Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D

Although we tend to be easily impressed by realistic driving games, much of their appeal is due to the superb graphics developers usually manage to shoehorn into their racers - regardless of all hardware constraints, driving games tend to look amazing.

But as all gamers are acutely aware, graphics don’t necessarily make a good game. And the fancier they are on a portable platform like the N-Gage, the more resources they devour that could be spent on improving the gameplay.

So it’s not at all uncommon to find that cartoony racers like Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D often win out, as their graphical strain is reduced and they can take liberties with realism that other driving games can’t afford.

This is a big part of Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D’s success on the various platforms it’s appeared on, and it continues to keep the gameplay superbly entertaining on Nokia’s system, too. It does also meant that stalwart racing fans might find it too cutesy and arcadey to really get engrossed in, but that’s just one of the broken eggs of this casually entertaining omelette.

You jump into the driving seat of one of six Crash Bandicoot characters to take part in a Mario Kart-esque race around 12 different tracks.

The tracks themselves are split up into four zones, each with its own theme, which gives the game a feeling of progression not usually seen in a standard racing game. The loose plot line potters along as you battle through the races.

And there’s definitely plenty of battling to be done, as the tracks are laden with all kinds of add-ons to help you take out the opposition - and be taken out by the opposition, of course.

Weaponry, oil slicks, teleporters and other collectibles are often your best way of making up lost time, rather than careful driving or skilful cornering, and they prove a lot more satisfying.

One of the areas where Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D leans more toward a realistic racing game is in the cornering, however. The karts are able to drift, with a bit of practice, which really opens the tracks up to some considerable danger as you inch your way toward calamity, only to open up the throttle again as the track straightens out.

There are times, however, when all this action takes its toll on the N-Gage system. The courses wind and dip like roller coasters with laser turrets mounted on the track, which is great fun, but causes some rough edges around the frame rates.

The jagged pixels become quite apparent during those brief moments when the handset struggles to keep up with the quick game speed, but it doesn’t make too much of an impact on your overall enjoyment of these dynamic, whacky races.

It’d also be nice to see some kind of online, or multiplayer features, but Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D has nothing beyond Arena high score tables. It’s not a major let down or a deal breaker, but some kind of human-driven contest would really bring this comic racer to life.

This feels quite apparent when playing the Tme Trial mode, in which you race against a ghost of your previous self during a record attempt. Were this implemented for you to pit yourself against other player’s times, it might have given Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D the extra dimension it needs.

Overall, however, this game delivers the fun that too many racing games overlook in pursuit of realistic visuals, and will find appeal across a wide demographic of N-Gage gamers.

If the Crash Bandicoot franchise holds any kind of appeal to you, or you’re looking for a light-hearted, stress-free game for your N-Gage, then Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D should easily slake your thirst.

Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D

A bit rough around some of the edges, but Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D is still a slick and exciting racer that never forgets to keep you amused
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Spanner Spencer
Spanner Spencer
Yes. Spanner's his real name, and he's already heard that joke you just thought of. Although Spanner's not very good, he's quite fast, and that seems to be enough to keep him in a regular supply of free games and away from the depressing world of real work.