Mario Kart

The primary gameplay in the Mario Kart series sees players control one of a selection of characters from the Mario series competing in a go-kart race. One of the most notable features of the series is the use of various power-up items that can be found by driving into item boxes laid out on the course. These range from Super Mushrooms that can give the player a speed boost and Koopa Shells that can be fired at opponents to Banana Peels that can be laid on the track and Lightning that can shrink all other players. The type of weapons that can be earned often depends on the player's current position in the race; players running at the back of the race may receive more powerful items whilst the leader will only receive small defensive items.