Crash Nitro Kart

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Crash Nitro Kart

Developer(s)	Vicarious Visions
Publisher(s)	Universal Interactive
Release date(s)	November 11, 2003 November 28, 2003 July 8, 2004
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone (E) OFLC: G PEGI: 3+
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, N-Gage
Media	DVD

Crash Nitro Kart is a racing game for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox consoles that was released in 2003. It has also been created for the Game Boy Advance and N-Gage, but with some minor differences. It is an indirect sequel to Crash Team Racing and it was developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Universal Interactive.

1 Gameplay
2 Story
3 Playable Characters
4 External links

[edit] Gameplay

Crash Nitro Kart plays much like its predecessor, Crash Team Racing. The player races against other characters, which can be computer controlled or controlled by other players. Crates are placed throughout the tracks, which, when broken, grant power-ups. Collecting ten Wumpa Fruit from special crates improves the effect of any power-up. Many of the tracks contain obstacles, which, if not avoided, will cause the racer to come to a complete stop briefly. New to this game is the Team Frenzy Mode, which allows players to race as part of a team. A victory by any one team member counts as a victory for the team. Additionally, getting close to a team member during a race grants unlimited weapons for a short time.

In adventure mode, the player chooses to play as either Team Bandicoot or Team Cortex. The player must travel through four worlds, collecting three trophies in each world by winning the three races there. Each world also features a boss which must be raced after collecting all three of a world's trophies. Defeating a boss earns a Boss Key, collecting all four of which allows you to race the final boss. The player must also collect other items, such as relics, obtained by finishing a race in under a certain time, CNK tokens, obtained by finding the letters C, N, K in a race track, and gems, obtained by winning special races.

In Battle mode, players battle against each other in a number of competitions. These battles take place in special arenas. The Arena Editor allows the player to change arenas by placing crates and other objects anywhere within an arena.

[edit] Story

Crash, Coco, Crunch and their protector Aku Aku are relaxing at home, when suddenly a bright light appears and abducts their entire house. Meanwhile, at Cortex Castle, Cortex is trying to think up another plan to defeat the bandicoots, but as he sends Tiny to assist N. Gin with his latest experiment, the castle tower is abducted by the same white light.

Crash, Coco, Crunch, Cortex, N. Gin and Tiny exit their respective domiciles and find themselves in a large collesium in the middle of space. Cortex immediately blames Crash, but a giant holographic display of a large alien head interrupts him. The head explains that he is Emperor Velo the 27th, ruler of the galaxy, that he has heard word about their racing skills, and that his people hunger for entertainment. He has taken them to this collesium to race alongside Nitrous Oxide, Zam, Zem, N. Trance, Polar and Dingodile in his Galaxy Circuit. If they win, they win their freedom. If they refuse, Earth is destroyed. Faced with this threat, both teams agree to race for Velo in order to return home.

[edit] Playable Characters

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Team Bandicoot

Crash Bandicoot was hyper-evolved by Dr. Neo Cortex's evolvo ray during his plan to create an army of walking-talking animals. After resisting the attempt of the Cortex Vortex to turn him evil, Crash escaped. His kart is a medium leveled kart making it a good all-rounder. Crash is available from the start.

Coco Bandicoot is the brightest of the bandicoots and even created the team's karts. Her kart is best for beginners; although it's slow, it is good for tight corners. Coco is available from the start.

Crunch Bandicoot was created by Cortex in The Wrath of Cortex to destroy Crash, but he had a change of heart and joined the Bandicoot family. His kart isn't that great at steering, but its speed is excellent. Crunch is available from the start.

Fake Crash is a goofy bandicoot who resembles Crash. It is difficult to determine his kart's stats, but its pretty similar to Crash's. In the console version, Fake Crash can be unlocked by performing 50 boosts with Team Cortex in any track within Adventure Mode. In the handheld version, Fake Crash can be unlocked by being found in Out of Time between a big patch of light sand on the red line on the map. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

[edit] Team Cortex

NOTE: This team is known as "Team Evil" in the handheld version

Dr. Neo Cortex is a mad scientist that is always plotting some way to defeat Crash and friends, but never prevails. Like Crash, his kart is an all rounder. Cortex is available from the start.

N. Gin was once a well-respected individual in the defense industry, but one of his missile projects went haywire and hit him in the head. It remains there, unexploded, however, it does flare up occasionally, and he is sometimes effeminate. His kart is like Coco's and is easy to use because of its excellent turning. N. Gin is available from the start.

Tiny Tiger is a Thylacine that was evolved by the Evolve-O-Ray and currently serves Cortex. Like Crunch, his kart is fast, but has loose steering. Tiny is available from the start.

N. Tropy is a master of time and space, as well as the creator of the Time Twister. Much like in Crash Team Racing, he focuses on speed. In the console version, N. Tropy can be unlocked by defeating all his ghosts in Time Trial. In the handheld version, N. Tropy can be unlocked by either beating the game as Team Evil or by connecting the GameCube version of Crash Nitro Kart to the Game Boy Advance version using the link cable and selecting the option of unlocking him. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

[edit] Team Oxide

Nitrous Oxide had once attempted to turn the Earth into a concrete parking lot and make the inhabitants of Earth his slaves, but Crash defeated him in a race and stopped his evil plan. He has a moderate kart to race with, which is good on tracks that have a combination of both turning and straight roads. In the console version, Oxide is available from the start. In the handheld version, Oxide can be unlocked by either winning all the Gold Relics in Adventure Mode or by connecting the GameCube version of Crash Nitro Kart to the Game Boy Advance version using the link cable and selecting the option of unlocking him. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Zem is one of Oxide's alien henchman. Just like Crunch and Tiny, Zem has high speed, but poor acceleration. Zem is unlocked by winning a Green Gem. Zem is absent in the handheld version. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Zam is another one of Oxide's cronies and acts like a dog. He has a great kart for beginners. Zam can be unlocked by winning a Purple Gem. Zam is absent in the handheld version. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Velo's appearance when playing as him is similar to his peoples', as seen in the last cutscene. His kart is the fastest of all the characters. Velo can be unlocked by achieving 100% in Adventure with both teams. (Not playable in Adventure Mode or in the handheld version)

[edit] Team Trance

N. Trance is a master of hypnotism and brainwashed Polar, Dingodile and Pura so that they could race for him. His kart is balanced, just like Crash and Cortex's. N. Trance is available from the start. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Polar is Crash's pet polar bear whom he rode in Crash 2. Though his acceleration is poor, his turning gives him a high advantage. In the console version, Polar can be unlocked by winning a Blue Gem Cup. In the handheld version, Polar is available from the start. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Dingodile is a half-dingo, half-crocodile mutant that enjoys reading Shakespeare and playing croquet. His kart is exactly like Tiny's in status. In the console version, Dingodile can be unlocked by winning the a Red Gem. In the handheld version, Dingodile is available from the start. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Pura is Coco's pet, adopted after she used him as transport in Crash Bandicoot: Warped. He plays just like Polar does. Pura can be unlocked by performing 50 boosts in any track within Adventure Mode with Team Bandicoot. Pura is absent in the handheld version. (Not playable in Adventure mode)

Spyro is another racer who is shown on N. Trance's team for reasons unknown. Spyro and Velo share the same stats. Spyro can be unlocked by either beating Adventure Mode as Team Bandicoot or by connecting the GameCube version of Crash Nitro Kart to the Game Boy Advance version using the link cable and selecting the option of unlocking him. Spryo is absent from the console version. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

[edit] Team Champion

Krunk is a blue chubby gorilla that accuses Earth of copying his identical planet known as Terra. Krunk has a perfect kart. In the handheld version only, Krunk can be unlocked by beating him in a race in Adventure Mode. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Nash is a cybernetic shark that never stops moving, thus never sleeps. Just like the other racers in Team Champion, virtually nothing is wrong with Nash's kart. In the handheld version, Nash can be unlocked by beating him in a race in Adventure Mode. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Norm is an elf mime that has the ability of splitting himself into his regular self and a fat, talkative version of him. Norm shares identical stats with Spyro. In the handheld version, Norm can be unlocked by beating him and Big Norm in a race in Adventure Mode. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Big Norm, unlike Norm, has the ability to talk and loves racing, but has good sportsmanship as shown by his communication in the console version after you defeat him. In the handheld version, Norm can be unlocked by beating him and Norm in a race in Adventure Mode. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Geary is a brownish robot that seems to be programmed to race as well as clean in the console version. As Geary said, he achieves perfect speed for being a robot. In the handheld version Geary can be unlocked by beating him in a race in Adventure Mode. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)

Velo is playable in his robot form in the handheld version. His cart has no status flaws. Velo can be unlocked by beating Adventure Mode. (Not playable in Adventure Mode)