Does the third console racing game sequel still spices up the heat? Make no mistake, you will be busy with Crash Tag TR.
Crash is for me partially a synonym for playstation. Since the PS One was Crash my favorite character in the gaming world. But does the third console racing game sequel still spices up the heat? Almost, but not quite. Crash TTR is a good game nevertheless but it doesn't have the feel like in the original racing game, Crash Team Racing. Classics are hard to remake and this game is the very proof of it.
The story in CTTR is carefully chosen and not so fantastically told. Anyway, the story is as follows; Von Clutch is a (Dutchman wannabe) cyborg who owns a very big Motorcycle park. As a cyborg, he needs Powercrystals to become functional. But, those 6 powercrystals are stolen and now our "lovable" cyborg is "dying". He makes a deal with Crash and the gang (Cortex, Coco, Crunch, N. Gin and Nina). Whoever wins all 20 races scattered over 5 sections of the park wins the park itself. Later on, Von Clutch enters the tournament as well as his accomplice Pasadena Possum. Every time the player completes a section of the park, he gains a Powercrystal. The sixth and last powercrystal is in possession of the final boss.
Graphics in CTTR are probably from the engine that made Crash Twinsanity. One word= a bit dated. If people don't go with that opinion that it's the same engine, then you really have to accept that the graphics are not flawless. Anyway, facial expressions are good in this game, and you have to love Crash's different facial expressions or costumes, and the lots of cutscenes in the game. Also, gun shots and explosions in the game look pretty good so this department is not a failure.
Sound in CTTR is not excellent either, if you watched a lot of movies, then you probably have heard the many guns shots and environment sounds in the game. Crash's "voice" in the game is pathetic and feels unnecessary, the other voice acting in the game is like made up and doesn't feel serious. O.K, the game itself isn't serious but it should be meant serious if you understand what i mean with that. Music in CTTR isn't fascinating, like in Crash Twinsanity, you will hear the most annoying and made up music.
The gameplay in CTTR takes rather a surprising twist by smashing two cars together and thereby transforming it into one car. You can take the role as the driver or the shooter with a simple press of a button.
A.I. is smart in this game, as the person you are working with will abandon you at the last meters of the race, thereby damage you car and make you slower. In other words: you will lose greatly. Also, when you are in first place: beware! Bots will spam rockets at you and you have to race the track smart or very fast. That is very fun. But this is also otherwise, when you are the last one on the track it will be you that will spam the rockets.
Back in the park, the gameplay is rather boring. When you are in the park, you have to solve puzzles, grind coins, unlock cutscenes and cars. In any section of the park, you will be annoyed by the only enemy of the game: Ninja Penguins. These enemy's are lame, really annoying, stupid and steal your money on hit. They make lame sounds (see Sound) and need a few hits to go down. They can be ignored rather easily (which is good). When you ignore these enemies you need to find the portals to the races and the rest is the same like outside a section: get coins, unlock cutscenes and cars, etc...
Make no mistake, Crash Tag Team Racing is a good game despite some mistakes or goofs. If you need a cheap game that lets you be busy and runs on the PS3, then you will have a great chance that you will like this game.
TOTAL SCORE: 62,5%