Crash Tag Team Racing

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Crash Tag Team Racing
Cover of Crash Tag Team Racing.
Developer(s) Radical Entertainment
Publisher(s) Vivendi Universal Games
Release date(s) United States October 19, 2005
European Union November 4, 2005
Japan December 1, 2005
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone 10+ (E10+)
PEGI: 7+
OFLC: PG
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Nintendo Gamecube
Xbox
PlayStation Portable
Media DVD

Crash Tag Team Racing (クラッシュ・バンディクー がっちゃんこワールド Kurasshu Bandikū Gatchanko Wārudo?, Crash Bandicoot Gatchanko World) is the third racing game in the Crash Bandicoot series, following Crash Team Racing and Crash Nitro Kart. On a side note, the music is once again done by Spiralmouth, like the previous game Twinsanity, while Marc Baril composed the music heard in the racetracks.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

This game combines the elements of a platformer with a racing game. Players can now "clash" with an opponent during a race, and fuse their cars together, so one player controls the car, and the AI controls the turret, somewhat similar to Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, but the turret is only active if two cars are clashed. If they are not, the game is played with one driver per car. You can also switch seats between the driver and the gunner at any time, and even switch weapons to the ones pertaining to the person you're clashed with. Unclashing can be done at any time as well. The first person to unclash gets ahead of the other. This can be good, but can also be bad. It's good because you can get ahead easily, but bad because you're now an easy target for the car behind you.

The sections out of the car occur in Ebeneezer Von Clutch's amusement park, and feature Crash as the selectable character. They're free-roaming styled, so the player has a large amount of land to explore. The player can also interact with the many people walking around the park, by talking to them, or just attack them in mischievous ways. Also present in these sections is the Die-O-Rama, in which instead of avoiding to get killed, the player will seek death, in order to unlock a humorous cutscene with Crash getting killed in a cartoon style. Asides from these two main genres, the game also includes various mini-games, such as bowling with penguin pins. There also some screens where Crash will treat the park drones badly, like giving them a poison apple, or dumping them in shark-infested waters.

[edit] Story

The game opens with a Howard Cosell/George Foreman-esque pair of chicken sports commentators named Chick Gizzard-Lips and his hip co-worker Stew, welcoming us to the farewell race of Von Clutch's MotorWorld. Long ago, Ebeneezer Von Clutch, the deranged German cyborg genius fabricated the ultimate auto-racing theme park. For years, the park's racetracks have wreaked terror on its participants in ways too gruesome for them to describe over the air. But now the park's Power Gems, which have kept the park active, have been stolen, giving Von Clutch only a few hours to get them back, or he'll surely have to turn out the lights on his lifelong dream. In the process of finding more racers to help him, Crash Bandicoot, Coco Bandicoot, Crunch Bandicoot, Doctor Neo Cortex, Doctor N. Gin, and Nina Cortex literally crash in. Von Clutch recruits them for assistance. At first, Cortex is unwilling to help Von Clutch. But then he explains that whoever retrieves all the Power Gems will win the ownership of the park. Even Von Clutch's beloved Black Power Gem, which is his life source, is gone. Without it, Von Clutch will die in a matter of hours. N. Gin informs Cortex that this strange theme park is fertile grounds for them to "plant their new seed of evil", which means that if they win, they'll have a new evil base, all the churros they can eat, and rid themselves of the Bandicoots all at the same time. From there, we are introduced to Pasadena O'Possum, a professional racer hired by Von Clutch to ensure his continued ownership of the park, and Willie Wumpa Cheeks, the "jolly park mascot" of Von Clutch's MotorWorld and the producer of "Wumpa Whip", the parks most popular beverage. The game begins.

After Crash recovers all the Power Gems and officially wins himself the ownership of the park, Coco deduces that whoever stole the Power Gems in the first place had some connection to Wumpa Whip, because there's been a trail of Wumpa Whip at every crime scene of the park. Willie Wumpa Cheeks admits that he stole the Power Gems and the Black Power Gem (though without any given motive as to why he stole them). Von Clutch is struck with disbelief. With the Black Power Gem in his possession, Willie flees to Astro Land, saying that they can "look for him in the sky". He is planning to blast off into outer space through Astro Land's largest rocket. Crash Bandicoot decides to stop Willie Wumpa Cheeks, retrieve the Black Power Gem, and save the weakened Ebeneezer Von Clutch. In Astro Land, Crash sees Willie entering the rocket, preparing for liftoff. But when Crash pulls a nearby lever, the launch is aborted. Crunch opens up the rocket door and grabs Willie by the nose. Just when they're about to interrogate Willie about the location of the Black Power Gem, somebody shoots him from afar, resulting in a dead Willie, liquefied in a puddle on the ground. The culprit is Neo, N. Gin and Nina inside a battleship. Cortex is prepared to obliterate the Bandicoots for ruining his plans for using Von Clutch's amusement enterprise as the ideal strategic cover. After Cortex attempts to destroy the Bandicoots with an M2 machine gun mounted on his ship, Crash tosses a chicken into the ship's main rotor, causing the ship to behave erratically and unpredictably. Cortex promises Crash they'll meet again as he flies off in his malfunctioning ship.

As the Bandicoots are handed the deed to the park, Coco decides that the deed should be returned to where it belongs: with Ebeneezer Von Clutch. But Pasadena informs them that that's an impossibility. Because the Black Power Gem was never recovered, it is apparent that Von Clutch will remain deactivated. As everyone mourns the loss of their dear friend (all except Crash , who is attempting to find and consume more Wumpa Whip), Crash starts choking on something. He coughs up Von Clutch's Black Power Gem, which jettisons into the slot, reviving Von Clutch. He thanks Crash for all he's done, and gives free lifetime passes to Von Clutch's MotorWorld to all the Bandicoots. Unfortunately, Crash inadvertently ejects the Black Power Gem (thus deactivating Von Clutch) after giving V.C. a friendly slap on the back. Before anyone has a chance to react, Crash jumps into the orange car he was seen driving at the beginning and drives off, leaving Coco, Crunch and Pasadena behind. The three just stare for a second, realising too late what has just happened. Pasadena then silently groans and look at Crunch, who smiles weakly and shrugs his shoulders. Coco holds, and shakes, her head.

[edit] Plot holes

One of the games many criticisms is its plot hole-filled story. Below is a list of notable plot holes.

  • Crash and his friends have no apparent reason for collecting the Power Gems, let alone caring for Von Clutch's situation.
  • Von Clutch is shown being able to survive for a short period of time after his Black Power Gem is stolen for the first time, but he "breaks down" immediately after he loses it the second time (when Crash knocks it out by accident) the possibility for this is Von Clutch may have had a backup power reserve that had run out, but is still a plothole nonetheless.
  • Willie Wumpa Cheeks has absolutely no motive for stealing the Black Power Gem.
  • There is no official indication of how Chick, Stew, or Pasadena came into existence.

[edit] Characters

Crash Bandicoot

Main article: Crash Bandicoot

Crash is the main protagonist of the game. Voiced by Jess Harnell.

Coco Bandicoot

Main article: Coco Bandicoot

Coco is Crash's younger sister. Voiced by Debi Derryberry.

Crunch Bandicoot

Main article: Crunch Bandicoot

Crunch is a friend of Crash and Coco. Voiced by Chris Williams.

Dr. Neo Cortex

Main article: Dr. Neo Cortex

Cortex is the main antagonist of the game. He is a narcissistic mad scientist who was at the top of his class in Evil Medical School, but was laughed out of the scientific community due to his outlandish views. Voiced by Lex Lang.

N. Gin

Main article: N. Gin

N. Gin is Cortex's Peter Lorre-esque right-hand man, and a former employee in the defense industry. Along with Cortex, N. Gin sees the ownership of the park as the answer to their dilemma, as the strange theme park is a great place for strategic cover. Voiced by Nolan North.

Nina Cortex

Main article: Nina Cortex

Nina is a Cortex with a few "cybernetic adjustments" and is Dr. Neo Cortex's Gothic niece. She happened to be with Neo when he was recruited to retrieve the Power Gems. She gets a part time job in food service for some extra pay midway into the game. Voiced by Amy Gross.

Pasadena O'Possum

Main article: Pasadena O'Possum

Pasadena is an opossum with a Texan accent. She is an expert racer, and because of this, Von Clutch hires her to race against Crash's and Cortex's team to ensure his continued ownership of the park. She ends up helping the Bandicoots in winning the race for the Power Gems against Neo Cortex, Nina and N. Gin, and in retrieving the Black Power Gem. It's more than obvious that she has a crush on Crash. Crash, however, may or may not have the same feelings for Pasadena. Either way, he doesn't like the idea of kissing her; He keeps making throw-up noises whenever Pasadena wants to kiss him. Voiced by Shanelle Workman.

Ebeneezer Von Clutch

Main article: Ebeneezer Von Clutch

Von Clutch is a green, deranged, German accented cyborg genius who owns Von Clutch's MotorWorld, the world-renowned auto-racing theme park. He's quite a fan of Crash, as he has all his games and he loves the video-heroes and video-villains (he even mentioned that whenever he saw them, his innards tingled with joy. He even reveals Cortex's full name of "Doctor Neo Periwinkle Cortex". However, someone had stolen the Power Gems that has kept the park up and running for years. Even the Black Power Gem, which keeps the cybernetic Von Clutch alive, is gone. He hosts a racing tournament to give away the deed of the park before his passing. Crash, of course, collects all the Power Gems, and Von Clutch survives. He rewards the Bandicoots by giving them free lifetime passes to Von Clutch's MotorWorld. Voiced by Danny Mann.

Willie Wumpa Cheeks

Main article: Willie Wumpa Cheeks

Willie is Ebeneezer's "jolly park mascot." He is the producer of Wumpa Whip, the park's most popular beverage. He speaks in riddles and rhymes, and freaks out other characters (mostly Cortex and Stew). After getting the last Power Gem, it is revealed that Willie stole the Power Gems, including the Black Power Gem that Von Clutch needs to live. He planned to escape into outer space with the Black Power Gem in his possession. After Crash cancels the launch, Crunch grabs him by the nose for the Black Power Gem, but Cortex blasts him, leaving only Willie's nose, which contained the Black Power Gem. Voiced by Roger L. Jackson.

Chick Gizzard Lips and Stew

Main articles: Chick Gizzard Lips, Stew (Crash Bandicoot)

Two anthropomorphic chickens who act as sportscasters in the events of the game. They're also your guides in the tutorial section of the game. Otherwise, they mainly serve as comic relief. Their combined name is a pun on "chicken stew". Chick is voiced by Quinton Flynn, and Stew is voiced by Duane R. Shepard Sr..

[edit] Worlds

There are six worlds: Midway, Mystery Island, Happily Ever Faster, Tyrannosaurus Wrecks, Tomb Town, and Astro Land. Every world except Midway has three tracks. Every world has at least one minigame, but Astro Land and Midway have two mini games. There are 8 total minigames, 34 total Die-O-Ramas, and 12 total Gags.

[edit] Racetracks

Mystery Island

  • Tiki Turbo
  • Pirates of the Carburetor
  • Deep Sea Driving

Happily Ever Faster

  • Once Upon a Tire
  • Track and the Beanstalk
  • Evilocity

Tyrannosaurus Wrecks

  • Fossil Fuel Injection
  • Labrea Car Pits
  • Tire and Ice

Tomb Town

  • Dead Heat
  • Crash Test Mummies
  • Pyramid Pass

Astro Land

  • Rings of Uranus
  • Uranus' Mine
  • Craters on Uranus

[edit] Shortcuts

  • Tiki Turbo - After the large jump and the tightish corners there are 2 small jumps. The shortcut is immediately on the right after the 2nd jump.
  • Pirates of the Carburetor - After you come off the pirate ship, ther is a right then a left turn. It is on the inside of the left turn.
  • Deep Sea Driving - Needs to be unlocked. You go through the pirate ship after the large jump.
  • Once Upon a Tire - At the split, go straight down the middle. Needs to be unlocked
  • Track and the Beanstalk - Right at the beginning. On the left after the little bridge.
  • Evilocity - On the left after the teleport thing.
  • Fossil Fuel Injection - On the left after the steep downhill section.
  • Labrea Car Pits - Needs to be unlocked. Very obvious. Towards the beginning.
  • Tire & Ice - On the right directly after the big jump.
  • Dead Heat - On the left after the 2 little jumps about halfway through.
  • Crash Test Mummies - Needs to be unlocked. On the left after the sharp left turn before the 2 'S' bends.
  • Pyramid Pass - During the wiggly bit after the crocodile. Halfway through the second left hander on the outside.
  • Rings of Uranus - No shortcut.
  • Uranus' Mine - On the right after the first jump.
  • Craters on Uranus - On the left after the spiral section.

[edit] Minigames

  • Von Clutch's Lanes (Midway)
  • Critter Clobber (Midway)
  • Animal Farm Frenzy (Mystery Island)
  • Dropped On Djinn (Happily Ever Faster)
  • Below The Briny (Tyrannosaurus Wrecks)
  • Mummy Mash (Tomb Town)
  • Astro Lanes (Astro Land)
  • Jellyfish Smack (Astro Land)

[edit] Unlockable Video Clips

[edit] Die-O-Rama

All in all, there are 34 Die-O-Ramas scattered all over the game. Once you've unlocked all, you can also unlock the Baby Crash outfit.

  • Liquidated - Crash falls into what appears to be acid.
  • Bummed Out - Crash presses a button, which drops a fat person onto him.
  • Camel Back - A bunch of camels run past Crash and he avoids them only to be crushed by one that falls on him.
  • Poultry's Revenge - Crash attempts to use the same cannon that he used to open the Deep Sea Driving short cut to fire a chicken, but the chicken escapes, turning the cannon at him. Crash is promptly destroyed, leaving only his shoes.
  • Mechanic Monday - Crash spins into a pole which holds up Von Clutch's Zwergauto, crushing him.
  • Bad To The Bone - Crash falls into a large cauldron, frying his skin off, after which he gives an impatient tap on the rim.
  • The Smell Of Money - Crash attempts to tip a cow clearly marked not to be. After many tries the cow grabs him with its tail and farts into his face. Crash gets methane poisoning.
  • Crossbowed - Crash climbs onto a large crossbow and lays down on what appears to be a pillow, and is shot off.
  • Exploded - Crash is blown up by a stick of dynamite that comes from nowhere.
  • Monkey Business - A monkey with dynamite strapped to its back (which is a weapon in the races) attacks him and explodes.
  • Tickle The Ivories - A piano falls on Crash for loitering.
  • Holey Crash - Crash is shot with a cannonball, resulting in a hole through his stomach. Crash looks at the hole in his chest and falls into the bay behind him.
  • Fiduciary Troubles - Crash sees a "No Loitering" sign. He sighs and walks away, but runs back and kicks the sign over, which results in a safe being dropped on him.
  • Sharked - Crash is consumed by a shark next to a sign that has a picture of a shark on it.
  • Dino Treat - Crash falls into a pit where dinosuars of indetermanite variety eat his flesh resulting in Crash bones being thrown from the pit.
  • For Every Action... - Crash spins into a device which explodes, then blazes in green flames, as the explosion drops Crash on his head.
  • Laser Surgery - Crash gets in the device mentioned in the last one and is disintegrated, all except for his eyes which look at the player before falling to the ground.
  • Soupy Swimmer - Crash falls into what appears to be lava, but is in fact soup. After swimming around for a bit, he swims into a shark.
  • Shifting Gears - Crash jumps onto a bridge's rail and sees how long he can stand up there, but instead falls into large gears which crush him.
  • Crash Cubes - Crash throws a chicken into a machine which cubes it in ice. While laughing, he falls in and is also cubed.
  • Crushed By Uranus - A suspended planet falls on Crash.
  • Compassioned - Crash saves a yeti from a nasty fall but is then pushed off by it.
  • Sliced And Diced - Crash is sucked into a huge industrial fan.
  • Nature Strikes Back - Crash spins into a tree which falls on him.
  • Peek-A-Boo Boo - Crash tries to play with a young yeti, but its parent eats him.
  • Tough Chicken - Crash spins into Stew, who punches him into the ground and kicks him off.
  • Prison Food - Crash taunts a caged Yeti, which grabs him and pulls him in with it, and then eats him.
  • Cold Lunch - Crash makes a fire to thaw a frozen yeti, which eats him.
  • Double Dipped - Crash jumps into a pot of hot liquid and dies.
  • Heavy Metal - Crash puts a coin in vending machine but neglects to press a button. He grows irritated and shakes it, causing it to fall on him.
  • Big Bang Theory - Crash spins into a bunch of explosives which blows up the park.
  • Jawed - Crash falls into the water and is eaten by sharks.
  • Defenestrated - Crash spins into a window which sucks him out.
  • Electrification - Crash grabs an exposed wire and is electrified.

[edit] Gags

All in all, there are 12 Gags scattered all over the game. Nothing is unlocked when you unlock all 12.

  • Mr. Big Shot (Mystery Island)Crash fires a park drone out of a cannon.
  • Rocket Man (Astro Land)Crash launches a rocket which fries a park drone.
  • Heavy Weight (Tomb Town)Crash presses a button which drops a statue on top of a drone.
  • Take A Spin (Tyrannosaurus Wrecks)Crash spins a wheel with a drone strapped to it, he gets excited and spins it again, causing it to break and roll away.
  • Falling Fairy (Happily Ever Faster)Crash karate chops a rope which drops a drone dressed as a fairy.
  • Fusion Fun (Astro Land)Crash combines two drones into one, resulting in a mutant thing.
  • Love Tester (The Midway)Crash tries a Love Tester which disappoints him by giving him a broken heart.
  • N. Gin Pancake (Tyrannosaurus Wrecks)Crash pulls a lever flattening N. Gin under a car.
  • Photo Booth (The Midway)Crash runs into a photo booth and plays around with it.
  • Tummyache (Happily Ever Faster)Crah gives a park drone a poison apple(Or a poison Wumpa Fruit, you can't tell) which gives him a bad case of diarrea.
  • Shark Bait (Mystery Island)Crash pulls a lever opening a bridge which drops three park drones into shark invested water.
  • Fusion Fun 2 (Astro Land)Crash combines a park drone and a camel, resulting in N. Gin.

[edit] The Vehicles

Character Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Weapon
Crash Bandicoot Trikee Yellow Horde Crikey Wumpa Gun
Doctor Neo Cortex Imperium The Deadinator Probulot 2000 Chargeable Energy Ball Gun
Pasadena O'Possum Harm Aid Bad Girl Le Chaux Mini Tornado Gun
Crunch Bandicoot The Guzzler Overcompensator Bone Machine Hot Rivet Gun
Coco Bandicoot Nostalginator Bandibuggy Fairy Mobile Sticky Lightning Gun
Nina Cortex Organ Grinder The Angsterator Slave Driver Energy Shotgun
Doctor N. Gin Extreme Surplus Junkulon Prime Doom Buggy Missile Launcher
Ebeneezer Von Clutch Zwergauto Der Pickle Pressurizer Radioactive Bomblet Gun

[edit] Costumes

[edit] Crash Bandicoot

  • Crash Bandicoot
  • Agent C.R.A.S.H (secret agent freaky-deaky)
  • Cave Crash (Crash as a cave-bandicoot)
  • Nega Crash (a rather sinister Evil Crash outfit).
  • Crizzash Bandicizzle (A gangsta version of Crash)
  • Mad Crash (Crash dressed as an evil scientist)
  • Classic Crash (slightly-used adventurer duds)
  • Realistic Crash (in which you'll see Crash's skeleton).
  • Star Crash (Crash in star trek clothing, looking like Spock)
  • Japanese Skin Crash (Must use a cheat code)
  • Baby Crash (only activated when all Die-O-Ramas are unlocked)

[edit] Dr. Neo Cortex

[edit] Pasadena O'Possum

  • Pasadena O'Possum
  • Embiginator (Pasadena in a slipline racing outfit)

[edit] Crunch Bandicoot

  • Crunch Bandicoot
  • Mr. Crunch (makes Crunch look like Mr. T)

[edit] Coco Bandicoot

  • Coco Bandicoot
  • Princess Coco (Coco in a fine outfit from Stinkerbell's Kingdom)

[edit] Nina Cortex

  • Nina Cortex
  • Part Timer (Nina dressed in the uniform for the job she gets in the game)

[edit] N. Gin

  • N. Gin
  • Cyborg Idol (a pink ballerina number)

[edit] Ebeneezer Von Clutch

  • Ebeneezer Von Clutch
  • Captain No-Sense (Von Clutch as a pirate)

[edit] Reception

When the game arrived into stores, it was met with generally mixed reviews. One complaint about the game was that it somewhat mimicked Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'s dual kart system.[1] And though many critics praised the game's Voltron-esque "car-clashing" element, their main complaints were the game's framerate issues and overall lack of challenge (i.e. the inability to really die in the platforming sections of the game). The game is rather controversial among Crash fans due to the changes made to the characters' personalities and the plot hole-filled storyline.

[edit] Scores

[edit] Trivia

  • Although Aku Aku doesn't directly appear in this game, he is seen as the tiki-men's masks in the Tiki Turbo track, thus continuing his "perfect attendance" record.
  • Even though Uka Uka doesn't appear here either, he can be seen on the odd tiki curtains in Mystery Island (near Doctor Cortex).
  • A Nintendo DS version was also to be released but was eventually scrapped. It is unknown why this happened.
  • Whenever Dr. Cortex fails to hit someone with a weapon during a race, he might say "That would've hit you, but this game is rated E!" Strangely enough, the game is rated E10+.
  • This is the first Crash game to have a rating higher than E.
  • This is also the first Crash game where a curse word is used. If you bump into Crunch's car, he'll sometimes say, "Damn sucka! You crazy!"
  • Cortex's full name is revealed to be Neo Periwinkle Cortex.
  • This is the first Crash game to be released for the Playstation Portable.
  • This game marks the second time Jess Harnell has starred in a Crash Bandicoot game (he voices Crash in this game), he had previously voiced Lo-Lo the wind Element in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
  • This also mark the third time Quinton Flynn has starred in a Crash Bandicoot game (He voices Chick Gizzard Lips in this game), he had previously voiced The Evil Twins/Moritz and Victor and Dr. N. Gin in Crash Twinsanity, who he also voiced along with Nitros Oxide in Crash Nitro Kart.
  • Strangely, even though Quinton Flynn is one of the cast members of this game, he doesn't reprise his role as Dr. N. Gin. (He voices him in Crash Twinsanity and Crash Nitro Kart). Susan Silo also makes a second appearance (she was also in Twinsanity), but again doesn't reprise her role as Nina Cortex (who she 'voiced' in Crash Twinsanity).

[edit] Cultural references

[edit] Anime and manga

  • The cars clashing together is reminiscent of Voltron.

[edit] Film

  • When flying through the air, Coco might say "Top of the world, Ma!" which is a reference to the James Cagney film White Heat.
  • There is a Park Drone located in Astro Land that is a parody of actor W. C. Fields.

[edit] Music

  • Part of the score for the Tire and Ice track is "Hungarian Dance no. 5" by Johannes Brahms. Also, the final lap music (if you're in 1st or 2nd place) is the classic Tetris music remixed.
  • When destroying an opponent, Cortex might say "Burn baby burn!" and then say "Disco Inferno!".
  • After winning a race, Cortex might say "Who let the canines out? Woof! Woof Woof!", which is based on the chorus line of the Baha Men song Who Let the Dogs Out?.

[edit] Other

  • Crunch's voice and personality in this game is obviously based on Mr. T.
  • When Coco's car is destroyed, she sometimes mutters "Aww, derryberries!", which is a reference to Coco's voice actress Debi Derryberry.
  • When Pasadena's car is destroyed, she sometimes proclaims "I knew I shoulda got a job at Dollywood instead." Dollywood is a Tennessee theme park owned by country music singer Dolly Parton.
  • In the opening cinematic when Cortex is hit by a chicken in the face. This is probably a reference to Fabio being hit by a goose in the face riding a rollercoaster in Busch Gardens.

[edit] Voice Cast

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:


Crash BandicootCortex Strikes BackWarped

The Wrath of CortexTwinsanity

The Huge AdventureN-TrancedPurple

Team RacingNitro Kart Console/HandheldTag Team Racing

BashBoom Bang!

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