Crash Bandicoot’s re-emergence has been one of the highlights of the PlayStation 4 era, with Sony’s former mascot now very much a part of the mainstream gaming furniture again. With the PSone’s seminal Crash Team Racing representing one of the few times the Mario Kart juggernaut has been put under any kind of sustained pressure, it was only a matter of time before Activision resurrected the popular kart racer, and the remastered Nitro-Fueled represents the sum of its efforts. But two decades after the release of the original, can this classic still compete with modern-day masterpieces like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? We kitted a couple of our staff members out in racing suits, and sent them on a pre-release mission to find out.
Anthony Dickens, Managing Director
Having vivid memories of heated battles on the original Crash Team Racing, I’ve been one of the many fans waiting for the opportunity to jump back in and power slide my way back to the top. For me, the key aspect of any kart game is in the controls and having spent an hour or so with the original title the night before our preview I was surprised as to how well the controls still stand-up today. Tight, responsive, and most of all still very enjoyable.
Playing Nitro-Fueled for the first time you should be prepared to be slapped in the face with the gorgeous vibrant visuals, soaked in detail frame after frame. But if you’re serious about beating your colleague you’ll need to focus and block all that out. I’ll admit it, I had a slight advantage over Sammy having played two of the four tracks available during my aforementioned "research" but the other two, from the 2003 sequel Nitro Kart, were fair game.
Muscle memory is a funny thing, and if you’re like me you’ll probably start playing Crash Team Racing in Mario Kart mode which naturally isn’t very fruitful. The good news though is that Beenox seems to have faithfully recreated the general "feel" of the controls: steering is tight, precise, and only minor things appear to have changed on my initial play time. For example, glancing a wall seems to slow you down more now – more realistic you could say. Gravity also seems to be a little more realistic and a little less exaggerated, but that could just be me.
It’s fair to say that Crash Team Racing was a shameless clone of the best karting games that came before it, but it did have one thing up it’s sleeve: its excellent drift/boost system, which seems to be intact – even if we were a little rusty at it.
Ultimately I had a lot of fun destroying Sammy at Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled on the somewhat limited demo. For me, questions remain on whether the final game will simply be a faithful upscale or will it have evolved enough to compete with the karting juggernaut that is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Either way, I’m looking forward to finding out.
Sammy Barker, Editor
I’ve always argued that Crash Team Racing had a significant headstart on its Nintendo flavoured contemporary, with a certain plump Italian plumber only really catching up to Naughty Dog’s effort in more recent years. Call it sour grapes if you like, but playing this hotly anticipated PlayStation 4 remake has shaken my opinion to its very core.
Don’t get me wrong, like the excellent N. Sane Trilogy before it, Nitro-Fueled looks the bee’s knees, and it’s authentic to the PSone original. But trundling along at an iffy 30 frames-per-second, this pre-release demo that Activision’s showing at PAX East among other events felt slow and unsatisfying, even if the overall controller response was sound.
Obviously I can appreciate the effort that developer Beenox has invested into revitalising the visuals, and the included Nitro Kart tracks which accompany the original roster of circuits are certainly going to pop on an HDR screen. But the added attention to detail can make it difficult to telegraph turns, and I’m not convinced the unwieldy boost mechanic has stood the test of time.
For those of you unfamiliar with the 1999 original, the title differentiates itself from the likes of Mario Kart by implementing an additional meter, which builds as you slide. Rather than flicking the analogue stick from left to right, you essentially need to keep your eyes on the gauge and hit the opposite shoulder button as it fills.
While there are exhaust sparks to illustrate the system, I generally found it took my eyes off the road, and with hazards at every turn, any lack of concentration can and will be punished. The setup means that the default controller mapping is sub-optimal, too, with the accelerate, brake, and item commands all mapped to the face buttons, forcing you off the gas when you want to employ your artillery.
Perhaps my impressions have been coloured by the considerable pasting I took from my esteemed colleague, but I have to admit I came away from this demo the teensiest touch deflated. Activision’s once again done an admirable job faithfully resurrecting an old favourite, and with content from Nitro Kart the package feels like it's going to be robust. But in an age of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, sloppy track designs and a sub-standard framerate make me ponder whether our ol’ pal Crash may be the one having to do some catching up this time around.
Conclusion
Activision is becoming an expert at effectively resurrecting PSone classics, and Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is a remaster that’s clearly going the extra mile. With slick presentation and a robust offering of content spanning both the original instalment through to its PlayStation 2 successor, this is looking to be a comprehensive package in one of the PS4’s most underserviced genres.
But question marks do linger over the quality of some of its tracks and its overall performance. Running at 30 frames-per-second, this demo may not be representative of the final version, but the publisher’s yet to confirm whether supercharged platforms such as the PS4 Pro will offer an alternative 60 frames-per-second option. If it doesn’t, that could be a big banana skin when compared to Mario Kart.
Nevertheless, the aesthetic is excellent and the boost system is faithful – even if it does come with an adjustment period attached. With a summer release scheduled, the publisher clearly recognises that this release is made for late-night split-screen multiplayer sessions, and unlike other trends from the 90s, that’s a pastime that never gets old.
Are you looking forward to Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled? Do you think it will fill a gap in the PS4's anaemic arcade racer category? Try to time your boosts in the comments section below.
Comments 61
No it cannot compete but that doesn’t mean it will not be a good game. Mario kart is just exceptional and has had time to build on a strong franchise.
Crash beats Mario any day for me
Have to say this looks amazing, I'm torn whether to get the PS4 version or the Switch version
The Switch version for multiplayer as I already have 4x joy cons or the PS4 because it'll just look that bit more shiny and polished on my Pro.
I think the graphics whore in me is leaning towards the ps on this one
Quite why they are targeting 30fps on a game like this is a bit ridiculous, that was the most disappointing aspect about the Crash Trilogy as well. These types of games benefit far more from the framerate then a little extra detail in a cartoony environment and when Mario Kart 8 was 60fps on the Wii U several years ago and still looks great today then there really is no excuse
it doesn't need to compete with Mario Kart.😒.does it make a difference.did Mario Kart won game of the year.crash racing is a legend on is own.word up son
I understand how a comparison seems somewhat inevitable, but personally I have zero interest in anything Mario. I hope when the full review arrives there's a lot less talk about Nintendo and more of a focus on whether this game is fun and stays true to the original, how it plays in 4 player, online, split screen, etc etc.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the original game have 30fps too? I remember it being slightly chuggier even back then. I'll enjoy it regardless.
I wouldn't really expect a remake of a decades old kart racer to compare well to a modern gen AAA flagship title from Nintendo in the first place.
The drifting mechanic is the hook of this game. You drift and build your meter, 3 times if I remember correctly, and the final third boost will be the longest one. In the midst of it all you balance power-ups, overtaking, jumps etc. for a risk-reward system. Holding the drifting longer, until almost the end, gives the biggest boost at the end. I don't remember there being a meter, I remember playing and just listening to the engine to get that last moment. You literally should be drifting is much as possible, whenever you can.
30fps on a kart racer is a hard pass for me. With some games I don’t mind it, but with a racer, 60fps or bust
I prefer CTR over Mario Kart, especially the older Mario Kart titles and I played the living hell out of 64, Double Dash, Wii, DS and 8.
I just feel the boost mechanic in CTR is way more favorable compared to the classic left to right drift to boost.
Mario Kart is one of those series that can't be beat. It's like GTA or an ArcSys anime fighting game; no one else can do it better.
It looks like this game's biggest flaw is MK8D's existence, lol. Jokes aside, 30fps is a no from me. If the Switch can run MK at 60fps, the PS4 can run this as well. The developers should have prioritized performance over visuals. Perhaps 60fps with split screen is asking too much, but single player and, most importantly, online play should absolutely run at 60fps.
If Nintendo made a stand alone console at a lower price I may have bought one aka the no switch. I have no need for a portable system.
Crash Team is the winner for me.
You know, Sammy did beat me once.... when my PS4 crashed.
the devs seem out of touch if they would rather focus on the visuals over the target frame rate. no excuses, it needs to run at 60fps. if nintendo can get such a beautiful game running at 60fps (mario kart 8) on the switch — on weaker hardware compared to ps4 — why the heck can't these guys get crash running at the same specs?
do people forget that mgs v was running at 60fps? the base ps4 is capable of a lot more than people realize. i actually think i will pass on this game if it isn't running at 60fps... the only genres i put my foot down are racing games and first person shooters.
@DerMeister Correct, the original was 30 frames-per-second as well.
@Ralizah Why not? It's a remake not a remaster.
@finalstan Still works exactly the same way. Didn't have headphones so couldn't really tell if there were audio prompts for the drift-boosts, but I assume they're still in there. Exhaust sparks are, for certain.
@Tulio517 Should stress that this wasn't the final build so 60 frames-per-second may still be an option in the final release.
@antdickens I was just letting you win really!
I prefer crash over Mario kart
No No and mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm No
@get2sammyb It's still based on a game with archaic track design and mechanics. You generally want to keep stuff like that close-ish to the original if you're remaking a nostalgic classic, because otherwise you might as well be making a new game. You have to walk a line between new and old.
Mario Kart 8 didn't have that limitation.
Also, Nintendo makes at least one Mario Kart game every gen (we got at least two the last few gens because of the handhelds), so they've had time to experiment and figure out what works well with such an iterative series. Crash Team Racing doesn't have that going for it.
And this isn't a flagship exclusive for the PS4, so it's just not going to have as much care put into its construction as something like Mario Kart.
I gotta admit, though, having this run at 30fps sounds like a spectacularly bad idea. I don't insist on 60fps for a lot, but racing games really need that fluidity.
Lol, nope! Not a chance. It could still be a fine game and a good choice for people who want a kart racer on PS4, but there's no way I'd play this over MK8DX on Switch.
Holy crap I hope it can. I’m one of the biggest Nintendo guys you’ll find here but 8 was a total let down - terrible roster and boring single player. The battle mode was trash too but that’s been fixed. It was hard playing Sonic Racing Transformed with all its modes and characters and then going to MK8 with made up characters and nothing but Grand Prix or time attack.
I never thought CTR was better then the Mario kart games it got it influences from and I would be blown away if it could stand up to mk8 but either way I like kart racing games and my girlfriend has some nostalgia over CTR so I'm definitely looking forward to this game. I tried to play the ps1 game a couple of years back and I sucked so badly at it lol.
To this day I find that CTR is still a better game than any Mario Kart title that has been released.
Sonic and All-Stars racing transformed is the only kart racing game to stand up to Mario Kart. Diddy Kong Racing was good too. Crash kind of feels like a poor mans Diddy Kong Racing with a great drift machanic. 30fps is a deal breaker in a racing title though.
Sales wise not sure...
Quality wise I’m not sure if it can beat Mario Kart in tracks but roster easily it can.
Graphically 🤔...
Music wise... I’m unsure...
Side Games I think Crash can easily beat Mario here...
@playstation1995 do racing games in general win GoTY?
@Marios-love-child id question why you have a Switch in the first place if you have a graphic whore in ya?
@Derpie1
If I could play Super Mario Odyssey on the PS4 then I'd have no need for one
(obviously there's a fair few other Nintendo exclusives as well but you get the idea)
Hmmm i do think this should have targetted 60fps, but otherwise it looks and sounds great. Tbh im more interested in a comparison between Crash and Sonic Racing. I think this will come out on top this time, but then Sonic transformed was so good, you never know
Seeing as Super Mario Kart is still the epitome of kart racers (not MK8) that’s the one it should beat.
There has been no kart racer since then that needed you to require pixel perfect (or mode 7 perfect) control to fully master and once you’d done that you felt invincible. It was the perfect example of “easy to learn, hard to master” but the most satisfying. This looks easy but is very skilful - https://youtu.be/PmkEpvatJpE
@Marios-love-child I mean there is that other option...
@Rob_230 I think that’s a more interesting one since both do look good & TSR looks like it’ll have a killer OST! Plus TSR does have some k stages & a better roster than what MK8 Deluxe has...
I thought this was ok back in the day. My gaming time is more limited now, so I think I’ll just stick with Mario for my occasional karting needs.
I'd really like to be more excited about this, but people seem to forget Activision ruined the series when they took it over, CTR was amazing but Nitro Kart never had the same quality level, so when I heard this had Nitro Kart tracks, that already had my alarm bells going.
Drive club runs at 30FPS and it plays perfect.
It's a tough one, because personally I think Mario Kart is Nintendo's best franchise by a country mile (sorry, Zelda fans). They've perfected it and only a couple of games have ever come close. CTR is one of those though but I have to admit that reading Sammy's impressions puts me off. I'll be really disappointed if it runs at 30fps too, especially when you look at how well MK8D runs on Switch.
@feral1975
Understandable, I remember back in the day when my friend and I excitedly picked up the sequel on PS2 assuming it was still Naughty Dog and were baffled as to why it just wasn't fun. Didn't even come close to the original CTR.
It looks fun enough, but I can't imagine it being as excellent as Mario Kart.
@Derpie1 no they don't.word up son
@Sakisa Buy the PS4 Pro then.
This is the one I'm really looking forward to. I loved the original game, and it still holds up well today (on vita). MK64 is the single most overrated experience in gaming, it was basic as hell and had nothing extra, CTR blew it out the water. Can not comment on the newer MK versions as haven't played any of them (or the ps2 ctr sequel for that matter) but yeah, this one is one I'm hyped for.
It may be comparable with Mario Kart, but the real answer everyone’s dying to know: Can it hold its own against Beach Buggy Racing?
@Flaming_Kaiser Exactly! After Sammy mentions the 30fps, everyone on here seems up in arms. "60 fps or bust!!", like everyone forgot that most racers we have loved are 30fps and we had just as much fun. The only thing that has me worried is the originals sequel (that I never played), I really hope the developers went into this project knowing that majority of the people are nostalgic on the first CTR and not it's easily forgotten brother.
@Sirtoby I have one.
Some games are still locked to 30 fps on it, and I’m sorry, but with a racer that should be top priority over graphical fidelity regardless of model of console.
I'm not sure why we are worried about this competing with Mario Kart? Mario is on Nintendo and Crash is on PS4...okay well Crash is most likely ending up on Nintendo also but let's save that drama for Nintendo lyfe or whatevs it's called.
I also remember being put off how kind of slow the original CTR could be when I first played it but once you get that skill down and learn how to drift and build boost (I'm pretty sure that's how that worked) you end up flying through at hella speeds, that's where the fun is. Except for that one mud track, that ones always kind of slow. Point is, if you play this like a normal racer without its driftyboostyjumpin goodness, you're going to hate this game, BoostUpSon.
Mario Kart, SNES. No need to say anything else really. The daddy still reigns supreme.
CTR track design is bad?? LOL, it's the best one in any kart racer ever. There are INTENTIONAL shortcuts and patterns only the most skilled players can perform. So you shouldn't be allowed to complain about CTR design unless you have beaten all of the N.Tropy's and Oxide's time trials. Mario Kart is THE little casual game compared to CTR. Just look at this video below - there's nothing random or bad in this track design.
https://youtu.be/b7UwcFlrNdk
My concern in an interview I was part of a while back, was if a hypothetical, at the time, CTR remake would stand up in the modern world on content, given Mario kart, Sonic etc. have shot far ahead.
Seeing the news of the CNK stuff, I don't think that would be a real issue. The content would be there.
The thing I didn't see coming was the fall being performance of a PS4 game.
@snakemake there's more to track design than shortcuts and overall difficulty
For those wondering why the 60fps thing is such a big deal, it's because Mario Kart 8 has had no trouble hitting the 60fps mark and is visually gorgeous. Not to mention 30fps is going to hinder reaction time a bit especially in a racing game. They really need to hit 60fps in this game if they want to compete with Mario Kart, otherwise it will turn players off from the game.
It's just bad for sales. With this game also being Switch-bound, they need to hit 60fps even more or people will simply play the other game. 30fps is a dealbreaker for me as well and I rarely even care about that sort of thing in a game.
Added video.
Usually don't insist on 60fps, but it would be really odd if the final product wouldn't reach that, even on a regular PS4.
No, if I want this experience I play mario cart it defines what the experience should be
So what do we all want next? Spyro and Crash were legit. This looks legit. What next???
@Nyne11Tyme syphon filter
So many games have a performance vs graphics option these days why not this game?
I really don't understand why they can't have both. I don't look at it and think "wow, that's so amazing I can understand why it doesn't hit 60fps. It's like RD2 quality with karts!"
I don't complain much about fps since I can still play the games I love with 30fps just fine but racing games are something else, if they can't get this simple looking game (is not GT or forza) to 60fps then I won't waste shelf space.
Mario Kart 8 on the freaking Wii U still looks fantastic on my TV while running 60fps and they can't get a much simpler game on more powerfull hardware to come close to a nearly 6 year old game?
As much as you have motivated me to go buy the game when done, I too am wondering about the big difference 60fps will make and hpe they hit the target
I'll probably get it. I don't mind 30fps in a racer. What bothers me is how fanboys are attacking this game because Mario Kart. Now, I enjoy Mario Kart as much as the next guy, but just because this game is similar doesn't mean you should ignore it completely.
crash beats mario kart any day for me. yes mario kart has cult status, but from what i've seen, CTR nitro fueled will be a lot better.
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