Crash Nitro Kart Preview

Developer	Vicarious Visions
Publisher	Vivendi Universal
Genre	Party-Racing
Release Date	11/11/03

When a major character emerges, a la Mario or Crash Bandicoot, you’re guaranteed that the videogame stars won’t appear in just one genre. As time has proven, you’ll find major characters in everything from party games to racing games to fighting games. Crash was in everything from Crash Bandicoot to Crash Bash to Crash Team Racing, one of the most enjoyable party games on the PlayStation, even rivaling Mario Kart on certain levels. Well, the new generation has arrived, and Crash is ready to re-enter the racing genre with another kart game, Crash Nitro Kart.

In Nitro Kart, Crash is kidnapped by the ruthless Emperor Velo and challenged to race in his coliseum. Now (following just about every other games storyline) it’s up to you to win all the races, including a final showdown with Velo, and save the Earth from total annihilation.

Every character from any Crash series will be available to race as, ranging from his sister Coco to Cortex and Crash himself. The level designs won’t be anything original, ranging from the classic jungle and space locations to volcanoes, but they do look very solid and detailed. Not only do they look good, but there seems to be a great variety as well- 17 raceways in total. Also, as with Crash Team Racing, time trial modes and an adventure mode (where you drive around in a world map and enter races through warps), along with multiplayer action will be available as well.

Crash Nitro Kart is also looking to reinvent the party-racing (as I like to call it) genre with the ability to transform mid-race. Specifically what this means has not been revealed, but let it be known that it will definitely create a multitude of strategic possibilities throughout the game.

"The release of a Crash Bandicoot kart racing title created specifically for next-generation video game systems has been eagerly anticipated by Crash fans for some time," said Luc Vanhal, VU Games' North American President & COO. "By mixing rich next-generation graphics and incredible gameplay with the playability and fun of classic kart-racing titles, Crash Nitro Kart will lead the pack in 2003."

Just about all the Crash games have been enjoyable, especially his previous kart outing. Expect to have some great fun with this completely new kart racer later this year.

Preview by Kevin Sloan