List of Mario Kart 64 pre-release and unused content
This is a list of pre-release and unused content for the game Mario Kart 64.
Early builds
The working title of this game was Super Mario Kart R (the "R" stands for "Rendered"). Kamek was originally intended to be one of the playable characters, but ended up being replaced by Donkey Kong. The Character Select screen was also different, the characters faced the player, and Kamek can be seen in Donkey Kong's space. Boos from Banshee Boardwalk had also a different look, the HUD was different from the final version, and item boxes were also completely black with colored question marks on them. The Cape Feather, which was in Super Mario Kart, was also intended to be included, as seen in a certain screenshot of Super Mario Kart R. This particular screenshot can been seen on the back of the packaging of the Nintendo 64 system.
Gallery
The original title screen of Mario Kart 64. It was named Super Mario Kart R at this point.
- Beta MK64 Character Select.png
Kamek would have once been playable in Mario Kart 64 (he was replaced by Donkey Kong); note the rest of the players also look different in terms of both camera angles and model design.
A race at Mario Raceway in an early build. Note the presence of Kamek and the early HUD.
Early screenshot of Banshee Boardwalk.
Early Boos. Note Bowser's blue kart.
An early build of Moo Moo Farm. Notice the use of the Japanese names for the track and the Mushroom (Kinoko) Cup. Also notice the track and cup name in the unused corner, instead of the level map.
Unused Data
There is a debug menu that remains in the game's coding. It has a few more options than the regular gameplay, and some are unused. It can be enabled with the Gameshark code 8818EDEF 0002
and accessed by pressing the GS button at the title screen. On its content there is a bizarre vertical splitscreen that appears to be unfinished. If the users play in battle mode, on the vertical splitscreen the lap counter can be seen. Also when drifting in vertical splitscreen, there is no smoke shaped like V and Es.