Crash Team Racing

"An extremely unoriginal, albeit fun, comedy racer."

Before I even begin this review, I have to tell you that I am not a very big fan of Crash and his various cohorts and compandres...in fact, I'll go all out and tell you that I absolutely hate Crash. I mean no disrespect to any Crash fans out there, but I find that Crash represents to me all the bad things in gaming: unoriginality, quick cash-in franchises, etc. However, I have reached quite a bit of a stumper: How come if I hate Crash so much, I like CTR? I'll explain below.

------------------------------------------------------------

Graphics (5/5): Nothing wrong here. Considering that this game is running on the crusty old hardware of the PSX, the graphics look great. One thing that I noticed immediately was the fact that there is no noticeable 'warping' (a problem only all too apparent in many PSX games) of any texture maps in the game, making for a very smooth looking game. Also, the game doesn't look like a mass of pixels glued together in a vain attempt to make some form of an image on-screen. As is expected for this sort of game, the colours are very vibrant, but they are not so garish as to burn your eyes out of your sockets...just right. Another great thing is the fact that there is no noticeable slow-down at all, making for a very smooth ride. My only complaint about the graphics is the fact that the various characters look very rigid and blocky...but this you can get over. Also, is it just me, or does CTR utilize a graphic-style which is strikingly similar to Diddy Kong Racing?

Sound (3/5): Hmm...well, all the obligatory engine noises and character one-liners and cartoony soundtracks are here...but they just failed to grab my attention in any way whatsoever. The music is pure Crash, and depending on your inclination, this can be a good thing...or a very bad thing indeed. I must admit, I never liked any of the music in the Crash games, it's just so drab and lifeless. I came away from CTR and couldn't really remember many of the tunes...you see, the great thing about Mario Kart or DKR is that they have some fantastically (and at times, annoyingly) memorable tunes that you'll find yourself humming countless times while sitting on the loo...CTR just doesn't have this effect on me. The engine sounds and general level effects are all present and correct, and of a high standard...however, I now move on to the characters' various one-liners uttered throughout the duration of the various races. Don't get me wrong but the one-liners are utter crap and not very funny at all, I mean, it's so bad to the point that the yelp of pain Crash lets out when hit by a powerup is the exact (and I mean EXACT) same as Luigi's yelp of pain in Mario Kart 64.

Gameplay (4/5): Ah, now this is much much better. CTR has some great gameplay and will keep you hooked for ages in one-player with the usual assortment of time-trial and arcade modes to keep you occupied. One player is all well and good, but the main point of these games is the multiplayer, am I right? Does CTR deliver? Yes, and how! To say that CTR is fun with a few mates around is an under-statement to say the least: racing on the various tracks in the game is great fun while the battle-mode is (shock, horror!) MUCH better than the abysmal battle-mode in Mario Kart 64. I've only played the game in two player with a few friends and haven't yet had the chance to sample the 4-player mode. Now, on to the controls. Hmm, well, overall, they're great...but for those of you who played Mario Kart 64 until your thumbs bled (ie. yours truly), the controls in CTR feel a tad slippery, but get used to the controls and you have an easy to control game, it works great in analogue as well! My other problem with the game when I first played it is that even in one player mode, the game is
S - L - O - W. Yes, really, it is. DKR on the N64 seemed sluggish, but CTR really takes the biscuit.

------------------------------------------------------------

So, overall, CTR is basically a shameless rip-off of both Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing. The adventure mode and general 'look' of the graphics just scream ''DKR!!!'' at you, whilst the gameplay and control dynamics are just pure Mario Kart. Also, some of the tracks are derivative to the point of being scandolous! Cortex Castle in CTR is just like Mario Kart's Bowser's Castle tracks, only with giant spiders instead of Thwomps. I suppose it was inevitable that it would have to happen at some stage really...ever since Mario Kart 64 was released all the way back in 1996, loads of companies have been striving to plonk their own mascot characters into 'fun' and 'whimsical' comedy racers...alas, most of these games turn out to be utter tosh and are fit only to be set upon by an angry mob of Outer-Mongolian dogs. CTR though, isn't. It is a great game and is one of the best comedy racers you can get for your PSX...it is also one of the best multiplayer experiences on the PSX, surpassing Mario Kart 64 in some instances. I don't agree with some of the other reviewers here who say that CTR is the best game of its type out there...it isn't, not by a long shot, that accolade is currently held by Mario Kart: Super Circuit on GBA. However, what CTR is is a very solid and fun comedy racer, worthy of anybody's attention. By the way, if you have never played a game of this type before, I suggest you add an extra point to my rating and go out and buy this game immediately!

------------------------------------------------------------

CRASH!

- Great graphics.
- Fun in one player.
- A hoot in multiplayer.

SPLASH!

- Excruciatingly unoriginal.
- Crash Bandicoot.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/26/01, Updated 09/26/01