20 Best Video Games Of 2019 (So Far)
5. Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled
Of all the old-school gems to try and bring back, CTR arguably had the most to lose or gain.
Get it wrong and we'd forever look to the weighty, momentum-heavy PS1 original, but get it right and we'd have the best kart racer anyone has ever created, with robust online functionality and maybe, a handful of additional tracks, racers or more.
Thankfully, Beenox's work on CTR is a resounding example of the latter. Nitro-Fueled retains the exact physics model and muscle memory sense of play as its original; the array of tracks spanning both CTR and Vicarious Visions' Nitro Kart titles.
Difficulty has been increased tenfold on the Hard setting to compensate for how thoroughly ruthless the fanbase became post-launch, and Activision are still putting money into the project, hosting a Grand Prix with daily goals and rewards, all for free.
Fans (and myself) are forever waiting for a microtransaction store to pop up and break everything, but CTR: Nitro-Fueled feels like it could singlehandedly usher in a full kart racing renaissance, and there'd be nothing better.