Overview
From the iTunes' page: "The richest 3D kart racing experience! Speed your way through 12 thrilling tracks and multiple environments! Race and battle against zany opponents and turn them to dust with 8 devastating weapons. Tilt and twist your iPhone for truly "Nitro" driving sensations."
Gameplay
Crash Bandicoot starts up with a great intro video that really sets you up for what's in store. You're then greeted by a well designed 'Main Menu', displaying options for 'Quick Race', 'Start Game', and 'Options'.
The 'Options' menu allows you to change the level of SFX (sound effects), music, tweak your playing view, and reset game progress/records. It also has an option to adjust the sensitivity of the accelerometer, a key feature missing in other notable accelerometer driven racing apps (i.e.
Super Monkey Ball).
There are 4 modes of gameplay, setup in 2 different places: 'Quick Race' and 'Start Game'.
First up for review is 'Quick Race', which is....well, just a quick little race! I recommend starting out here as you can get your feet wet quickly and familiarize yourself with the controls.
Then under 'Start Game', you can go through the tutorial (recommended for sure), race in a cup (you start off with one, and unlock more as you play), and eventually, after unlocking additional ones, you can play the 'Story Mode' and partake in the 'Time Trial'.
The controls are
extremely easy to use, and take just a little bit of time to get adjusted to. After that, you're off to the races! The accelerometer is very sensitive, so I recommend going into the 'Options' menu and setting it to the lowest possible adjustment; this will help you learn the steering more quickly and let you execute desired maneuvers more easily.
At the bottom right of the play screen is a 'Pause' button, from which you can quit, return to the 'Main Menu', resume, view the 'Help Menu', and view the 'Options Menu'.
You can also jump by tapping the screen and drift by tapping the left background when turning left and the right background when turning right.
Also, when you run into special boxes you can use them by just tapping on the actual item (it will appear in the bottom right of the screen).
Review
This is not the first Crash Bandicoot Kart Racing game that's come around the block, and not the first I've played either. I've enjoyed the original PS1 version of Crash, and the graphics on this rendition are not only better, but the controls are more intuitive and it's just a lot more fun overall.
Here's a few things Vivendi really excelled at this go-around...
One, the controls.
The controls, well, just work! It's amazing that so many games have amazing graphics, sounds, and all the other bells and whistles, but then lack controls that make at least a little sense. Example,
Super Monkey Ball -- beautiful game, great sound effects, but the controls were lacking. They were too sensitive, and just weren't very intuitive. Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D for the iPhone tackles this above all other things in my opinion. The accelerometer does a great job of taking the movement of my arms and translating it into driving. The controls are precise and never off or delayed.
Next, we have the actual gameplay. The game is super simple to learn and the menus are big enough for all to see and touch. The game modes are straightforward and fairly extensive. 'Story Mode' isn't so hot though, I must admit. The 'Missions' as they call them are way too simple, don't accomplish anything, and aren't explained, or even connected to each other.
Then, we have the graphics. For a mobile device they're the best I've seen, even topping the graphics in many PSP games (not joking). They look great and I haven't come across more then one or two little glitches where maybe a boulder or background image flickers, but you get that kind of hang-up with most if not all games.
At $9.99, this game's a steal and well worth the price. Pick it up to get and get wrapped up in the Nitro Kart action! To be honest, there is nothing I could add to improve on this bad boy, except for maybe a few more characters and vehicles, and maybe even some additional levels. But besides that, right on!
Summary
Great game, fun for all, even my 10 year old niece had a blast picking it up and playing for the first time. All in all, well worth the money, I'd pick it up if I were you. Go on, buy it already!
