Mario Kart 64/Characters

Mario Kart 64 features eight playable characters, as the original game did. From the original line-up Donkey Kong Jr. and Koopa Troopa were dropped in favour of Donkey Kong and Wario. Kamek was originally intended to appear as a playable character but was replaced by Donkey Kong.

Lakitu returns as the track marshall and is not a playable character.

Weight classes
The characters can be grouped into three types: Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight.


 * Lightweights: Peach, Toad, Yoshi - They typically have the quickest acceleration and best handling but this is balanced by their relatively slow top speed and their vulnerability to being hit by heavier racers.


 * Heavyweights: Donkey Kong, Wario, Bowser - They have the highest top speeds and can barge smaller karts out of the way but they also have poor acceleration and handling.


 * Middleweights: Mario, Luigi - They are the middle ground, a trade-off between the heavyweights and the lightweights, with average handling, acceleration, top speed and weight. Well balanced racers.