Crash Team Racing
Crash Team Racingby Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform: PlayStation
ESRB Rating: Everyone
ASIN: B000034DCF
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Features:
• Kart-style racing game, starring Crash Bandicoot and friends
• 25 tracks
• 12 characters
• Split-screen multiplayer mode
• Many power-ups to get edge on competition
Editorial Review: PlayStation owners no longer need to borrow their friend's Nintendo 64 in order to have a rollicking good old time racing virtual turbo-charged go-karts through outlandish environments. Crash Team Racing does an excellent job of re-creating that same thrill on the PlayStation.
Crash Team Racing has all the marks of the kart-racing genre, including big-headed characters driving diminutive go-karts, power-ups to increase speed and slow down opponents, and thematic tracks with multiple paths for exploration. What CTR adds to the mix is fairness: tighter-turning cars are rewarded for precision driving, skillful jumping, and strategic placement of booby traps. Sure, the playing field is level, but the better the driver, the better chance he or she has of winning consistently without any annoying "catch-up code."
The one-player game is wonderfully presented as an exploratory adventure, while the multiplayer mode is a split-screen must-play for anyone with a PlayStation (and, of course, friends). Twenty-five tracks, 12 characters, and responsive control make CTR the gotta-have racing game. --Jeff Young
Pros:
Excellent kart control, including power slides, hops, and wheelies
Wide tracks encourage passing
High replayability, especially in multiplayer mode
Cons:
Characters aren't as cute as those in Mario Kart
GameSpot Review: OK, let's say you're a big game company. You've got a mascot - he's absolutely huge with "the kids." You've made a nice little chunk of change off your little guy, but the kids are wising up to the fact that every game you've put out has only had minimal improvements over the previous one, and they aren't buying your little guy like they used to. You've got too much riding on him to stop now - action figures, shirts, and don't forget the talk of a cartoon that your licensing department keeps tossing around. You need a new hook... a new style of game to get the kids right back where you want them. But at the same time, you really don't actually want to have to think up a new concept for a game. So you do what so many developers have done before you - you toss your mascot, his arch nemesis, and a bunch of other characters from your games into go-karts. Then you start designing tracks filled with weapon power-ups. Before you know it, you're shipping yet another Mario Kart clone into the marketplace! Hey, big win, right? For most of the developers out there, the answer is no. Most of the Mario Kart clones that have come out thus far have either added unwelcome elements to the gameplay or have just plain sucked at ripping off the original console kart game. Naughty Dog, however, has managed to create a Mario Kart clone that does everything right. While it has a Diddy Kong Racing-like adventure element to it, as well as a bit of a storyline, it rarely aspires to be more than a great mascot racing game.
All the puppety oddballs in the world of Crash Bandicoot are preparing for the big race. They've all got their go-karts, and they're furiously tuning them up in hopes of victory. So, of course, that's a perfect time for an alien invasion. This alien is Nitrous Oxide, and he decides to up the stakes a bit. If he wins the race, he also wins the planet. So its up to you, as Crash, Polar, Cortex, or any one of the other racers to stop ol' N2O from winning. Much like battles in the video for Michael Jackson's "Beat It" were fought with the dance, the battles in this game are fought through the race.
Beyond the game's adventure mode, you can also go right to arcade mode and participate in one of four cup circuits. There's also a battle mode, which puts you in an arena full of weapons. The battle mode also has a team option, allowing for all sorts of different matchups. The versus mode lets two to four players race against each other on any of the game's tracks.
The gameplay may be vintage Mario Kart (yes, it even has the little "hit the gas right before the race starts" speed boost), but the game's track design is top-notch. Be it a well-placed patch of ice in your path or a giant barrel that rolls back and forth across the road, interesting obstacles will get in your way in each level. Between that and the game's uncompromising first-place finish requirement, you'll have to take the time to learn the tracks before you can win. Sometimes, though, you'll need to rely on a well-placed missile or bomb to help you squeak into the lead at the last possible second. The AI is reasonably good. It starts out not knowing exactly how or when to use each weapon, but by the third world, you'll have a tough time keeping up if you can't handle your weaponry properly.
The Crash Bandicoot series has always had pretty smooth graphics, updating with the times quite nicely, and CTR is really no exception. The environments are reasonably large, and they convey the cartoon-like attitude of the game very nicely. The music and sound effects also push the game's cartoon theme, but it's not too over the top, so the cutesy themes never really get shoved down your throat.
Crash Team Racing may seem like just a Mario Kart clone. And, with the exception of an additional mode or two and the superior track design, it is. But it's a great Mario Kart clone, and it succeeds where the likes of Mega Man, Bomberman, Diddy Kong, the Chocobo, and even Mario himself have failed. CTR has the staying power to convert people who haven't ever liked a mascot racing game, and it will definitely please Mario Kart fans with its many tracks and options. --Jeff Gerstmann
From the Manufacturer: The race to save the planet has begun! Crash Team Racing is speeding your way exclusively for the PlayStation game console. It's a multi-player character racing game featuring your favorite bandicoot, Crash and a host of his friends...and foes! There's a new mad scientist in town and his name is Nitros Oxide and he's about to wreak his own havoc on this little island paradise. He's absolutely obsessed with speed and fast just isn't fast enough for him, so he concocts a crazy idea to speed the whole world up forever! Tune your own "wheels", pick up goodies and watch out for those environmental hazards. It boils down to pure racing skill! A key feature is the ability to select from eight of your favorite characters-play as Crash, Coco, Cortex, Tiny, Dingodile, N. Gin, Pura (the Tiger) or Polar. Play against the computer or up to 3 of your friends! Race across more than 20 different tracks.
There are five different, challenging racing modes: Adventure Mode, go head-to-head in Vs Mode, Time Trial Mode, Gran Prix Mode and Battle Mode where you can test both your driving and combat skills. Customize your carts! Win a race, receive a Gold Wrench, and visit Lugnut's Garage for a 'tune-up'. Upgrade your carts in three categories: Tires, exhaust, and engine. Can you say Power-ups?! Augment your chances of winning a race by picking up power-ups which have abilities to help you, or slow down your opponents. There are tons of moves: Accelerate, brake, hop, and steer. Rev your engines for a 'fast start'; initiate a power skid to take corners tighter and faster; slam your brakes and slide around quickly-perfect for nailing that tailgater or cutting around a really tight corner; hit a Turbo Pad and hold a wheelie and boost your speed until you let go!
Customer Reviews:
fun and adicting, December 4, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from CLAWSON, MI United States
This game is absolotly the best racing game for playstaion. not only is it cart racing but you can play as your favirite players like crash,coco,n-gin,pura,polar,neo cortex,tiny,dingodile. And if you have codes you play as papupapu komodo joe, and ripper roo the point of this game is to get crash coins trophys and track records. this is a very fun game if you like racing or crash you must buy this game!!!
this game is ok, December 3, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from pa
this game is an A. i tried and tried but didn't manage to beat the game. because it was very, very hard to get all the tokens and the relics.
It Bores Me, October 17, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Cincinnati, OH United States
It's okay. I'm 7 and just some levels I don't like. I always win, but sometimes I don't win. I like some of the levels. The levels are pretty cool, and I know that some levels, the characters live there. I don't play it that much because it bores me.
Best Cart Racer Ever, July 27, 2002
Reviewer: Jen Orr from Canyon Lake, CA USA
I know that Nintendo invented the cart racing genre with Mario Kart, and usually when Nintendo comes up with an idea they outdo everyone else. But here we have an exception. Crash Team Racing outdoes Mario Kart in so many ways that it puts Mario Kart to shame.
CTR basically uses the same weapons as in Mario Kart. They may look different and be called different things, but they basically have the same effect. The two best weapons to have are the guided missile and the warp orb, which when juiced up, can cause all the racers ahead of you to crash and put you in first place. When you collect and hold ten pieces of fruit, you go faster and your weapons are "juiced up."
What really sets CTR apart from the other racers out there is its adventure mode, where you race through different circuits to unlock more racers and courses in arcade mode. The game is actually very similar to a Crash adventure game, in that each course has three objectives. First, you have to come in first place on the course. Then, you have two more things to earn on the course--a relic for beating a certain time and a gem that you earn when you collect the letters C, T and R from the course while also finishing in first place.
There are also boss levels, where you have to race against a boss on their course, which can be very difficult. There are also a few gem collecting levels, where you are in an arena and have to collect all the gems in a give amount of time. These additions may not be incredibly fun, but they at least add a little variety.
Finally, I enjoy the multiplayer mode in CTR much better than that in Mario Kart. You can play with up to four players split-screen, either racing or playing in a battle arena trying to take out the other players.
Overall, CTR is a very solid game. For all I care, there could never be another cart racing game made again because this is the best one I have ever played, or probably ever will play, unless there is a sequel to CTR.
my 5 year old loves this game, July 17, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Carmichaels, PA United States
This game is great for any child who likes racing games.
6 year old gamer, July 13, 2002
Reviewer: A 6-year old gamer
I am very proud for CTR Crash Team Racing. It is a fun and simple game. My favorite part is when you go to the mystery cause level. It is hard because it has flaming balls and ramps that can kill you if you don't make them far enough. If you like Crash Bandicoot 2 Cortex Strikes Back, you'll like CTR.
CTR is cool, July 12, 2002
Reviewer: ssj3goku from PCB, Florida
Great game. Most people say they can beat CTR in about 3 days, but you have to beat every aspect of it. It took me about a week to get to 100%, but I played it before. It is a great multiplayer game if you are looking for one.
You can use so many weapons to ensure winning. You don't get frustrated if you lose a race. You get happy. It is fun to play races over again. There are also so many different modes to play.
Oh and just if your wondering yes it is better than Speed Punks.
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Crash Team Racing, July 4, 2002
Reviewer: Kirsten from Boston, MA
Being a Fan of the other Crash Bandicoot games, I already knew I was going to like this game. The only crash I didn't like was the one for Playstation 2 due to the fact of the loading time, not that it was a bad game. Back to what I was saying about CTR, this game is pretty simple you go through many races to beat the evil cortex. Then there are the challenging ones such as gems and relics. I love the one-liners they say such as N-Gin's "One For The Road" or Cortex's "Take That". The game is just plain fun and I recomend it to anyone and is safe for children to play.
It's Iffy, July 2, 2002
Reviewer: Troy from Pittsburgh, PA USA
CTR is a fun game if you like Crash and his friends. The Power-Ups could be a little stronger to keep your opponents down longer, but otherwise it's an O.K. game.I mastered it in 2 days and I'm only 13 years old! The better you get you can start an adventure and eventually you can unlock levels and new players. It is a fun game. I play it with my broter all the time! I reccomend this game to all Crash or racing lovers.