faster than Mario, and he has traces of lightweight qualities in
him, or at least more so than Mario.  However, they are almost equal.
It's like comparing 1 to 1.1, if you see what I'm saying.

                       +--------------------+
                       |    Heavyweights    |
                       +--------------------+

I find that most of the heavyweights are unplayable in the higher cc's
of Grand Prix.  Heavyweights have bad acceleration, below-average top
speeds, and they sink into grass or sand, meaning that veering off the
track causes them to lose massive amounts of speed.  They do have their
pluses, though.  If they turn a corner without sliding, they lose
almost no speed.  They have exceptional steering - the best in the game
- and can hit any other kart (except other heavyweights) and cause them
to spin out.  So, although other drivers may go faster than them at a
faster rate, they can hit opponents like they were a shell (or, at
least a moving Banana).  Unfortunately, crashing or spinning will cause
these big guys to lose almost all their speed, and they'll have a
harder time recovering due to their weak acceleration.

                             -----------
                             Donkey Kong
                             -----------

DK is the heaviest of all the characters in the game.  According to
Donkey Kong 64, he weighs 800 pounds (that's about 363 kilograms).
Anyways, he can ram just about anyone, but he's the slowest character
in the game with the worst acceleration of the lot.  Although he has
the most precise steering, you have to be a master of items and dodging
attacks to use Donkey Kong with any hopes of winning in the Grand Prix.

                                -----
                                Wario
                                -----

Wario is the lightest heavyweight, and he is a pretty good character,
really.  He has bad top speeds and acceleration compared to others, but
he is faster than Bowser and Donkey Kong and can topple lightweights
and possibly middleweights with the greatest of ease.  His steering is
above-average, but nothing compared to DK or...

                               ------
                               Bowser
                               ------

This titan is in the game (like all Mario Kart games), and he would be
the heaviest if DK didn't join the crew for this round of races.  True
to his weight class, Bowser has superb steering (the camera shifts when
he tilts his head), bad speed and acceleration, and plenty of weight to
throw around.  It'll take some practice to excel with King Bowser.

And those are the characters and their weight classes.  But now that we
know about the characters, items, and controls, let's get into the
actual courses and the Mario Grand Prix.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  _________________________________________________________________
 /                                                                 \
/                                                                   \
||----------------------------Section 2*-----------------------------||
\                                                                   /
 \_________________________________________________________________/

=======================================================================
==============================Grand Prix*==============================
=======================================================================

The main mode of single player is Mario Grand Prix.  There are a few
things to note about the Mario GP.

First, you choose a cc to play in.  There is, at first, 50 cc, 100 cc,
and 150 cc.  The higher the number, the harder it is.  You see, the cc
determines how large the engines are.  So, the larger the engine, the
faster the game is, and therefore the harder it is to control your kart.
Also, the opponents get sneakier as the numbers rise.  They start
leaving Bananas before ramps and the like.  There is one other mode
that you can play in Grand Prix, but that is a secret.  See "Secrets"
for details on it.

Then you choose a character to play as.  This should be obvious; choose
whoever you're best with.  Then you select a cup.  There are four cups
(this is odd; usually, Special Cup has to be unlocked), and you start
with all of them.  There is Mushroom Cup, the easiest, Flower Cup, the
intermediate, Star Cup, the somewhat hard, and Special Cup, the very
hardest.  No matter which cup you play, though, they consist of four
races on four separate tracks.  Depending on how you place in each race,
you gain a certain amount of points.  Whoever has the most points after
the fourth race wins.

The driver who places first gains 9 points.  Second place gains 6
points.  Third gains 3 points, and fourth gains 1 point.  All other
drivers get no points.  Personally, I like the point setup in Mario
Kart: Double Dash!! better, but what can you do?  If you get fifth,
sixth, seventh, or eighth place, you will have the option of retrying
the race to get a higher score.  As a result, you can play a race as
many times as you need until you get the desired place.  If you are
going to come in fourth, for instance, just stop before the finish line,
let a few people pass you, and then drive over to finish the race.  You
can retry and then attempt to get more points.  The most points
possible to get is 36; the least is 4.

Then comes the award ceremony.  If you were the first, second, or third
in rank of points, you will receive a trophy (gold, silver, and bronze,
respectively).  Fourth or worse and you will get hit by a bomb (loser!).
Also, notice that the award ceremony takes place in front of the
Mushroom Castle.  Anyways, the trophy is more grand depending on which
cc you're playing.  50 cc is basic, but 150 cc is the best.

In the next few sections, I'll have guides for all of the various
courses of the game.  There are sixteen in all, four per cup.

In the upcoming sections, each track will have this information written
about it:

                      +----------------------+
                      |    Name of Course    |
                      +----------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

This is a summary of the track, a run-down of its various Nintendo-
related themes, and other neat-o observations I make about them.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

It's just what the title says.  The guide to the track tells you how to
get through each part (hence the "walkthrough" part of this FAQ).  Note
that each race consists of three laps around the track (I only guide
you through one because each lap is identical to the last).

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route #
                          -----------------

If there are any significant alternate routes in the path, they will be
numbered and explained here.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- Places that are ideal for dropping Bananas or Fake Items will be
listed here.

Now that we know what each entry will look like, it's time to actually
cover them.  Let's-a go!

=======================================================================
=============================Mushroom Cup*=============================
=======================================================================

Mushroom Cup is the easiest cup in every Mario Kart games, and MK 64 is
no exception.  We have easy turns, several routes to the finish lines,
and some of the best courses in the game (with the best music in the
game.  I'm looking at you, Koopa Troopa Beach).  Well, maybe other cups
have it beat as far as complexity goes, but Mushroom Cup is most like
Super Mario Kart in that the tracks are small and simple.

                       +---------------------+
                       |    Luigi Raceway    |
                       +---------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

Luigi Raceway is the most basic track in the game.  According to the
manual, it is 717 meters long.  Completely devoted to Luigi, it
apparently has an audience.  In fact, I'd say that this track is the
most conventional one in the game as far as other cars go.  I guess
it's just another insult to Luigi.  It is a good place to practice
sliding, though.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

From the start, drive forward on a long straightaway.  Remember, hold A
to accelerate.  After an initial bump, you'll reach a few multicolor
blocks that I will call item boxes from here on out.  Drive into one to
get an item, and then you'll come to a turn.  Press R and tilt the
control stick to the right to start sliding.  This may be a bad idea,
though, if you start too early or late; you'll drive into the grass.
It is an easy turn, really, and power-sliding is optional.  At the end,
straighten yourself up.

Drive into the tunnel ahead.  It curves very slightly at first; power-
slide a bit.  Then it straightens up as its goes downhill.  Drive down
and take an item from the boxes assembled here.  Afterwards, make a
short slide to center yourself on the track.  Here comes the last turn
of the course.

Hold R and tilt the control stick left.  Hopefully, you'll power-slide
right through the item boxes.  This is a good chance to pull off a
mini-turbo boost.  To do this, start power-sliding and tilt the control
stick right, then left, then right, and once more left.  The smoky E's
coming out of the engine should turn from white to yellow to red.
Release to boost to the finish line.

Note: Generally appearing after the first line, there is a hot air
balloon with Luigi's face on it that lowers after the first line of
item boxes.  If you are fast enough (you may need to hop with R), you
can grab an item box from below the balloon.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- Well, nothing is that effective, but your best bet is to leave one in
any of the two wide curves, generally the center.  Opponents will drive
there and likely hit them.

- After any of the bumps in the track, especially the one before the
item boxes in the first stretch of the track.  You can hope opponents
won't see them until it's too late.

                       +--------------------+
                       |    Moo Moo Farm    |
                       +--------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

A somewhat famous track, I guess.  Moo Moo Farm is a milk-producing
farm with many cows and Monty Moles, the annoying enemies from Super
Mario World that looked like moles.  It must be a lucrative business;
there is a truck delivering the milk on the Mushroom Bridge/City tracks
in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!  In any case, this course introduces you
to in-course obstacles.  It's pretty easy, though.  It is 527 meters in
length.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward over the small bump to reach a line of item boxes.  Take
one and drive forward to a turn.  I would suggest power-sliding, but
you want to make sure you stay on the left side of the track throughout
the turn (there will be Monty Moles on the right side, and hitting them
is like hitting a shell).

After that turn, straighten yourself and go forward to see another
little line of item boxes followed by a turn to the right.  You can
power-slide briefly, and then you'll want to drive forward and under
the bridge.

Now you'll come to a cluster of item boxes.  Try to drive through them
and then drive all the way to the wall before you begin power-sliding
to the right.  This will let you avoid two groups of Monty Moles.  You
should straighten yourself when you reach a few item boxes.  From there,
drive between the pillars supporting the bridge here to reach the
finish line.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

If you want to risk it, you can drive on the right side of the road
where you could potentially hit a Monty Mole.  Though it may be faster,
it might not be worth the risk.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- After any of the bumps.  The bumps should hide the item from view.

- Left of the Monty Mole groupings.  Either drivers will go out of
their way to reach the wall, a slight waste of time, hit the trap, or
hit the Monty Moles.  It's a win no matter what they do.

- In between the central two pillars (or any of the pillars) at the
very end of the course.

                    +--------------------------+
                    |    Koopa Troopa Beach    |
                    +--------------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

Although Koopa Troopa lost his kart to Wario in this installment of the
series, he still has a course named after him.  This beach is named
after the rock formation on it that resembles a Koopa Troopa,
apparently.  The music is nice, and there are several alternate paths
that you can take.  Toward the end, be sure not to hit the crabs (the
trees can also make you spin out).  Also, do not enter the water.  It
will slow you down.  And the manual claims it is 691 meters long.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward and make a slight turn to see a strange rock formation.
Part of it is grass (the green shell), and the other looks like a Koopa
head.  Drive around it to the right (because the item boxes lean on
this side) to get around it.  Now drive forward to a ramp.  Drive onto
it to jump off of it, steering right of two palm trees and into a line
of item boxes, to pass under the arch.

Head forward to two more ramps.  I recommend at least jumping off one
to get the item boxes placed there.  Now turn right before the third
ramp.  Turn left when the track moves in that direction to pass through
a field of item boxes.

Ahead is a small rock with a ramp leading up to it.  Drive left of both
into a small cluster of trees.  Drive through, careful not to hit any,
and you'll reach a few more item boxes.  Stay close to the left wall to
take the ramps up for item boxes and the finish line (this also lets
you avoid the crabs and rising/receding water).

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

At either rock formation, you can go left or right, whichever is most
convenient for you at the time.  The first rock (the one that resembles
a Koopa Troopa) is usually better to go right at because the item boxes
are closer to it, but the left side can be useful.

At the second rock, you can go right of the ramp.  This route has no
trees, which is a plus, but it has water and isn't as direct as the
left route.  Well, whatever works out for you.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 2
                          -----------------

This occurs at the fourth ramp in the entire course; the lone one that
follows two consecutive ramps (the ones mentioned at the beginning of
the second paragraph in the guide).  If, and only if, you have a
Mushroom of some kind or are using a Super Star, you can drive onto the
ramp and jump forward into an opening in the rock wall.  It's really a
tunnel, and it leads to the waterfall.  Make a left at the exit to
continue the normal track.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 3
                          -----------------

The third alternate route, which may be the best of them, occurs near
the very end of the level.  When you see the very long ramp leading up
to a small rock (the second large, circular rock), and if you a
Mushroom or Super Star, drive up the ramp, use your boost item, and you
can fly over the rock for an item box.  You'll land past the rock,
which is not only a good shortcut but a nice way to get an item box.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 4
                          -----------------

This occurs when you reach the second ramp (right after passing under
the arch).  If you veer right, you'll notice a narrow sandbar passes
through the water and connected with the mainland.  You can drive along
this, but I wouldn't say it's better than the normal track.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- After the ramp jumps, particularly the first one.

- In the center of the track right of the first rock.

- In the center of the various palm trees seen left of the last large
rock of the course.

                      +-----------------------+
                      |    Kalimari Desert    |
                      +-----------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

Just like Moo Moo Farm, this is 527 meters long.  The desert is not
particularly Mario-oriented.  I would say that the locomotive is
similar to the one in Paper Mario that connects Dry Dry Desert with
Toad Town, but Paper Mario was released years later after this.  So,
perhaps Paper Mario was influenced by this.  In case you didn't read
that, a steam train drives through here, intersecting with the track
twice.  If you see the train, you should brake and wait for it to pass.
Otherwise, you'll be knocked high into the air (similar to hitting a
fake item).  If you have Mushrooms, use them to drive past the train
(if done correctly, this can be used to get a serious advantage over
other players).  Also, you can enter the train's tunnel.  Maybe it
could be a useful shortcut...

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward for the first stretch and power-slide across the turn to
reach a line of item boxes.  Now make another slight turn to reach the
railroad crossing.  If the train is there or you won't be able to make
it in time, drive up to it and brake to wait for it to pass.  If it is
coming, has gone, or you want to risk it (if you have a Mushroom, a
Super Star, or a Boo), then drive forward over the crossing.

Now drive forward, start power-sliding after the cactus to make the
turn, and you'll reach another set of item boxes before a railroad
crossing.  Again, stop if you think you might hit the train (it is like
hitting a fake item), but go forward if you want to risk it.

Now the track will gently curve left for a long while (notice the
various advertisements along the edges), and then it becomes straight
for a bit leading up to a line of item boxes.  Take one, turn right,
then left, and drive forward to the finish line.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

This is a cool secret, but it isn't really useful.  When you reach the
first railroad crossing, if you turn right onto the tracks (make sure
to stay near or against the wall in case the train comes), you can ride
them to the second opening, which can be taken out to the right.  It
wastes more time than it should save, really, and it's pretty risky.
Also, you can enter the tunnel and follow the train track all the way
around if you want, but you can only get off at the crossings.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- Right before either railroad crossing.  Hopefully, they will either
slip into the train or just slip.

- This place is really quite open, and so there are few great trap
locations, but try setting them on curves.  It's better than the
straightaways...

=======================================================================
==============================Flower Cup*==============================
=======================================================================

Flower Cup is somewhat difficult, but it's pretty easy compared to Star
Cup.  Flower Cup is named after the Fire Flower, obviously, which Mario
used to become Fiery Mario, which let him throw fireballs.  This was
only a second-rate power-up in Super Mario Bros. 3, though, and it's
only a second-rate cup in this game in terms of difficulty.  We have
many obstacles and sharp turns (in Mario Raceway), too.  While it's a
big increase in difficulty from Mushroom Cup, this is just the base of
the iceberg, my friend.  Wait, no, I meant tip...

                      +-----------------------+
                      |    Toad's Turnpike    |
                      +-----------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

I don't really understand how or why Toad has a highway named after him
(maybe he participated in the adopt-a-road program).  Anyways, Toad's
Turnpike is 1036 meters of truck/car-filled highway.  The items are
tucked to the side, and hitting vehicles causes you to fly into the air.
The cars have little to do with Nintendo other than having "Nintendo"
written on them, even though this is supposed to be a public road (no
offense to them and their families, but most drivers would be quite
stupid to drive in a complete circle over and over on a public road).
In any case, make sure to look for all the various Toad sketches hidden
on the course.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Do you really need a guide for this?  The only challenge is the cars,
and the rest is very self-explanatory.  Really?  Well, if you insist.

Take off from the start for a short straightaway.  Stay to the left and
keep your eyes peeled for a dip in the rail; the item boxes should be
lined up in it.  After collecting them, drive out and you'll come to
extremely gradual turn # 1.  Just head along here, avoiding cars and
the like.  After the Nintendo billboard but before the Toad-branded
highway is another item box niche.

Drive forward along this lengthy straightaway, but stick to the left
side of the road.  After all, there's going to be another recess for
items shortly.  This will keep you supplied for extremely gradual turn
# 2.  Just drive through here, switching lanes to avoid vehicles.  You
don't even have to power-slide, really, especially if you're a heavy
character.

When things start to straighten out momentarily, head left for another
item box set.  Then you'll reach one slight turn before you head
through the finish line.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- Anywhere has the potential to be a great trap location.  Fake items
cause them to rise up into the air where a vehicle might catch up with
them, while Bananas may cause them to slip into or in front of a
vehicle.  However, they are constantly moving.  Your best bet is to
leave on a curving part of the track, but even that is easy to avoid.
I'd ditch trap items as soon as I got them in this course were I you.

                      +-----------------------+
                      |    Frappe Snowland    |
                      +-----------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

While it's not directly based on anything Mario-related, it could be a
bleaker version of Snowman's Land, but I wouldn't bank on it.  It is
rather similar to Shiver Region in Paper Mario, but again, that was
released after this game.  In any case, this is an icy track filled
with snow, and there are two large snow sculptures - Yoshi and Mario.
However, there are also many small snowmen that must have bombs tucked
under them.  Drive into one and you crash, are thrown up into the air,
and the snowman temporarily retreats underground.  Now I know not to
touch snowmen...  On a side note, the manual claims that it is 734
meters long.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Start off by driving up a bit and turning right.  Now head left to go
up a small, slightly curving track.  It begins.  See that cute snowman?
Well, it's packing explosives, pal, and driving into it has the same
effect as driving into the train in Kalimari Desert.  Avoid it and
continue up the track.  Dodge three more of these little devils to
reach a depression in the track.

Drive into it and then up as if it were a ramp to land by a few item
boxes.  After them, power-slide left into a field of miniature snowmen.
Find a safe route to navigate these traps and power-slide left.  Two
more snowmen act as the final snowy obstacle before the tunnel.

Drive forward to reach a few item boxes in this smoothed out part of
the track.  Power-slide through the first turn, make a shorter one for
the second, and drive over the bridge to reach the finish line.  At
long last!

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

This is a very interesting glitch that can be used in Time Trial (or
regular races).  At the start, back up (hold B and tilt the control
stick back) before the bridge.  Go far enough so that you can drive
onto the terrain to the right (you may want to hop onto it).  On the
snow, drive forward out of the bounds of the checkered finish line
(away from the poles, too).  Now drive up the snow to go out of bounds.
Lakitu appears and brings you before the finish line.  Drive over it
now.  Oddly, it will count this as a lap, even though you didn't
complete one.  Try this out on Time Trial... It takes practice to pull
off in a race, too, and messing up can set you way back.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- In the field of snowmen.  This should be obvious and effective.  If
they are hit there (which they likely will be as they try to avoid the
snowmen), they will most likely crash into a snowman.  A double whammy!

- In the depression of after the first ramp.  The center is the best
choice for this drop.

- Along the center of any of the turns, especially those in the tunnel
toward the end.

- On the bridge at the end.  They might not hit it, but it does raise
the ante, right?  Also, it may cause them to fall into the water, a
very good bonus.

                      +----------------------+
                      |    Choco Mountain    |
                      +----------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

This area is reminiscent of Super Mario World.  The sixth "world" in
the game was called Chocolate Island, and it was governed by Bowser's
only daughter, Wendy O. Koopa.  I'm not sure if this actually is
chocolate, but this is a mountainous, hazy course.  The haze isn't that
much of a problem (I can't tell if it was intended or it's just the N64
acting up), but this is one of the few courses that you can fall off
the tracks to an earlier point in the level, which unbelievably blows.
After all, it's already 687 meters long, and you don't want to have to
repeat any of it.  There will be a few more such falls in the future,
though.  Aside from the risk of falling into a gorge if you turn too
quickly after the boulder section, though, this level is a piece of
chocolate-filled cake.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward and then power-slide around the turn.  That turn is
followed by a very short one to a grouping of item boxes.  Take one and
power-slide through the next turn.  It's a tunnel with eyes!  Drive
into this brief straightaway to reach two "tight" turns.  Normal
steering should do the trick unless you want to go out of your way to
power-slide.

Following these turns to a line of item boxes.  After them, power-slide
left to a large bump.  Jump over it to reach a short intermission of
sorts before the only remotely difficult part of the track.  Boulders
are falling, and they can hit you (which flattens you and wastes lots
of time), but these hazards are hardly worth your attention.

After the curve, you'll reach a railed turn (well, it's railed in 50 cc,
but it loses more rail as the cc rises).  Power-slide around it but
stop as soon as the rail stops.  It has been my experience that power-
sliding too long can result in falling through the small gap here,
which is a waste of time.  Afterward, power-slide right to three more
bumps before the finish line.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- After any of the bumps, especially the first one you come to.  Also,
it can be a good idea to place them on the bumps, but this takes away
the element of surprise.

- In the area where boulders are rolling down the side of the mountain.
It makes it all the more hazardous, and might just cause someone to get
hit by one of those rocks.

- Right after the item boxes by the Nintendo billboard after the
boulder part.  If they slip on a Banana there, they will likely slide
through the gap and off the course.  The items can conceal the Banana
or Fake Item, too.

                       +---------------------+
                       |    Mario Raceway    |
                       +---------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

Well, if Luigi got his own track, you can bet dollars to donuts that
Mario got his own track (in fact, Mario had his own series of tracks in
Super Mario Kart).  This course is the hardest one of the Flower Cup,
and the designers think it's the best in the game according to the
manual.  As much as I like Mario, I personally hate this track.  It has
tough turns, hitting Bananas can result in whizzing off the course,
there are Piranha Plants (a really weird type, not your usual pipe-
dwelling breed) lining the roads, and it's just generally bad.  Luckily,
it's pretty short at 567 meters long.  Numerous shortcuts are open to
you if you have Super Stars or Mushrooms due to the excessive amount of
grass and sand on this paved course, but even those can't save you on
150 cc (and Extra Mode is just terrible for this course).

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward and power-slide across this hairpin turn.  Make sure to
start all of your power-slides early in this course.  Drive forward and
power-slide (start right before or during contact with the item boxes)
right, switching to left as necessary for the next set of turns.

You'll come to a Mushroom and a few Piranha Plants, plus a U-turn.  I
would start power-sliding before I passed the first few Piranha Plants
if I were you.  You'll come to a set of item boxes and two nasty turns
after that.  Proper power-sliding will get you through here safely, but
up next is the sand.

Start power-sliding by the second-to-last tree to avoid entering the
sand, and stop when the track straightens out for a bit.  Then start
power-sliding left through item boxes.  Straighten out and drive
through the pipe to one final turn.  Start power-sliding a second or so
after passing the shadow of the pipe to reach the finish line.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

If you have a Mushroom, especially Super Mushrooms, or if you have a
Super Star, you can use them to pass through terrain (that is, non-
track parts of the course like grass).  This is useful in a few places,
but it all depends on your situation.  They're all rather obvious, and
you should be the better judge.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- On any sharp turn in the level (leave them in the center of the road,
though).

- During the U-turn, in the center or the outside part of it.

- Right before the sand or any other type of terrain that stretches out
for a long while.  If they hit a Banana there, they'll spin out into
the terrain, and it'll really set them back because they must turn
around, get out of the terrain, etc.

=======================================================================
===============================Star Cup*===============================
=======================================================================

For the most part, I enjoy playing in Star Cup.  It has some unique
courses, and they tend to be longer than others.  Star Cup is also
harder than the Mushroom or Flower Cups, but I think it's better than
Flower (maybe not Mushroom; it depends).  Anyways, I think these
courses speak for themselves...

                       +---------------------+
                       |    Wario Stadium    |
                       +---------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

At 1591 meters long, this is the second-longest course in the game.
The longest is two kilometers.  But, I digress.  This course is
dedicated to Wario, and he has assembled a massive audience in this
huge course.  Game Boy-style pictures of his face line the walls, and
it's a dirt track with tons of ramps and bumps.  Overall, it's a fun
course.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward over the first bump to reach two others that you must
pass over.  Do so and power-slide left to a large ramp.  Take it up and
fall down to the item boxes below.  Take one and drive forward in the
slightly curving path to reach several red arrow signs.

Power-slide into the turn and then power-slide left.  The next U-turn
should be power-slid through, and you might get an item box if you're
lined up correctly.  After it are two small bumps.  Drive over them and
make a U-turn with power-sliding to then make another, longer U-turn
(it's ideal for mini-turbo boosts).

Now drive up the next two ramps to fall down into a bumpy area (make
sure to drive through the item boxes on your way there).  Drive over
this, sticking to the right, and make a U-turn into the next region of
the stadium.  After three bumps, you'll make another power-sliding U-
turn into a series of smaller bumps.

Notice that you're on the jumbo screen ahead.  Drive through these
bumps (you'll likely bounce across) to reach a depression with item
boxes lining the center.  Take one and continue forward.  Then comes a
very wide turn.  Take it, power-sliding if you want to (I say it's
better not to) to reach a few item boxes, and then power-slide for the
rest of the turn to reach a particularly large ramp.

Drive up it and you'll jump across a gap (if you fall, you're in an
earlier part of the level) to land on lower ground.  Drive forward
across it, make a sharp turn for some item boxes, and then make a U-
turn.  Follow the wall to the finish line.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

Of course, it should be noted that this can be done (with great
difficulty) in several locations, but the first few ramps are the best.
If you have a Mushroom, you can use it while driving up a ramp to fly
over the walls!  Yes, this saves tons of time and is quite easy to do
if you have the proper equipment.  It can also work with Super Stars.
This is especially easy in Time Trials, in which you start with a
Triple Mushroom.  To be more specific, drive toward the left wall,
power-slide to face the left, and use Mushrooms with the right timing
to fly over the wall.  You'll land about halfway through the course.
It is possible, but difficult, to jump the wall again to reach the
finish line and get a great time, but it's very hard to do.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- After landing from any of the ramps.  Also, it is a very good idea to
set them on ramps.  Setting one on the huge ramp that sends you flying
over the gap can be most effective.  Also, note that if you have the
Thunder Bolt, small characters cannot pass over the huge gap using the
ramp...

- After bumps.  The bumps can hide the Banana/Fake Item from view, and
the unsuspecting driver will never see it coming.

                       +--------------------+
                       |    Sherbet Land    |
                       +--------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

Sherbet Land is 756 meters long, just barely longer than Frappe Land.
However, Sherbet Land is a winter wonderland based around ice more than
snow, and it's also home to many Tuxies, the race of penguins first
introduced in Super Mario 64 in Cool, Cool Mountain.  Of course,
bumping into them causes you to spin out or lose speed, and the ice
reduces tire traction somewhat.  However, the biggest problem with this
level is the icy water and the various cracks.  Curse them!

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward and turn right to see a baby Tuxie.  Aw, so cute.  Wrong!
It will dive at you if given the chance, which is like hitting a Banana.
Avoid it and round the next corner (if you're desperate for a shortcut,
you *can* hop the edge of the crack, but it's risky) while avoiding a
Tuxie kid.

Now drive forward to the line of item boxes.  Get one to the right so
that you can easily make the next turn, and then the next, to reach a
wide, open space.  Drive through the initial item boxes and then pass
two Tuxies to enter a cave.

Here's where the big birds play...  Drive forward down the tunnel to
enter a large, cavernous room.  There are adult Tuxies circling the
pillars here.  To best avoid them, drive up to the red arrow (not to it,
but close to it), power-slide to the left, drive to the next arrow, and
then go left to take the tunnel up.

It's just a few more meters before the end of the course.  Drive
forward, veering left for an item box if you want (this puts you in a
bad position, though), and then drive forward, hanging to the right, so
that you can power-slide around the next turn.  Stay to the right to
avoid a crack in the ice and reach the finish line, dodging Tuxie
children all the way.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

It's not much of a shortcut, but it is.  When you reach the first large,
open space, you'll see a blue rock to the right.  If you drive right of
it, you'll reach a narrow path with a lone item box in it.  From there,
drive forward to the cave entrance.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- In the initial area, around the turns.  Hopefully, either your traps
or the Tuxies roaming this section will cause your opponents to slip
off the track and into the frigid water.

- Left or right of the pillars in the cave filled with adult Tuxies.
If your trap doesn't get them, the penguins will.

- If you are playing VS Mode and the other player(s) tends to use
Alternate Route 1, drop a Banana/Fake Item there.  It's very narrow,
and it'll be practically inescapable.

                       +---------------------+
                       |    Royal Raceway    |
                       +---------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

The last raceway course, I promise.  It is also the longest at 1025
meters.  While this is not nearly as terrible as Mario Raceway, it's no
Luigi Raceway, that's for sure.  Royal Raceway is Peach's course, and
it has two very neat alternate routes.  Yes, I am referring to Mushroom
Castle.  It's in the level, ya'll!  You stoked?  You should be.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive along this straightaway and power-slide left to a new piece of
track.  Drive along it, turning shortly afterwards, to reach one nasty
U-turn.  Don't try to power-slide here (unless you do so along the
grass); it has no rail and is very risky.  Just turn normally (or use A
and B to spin-turn) and continue forward.

Drive down this straightaway to perform a power-slide to a new road to
the right.  Now drive down a brief straightaway to make a sliding turn
again.  Follow this up by power-sliding left between two Piranha Plants
and into a few item boxes.  Now power-slide right ahead into a wide U-
turn.

Center yourself on the track and drive forward to a large speed boost.
It should blast you forward to a second one, and it should launch you
at 60 kilometers per hour across the lake and to the road.

Drive forward to a few item boxes and then power-slide left.  Power-
slide again to the right, and then left.  Now pass through the slanted
part of the road without sliding to reach a few item boxes at the foot
of a straightaway.  Collect them and drive forward to a final power-
turn into the finish line.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

This is a very neat secret, although it only wastes time and really
shouldn't qualify as an "alternate route".  After landing from the
giant boost pad, look right to see a yellow path leading off the track.
If you take it, you'll find the Mushroom Castle!  Yes, it's just like
it was in Super Mario 64 (minus the walls that close it off and a few
other things, of course), and you can even ram the door (you cannot
enter, but it's all very cool).  However, this does not connect back to
the main track in another way, and so it is a waste of time as far as
racing is concerned.  It's just nice scenery...

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 2
                          -----------------

This is one of the reasons people like Mario Kart 64; it has many risk-
it-all shortcuts.  This is one of them.  If you pull it off, you're way
ahead of the rest.  If you fail, you're going to spend the rest of the
race catching up with them.  I definitely wouldn't try it in Grand Prix
unless it was the third lap and you were in a very low rank.  Note that
this is only possible in 150 cc (or at least, the other cc's are
incredibly, impossibly difficult).

This occurs at the large booster ramp.  When on it, if you shoot off it
to the left, you will be flung toward the finish line.  However, not
even this boost pad can propel you that far.  Your goal is to land on
the little patch of dirt as close to the side of the road and the item
boxes as possible.  If you hit a wall, land in the water, or just plain
miss, you have failed.  And even if you do land on that long patch of
dirt, it can still flop.  Lakitu will now come to rescue you.  If he
sets you down on the boost pad, you have failed.  If he sets you down
on the nearby road, right in front of the finish line, you have
succeeded!  This is very handy, and I've used it a few times before in
dire straits, but the chances of it succeeding are much slimmer than
the chances of it failing.  Good luck.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- Right before the boost pads.  Do not leave Bananas (Fake Items are
still good) on the boosters themselves, though.  When moving very
quickly, players are unaffected by Bananas (this works for Mushrooms,
too).  This probably won't make them mess up, but it is a fun trick to
play.  And it may change their direction so that they are fired in the
wrong direction, thus landing in the lake and having to return to the
ramp.

- Right after landing from the large boost over the lake.

- On the first treacherous U-turn.  Should someone hit a Banana there,
they will slip into the lake.  In fact, anywhere on the turns by the
lake (in the starting area) are good.

- On the slanted road before the item boxes toward the end of the
course (a few meters before the finish line).

                      +-----------------------+
                      |    Bowser's Castle    |
                      +-----------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

In Super Mario Bros., the fourth level of every world was Bowser's
Castle, a place filled with Podoboos, lava, fire, and enemies.  At the
end was a bridge, and it was on such bridges over lava that Mario/Luigi
battled Bowser to save Peach.  Bowser had a similar castle in Super
Mario Bros. 3 (only decked out with lasers, Roto-Disc enemies, and
Thwomps).  And Super Mario World's Bowser's Castle had more neon lights
than any night club in Las Vegas.  It was filled with enemies
proportionately.  In Super Mario Kart, there were several such Bowser's
Castle stages.  Although this game has only one, I'd say it's far
better then the original courses.  This stage can be hard for beginners,
but it's a good finish for Star Cup.  Also, notice that Bowser locked
up a green Thwomp in the first Thwomp room.  I guess the King of the
Koopa is prejudice against green Thwomps.  Or that Thwomp has a disease
that can't be spread, or it's a freedom fighter, or it's a violent
Thwomp with a fiery temper, or it lives there, or...  I'll end this for
your sake.  Anyways, it's only 777 meters, but it feels longer due to
traps and sharp turns.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive across this bridge to reach the courtyard.  A Bowser statue here
is breathing flames, but they won't hit you.  Power-slide through the
items and into a room with Thwomps in it.  Avoid these falling/rising
blocks so that you can power-slide left into a new room.  Then slide
right, but venture off of the red carpet (stay to the left of it).

Why do this?  Because two Thwomps appear from the end of the hallway to
crash down on you/to block you.  Stay left of the red carpet and they
can't touch you.  Drive forward to an opening blocked by one to three
Thwomp defenders (it varies with the cc).  Then you'll turn into a
short hallway.  Drive through it, power-slide into a room with Thwomps
moving horizontally across it (the first game to give Thwomps a voice),
and you'll power-slide to a narrow hallway.

Drive forward over a wooden bridge above the lava and then power-slide
right to a group of item boxes.  Collect your item and power-slide out
of here to make a U-turn (don't power-slide through it, though).  Then
drive forward to see a green arrow.  Take its advice and turn here to
another wooden bridge.

This leads to a spiral up a tower.  Take it up, drive over the ramp,
and drop down to the rooftop of the castle (well, sort of).  Drive
forward for a few items, go left to make a right turn and drive forward
to the finish line.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

This isn't much of an alternate route, but it is one at least.  After
falling from the ramp to the item boxes as I discussed in the last
paragraph of the guide, you can go right and fall from there to the
lower level.  Then you have to make a U-turn of sorts to drive forward
to the finish line.  You'll know what I mean when you see it.  However,
this U-turn is tricky because very little space is provided for it, and
I recommend following the main guide.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- The Thwomp rooms are all perfect places to set Bananas and/or Fake
Items.  In fact, the last Thwomp that guards the hallway in the second
Thwomp room is already a danger; setting a trap by it would leave
opponents with little recourse.

- On any bridge over lava, but preferably the narrow one before the
second courtyard.

- Along the center of the U-turn in the second courtyard (the one
before the spiral).

- If you have the Thunder Bolt, wait for opponents to start toward the
final ramp over lava just a little ways before the finish line to use
it.  The small characters won't be able to make it because they move so
slowly.  While we're on the subject, leaving a Banana just a short
distance away from the ramp works nicely, too.  With any luck,
opponents will spin out over the edge and fall into the lava there.

=======================================================================
=============================Special Cup*==============================
=======================================================================

In most Mario Kart games, Special Cup is a secret that is unlocked by
beating some cup on a certain cc.  In this game, you start with it.
But, in any case, Special Cup is always the most challenging one, and
it always ends with that classic Rainbow Road.  Although I loath
Banshee Boardwalk, the rest of the cup is pretty good.

                   +-----------------------------+
                   |    D.K.'s Jungle Parkway    |
                   +-----------------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

I wonder what course Magikoopa had when he was in the game...  It
really doesn't matter now, because Donkey Kong has taken this spot.
The parkway is quite an intricate course (yes, it is possible to get
onto that boat), but it isn't particularly DK-related aside from the
jungle theme.  Generally, this is a mild course that shouldn't give you
much trouble.  I'd say it's the second-easiest course in the cup.  It's
also the second-longest at 893 meters.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward and power-slide to the right.  Drive through the item
boxes here and you'll reach a slow but steady turn.  Slide up it (or
just turn) to reach a boost pad similar to the one in Royal Raceway.
Get on to be blasted across the river and onto the ground there (it
helps to try to push the control stick to the left to land farther up
the road).

Turn left and drive forward through a few item boxes.  Now make a quick
turn onto the road here and drive down it, turning when necessary, to
eventually reach a bridge.  Drive onto it and take it across the gorge
to a cave.

Here, drive forward through a few item boxes until you reach the wall.
Make a turn now (turn, U-turn) to drive up a slope and reach the
checkered line of finish.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

This hardly qualifies, but it's a good time-saver.  When you enter the
cave, power-slide up the slope by the item boxes to quickly reach the
top of the slope.  Computers always go all the way back to the wall and
then up the slope.  This should put you ahead of them if done correctly.
But, if you try it too high up, it won't work (the item box area is a
good place to do it).

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- Right before the boost pad that launches you over the river.  With
any luck, they will spin out over the ramp and fall into the river.

- In the cave section, right at the turn that computers usually take to
start up the slope.

- Though the chances of someone hitting it are slim, anywhere along the
water in the beginning.  An opponent might just hit it and spin out
into the water.  And we all know what's in that water, right?

                       +--------------------+
                       |    Yoshi Valley    |
                       +--------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

Yoshi rocks.  He rocked in Super Mario World, Super Mario World 2,
Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine... and
more games I won't list (yeah, I'm talking about Ocarina of Time!).
But, even though Yoshi's awesome, I can't help but dislike this level.
Although I like the fact that there are multiple routes, writing a
guide for eleven different paths through the level (because there are
that many) is no fun.  Basically, Yoshi Valley is a canyon with thin
tracks built onto it.  And oddly, Porcupos, the rare porcupine enemies
from Super Mario Bros. 2 (USA), inhabit it.  But they're the least of
your concerns.  There is little rail, which often causes you to fall
off the track and into the pits below (it's a long fall and a long time
to get fished back up by Lakitu).  And really, the only thing that
would suggest Yoshi in this entire level is a single Yoshi's Egg (but a
whopping one, I must admit) toward the end of the level that rolls
around to crush drivers.  Yoshi Circuit in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is
much, much better, in my opinion.  The manual says that it is 772
meters long, but that's only one route...

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Notice that you can't tell who's in first, second, third, or fourth
throughout the entire match (the map helps, though).  Take off from the
start and you'll reach a few item boxes.  Take one, turn, and you'll
see two Yoshi flags.  Here's where the routes divide.  I'll be guiding
you through the fastest way through this level.

-----------REPLACE ALTERNATE ROUTES 1-10 WITH THIS PARAGRAPH-----------

Take a right at this intersection.  Then turn left as soon as possible
to a narrow but railed path.  Continue forward to reach a fork in the
road; go right to a small bridge and some item boxes.  Take the latter
and take the former across to reach a small slope upwards that leads
you past a few Porcupos (porcupine enemies).  Drive past them until you
drive off of the ledge, and then head left.

-----------REPLACE ALTERNATE ROUTES 1-10 WITH THIS PARAGRAPH-----------

Now, this is where the paths rejoin.  Drive forward to a large U-turn
(it's very wide, and you shouldn't worry about falling off).  From
there, the road narrows to an almost S-shaped turn.  Take it to find a
giant Yoshi's Egg.  When it is rolling in one direction (it will
flatten you), drive onto the bridge past it.  Head up this bridge to
reach a grassy slope.  Head up the path, turning right about midway
through, and then follow the path to the finish line.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

Take a right at the first turn and then make a left as soon as you can.
Now go left at the next fork to find another fork in the road with
Porcupos in it.  Choose to go right and through a small arch.  You'll
pass through another small arch, fall out to a few Porcupos, and then
drive forward to rejoin the guide at the third paragraph.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 2
                          -----------------

Go right at the first fork in the road and take the first left that you
can.  Here, take the left turn at the next fork and you'll reach
another fork with Porcupos on it.  Take the left path this time, and
turn right onto a small road from here.  Drive across it to reach an
arrow, and then follow the track to fall off a wooden ledge and into
the third paragraph of the guide.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 3
                          -----------------

Take a right at the first turn and then drive all the way to the right
past the first turn.  The path forms a circle before it begins to
straighten out into a straightforward path leading to a red arrow.
Drive along the track the arrow points to and you'll fall off a wooden
ledge, thus bringing you to the third paragraph.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 4
                          -----------------

At the first fork, go left.  Now take the right path here down past a
few Porcupos to reach an arched opening.  Drive through to find more
Porcupos.  Drive past them and follow the arrows to the third paragraph.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 5
                          -----------------

Take a left at the first turn and then take a right at the next fork to
drive down past several Porcupos.  Now drive right of here to a cave
opening.  Take it to a bridge; drive over this up a path with Porcupos
sprinkled onto it.  You'll hop off a ledge at the end.  Turn left and
read the third paragraph of the guide.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 6
                          -----------------

Take a left at the first turn and then go left to a narrow road.  Drive
along it and follow the arrow to be deposited to the gathering point
after dropping off of a ledge.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 7
                          -----------------

Drive all the way right on the first turn past a left turn and you'll
reach a circle.  Drive shortly after this circle up the mountain and
you'll see a red arrow pointing over the ledge of the platform.  Drop
there to fall to a line of Porcupos below.  Drive past them to reach
the hub area and enter paragraph three.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 8
                          -----------------

Take a left at the first turn and then go right down a road of Porcupos
(dodge them for safety purposes).  Take a right at the next fork and
then head up the slope here to circle the mountain.  Drive along it
until you see a red sign pointing right.  Drive off the track here to
land on a road of Porcupos.  Drive up this road, avoiding the enemies,
and turn right at the sign to reach the third paragraph.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 9
                          -----------------

Turn left at the first fork and then go right down this Porcupo-
infested road.  Take a right at the end and drive down this path to see
a path leading to the upper-right.  Drive up it to do a circle.  Now
drive forward along the semi-straight path to see a sign pointing you
along a slight turn.  Follow it to fall off a ledge and rejoin the
third paragraph.

                         ------------------
                         Alternate Route 10
                         ------------------

Make a left at the first fork in the road and go left afterward to a
narrow path over the pit below.  Carefully drive along it until you see
a red arrow sign.  Drive right here and drop off the ledge you see.
You'll land at the bottom of a Porcupo-infested road.  Drive up it to
rejoin everyone else at the third paragraph.

NOTE: I have listed the eleven most basic ways to traverse the tricky
paths of Yoshi Valley.  However, there are other completely pointless
paths you *could* take (i.e. taking a right at the first turn, taking a
left at the next, taking two lefts ahead to drive up the Porcupo road,
and then returning to the starting position.  It's a circle), but these
utterly pointless paths will not be covered.  Please don't send me e-
mails regarding other paths you might find.

                         ------------------
                         Alternate Route 11
                         ------------------

No, this is actually a shortcut, not one of the various long-cuts
listed as Alternate Routes 1-10.  In the third paragraph, after making
U-turn as you approach the giant egg, you'll notice a small groove in
the right side of the track.  You can save yourself about a second if
you jump over that.  And while I'm at it, I should mention that you can
pass over the grass at the start/at the end by using Mushrooms of Stars.
I said that here because this track guide already has way too many
Alternate Routes.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- Right before the giant egg.  Hopefully, players will hit that and be
crushed, too.  We can dream...

- On any of the ledges with no rail.  The one narrow path to the very
left of the first fork is very good with this.

                     +-------------------------+
                     |    Banshee Boardwalk    |
                     +-------------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

Ah!  Note that that was not an "ah" of joy, but one of misery.  Most of
the Mario Kart team members are pretty nice, but there must some who
loves to throw in such terrible tracks.  Also, they want to melt the
polar ice caps to flood the world...  I hated the Ghost Valley tracks
in Super Mario Kart, and this is just as bad.  Basically, we have a
ghost-themed course, and there are always multiple opportunities to
fall off the track.  This is 747 meters of wretched, Boo and bat-
infested track.  Nothing can prepare you for it!

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Drive forward and power-slide left through this right-angle turn.  Now
drive forward, waiting to pass the hole (you'll fall into the water
otherwise) to turn into the narrow strip of track.  Make another quick
turn ahead to reach a few item boxes.

Head through this U-turn (stick to the right; it has no rail in the
center) to pass under a bloated Cheep Cheep.  Now drive forward to
another right turn and then slowly pass through the next part until the
rails return.

Drive forward to make a right turn, but don't power-slide unless you're
a pro; you have the potential to fall off this un-railed part of the
track.  Now you'll enter a building.  Go right immediately.  A dumpster
here releases bats intended to keep you back.  But, you have to turn
ahead (otherwise, you'll fall into a well camouflaged ditch) and then
make a sharp turn into a new room.  Pass a cage with bats pouring out,
collect the item boxes, and turn right sharply to exit the building.

Only a few more tricky turns to go.  Go forward, making a U-turn (you
won't want to power-slide unless you're a seasoned professional; the
right rail is missing), and then drive forward to finally reach the
finish line.  Okay, so maybe I over-exaggerated the difficulty of this
course...  If you're careful, it's easy.

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

This is pretty risky.  When you first enter the building, you can go
left to pass through a small alcove.  Drive forward, using R to hop
over the gap, and you'll rejoin the normal path.  While it saves time,
it's not worth the risk in Grand Prix mode.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- Any turn that has no rail.

- The part of the interior of the building with the bats in it.  With
any luck, bats will make them hit the item, which could conceivably
send them into the water.  This is what competition where you don't
want to blow your opponents out of the water!  Ha, ha... Ah, terrible
pun.  What was I thinking?

                       +--------------------+
                       |    Rainbow Road    |
                       +--------------------+

-------------------------------Overview--------------------------------

This is the longest track in the game.  The manual says it is 2000
meters long.  This being a launch title (sort of), Rainbow Road shows
off the N64's transparency abilities.  Rainbow Road is always a crowd
favorite, and it has appeared in every Mario Kart game in the series.
Basically, it's a track made of rainbow.  In this game, it is railed
off and thus pretty safe, but phantom Chain Chomps will appear on the
track to try to bite you infrequently.  As a result, it's a good idea
to keep your eyes appealed to avoid them.  These Chain Chomps can make
things quite hectic with all the Mini Bomb Karts in VS Mode...  Also,
if you look in the background, you can see rainbow-outlined figures in
the sky - all the playable characters and Boo.

---------------------------------Guide---------------------------------

Rainbow Road in this game is sort of like Toad's Turnpike because both
are linear tracks with a few dangers in them.  The Chain Chomps are the
only obstacle, and I can't really provide a good guide because they
appear at random intervals.  However, I can still guide you through the
track, if for some reason you find yourself lost on this
straightforward, railed off, harmless track.  I'd say this is the
easiest track in the game (and definitely the longest).

Drive forward to descend down a large slope.  When you hit bottom,
drive forward through a ring of rainbow (hmm, I never thought I'd say
that).  Now make a power-sliding turn if you want through item boxes to
reach another line of item boxes.

The track now starts to descend.  Drive down, watching for Chain Chomps,
and you'll reach another set of item boxes.  Turn along this slightly
curving track to reach a turn with some item boxes before it.  Collect
them, turn, and then power-slide along the U-turn here to reach another
section of the track.

The track dips and then rises here.  Power-slide afterward through a
few item boxes and move on to a few more easy turns.  Collect a few
more item boxes here and just drive along the track, which moves in a
circular pattern, until you reach a few item boxes.  Take one and drive
forward, moving left slightly, to reach the finish line at long last.

Take away the Chain Chomps and this is one dull course (at least it
features outlines of Mario, Luigi, Peach, a Mushroom, Boo, Donkey Kong,
Yoshi, Bowser, Toad, and Wario in that order in the background).

                          -----------------
                          Alternate Route 1
                          -----------------

By far the coolest trick in any track of any cup, this is the famed
drop of death, as I like to call it.  It either results in a major step
ahead the rest of the players, or an almost guaranteed defeat.  At the
start, if you have a boost of speed and you jump at the right time
while facing left, it is possible to soar over the gap and land on the
track there.  This is extremely difficult, but still possible.  Jump
too early and you won't make it across the gap, but too late and you
won't be able to jump.  Note that it is possible to over-jump, too.  If
timed correctly, this jump can make all the difference in Time Trials.

-----------------------Strategic Trap Locations------------------------

- No place is particularly good, but if you do set any traps, do so in
the left or right lane, not the center.  After all, a Chain Chomp just
might force them into it.

- The parts of the track that slope downward are the easiest to use.
The course is transparent, and so you can't really hide any trap items.
But, it's the best you can do here.

- Right before the big fall.  They might just spin out and roll down
the slope.

=======================================================================
==============================Extra Mode*==============================
=======================================================================

If you beat each cup (Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special) in 150 cc,
you will unlock a new mode of play - Extra.

Extra is pretty (who am I kidding?  More like VERY) hard, though.  It
is played on 150 cc standards, but everything in the tracks is
completely... backwards!  Yes, it's like looking into a mirror.  All
left turns become right (and vice versa).  Since you're used to it the
other way, it can be very hard at first.  I drove into walls when I
made turns many times.  No new guides are really required; just change
every "right" to "left" and vice versa, but it is worthy of mention.

=======================================================================
=============================Time Trials*==============================
=======================================================================

Like it sounds, Time Trials is the mode that you race the clock in to
see just how fast you can lap the course three times.  Mostly, it's for
familiarizing yourself with the courses, although it can also be used
for bragging rights.  Here are a few notes of interest about Time Trial
matches.

- You race alone.  For this reason, lightweights are the best to use in
Time Trials because of their superior acceleration and speed.  After
all, there aren't any heavyweights around to bully you, now are there?

- You cannot get items in this mode.  Instead, you start with a Triple
Mushroom.  In courses like Koopa Troopa Beach, use these Mushrooms to
access shortcuts.  In other courses that have none, like Luigi Raceway,
just use them to get speed boosts.

- Time Trial records how long it took you to make your fastest lap and
how long it took you to complete the course in general (it also records
the driver used).  This information is shown under "Data" on the main
screen.

- If you're playing with an Nintendo 64 Controller Pak (please, read an
FAQ about "Nintendo 64 Hardware" for details on this kind of thing),
you can save "ghosts" after trials.  Ghosts are phantom images of how
you raced once on a certain task.  Watching them from the perspective
of an opponent can help you to see where you went wrong, what you can
improve on, and test out shortcuts to see if they're really as short as
I make them sound.  If you're not using an N64 Controller Pak, you
cannot save them.  Also note that ghosts can be watched only if you
select "Replay".  It shows a video of your performance.

- Getting very good times on a certain set of courses could unlock
something cool.  Why not scroll down to "Secrets" below to find out?

And that's basically everything you would want to know about Time
Trials.  Please don't send me your times.  I get enough e-mail already.

=======================================================================
===============================Secrets*================================
=======================================================================

Although it's no Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (or Super Circuit, for that
matter), Mario Kart 64 has a few secrets to keep players busy.  None of
them are that easy to unlock, although they range from medium
difficulty to nearly impossible.  Here they are.

                        +------------------+
                        |    Extra Mode    |
                        +------------------+

What could be more challenging than 150 cc?  How about 150 cc with
everything reversed?  Extra Mode is a new option when selecting a cc to
play on, and it is basically 150 cc with everything that used to go
right going left and vice versa.  It's quite challenging, really.  To
unlock it, beat (that is, get the Gold Cup) each cup of 150 cc -
Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special.

Note: When you unlock Extra Mode, the title screen changes.  Whereas it
used to show Wario, Mario, and Bowser front and center, it now has a
side view that shows other character who weren't show before (primarily,
Donkey Kong and Luigi).

                     +-------------------------+
                     |    Time Trial Ghosts    |
                     +-------------------------+

Although this is probably the one opportunity I will ever have to
seriously say "g-g-gh-ghosts!", I have self control.  By getting very
good times on Luigi Raceway, Mario Raceway, and Royal Raceway, you can
unlock ghosts for that track.  These ghosts mean business, my friend.
They are extremely tough (more so than unlocking them is), and beating
those ghosts makes you a true Mario Kart master.  Here are the times
you must get for each course to unlock them for that course.

                  +------------------------------+
                  |    Luigi Raceway: 1'52"00    |
                  |    Mario Raceway: 1'30"00    |
                  |    Royal Raceway: 2'40"00    |
                  +------------------------------+

Interestingly, if you press R on the title screen, your fastest time
for Mario Raceway will show up.  Mario truly is the star of the show.

                      +-----------------------+
                      |    Losers Bomb Out    |
                      +-----------------------+

Ugh, what a terrible pun.  This isn't a secret per se, but it is pretty
cool.  If you come in fourth place overall (this is harder to do than
it sounds.  You can't continue in the race if you come in 5th or worse
(you'll have to retry), which means you'll probably have to get exactly
4th for each race.  Anyways, coming in fourth shows an award ceremony
with failure music.  And then you are struck by a Bob-omb.  Ha, ha!
Just like in real life...  But, if you make it to first, second, or
third, you can briefly see the fourth place racer to the side before
you rise up on your pedestal.

Those are all of the general secrets (I did not include ones like
glitch shortcuts or the Mushroom Castle in Royal Raceway).  No, there
are not any secret characters!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  _________________________________________________________________
 /                                                                 \
/                                                                   \
||----------------------------Section 3*-----------------------------||
\                                                                   /
 \_________________________________________________________________/

=======================================================================
=============================Multi-Player*=============================
=======================================================================

Mario Kart 64 is a beloved game by many, but not necessarily for its
single player mode.  While playing Grand Prix against computers or
challenging yourself in Time Trials is nice, playing with friends is
often much more fun.  There are three different modes of play for
multiplayer.  Battle Mode is much more complex than the other two, and
so this section is devoted only to Grand Prix and VS Mode.

                        +------------------+
                        |    Grand Prix    |
                        +------------------+

This is a very fun mode that can be played only with two players.  The
screen is divided into halves, and two players compete to bring home
the Gold Cup in Mario Grand Prix.  Yes, you're practically doubling
your chances of winning (if you're both good).  The smaller screen does
add challenge by giving you a smaller view of things, but that's what
they do in multiplayer.  There's really no reason to delve into this
since I have several sections devoted to Grand Prix and the courses
it's played on.  However, note that there is no map of the course.  To
see who's leading, you'll have to look at the bar in the center of the
screen that shows each player moving forward.  However, if you want to,
you can press C (Right) to show a map of the course for you.  But no
speedometer for you...

                          +---------------+
                          |    VS Mode    |
                          +---------------+

Playable with two to four players, this is a race amongst human players
only.  However, to make things more interesting, Mini Bomb Karts appear
at random locations.  They are simply bombs mounted on karts, and
driving into one causes you to crash (like a Fake Item).  This makes
some courses like Toad's Turnpike much more difficult, while others
you'll hardly notice it on (I refer to Wario Stadium with its wide
tracks).  Human players are far less predictable than computers, and
they will use their items more often.  The only bad thing I can see is
that the screen is chopped up into four sections (two if you're playing
with two players).  I hope you're playing on a big television set...

I don't have a lot to say about these multiplayer modes of play, but I
have plenty to say when it comes to Battle Mode.  It gets its own
section, and it is well-deserved.  Although I like Mario Kart: Double
Dash!! better in general (it's my favorite MK game in the series), my
favorite Battle Mode is in Mario Kart 64 without a doubt.

=======================================================================
=============================Battle Mode*==============================
=======================================================================

Here's where multiplayer mode gets fun.  I own every Mario Kart game in
the series (except, of course, Mario Kart Arcade GP), and I have played
Battle Mode in each.  But none of them can compare to the Battle Mode
that Mario Kart 64 has.  But, what is this mode I speak so fondly of,
exactly?  Let me explain away.

                     +-------------------------+
                     |    Battle Mode Rules    |
                     +-------------------------+

Whether you're playing against a friend or are having a grudge match,
Battle Mode is a fight with items between the Mario Kart drivers.  Each
human player gets a player (there are no computers) with three balloons
attached to their kart.  The object of the game is to knock off all the
balloons of your opponents' karts (and your opponents are everyone but
you).

Doing this is pretty simple, too.  Any form of attack will work.  You
can hit them with shells, tackle them with Super Stars, make them hit a
trap (Banana/Fake Item), or use physical attacks (heavyweight driving
into lightweight) or course hazards to knock one balloon off.  In this
mode, all items are available except for Thunder Bolts, Spiny's Shells,
Triple Shells (red), Mushrooms, Super Mushrooms, or Triple Mushrooms.
If you fall off the course on into lava, you will lose a balloon.

When playing with three to four players, when one player loses, they
will turn into Mini Bomb Karts (bombs on wheels).  They can control
themselves now, and can drive into players (avenging their defeat or
aiding their ally).  When a Mini Bomb Kart hits you, you lose a balloon
as well.  But, Mini Bomb Karts can only explode once.

You have a map of the arena on the screen much like you have a map of
the course in races.  On it is a radar system to tell you where
opponents are hiding.  Use this to know when to attack and when to flee.
Also, if you are about to be hit by a shell, hold Z (if you have this
type of item) to hold out a Banana, Fake Item, or shell to block it.
This is a very useful technique.

There are four arenas in Battle Mode.  They are Big Donut, Block Fort,
Double Deck, and Skyscraper.  All have their own properties, and I'll
cover them below.

                         +-----------------+
                         |    Big Donut    |
                         +-----------------+

This is probably an obscure reference to Donut Plains, the second area
in Super Mario World.  In any case, we have a course shaped like a
donut, hence the name.  There is lava in the center of the course
(don't drive into that), and there are large blocks arranged so that
they would form a circle around the lava pit if connected.  You can
hide behind these to ambush opponents (or to hide).  These are your
only defense against red shells, really.  If an opponent is hiding here,
try letting a green shell ricochet between the edge of the course and
the wall.  If you leave Bananas near the lava pit, you might just get
them slip in.  Better yet, a heavyweight could force someone in.

                        +------------------+
                        |    Block Fort    |
                        +------------------+

This is definitely my favorite arena.  Four "forts" are located on a
giant, walled-in square.  Each fort is colored red, blue, green, or
yellow, and they are tiered so that there are two levels to each fort.
Ramps lead from the ground to the forts' levels (there are two ramps
connecting the ground and lower level, one connecting lower level and
upper level).  There are also bridges connecting the forts (there are
two bridges going off each lower level and two off each upper level).
And then there is the ground, which is a death zone.  I say this
because all shells that don't hit other players will fall to the ground
and ricochet about endlessly until they hit another shell or until they
hit a player.  It's very fun to claim a fort at the beginning and
fortify it with trap items like Bananas and Fake Items.  Litter the
bridges with traps to make attackers fall to the ground, and be sure to
block the ramps, too.  Or, raiding someone else's fort once you have
Super Stars...

                        +-------------------+
                        |    Double Deck    |
                        +-------------------+

This is the largest arena, and it's somewhat confusing.  You start on
an elevated platform colored light green.  Since there are no items
here, nothing can really be done unless you're a heavyweight.  If you
drive off this platform, you'll fall to an intermediate level between
the platform and the ground.  Around you are ramps.  Some lead up to
the second floor, while other lead down to the "basement".  The lowest
level - the ground, is colored very dark green and just moves in a
square shape around the arena.  The second floor is dark red and is
basically the same as the basement, but it has ramps leading up to the
top floor, which is pinkish red.  Here, we have a small square-shaped
track around a smaller square-shaped hole.  Drop through it to drop
back down to the starting platform.

Because of the size of the arena and the multiple levels, the radar can
be very misleading.  Shells will travel up ramps and ricochet about the
arena, making it pretty dangerous to be anywhere but the starting
platform (which still isn't that safe), and the arena in general can be
confusing.  But, the walls make red shells pretty harmless, and there's
plenty of room to run.  It's an ambushers dream come true.

                        +------------------+
                        |    Skyscraper    |
                        +------------------+

Perhaps this stage was the inspiration for Mushroom City, a very
similar race track in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!  Basically, you're in
on a city skyscraper (very tall building) at night.  You have a nice
view of the lit city, but I'd say that's not why you came here to
battle.  This is on the roof, and the architecture provides holes in
the very center of the building, around the central tower, and on the
sides of the building.  As a result, driving is very dangerous here
(also, it makes this the smallest arena).  I suggest leaving Bananas
around the holes for a double whammy (slide into holes...), and maybe
even in the tent-shaped structures that connect the central tower to
the rim of the building.  Shells often won't hit because they fall into
the holes, but the size of the arena still makes things much more fast-
paced than in other arenas.  And heavyweights dominate here...  Try
knocking lightweights into the pits...

And that's all there is to know about the ever so fun Battle Mode.  Now
the guide is coming to an unfortunate close, but we must press on.
To... the FAQ!

=======================================================================
=================================FAQ*==================================
=======================================================================

No, this is not pronounced "fack" (that was dangerously close to a
curse word...).  This is an acronym for "Frequently Asked Questions,"
the questions that I'm tired of answering that I put here.  Please read
this before e-mailing me (in fact, please read the entire guide before
e-mailing me).  See the last question for details on contacting me.

Question: What took you so long?  Did it really take twenty-one days to
write this guide?
Answer: Not at all.  It only took me a few days to write this guide,
but I'll explain the situation below in a long, boring wall of text
explaining my extended absence from submitting new guides.

It was June 19, 2005 that I finished my last guide for Super Mario All-
Stars + Super Mario World (of course, it was accepted eleven days later,
but that's irrelevant).  As many may have noticed, I first started
using a new formatting style in my guide for Super Mario Bros. 3 (my
thirty-fourth), although I showed signs of a new formatting style in my
thirty-third guide, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (DS).
Anyways, I wanted to get all of my old guides - thirty-three of them -
reformatted so that they looked better (because the new formatting is
amazingly superior to the old) and were easier to navigate.  The result
was a very long absence in which I was reformatting old guides (in
truth, I'm still reformatting guides and will still be doing this for
maybe a day or two after this guide was originally posted).  But, the
new formatting drastically improves the guides, in my opinion.  Before,
there were no section headers or dividers, nothing to indicate a new
section or sub-section; it was an almost exclusively text-based format.
As a result, many people missed lots of information.  I have gotten
less e-mail since the reformatting (interestingly enough).  Anyways, I
actually finished this guide early in the day on July 6, 2005.  However,
I wanted to release a guide on July 10, 2005, to coincide with the
anniversary of the acceptance of my first guide.  So, the wait seemed
even longer because I held off on submitting it.  Yes, I did say that I
would write a guide for the Oracle Zelda games, but I couldn't have
written guides for them before July 10.  However, I am very pleased
with this year and the new formatting.  I've learned a lot about
writing, video gaming, and so much more from writing guides, and I'd
like to think I improve after each one.  I do not plan to stop any time
soon, because this is a very fun and rewarding hobby (rewarding in that
it helps others).  Here's to a fantastic year on GameFaqs.  Let's just
hope I don't run out of games for my second year...

Question: What's the difference between the characters?
Answer: Aside from a change of kart color, the weight class and its
effects are the only real differences.  Please see "Weight Classes" for
information on that.

Question: How do I get past [insert name of part of a course]?
Answer: I have the guide up for a reason.  Please see the section
pertaining to your question; the cup sections have guides for each
track.

Question: Which character is best?
Answer: It all depends on your style of play.  From a speed point of
view, Toad is the best player.  However, Toad is a lightweight and thus
can be pushed around.  There are very few disadvantages to lightweights,
though.  It's really unbalanced in this game, but this is fixed in
Mario Kart: Super Circuit.  So, lightweights are the best in theory,
but they can be pushed around (their only real disadvantage).  Again,
lightweights were given too much power in this game.  Super Circuit
changes this by balancing all characters out with strengths and
weaknesses.

Question: Hey, I beat all the cups but I didn't unlock anything!  Is
there something wrong with my game?
Answer: It is extremely unlikely.  Do not send me e-mail like this.
The chances are extremely good that you're overlooking something.  Did
you get the Gold Cup, that is, came in first, in the 150 cc Grand Prix?
Did you beat it for every single cup - Mushroom, Flower, Star, and
Special?  Make sure you did, and read carefully.  If you didn't unlock
it, you simply didn't meet the requirements.  Go back and carefully
read the requirements.

Question: I found a shortcut for a track you don't have.
Answer: Not a question, but I'll run with it.  If it a good shortcut
that actually saves time, I will include it in the guide.  If it is a
really lame or obvious shortcut/alternate route, I'll probably thank
you for the tip and not include it.  So please, don't send me shortcuts
like "if you have a Mushroom or a Super Star, you can cut through the
grass there" or anything like that.

Question: I have a good strategic trap location.
Answer: To be honest, I'm really not interested in adding any to the
list.  They are suggestions, and anything else should be self-obvious.
Yours would have to be very good to actually be accepted.  And please,
no tips like "you can leave Fake Items by the item boxes" or anything
already stated in the guide.

Question: a/s/l?
Answer: I do not take personal questions.  Do not ask.

Question: Can I use any of your guides on my web site?
Answer: No.  Please read my legal section for details.

Question: What games do you have guides for?
Answer: This is my thirty-seventh.  Yes, I know what you're thinking.
I have guides for all of these games, written in this order:

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful
Life, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and 1, Sonic Heroes, Mario Kart: Double
Dash!!, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda:
Ocarina of Time/Master Quest, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker,
Super Smash Bros. Melee, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Paper Mario:
The Thousand-Year Door, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario 64, Super
Mario 64 DS, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Sonic Adventure 2
Battle, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: The
Minish Cap, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of
Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX,
Mario Power Tennis, Mario Party 6, Paper Mario, Super Mario RPG, Super
Mario Bros., Super Mario Land, Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros. 2
(Japan), Super Mario Bros. 2 (American), Star Wars Episode III: Revenge
of the Sith (DS), Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario All-Stars, Super
Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World, and you're reading my latest for
Mario Kart 64.

But, for an up-to-date list of games I have guides for, use the below
address.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/46879.html

Question: How can I contact you?
Answer: Not asked nearly enough, this question.  I accept only e-mails
as my new policy.  No spam, flames, chain letters, "tags," or personal
questions will be replied to.  I do not respond to IM's, either.
Please put "Mario Kart 64" in the subject line so that I know which
game you need help with, and please be as specific as possible in your
questions.  Try to spell things correctly if you can.  And please read
the entire guide before contacting me.  This saves you and I both some
time.

And that's it for the question session.  Now, it's time for the real
reason all of you decided to read this guide... the legal section!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  _________________________________________________________________
 /                                                                 \
/                                                                   \
||----------------------------Section 4*-----------------------------||
\                                                                   /
 \_________________________________________________________________/

=======================================================================
====================Credits and Legal Information*=====================
=======================================================================

Hey all you baseball fans!  It's time for... the legal section!!!  Yes,
I know how all of you skipped right down here to read it.  But, to keep
you in suspense just a little longer, I've decided to put the credits
first.  *Cackles manically* Like you really care!  Ha, nothing can stop
me now!  I'm mad with power!

                          +---------------+
                          |    Credits    |
                          +---------------+

First, accolades to Kirby021591, a.k.a. me.  Why?  Because I'm an
egotistical FAQ writer, and I took the time to write a guide for the
game and answer e-mail (also, because I can).  The man!  The myth!  The
legend!

Second, a huge round of applause to Nintendo.  Change is good, and the
changes made to the series with this game have redeemed it completely
for me.  Viva Nintendo!

Third, let's all thank GameFaqs, the best site on the net when it comes
to guides, reviews, cheats, and other data for video games.  You can
thank them by clicking on their ads, by the way (that's how they turn a
profit).

Originally, only these people/organizations/companies helped me write
this guide, but let's not forget all the wonderful people who helped me
out in other ways.  Here's a list of who they are and what they've done
for the guide.

- spacepope4u, a contributor here on GameFaqs.  His Mario Series
Character Guide is simply the best encyclopedia of Mario character
anywhere, and it is very well-written/documented (plus pretty funny in
places).  I learned a lot about Mario from his guide (which is how I
made my ridiculously Characters section), and I couldn't have spewed
all that information without learning it from his guide.  I recommend
it to any Mario fan.

So far, that's it, but it could grow.  Now, I've made you wait long
enough; I will now let you read... the legal section...

                     +-------------------------+
                     |    The Legal Section    |
                     +-------------------------+

First of all, I take no credit for the creation, distribution,
production, idealizing, or in any way making this game.  That honor
goes to Nintendo, not me, and I do not deny this.

Second, this document is Copyright 2005 Brian McPhee.

Third, this may not be reproduced in part of in full under any
circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on
any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written
permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any
public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright.

To phrase that first item legally, all trademarks and copyrights
contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and
copyright holders.

To make it clear for those of you who might having problems absorbing
information, no one but the website GameFaqs may use my guides on their
sites, books, magazines, etc.

Time flies when you're having fun...  Anyways, it was great fun writing
this guide.  After days of monotonous reformatting, it felt good to get
back to actually writing a guide.  I hope that this has helped you, but
I have to leave you now.  Please, when crying, aim your tears away from
the computer.  But, let us not say good-bye...  After all, why say
good-bye when you could say the most completely and utterly awesome
Houdini catchphrase EVER?!!?!!?!  Can I get a drum roll please?  It is
time.  Let's rock...

Here it comes!  Brace yourself...

See ya later.

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