Crash Nitro Kart

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 129 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 129
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 129
  3. Negative: 6 out of 129
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  1. Untitled94
    Aug 23, 2017
    7
    Fun game, but compared to Crash Team Racing, it wasn't as good. It is technically better in some regards, like graphics and stuff like that, which is to be expected in a PS2 game compared to a PS1 game. The custom track mode was pretty cool, though there's not a whole lot to it. The only thing that really holds this game back a little it are the controls. They just aren't as solid as CTR'sFun game, but compared to Crash Team Racing, it wasn't as good. It is technically better in some regards, like graphics and stuff like that, which is to be expected in a PS2 game compared to a PS1 game. The custom track mode was pretty cool, though there's not a whole lot to it. The only thing that really holds this game back a little it are the controls. They just aren't as solid as CTR's controls. It's playable, but you really have to work with them. It's a good game, just not as good as CTR overall.… Expand
  2. JJ2FAS4U
    Dec 28, 2021
    7
    Atmosphere: 8
    Enjoyment: 7
    Gameplay: 7
    Graphics: 8
    Music: 7
    Story: 5
    Total: 7.00
  3. asjklas
    Oct 12, 2011
    5
    While it's not the worst kart-racing game in recent years, and has its multiplayer value and variety of quirky characters, power-ups, and race tracks, Nitro Kart is simply a slower and sloppier version of its much better predecessor Crash Team Racing.
  4. Harry210
    Oct 22, 2010
    7
    Crash Nitro Kart is a decent follow up to the 1999 PlayStation game, Crash Team Racing. The graphics are nice and colourful and the Kart tracks are slightly bigger in scope than Crash Team Racing. The CGI that move the story along are also good and nice to watch. There are a nice amount of racers to choose from Crash Bandicoot to Nitrus Oxide. Most of these racers are great to race withCrash Nitro Kart is a decent follow up to the 1999 PlayStation game, Crash Team Racing. The graphics are nice and colourful and the Kart tracks are slightly bigger in scope than Crash Team Racing. The CGI that move the story along are also good and nice to watch. There are a nice amount of racers to choose from Crash Bandicoot to Nitrus Oxide. Most of these racers are great to race with and have different performance statistics like Crash is a good all rounder in terms of speed, acceleration and turning and Tiny is great for Speed and acceleration but not good for turning. The story is simple: This Alien called Emperor Velo the 27th has kidnapped Team Bandicoot (Crash, Coco and Crunch) and Team Cortex (Cortex, N. Gin and Tiny) and force them to compete in his galatic colleseum for their freedom. You have to choose a character and race in 4 hubs (containing 3 races and 1 bonus round) and beat a boss at the end of each hub. The game play is similar to Crash Team Racing: Race around the tracks trying to win and obtain weapons from ? mark crates and shoot at your enemies to slow them down. You can powerslide around corners to take them faster and make your kart hop to get over deep chasms or to get an annoying TNT crate off your head. These weapons range from homing missiles to Tornados that lock onto the racer in first place. Some tracks have environmental traps like pitfalls that activate by running over ! crates. Some of the tracks in CNK also have banked sections and where you drive up upside down instead of the track being on the ground level which is a nice touch. In the campaign mode, theres the usual trophies to collect, Time Trials to beat to unlock either Sapphire, Gold or Platinum relics and CNK tokens which requires the player to collect the letters C, N and K dotted around each track and come in first place (if you have 4 CNK of the same colour, you get to participate in that same coloured gem cup). The new boss characters are ok to race and beat but not likable in terms of personality. The story for CNK isn't as interesting as CTR and there are fewer tracks in this game than there are in CTR which is strange because this is a PlayStation 2 game and CTR is a PlayStation game. I guess, Vicarious Visions got lazy. The overall game play feels slower as well and the music isn't as memorable than in CTR. The audio is below par and can get quite repetitive hearing the same taunts coming out of your kart racer but the voice acting for the nicely CGI cutscenes is good. Crash Nitro Kart suffers from originality like Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex but CNK is an enjoyable kart racer but may not appeal to CTR fans.â… Expand
  5. Jouna92
    Dec 25, 2013
    7
    Nearly identical to Crash Team Racing's, even down to the speed-boosting wumpa fruits.. nothing new. But CTR was gold so what about this? well not so. My main problems with the game are unstable framerate and there is only three tracks per cup. Also game's track design is uninspired for most of time and most tracks are too much like their counterparts in CTR. But if you liked CTR you willNearly identical to Crash Team Racing's, even down to the speed-boosting wumpa fruits.. nothing new. But CTR was gold so what about this? well not so. My main problems with the game are unstable framerate and there is only three tracks per cup. Also game's track design is uninspired for most of time and most tracks are too much like their counterparts in CTR. But if you liked CTR you will enjoy this one also.… Expand
  6. glitchmaster
    Dec 10, 2013
    7
    best carting game ever in my opion but i just don't like games like that but still if you're in too card games this is the perfect game for you and if you're a fan of bandicoot then that makes it even more awesome
    more tracks would of been nice but it's enough for a ps2 game
    there are enough different racers too
    overall this game is worth buying if you're a fan of the franchise
  7. Rayman
    Jan 7, 2013
    7
    It's a disappointment to be a sequel to great CTR, but it is playable game, though. Game is slower than CTR and it doesn't add anything new. Character roster is pretty good and the story is OK.
  8. SrPepe
    Oct 30, 2017
    6
    No es un mal juego de carreras pero no es la gran cosa. Creo que es lo más decente que salió de Crash en la PS2, pero prefiero jugar el Team Racing de PlayStation.
  9. thoumi96
    Jun 16, 2019
    5
    For sequel to near perfect crash team racing this is definitely mediocre compared to that!
    Great visuals, more unlockables and most of the tracks are quite good/interesting.
    The negative comes mostly from the controls, they feel a lot sloppier instead of the tight and responsive controls of ctr, The story is kind of meh and the gameplay (driving) isn't that fast /fluid. Overall the bad    For sequel to near perfect crash team racing this is definitely mediocre compared to that!
    Great visuals, more unlockables and most of the tracks are quite good/interesting.
    The negative comes mostly from the controls, they feel a lot sloppier instead of the tight and responsive controls of ctr, The story is kind of meh and the gameplay (driving) isn't that fast /fluid.
    Overall the bad controls kills this title for me and I believe there is not a reserve system to hold the turbo like in Ctr.
    for me it was painful to play through so 5/10    … Expand
  10. Thosevelvetygms
    Sep 12, 2022
    7
    A decent kart racer, but that's about it. It captures that Crash Bandicoot spirit and flair well, but just why are the karts so slow on the track?

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
28
#28 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 24
  3. Negative: 2 out of 24
  1. GameSpot
    75
    This may be a touch disappointing to hardcore fans of "Crash Team Racing", but anyone looking for a solid kart racer should be quite pleased.
    Read full review
  2. TotalGames.net
    51
    CNK offers nothing new at all, failing to really improve even on its prequel, which even back then, was pretty standard fare.
  3. Next Level Gaming
    54
    Failed miserably in execution and you will not find me playing this game again because I just don’t think it is very fun to play.
    Read full review
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