Faster than a Bandicoot.
There are a lot of kart racers on the market. So many that it is sometimes impressive that most people can only name a handful, while most can only name one. A lot of developers take a stab at the genre that Nintendo has dominated for the better part of three decades. Ask any old-school PlayStation fan though and one name always comes out of their mouths: CTR. Crash was an icon in the mid-to-late 90s so it was no surprise that he got his own kart racing game. What is impressive is how good it actually was, and even 20 years later, it is still just as good, if not better than Nintendo’s offering.
With everyone aiming to take down Mario and his karting buddies, it was inevitable that Sony would opt for a Crash version. Where they nailed it was having developer Naughty Dog lead development. They knew Crash and they knew how to make a quality game. CTR went on to become infamous, and even spawned a sequel during the PS2 days, but it fizzled with little fanfare. Now 20 years later Activision has tasked Beenox with remastering the original game and bringing it into the next generation. Crash Team Racing lives on, and it is just as good as it has ever been.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled is the original game with a whole host of new features. All of the original tracks are here, as well as the ones from the sequel for a total of 31 courses. Every single one has been redone with a fresh coat of generational paint, but their design is still second-to-none. Every course is designed with the power slide system in mind, and perfecting them all takes time and real skill. The AI in the game is brutal, even on normal, and without utilizing these mechanics I simply would not win all races. This game is tough so I am thankful that Beenox put in an easy mode, and even then I didn’t always win every race the first try.
That is the crux of Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled, it is unforgiving in the difficulty department. Every race required me to come in first place, and on normal that is brutally difficult. I think normal difficulty could use a balance as the AI is just too good at times. Even running a perfect race they would seem to pull ahead right at the end, making defeat even more bitter. This extends to the challenges as well. These require collecting letters while also finishing first and time-based challenges. It is all achievable on easy with a little skill, but on normal it is downright infuriating at times.
Adventure mode is where most of the action is. There are plenty of races, tracks, and boss fights to push through. It feels more structured than something like Mario Kart’s cup races. There are also single races and of course a battle mode for good measure. There are plenty of power-ups in CTR, but none of them really help with the catch-up mentality of most kart racers. Nothing like a blue shell or lightning bolt here. There is really nothing casual about CTR outside of its colorful tracks and characters. This is a game of skill and it takes zero prisoners.
There is a ton to unlock in CTR. Plenty of kart customization options, characters, and stickers. It is all a carrot dangling to earn more Wumpa coins to purchase new items. Beenox also has a pipeline of DLC planned for the game which includes new characters, modes, and of course tracks. There is a lot packed into this game, and it really is fun to unlock and play. This is arguably a better value than Nintendo’s offering and anyone on any console can enjoy it.
It is hard not to appreciate how good this game looks. Beenox has done an amazing job bringing these already impressive-looking tracks into the new generation. Everything is so clean and colorful. The design is immaculate and the implementation of 4K and HDR really showcase just how good everything looks. The game also runs beautifully on the higher-end consoles, keeping a constant frame rate and really making this feel like a brand new game.
Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled is a beautiful trip back in time. It is also great that PS4 and XB1 owners finally have a truly great kart racer available on their machines. This game is a must-own for anyone that loves these types of games, and for the price it is impossible not to recommend. Just be prepared for the difficulty and remember playing on easy is perfectly fine, and much more enjoyable for that casual romp.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
