The debate continues: who truly reigns as king of the kart racing genre? Was it Crash Bandicoot, Sony’s former mascot, and his entourage, or Mario Kart (on Nintendo 64)? Given that Mario Kart debuted in 1992 on the SNES, and Crash Team Racing followed seven years later in 1999 on the Playstation, the source of inspiration is clear. However, Crash Team Racing innovated with features like the now-ubiquitous power slide (the one that charges turbo-boost during tight turns), which Mario Kart subsequently adopted in later iterations.
Much has evolved in the gaming landscape over the past two decades. Now in 2019, Naughty Dog‘s iconic PS1 title is almost unrecognizable, appearing three console generations later. While retaining its core essence, tracks, and game mechanics (down to the original Dolby Pro Logic sound, if desired), the game boasts significant visual and technical enhancements. Beenox, known for their work on the PC version of Black Ops 4, spearheaded this remaster. It’s evident that they have surpassed Vicarious Visions, who, while delivering a faithful visual representation in the Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, increased the difficulty unnecessarily.
Crash Team Racing mirrors the fundamental gameplay of Mario Kart: players race on a track, typically for three laps, collecting weapon power-ups from item boxes and utilizing boosts and jumps for added turbo. Success depends on skillful play and track knowledge. However, Crash Team Racing presents a more challenging and less forgiving experience compared to the Mario Kart series. The game features less “catch-up” assistance for trailing players; poor performance primarily reflects a lack of practice. While Mario Kart may have adopted the power slide boost mechanic, it also refined it. Boosting feels more intuitive and fluid in Mario Kart than in CTR, where overcharging results in a missed boost opportunity.
Which format should I play Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled on?
Fortunately, Crash Team Racing performs admirably across all console platforms. The Xbox One X and PS4 Pro versions offer comparable experiences, featuring 1440p resolution locked at 30 fps, accompanied by vibrant and detailed graphics. The 30 fps cap may initially disappoint, as 60 fps is generally preferred in racing games (as seen in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe). However, CTR‘s 30 fps is exceptionally stable, maintaining consistent performance even during intense on-screen action or local four-player gameplay. This stability allows the developers to allocate more resources to motion blur and super-sampling, mitigating the perceived limitations of the 30 fps frame rate.
The base hardware and Switch (which has reduced the quality of cutscenes to save 6GB of memory) also achieve satisfactory results. With resolutions of 1080p on PS4, 900p on Xbox One, and 720p on Switch, the game maintains a consistent visual style and performance across platforms. Beenox deserves recognition for this well-executed conversion and remake.
Overall, the Xbox One X version offers slightly superior visual effects, but the difference between it and the PS4 Pro is negligible. For players seeking the authentic Playstation experience (as the original game was exclusive to that platform), either version is a viable choice, assuming ownership of both consoles.
Unfortunately, the loading times feel protracted, even with an SSD in an Xbox One X. Approximately 40 seconds between tracks may seem brief, but it feels like an eternity considering the short duration of each race. The post-race podium sequence also contributes to the waiting time and could be omitted or disabled, as its novelty quickly wears off.
The controls, however, are responsive, and the game avoids technical issues, unlike the roughly contemporary Team Sonic Racing (which suffered from such problems despite running at 60 fps).
Summary
Activision and Beenox have successfully revitalized Crash Team Racing for a modern audience. The game boasts contemporary graphics while retaining the essence of the original Playstation version from 20 years ago. Determining the best kart racing game remains subjective and often depends on personal preference and prior experience. For this reviewer, Mario Kart (8) remains the favorite, excelling in execution and track design. However, Crash Team Racing in 2019 is a close contender and a more robust choice for local multiplayer. For those lacking a Switch, this is arguably the best kart racer available on PS4 and Xbox One.
See you on the track!
