So there I was, comfortably maintaining first place. I had failed this particular map for more than four times already. And victory would be catharsis. I really needed this win.
Then some bastard launched a missile my way.
Needless to say, I did not win that race. All I was left with was a bad case of racing blue balls.
Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled is addicting.
It’s a fun, family-friendly racing kart game. Just don’t go online if you have kids with you. Competition can be fierce. Sportsmanship is a myth. Better yet, just play it with each other on the couch. Crash Team Racing supports up to four players in local matches. So that’s definitely a leg up from the more recent multiplayer games that have you playing with people from another screen and console. So if you’re looking for a great racing game that can be played split screen, then this is for you.
This game was a remake of the original Crash Team Racing from the PlayStation 1 era. But I haven’t played that game. So I can’t exactly tell any differences.
But what I can tell you is that Crash Team Racing has a lot of content for you to enjoy. Ranging from a classic race to a free-for-all battle royale. So you’ll never really get tired from a lack of content.
Crash Team Racing is definitely meant for multiplayer. There’s just no other beating that feeling of racing against real live people. But if you’re alone, then Adventure is the way to go. Which is essentially the game’s main story mode.
In Adventure Mode, you get to play as any character. You’ll have a fine rooster to pick. Each character has their own stats. Some have more speed than others like Tiny Tiger, some prioritize acceleration like Coco Bandicoot, and others are really good at making those sharp turns. Though there are characters that are balanced in all three like Crash himself or Dr. Cortex. Though many characters are unlocked at first.
And these stats are important. As each map you have to compete in has its own difficulty. Some maps are definitely more difficult to master than others. And a lot of your wins and losses are going to depend on whether or not you mastered the race track you’re in.
One of the biggest factors in a race is mastering the Power Slide. Power Slide allows you to make those sharp turns while giving you a boost in speed. Press the slide button which makes your racer jump before sliding and then press the opposite trigger at the right time to get a boost in speed.
Be careful though, as those sharp turns are what’s going to get your 90% of the time. If you miss, hit a wall, or fall off the map it can set you back quite a few ways. So there’s a bit of a harsh survival mentality if you want to win.
Even more, emphasized by the fact that you can sabotage your opponents’ progress. Guy too far ahead of you? Launch a missile his way. Is somebody closing in behind you? Drop some TNT. One of the reasons why everyone is having such a hard time keeping up with the race is how cutthroat racing karts can be. Which can lead to genuinely funny, if not, frustrating moments.
Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled also has other content. As I mentioned, it has a battle mode. Which can either be free-for-all last kart standing, capture the flag, or a score battle? With power-ups available to help you wreck the enemy team.
That isn’t the only other content besides racing. You can gather crystals around a map until a given time runs out. You can race around a particular map collecting the letters C T R and finish first place. I have to admit, that last one wasn’t as fun to me as the others.
Unlockables and customization also go the extra mile to make the game better. Playing the game nets you rewards that can either be a costume for a specific character, or points that you can spend on the game’s store which allows you to purchase new characters or other costumes. Kart customization is also available from the kart appearance, color, and wheels.
Thankfully, despite the game’s store there doesn’t seem to be any sign of micro-transactions. As coins can be earned fairly online and offline. Just keep playing.
Overall, I enjoyed Crash Team Racing. Racing karts can be brutal, but fun. Adventure modes boss battles feel a tad bit unfair though. As each boss seems to have a gimmick that no ordinary kart racer usually has. Take Ripper Roo for example, who’s extremely fast and has unlimited TNT.
If you’re looking for a good game to enjoy your friends with, the Crash Team Racing is the one for you. It’s fun, competitive, and has a lot of content. If you’re a long time fan of Crash Bandicoot, then this is the game for you.
Disclosure: This review is based on a review code provided by Activision. Read our review policy to know how we go with our game reviews.
Tested on: PS4
