The basic idea of the games is that the characters from the Super Mario Brothers series of video games get together and race go-karts around a variety of tracks. Powerups that temporarily equip the carts with everything from a "turbo boost mushroom" to Koopa shells thrown as projectiles are located around the tracks, and can be used to speed oneself up or hamper an opponent. The music was composed by Koji Kondo.
Being a sequel, several things are different in Mario Kart 64. Obviously, the game has updated graphics, but other things were added as well. The game is a little bit harder than Super Mario Kart, and the Wario and Donkey Kong characters replace Koopa Troopa and Donkey Kong Junior. The characters are:
An entire new set of levels also awaited gamers. There are a total of sixteen racing levels (divided into four cups) and four battle levels: