Crash Bandicoot is back -- and somebody gave him a driver's license.
Naughty Dog's marvelous marsupial and all his pals -- the evil Dr. Neo Cortex, sister Coco, mean and misnamed Tiny -- are on hand for something the PlayStation has long needed -- a character-based racing game.No droning NASCAR racers or hard-to-control Grand Prix missiles here. Crash takes the controls of a speedy go-cart and provides the most fun on four wheels since Mario Cart surprised and delighted the N64 world.
There's plenty to separate CTR from Mario -- and for my money CTR is a big improvement.
Crash has a huge following, thanks to Naughty Dog's programming wizardry. They've taken the characters and the power-ups from the Crash series and worked them into a racing game. You'll smash the same boxes, try to avoid the same TNT and Nitro crates and scoop up the same Aku Aku masks for protection.
But there's a ton of new items to look for. Take the tracking missiles, for instance. Competition getting a bit pesky? Let them have it. Or use a bowling ball to eliminate road hogs in your path. All the items come in two forms -- normal and "juiced" up.
To juice up items, you have to collect 10 Wumpa Fruit, which are hidden in fruit crates around the track. In juiced mode, items are faster, stronger, longer lasting.
The 16 tracks are marvelous, ranging from frozen ice caves to scorching deserts. Graphics are typical Crash fare, with no clutter, dazzling color and spectacular explosions.
There is an actual plot to this game -- something loopy about a space alien challenging the best drivers on Earth to a race to save the planet. Personally, I'd rather have Jeff Gordon than Crash driving when the world is on the line, but that's just me.
Forget the plot and just enjoy the many ways to play.
To hone your skills, give the Time Trial mode a try and race against the clock. It features a "ghost" mode, which puts a transparent version of your fastest lap on the track for you to race against.
Adventure mode pits you against a full field of other racers. Collect trophies and other goodies for finishing first; the more you win, the more tracks and special characters you unlock.
Arcade is a quick-race mode in which you can compete on one track or try a four-track Cup series.
Crash Team Racing is a wonderful game for both children and adults -- and with a multitap, four people can compete. Picture the Norman Rockwell families huddled around the television Christmas morning, firing missiles at each other as they race for glory.
Crash Team Racing is rated E, for all ages.