Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Quick Information
- Released on June 21, 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in NTSC-US and PAL regions
- Game mode(s): Singleplayer, Local multiplayer (2–4 players splitscreen), and Online multiplayer (2–8 players)
- Developed by Beenox, in association with Forge Studios
- Published by Activision Publishing, Inc. (international) and SEGA (Japan)
- The game was released in Japan on August 1, 2019 for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch and on August 15, 2019 for Xbox One as クラッシュ・バンディクーレーシング ブッとびニトロ! (Crash Bandicoot Racing: Buttobi Nitro!). The game is distributed by SEGA.
Overview
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled was released internationally on June 21, 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch consoles. It is a 3D kart racer spin-off addition to the Crash Bandicoot series from the Québec-based game development team, Beenox, and is the official remastered version of the 1999 hit, Crash Team Racing, which was originally developed by Naughty Dog for the Sony PlayStation console. The game was released by Activision.
In Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, players can choose from over 50 characters, most of which were introduced in the first three installments of the series, including Crash Bandicoot, Dr. Neo Cortex, Coco Bandicoot, Polar, Pura and other friends and foes. The roster was contstatnly expanding after release with each new grand prix introducing usually 3 new racers to the game. By November 8, there were 44 characters to choose from.
In Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, players can choose from over 50 characters, most of which were introduced in the first three installments of the series, including Crash Bandicoot, Dr. Neo Cortex, Coco Bandicoot, Polar, Pura and other friends and foes. The roster was contstatnly expanding after release with each new grand prix introducing usually 3 new racers to the game. By November 8, there were 44 characters to choose from.
What makes CTR distinct from other kart racer games however, is the excellently thight controls and the intuitiveness of the overall experience of driving. Players can gain advantage over their opponents by mastering a specific tecnique, called powesliding, which increases their speed and can be used to take sharp turns faster. This can be combined with other techniques, such as sacred fire and blue fire, which is based on the reserved power of the engine from the gained boosts. Blue fire is only possible on certain race tracks in the game, because it can only be activated by powersliding over a super turbo bad.
According to original CTR designer and current Naughty Dog head, Evan Wells, another important addition compared to other kart racers is the vertical gameplay, where gaining hang times gives the player an additional boost upon landing, which makes the player look for higher places to fall from.
The game retains almost everything from its predecessor while also including new features, such as online multiplayer, new playable characters, swappable vehicles, skins and additional tracks, some of them being from beyond the original games.
There are many game modes to choose from. One can race in Arcade or Time Trial mode. There are a multiple game modes to choose from in multiplayer as well, including VS race, battle arena, tournament and of course, the aforementioned online variations.
Crash Team Racing also features a dedicated Adventure mode, in which the story of the game unfolds.
Beenox has created 8 new levels this far, and all of them are perfectly nailed. These stages feel like they were straight out of the original Crash Team Racing. As I meantioned before, all Crash Nitro Kart levels are present in the game, and were finetuned to match the Crash Team Racing gameplay more. Anti-gravity sections were replaced with new segments to further match with the authentic flow of CTR gameplay.
According to original CTR designer and current Naughty Dog head, Evan Wells, another important addition compared to other kart racers is the vertical gameplay, where gaining hang times gives the player an additional boost upon landing, which makes the player look for higher places to fall from.
The game retains almost everything from its predecessor while also including new features, such as online multiplayer, new playable characters, swappable vehicles, skins and additional tracks, some of them being from beyond the original games.
There are many game modes to choose from. One can race in Arcade or Time Trial mode. There are a multiple game modes to choose from in multiplayer as well, including VS race, battle arena, tournament and of course, the aforementioned online variations.
Crash Team Racing also features a dedicated Adventure mode, in which the story of the game unfolds.
Beenox has created 8 new levels this far, and all of them are perfectly nailed. These stages feel like they were straight out of the original Crash Team Racing. As I meantioned before, all Crash Nitro Kart levels are present in the game, and were finetuned to match the Crash Team Racing gameplay more. Anti-gravity sections were replaced with new segments to further match with the authentic flow of CTR gameplay.
Features
- Unlike the original game, this time Nitros Oxide is a playable character. He and his hovercraft can be unlocked via completing challenges in Adventure mode -or- by purchasing the special Nitros Oxide Edition of the game.
- Local and online multiplayer - local multiplayer supports up to 4 player split screen, whereas online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- Local battle mode supports 4 players split screen, while online battle mode supports up to 8 players.
- Tons of Crash Nitro Kart content: all 13 race tracks, 5 battle arenas, 4 kart types and the main characters are included in Crash Team Racing Niro-Fueled, with the anti-gravity segments being removed and replaced with new paths.
- References to other Crash games from the series, e.g. characeters from Twinsanity and Tag Team Racing make cameos.
- Fully customisable karts.
- Skins for each and every character, Legendary Skins for most main characters.
Official descriptions
Official summary: "Crash™ is back in the driver’s seat! Get ready to go fur-throttle with Crash™ Team Racing Nitro-Fueled. It’s the authentic CTR experience plus a whole lot more, now fully-remastered and revved up to the max:
- Start your engines with the original game modes, characters, tracks, power-ups, weapons and controls
- Power slide to glory in additional karts, tracks and arenas from Crash™ Nitro Kart
- Race online with friends and Crash the competition with online leaderboards
- Customise your ride and swag out your racer with n. sane kart items and skins
- Keep the race going with new content and challenges in Grand Prix post-launch seasons
With Crash™ Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, the stakes are high and the competition is fierce. It's the CTR you love, now kicked into the highest gear."
Box art summary: "Crash is back in the driver's seat!
- Start your engines with the original game modes, characters, tracks, power-ups, weapons and controls
- Power slide to glory in additional karts, tracks and arenas from Crash™ Nitro Kart
- Race online with friends and Crash the competition with online leaderboards
- Customise your ride and swag out your racer with n. sane kart items and skins
- Keep the race going with new content and challenges in Grand Prix post-launch seasons
With Crash™ Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, the stakes are high and the competition is fierce. It's the CTR you love, now kicked into the highest gear."
Box art summary: "Crash is back in the driver's seat!
- All tracks and arenas from Crash Team Racing & Crash Nitro Kart now revved up!
- Race in multiple game modes: adventure, arcade, time trials, battle & more
- Compete online & race with friends
- Powerslide to glory with customised characters & karts"
Exclusive Contents
- Console exclusive content: Play exclusive retro content on PS4™ with a retro track and karts, plus retro skins for Crash, Coco and Cortex.
- Pre-order bonus content: Electron skins for Crash, Coco and Cortex.
Development
The game was developed by Beenox, a newcomer studio in the series, for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, with various assets being recycled from Vicarious Visions' Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, the 2017 remake of Crash Bandicoot 1, 2 and Warped. Similarly, the game is also running on Alchemy Engine, which was used for N. Sane Trilogy as well. It is confirmed that no more Crash games will be using the Alchemy Engine in the future after Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is using Unreal Engine.
Over 50 legendary class skins were produced by Forge Studios for the game.
There has been no plans on a PC release, however, an Nvidea GeForce leak in September 2021 hints at a possible PC port being in the works.
Over 50 legendary class skins were produced by Forge Studios for the game.
There has been no plans on a PC release, however, an Nvidea GeForce leak in September 2021 hints at a possible PC port being in the works.