Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D for iPhone Review
When I first got my iPhone 3G, I immediately checked out the Apps Store to search for a great game application. At first it seems that the game selection at the apps store was nothing interesting, until I noticed the paid apps category. And lo and behold there was a familiar game title - Crash Bandicoot 3D Kart Racing. But wait it was way too expensive for me to spend on a mobile game. A couple of months after, I noticed that there was a promotion for the Crash Kart
game. From the previous $9.99, the price went down to $4.99. So, that’s it, I immediately grabbed the game app and started playing Crash Kart.
General Impressions of Crash Bandicoot: Nitro Kart 3D
The moment you fire up this game application, the first thing you see is the game’s overall look and feel. Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D is a beautifully rendered and colorful game which takes full use of the iPhone (and iPod Touch) graphical prowess. I’m so used to playing so-so mobile games before using my non-iPhone mobile phone and never really get to enjoy even the most advanced Java games. CB Nitro Kart 3D looks and feels more like a PSP game and not a mobile phone application. But the truth remains though, that it is indeed an iPhone game applications. And it is definitely one great game graphics-wise and gameplay wise.
Gameplay
The moment you start the game, you can immediately get a feel of the game racing engine through the quick race mode. It pits you with the other characters of the game in a 2-lap race to the basic race track of the game. If you want deeper and more solid gameplay, you need to select the “Start Game” menu where four modes will be accessible - tutorial, cup, and story and time trial. Each of these game modes unlocks hidden tracks as you progress through the different races.
Tutorial is your typical guide to the controls and special tips and tricks of the game. There are a lot of special items that you can collect as you race. The Cup Mode is your typical track by track races. Story mode allows you to uncover the game’s simple storyline through the various race stages that you have to pass through. And Time Trial is your typical timed race.
Game Controls
What could we probably discuss about the game’s control except for the fact that you control the game through the iPhone’s motion sensor that is steering your character’s kart. Aside from motion sensor, the iPhone’s touchscreen features were also utilized through special boosts which your character gets along the way. Steering you go-kart through slanting your iPhone left or right maybe annoying at first, but once you get the hang it, you might ended actually loving it.
In Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D, there are no buttons for accelerating the speed of your character’s kart. The only way you can accelerate your Kart is through a special marked colorful part of the road which accelerates your speed as you pass along these road signs.
The game also offers loads of typical Bandicoot stuff which would certainly appeal to loyal fans of Crash Bandicoot. That is aside from the fact that we can finally bring along our favorite game mascot where ever we go.
Overall, the game is a must have application for the iPhone (and iPod Touch) I’ve tried out a couple of iPhone games for free and was pretty disappointed with those mediocre game apps.By far, in terms of graphics and gameplay, Crash Bandicoots Nitro Kart 3D is definitely a must-have application for the iPhone (or iPod Touch).
