Mario Kart 64 (Japan: マリオカート64) is a classic kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 console. It is the second installment in the Mario Kart series and was released in Japan on December 14, 1996 and in North America on February 10, 1997. Players take control of characters from the Mario series and race each other on tracks set in various locations, such as Mario Circuit, Bowser Castle, and Rainbow Road. The game features several single-player and multiplayer modes, including Grand Prix, Time Trial, and Versus. Players can customize their karts and characters with a variety of items, such as mushrooms, stars, and shells. Mario Kart 64 also introduces several new items, such as the Fake Item Box and the Lightning Bolt. The game's graphics and sound are significantly improved over its predecessor, Mario Kart, and its tracks are larger and more detailed. Mario Kart 64 is considered one of the greatest kart racing games of all time and is often cited as one of the best games on the Nintendo 64.