Review: Cocoto Kart Online
by Staff Writer
October 21, 2009
Overview
Cocoto Kart Online is another kart racing game to enter the App Store, and instead of using a well-known character theme, it focuses on online play. Play in the grand prix against the computer or go online to play battle mode or race.
The game looks and feels just like Mario Kart, and doesn’t even try to hide it. There are different weird looking characters, and different worlds, but it’s pretty much the same. It’s only $0.99 so how does it compare to the more expensive kart racers in the App Store?
Features
Cocoto Kart Online includes a nice offline feature set. There are ten race tracks spilt up in silver and gold cup. In each cup you can play 50, 100, and 150 cc. You have to beat all three difficulties of the silver cup to unlock the gold cup.
Eight drivers are included to start, and then you can unlock four more. Five battle maps are also included, but they’re only online.
Four controls methods are included: automatic gas or gas pedal on screen with tilt or touch controls. Also you shake to use an item. Items include piranhas sent at the leaders, tomatoes to drop, and lava balls.
The Good
Kart racing is great, and it’s no different for Cocoto Kart Online. What makes this game stand-out is the difficulty of the tracks. They’re designed with huge banks, tons of obstacles, and make it so brakes are required.
The typical items are included to enhance the racing experience. In every race there are only four opponents, and they are quite difficult to beat. The obstacles on the course from fire to vines provide super difficult hazards, and each track even has some shortcuts.
The game looks good with the track, character, and kart design. Each of the weird little creatures is packed with personality. Whether you’re driving through a volcano or the jungle, or even up in the sky every track has a great detail. The animations are good as well from the spin-outs, to sliding the kart around curves.
Every track has its own background music which are nice tunes to listen to. There are a lot of sound effects for driving and using items, but the voice acting is annoying at best. There’s only the same “hello” as they pass you over and over, just with a different voice depending on the character. There are also varying grunts and squeeks.
The 1.1 update updates the save system to save your grand prix progress, so you can come back on race 3 of 5. Also the controls have options to alter tilt sensitivity, and turn off shake to use item, and jump. Still though the controls didn't work that well for me even by changing the tilt sensitivity slider all around.
The Bad
The controls just don’t work very well, despite having four options. When you tilt to steer, it’s just not very responsive. Your idevice has to be completely upright, and then tilted rather severely to be able to turn properly. The touch controls are rather impossible with the turns required on the course.
Though the game centers on online play it doesn’t have a ranking system. When being compared to other online titles like F.A.S.T. and Baseball Slugger, this game’s online just looks basic. It looks more like online high scores based on rounds won than a ranking system.
Another problem with online play is that you always have to wait. No game can you ever jump into. It’s always a wait for the current round to end, and the next to begin. Who wants wait around for five minutes just to race online?
Online play is great, but I would like to see the inclusion of online play over wifi and Bluetooth and to be able to play people you know. This game is even more like Mario Kart than other Kart racers on the iPhone from the screen display to the items used and track design.
Finally the grand prix includes only five races, and then you win the cup. Then you have to play those same five tracks two more times just to unlock the gold cup.
The Verdict
Cocoto Kart Online provides great kart racing for only $0.99. There's a reason it has a lower price than Shrek Kart, Krazy Kart Racers, etc. Compared to other Kart racers it falls short in terms of overall quality. Shrek Kart is the best of the bunch, and worth the $4.99 price over the $0.99 Cocoto Kart Online.
The online play though being the focus of the game is sadly disappointing. The game just seems to be lacking in the fun department. I don’t know if it’s the difficulty of the opponents, requiring too much braking and not gas and go, or the annoying characters.
As Cocoto Kart Online stands, the controls and online play bring it down, but it's still worth it for $0.99.