Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled: Ranking Every Character From Worst To Best
21. Real Velo
Real Velo comes in ahead of Zem and Zam in the ‘green ugly freaks’ stakes (discounting Nitrous Oxide, obviously), but he’s still bunched around the bottom with them.
The decision to go for his real appearance rather than his Emperor Velo look was a smart choice, as it gives him some distinction between Zem and Zam, rather than just being a bigger Zem with a hat on.
In his original game, Crash Nitro Kart, Emperor Velo XXXVII proclaims himself to be the greatest racer in the galaxy, then challenges Crash, Cortex et al to prove him wrong.
If that sounds like a rehash of Oxide’s story, that’s because that’s exactly what it is.
He initially appears to be hugely imposing figure, but once he’s defeated his true form is revealed (hence Real Velo here), showing him to be short, pouty and impudent.
That personality is brought with him into Nitro Fueled, but not enough that it really commits to it. He’s not really going to be a big fan favourite, but he’ll bring a small fan base with him, even if he is going to be a bit of an also ran in the grand scheme of things.