Editing Super Mario Kart (section)

===Characters===
''Super Mario Kart'' features eight playable characters from the ''Mario'' series – [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Princess Peach]], [[Yoshi]], [[Bowser]], [[Donkey Kong Jr. (character)|Donkey Kong Jr.]], [[Koopa Troopa]] and [[Toad (Nintendo)|Toad]].<ref name="npower" /> Each character's kart has different capabilities with differing levels of top speed, acceleration and handling.<ref name="npower" /> During races, computer-controlled characters have special items, or superpowers, which they are able to use.<ref name="CVG forgot" /> These powers are specific to each character; for example, Yoshi drops eggs which cause players who hit them to lose coins and spin, while Donkey Kong Jr. throws bananas.<ref name="npower" />

The characters are rendered as [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]] portrayed from sixteen different angles.<ref name="ndojo" /> In 2005, Nintendojo called the sprites "not-so-pretty" when they are rendered at a distance, and ''IGN'' has commented on the dated look of the game.<ref name="ndojo" /><ref name="gengap" /> ''Super Mario Kart'' was the first game to feature playable characters from the ''Mario'' series other than Mario or Luigi in a non-platforming game and the selection and different attributes of the characters is regarded as one of the game's strengths, ''IGN'' describing a well-balanced "all-star cast".<ref name="GS ggoat">{{cite web|last=Navarro|first=Alex|title=The Greatest Games of All Time: Super Mario Kart|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-greatest-games-of-all-time-super-mario-kart/1100-6136230/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108064044/http://www.gamespot.com/features/the-greatest-games-of-all-time-super-mario-kart-6136230/|archive-date=2012-01-08|access-date=2022-05-03|website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref><ref name="IGN retro">{{cite web | last = Bozon | first = Mark | title = Retro Remix: Round 8 | website = IGN | date = 2006-04-25 | url =https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/25/retro-remix-round-8| access-date = 2022-05-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092202/http://wii.ign.com/articles/703/703279p1.html | archive-date = 2007-09-29}}</ref> All of the characters present in ''Super Mario Kart'' have gone on to appear in later games in the [[Mario Kart|series]], except for Donkey Kong Jr. and Koopa Troopa, who have only appeared intermittently after being replaced by [[Donkey Kong (character)|Donkey Kong]] and [[Wario]] respectively in ''Mario Kart 64''.<ref name="GS then & now">{{cite web | last = Anderson | first = Lark | title = Then & Now: Mario Kart Wii | website = [[GameSpot]] | date = 2008-04-28 | url = http://www.gamespot.com/features/6189887/index.html | access-date = 2008-12-28 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081201175007/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6189887/index.html | archive-date = 2008-12-01 | url-status = live }}</ref>