10 Unexpected Ways To Master Challenging Video Game Mechanics
6. Build Reserves To Maintain Blue Fire - Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled
Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled's cute, colourful design belies the fact that it's actually one of the most challenging racing games released in recent years. Seriously.
One of the game's most surprisingly tricky mechanics is that of Turbo Boosting, whereby players can chain skills together to achieve different-coloured boosts, with a Blue Fire boost - also known as "Ultra Sacred Fire" (USF) - being the fastest.
You can only achieve Blue Fire by driving over a Super Turbo Pad, and while maintaining it is incredibly difficult, you can make life much easier for yourself by learning about the game's hidden reserves mechanic.
Reserves are built up by chaining together Power Slide Turbos, Hang-Time Turbos, Turbo Pads, and Turbo Power-Ups, allowing you to theoretically maintain Blue Fire for many laps if you're skilled enough.
Reserves as a mechanic are never actually mentioned or explained by the game itself, and yet they're a vital skill to learn for anyone looking to get seriously, even professionally good at CTR: Nitro-Fueled.