After an almost flawless trilogy of Crash Bandicoot games on the PlayStation, Naughty Dog saw the series off with Crash Team Racing. Other developers took a crack at the property, but none of the games have lived up to the original trilogy's standard.
Fortunately, a 2017 remake beautifully updated the first three games for new generations to enjoy and for old fans to relive. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy was an astounding success, bringing the old Sony mascot back into the limelight. June 2019 saw the release of Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, a remake of Crash Team Racing that also includes all the tracks and characters from the lesser known PS2 game, Crash Nitro Kart. Much like the remastered trilogy, this remake retains everything that made the original a masterpiece, just done with stunning visuals.
Those new to the game may have already learned that this isn't the average kart racer. It requires more skill to competitively race in the online multiplayer mode than in titles like Mario Kart, where one lucky break can win a race. To help out anyone having trouble with the mechanics, we've prepared ten expert tips to win in Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled. Once the game's mechanics are fully understood and mastered, you'll be zipping around the track and taking first place in no time.
10 Know Your Shortcuts
The tracks in this game aren't like Formula One speedways. They are intricately designed both from the layout and the artistic direction.
Each of them contains several shortcuts that can significantly reduce lap times. Some of them are clearly visible, while others are more well hidden. Knowing these is integral to taking the grand prize. A fully packed map has seven other racers, and one can bet their bottom dollar that at least one of them knows the best shortcuts.
9 Use Items To Defend Against Rockets
Items aren't purely for offensive purposes. Sure, it is satisfying to blast an opponent with a rocket and watch them flip around as other racers pass by, but one has to know how to defend themselves on the concrete.
Items like nitro, TNT, beakers, and bombs can all be used to defend against incoming missiles. Hold onto them, and when one homes on to the kart, drop it backward for the rocket to hit the item instead of the racer.
8 Master The Starting Line Boost
With the right timing, racers can start off boosting. Between the third red light and the green light, activate the gas to boost right away.
Start holding it too early or too late and it won't work. A little practice will go along way to getting the timing right, and it quickly becomes second nature after several races.
7 Drop Items In Front Of Boxes
Traps are essential to slipping up foes. This hint is more useful in the battle mode, but it cannot hurt during races either.
Drop an explosive or a beaker right before picking up another item, and that box becomes almost inaccessible. Sure, the boxes are usually in a line, but it will force racers to crowd together during these moments, making everyone slow down.
6 Jump Off Ramps
When landing from a large enough height, a small boost occurs. The amount of boost correlates with the amount of time spent up in the air.
To this effect, it is helpful to jump right before driving off a ramp to catch more air. On top of this, try to be in mid-boost to have more speed. It's all about chaining together these boosting opportunities to keep the speed flowing.
5 Get Ten Wumpa Fruit
Wumpa Fruit are a staple of the Crash Bandicoot series. In the mainline games, they are scattered throughout the levels, giving Crash an extra life for every one hundred he collects. The fictional fruit also serves a purpose in CTR.
While lives aren't an issue, collecting the fruit does provide an advantage. After snagging ten of them, the kart goes faster and items become more effective. Get ten as fast as possible to get the edge early on.
4 Be Aggressive
Racing is a competition, and no one will pay you sympathy on the raceway, so don't give it to anyone else. Once in first place, keep the pressure up by staying as far ahead of the pack as possible.
The tide can turn at any moment, so don't give people a chance to catch up if an item hits or a mistake is made.
3 Know Your Class
Different racers have different stats that complement certain play styles. Drivers like Cortex and Crash are well rounded, while other racers have varying strengths and weaknesses.
Some have low acceleration but high top speed, others are the opposite. Some can turn on a dime, while others aren't as agile, making power sliding on straightaways easier but sharp turns harder. Find a type that suits your particular play style and stick with it. After becoming more familiar with the maps, one may find that certain characters are better with different tracks.
2 Play The Adventure Mode
Knowing all of these tips means nothing without practice. Honing these during online play can prove tedious as one suffers loss after loss, so check out the Adventure Mode first.
It has adorable cutscenes and a forgiving difficulty curve, allowing one to comfortably adapt to the controls. The various hubs also let people toy around with the driving.
1 Master Power Sliding
The power sliding mechanic differentiates Crash Team Racing from other kart racers. after jumping into a drift, use the meter or the kart's visual cues to activate the boost. Do it three times in a successful drift to get a final speed increase.
Waiting a little longer provides a bigger boost at a bigger risk. Don't just wait for turns, either; straightaways are perfect opportunities to pick up speed if one knows how to do it right.