CTR (Crash Team Racing)

        Mario what? Sorry Nintendo fans, but Kart Racing has a new standard and it's only available on Sony Playstation. This almost flawless game will please even those who weren't originally Kart Racing fans. This game features many types of play. Of course, there is the traditional Arcade, Vs, and Battle Modes, but it also features an innovative adventure mode. In this game type, you control one of eight characters in order to stop Nitrous Oxide, the quickest racer in the Universe, from destroying earth. In order to beat him you must first complete all the tracks in first place. However, if you only beat the tracks once, you will not be handsomely rewarded, and the game will seem too easy. Too complete the game at 100%, you must collect the CTR tokens by finding the hidden letters on the track and also succeed in winning the Relic Races. Once this is done, you must also win the five gem cups. Only then will you be fully rewarded. Also,  this is the first game in which I have found a motivation for playing Time Trial. It is the only way to unlock one of the hidden characters and to do so you must beat his ghost which is rather fast. There are eight characters in the beginning but 15 to unlock in all.

Now for another essential part of the game, the tracks. What would be a racing game if the tracks were just a pile of crap. Fortunately, this is not the case in CTR as most of the tracks will provide you a challenge without frustration. The graphics are typical Naughty Dog quality and the track design is excellent, there are many shortcuts which are sometimes very challenging to take even when you know they're there (try taking the shortcut in Sewer Speedway). As for the sound, it is of high quality but features no breathtaking music. The soundtrack is adequate but you'll never find yourself actually listening to the music. The controls are good. The Karts are easy to handle at first, and yet take a while to truly master.  Once you've managed to chain your turbos and slide your way through the curves, then the fun really begins. Perhaps the only major flaw in the game comes from the Battle Mode. Missiles often result in easy kills and the proportion of weapons you grab seems disproportionate. I often end up picking up a few invincibilities in a row, which tampers slightly with the fun level. Nevertheless this is a great game, not just a great kart racer. It is easy to get into and very difficult to get out of. I recommend it to anyone who owns a Playstation and if you don't have a Playstation, why don't you go out and buy one.

Overall rating: 9.5/10