Konami Krazy Racers

"Hey, itsa gooda game!"

Its a good thing that my Blockbuster didn't have Super Dodgeball, or else I wouldn't have chosen this game.
Anyway, KKR (KWWR) is a kart-racing game (duh). Its quite a good one too. If MarioKart surpasses this game in anyway, I will be seriously impressed.

Graphics: 10/10
Wow. This is right up there with THPS2. Its still only Mode 7 graphics, but WOW! Let me begin by saying that this game is incredibly detailed and colorful. Next up, there is a lot of rotating and scaling of sprites, and I must say that they look incredible. Then there's the reflections. They are just too damn good. The backgrounds reflect off of lakes and ponds and your racer even reflects off some of the tracks! The other racers are just as detailed as you during the races. Did I mention that the backgrounds are beautifully detailed as well? To top it off there are even some vertical obstacles such as walls and other things like fireballs, baseballs, stars, penguins, and dancing ballerina pandas. Yes you heard me- pandas. In tutus.

Sound: 8/10
Waiwaiwaiwaiwaiwai racing....oh yea...
The intro song basically sums up the entire game.The racing music isn't great but it's not bad. Some of the songs are catchy, though. There's even a remix of a classical song in Ice Paradise! To fully enjoy the music, you'll have to put on a pair of headphones and waiwaiwaiwaiwai....
Umm....the character's voices are very clear. From Dracula's laugh to anyone's ''Let's go'', you'll be surprised as to how clear their voices are. The sound effects are nothing to ramble on about.

Control: 9/10
A= Accelerate B= Brake R= Jump L= Use Item
It's real simple, so you shouldn't have too much trouble getting into the control scheme. The controls are very responsive, but pulling off a powerslide is a bit tricky (for me at least).

Gameplay: 10/10
There are new items you can choose to torture your opponents with holes, ice shards, and -my favorite- turning everyone else into pigs. The rest are standard- blind missiles, homing missiles, bombs, lightning, barrier (invincibility) and invisibility.
There are also licenses to be earned once you get gold cups. You advance from a C license, to a B, A, and then an S (which I'm working on).
There are some fun deviations like Bomb Chaser. Think of it as Tag + Hot Potato. Then there's Chicken, which is kinda like drag racing except that you have to land near the finish line, or you fall off and lose.

Track design: 7/10
This is the only area where KKR, fails. You can breeze through the 1st 3 cups and then have some trouble on the last couple of cups.

Replay: 8/10
KKR is a fun game and if you have friends who have this game, the rating gets boosted up. Its a good MarioKart clone
and should keep you entertained until Mariokart rolls around.

Import/Rent/Buy?
Well there's no need to import as it's out now.
Rent if you have doubts (or had like me), but it's a solid buy.

Final Quip:
What is it with this game and penguins??? There are penguins EVERYWHERE!!!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/26/01, Updated 06/26/01