Crash Nitro Kart - GBA

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Also for: N-Gage
Viewed: 2.5D Third person, into the screen Genre:
Racing: Karting
Arcade origin:No
Developer: Vicarious Visions Soft. Co.: Vivendi
Publishers: Vivendi (US/GB)
Released: 14 Nov 2003 (US)
28 Nov 2003 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 3+
Connectivity: Link Cable, GC/GBA Link Cable

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Summary

The latest adventures of the world's most famous bandicoot have moved away from their typical platform-based antics, to bring us an over-the-top, cartoon racing game. Undeniably inspired by the renowned Mario Kart, Crash Nitro Kart invites players to take on the role of virtually any character in the Crash universe and race their way through an assortment of comic kart races, complete with weapons, power slides, speed boosts, and the rest.

Serving as a background to the racing, the game's story tells how Crash and friends have been kidnapped by the ruthless Emperor Velo and forced to race in his galactic coliseum. In order to save Earth from destruction, Crash must speed his way to victory, against foes old and new, before the final showdown with Velo himself.

The game features the rather obvious Arcade and Time Trial modes but the main focus of the proceedings is Story mode, in which you select your chosen team of varyingly talented drivers and compete for the aforementioned goal. It's all mapped out in similar style to Diddy Kong Racing, in the fact that, from the outset, you drive around a central hub in order to access the different zones, themselves unlocked gradually via both successful competing and other stuff like collecting items.

As mentioned before, the racing itself is much akin to Nintendo's famous kart racer, with the collection and use of items and weapons (shields, heat-seekers, speed-ups, etc.) playing a key role throughout. The simple, arcade-style controls feature the familiar jump/power slide on the R shoulder button and fire on the L, whilst the tracks themselves are full of boosts, jumps and hazards, and can all be played at an advantage with a well-timed start.

There are over 17 frantic tracks on offer, set across four unique worlds, including jungles, erupting volcanoes, futuristic cities and space stations. As you'd expect, multiplayer gaming is enabled via the GBA's link cable, allowing up to four of you to join in on the action.