Crash Nitro Kart

"Puts all other portable kart racers to shame"

Crash Nitro Kart, the ''sequel'' to the smash kart racing hit ''Crash Team Racing'' for the Playstation, has just recently hit the shelves in PS2 format, and is about to be released for Gamecube and Xbox.

But isn't one console missing in that picture?

After the PS2 game was finished, Universal and Vicarious Visions must have realized ''Hey! There's no version for the GBA! We should make a version specially designed for it!''

So, for what was evidently a long time, Vicarious Visions, along with Universal, worked non-stop, day and night, to create an exact replica of Crash Nitro Kart that, while keeping as much similar to the original as possible, still fit the GBA limits.

How did it fare? Let's just say that Mario Kart ain't got nothin' on this!

Aliens sure love racing!

The story keeps true to that of its 3-D counterpart. While Crash and his friends were lounging around, and Cortex and associates were busy feeling sorry for themselves over their past failure, suddenly both groups get zapped up in a ship and taken to a strange planet. There, Velo, ruler of said planet, challenges the inhabitants of Earth to a championship. If they win, nothing happens, I guess. If they lose, Earth gets blown to pieces. Seems like I'd have preferred Oxide's fate over this anyday.

Okay, sure, so maybe it's a bit similar to CTR's, but at least it HAS a story, unlike a certain other kart racer....

GBA: PLEASE STOP!!! I CAN'T DO ANY MORE THAN THIS!!!

The graphics in CNK are absolutely mind-blowing. All of the tracks are beautiful Mode 7 speedways that, while not identical to the 3-D worlds, still keep the same theme. The movement of all the characters are smooth and fluid, and closely resemble those of a slightly downgraded CTR. The boxes actually hover and spin in midair, something even the PS2 version couldn't even pull off. There are a few impediments scattered along the track, and they rotate, depending on where you are, to give them a truly 3-D look to them.

In addition to all this, a select few levels even change the time of day slowly and fluidly (Tiny's Temple is an example of this) Looking closely, you can see said tracks start off during the day, but slowly darken until it is night, and then go back to daytime close to the end of the race. This adds an added sense of beauty that few other GBA games have.

You mean the GBA can DO this?

I've never played the PS2 CNK, so I can't exactly tell you if the music is the same. But, same or not, the GBA music is amazing. The first time I played Adventure Mode, I literally drove around the Terra Hub for 5 minutes just so I could listen to the music. While the hub music is slow and slightly upbeat, the tunes on the track are fast and energetic. This doesn't mean that the music is stale and generic throughout the whole game, since the instruments used still fit the mood of the track. Temples feature bongos and wooden xylophones, while icy levels feature jingling bells. As far as the music goes, it truly pushes the GBA's sound capacities to the limit.

As far as the sound department is concerned, it's clear, concise, and some is recognizable from previous Crash games. The motor is just right, and doesn't override everything else. While there isn't much else, what there is is used where it's needed, without being too frequently done.

However, the one thing I did have a problem with was the voice samples. Like CTR and the 3-D CNK, the characters will shout certain things during the race, like when they shoot a weapon. The only problem is that they're muffled, so you really can't understand them. But this is more the GBA's fault, NOT the developers'.

Kart racing at its finest

From the start, you can select from three modes. Adventure takes you through the story of Velo's challenge, and you can select from Team Bandicoot, or the Evil Team. While no one team has an advantage, you can unlock different goodies with different teams.

In adventure mode, your first goal is to get a Trophy in each track. This is done by winning the race, and getting more trophies means unlocking more tracks, until you reach the boss race. The bosses are rather tough, but can be beat with skill. Beating bosses will not only give you access to new hubs, but also allow you to get the remaining two objects in the other tracks.

What's good is that the computer AI is just right. They're tough enough to put up a fight and provide you with a challenge, but just enough so that they don't navigate the tracks with the beauty and grace of a figure skater. Mark my word, they do make mistakes, and frequently compete against each other as well as against you. It's almost like playing against real people!

Now, about your other two goals in each track: gaining CNK tokens and Relics. CNK tokens are gained by winning the race, while collecting three letters (C, N, and K) hidden in the track. While most are in the open, your speed can cause you to miss them. A select few are hidden in tough places.

The purple CNK tokens are gained by collecting 20 crystals throughout one of 4 specially designed tracks within a time limit. While the first is easy enough, the remaining few pits you against scattered TNT and Nitro Crates, which adds to the overall challenge.

Relics are gained by clearing the track in a solo race within certain time limits. There are three types, Sapphire, Gold, and Platinum, listed in order of difficulty. Along the track are Time Stopper boxes. Like the rest of the Crash series, they either feature a 1, 2, or 3 on the sides, and stop the clock for the amount of seconds that matches the number. Getting a lot can prove to be the difference between a gold and a platinum.

The other two modes are merely side games, and are of really no importance. They're just there for fun. Arcade mode lets you race through any of the game's 12 tracks with nothing at stake, while Time Trial allows you to partake in a solo race to see how fast you can beat each track. However, unlike its 3-D cousins, you cannot race any ghosts, so this slightly cuts down. But not by much.

With a link cable, up to four players can compete in 3 multiplayer games. Single Race pits the human players against each other, while also having them face computer players that occupy the slots not taken by human players. VS. Race pits the players against each other, while not having to worry about computer racers. Battle Mode pits the players in one of the four Crystal tracks, in which the players use whatever weapons they can muster to attack the other players. The last one standing is the winner. This mode is highly customizable, as you can select how many hits it takes to ''kill'' a player, or you can select a timed match where the game is normal, but if time runs out before there is one winner, the winner is determined by whoever has the fewest hits. There is also a mode where the player who lands the most hits on their opponents wins. There is even a team option, where players can team up, and protect one another while trying to eliminate the other team. The possibilities are endless.

The amount of secrets in CNK is unbelievable. While most of the secrets are merely secret characters, there are a few secret tracks involved. There are even 4 cheats that can be earned by winning the Gem Cups (unlocked by collecting 4 CNK tokens of the corresponding color, Red, Green, Blue, or Purple), done by gaining the most points by winning a series of races (tracks are determined by the cup, so the Red Gem Cup will only feature tracks with a Red CNK token, etc.). In the Purple Gem Cup, you will race against the four bosses in their home tracks. The good thing is that, unlike the boss races themselves, the cup does not give the bosses unlimited ammo. Rejoice.

Just about every major Crash character is in this game, from the cool bandicoot himself to the just-introduced N. Trance. By certain means, you can even unlock a certain racer that never appeared in a Crash game, but is closely related....

Should I Buy or should I Rent?

Crash and kart-racing fans alike should pick this one up no matter what. Even if you're not a big enthusiast of either genre, it's still a good buy if you're looking for fast-paced fun.

THE MARILYN MONROE

Stunning graphics
Music really pushes the GBA to the limit.
MOST sounds clear, crisp, and concise.
So much to do, you'll rarely get bored.
Computer AI is just right.
Wide variety of multiplayer.
Characters' strengths and weaknesses show in races.
Arcade and Time Trial add to the overall replay value.
Chock full o' secrets.
Variety of tracks keep the game from quickly going stale.
Keeps true to its bigger brother.
High-speed, kart-racing fun at its finest.
Portable! YAY!

THE MARILYN MANSON

Storyline a bit too similar to CTR's.
Voice samples are muffled.
After getting a platinum relic, you can't repeat Time Trial mode in an Adventure game.

Final Word

All in all, CNK doesn't rip off Mario Kart as much as Mario fanboys want you to believe. It actually improvises the formula in such magnitude that it puts said other kart game to shame. In a nutshell, CNK is just plain fun, with high speeds and a weapon arsenal to add to the overall enjoyment. With a little more work, it could have achieved the elusive 10. Even at a 9, it's portable kart racing at its finest.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/24/03