Here's a quick walkthrough of the modes available to play on this game.
- Adventure: This is the main story mode, that allows you unlock extras from both the good and evil sides in the Crash universe.
- Single Player: You can have a quick race, cup tournament, team race or time trial.
- Multiplayer: Battle against up to three opponents. In addition to racing, you can also battle in arenas that doesn't involve circuits all the time.
- Best times: Look at the best record for each track and challenge.
- Options: Adjust sound and controller options for each player.
- Extras: Check for extras available such as Arena Editor and Cut Scenes.
Kart power ups is an important element in kart racing. Without it, unless for Time Trial, you won't have an advantage as well. Here are the available power-ups made for the purpose of this game.
Boosts[edit | edit source]
- Boost Pads: There are black and green boost you'll find through each tracks.
- Starting Boosts: If you time your boost correctly, you'll have a head start in the race.
- Aku Boost: If you go off the cliff, like the starting boost, get your gas ready once you get back on the track.
- Turbo Canister: It's a box crate with canister on it. Once you got it, use it at any time during the race.
- Jumping Boosts: Once you jump as you go over the ramp, your racer would fly into the air. The longer air time you have, the more boost you get once you land on the ground.
- Power Slide Boosts: The power slide isn't as easy as the Mario Kart series. You have to press the slide button to allow the gauge to go from green to red. Once it reaches red, press again and you'll have a boost. You have up to three times to get the maximum boost.
Crates[edit | edit source]
There are four types of crates in this game.
- Weapons crates: Box with a question mark has normal weapons in it.
- Multiplier crates: They are marked with an "X" and its usually have special weapons for you to use, or three of one of the generic weapons.
- Wumpa crates: The box that doesn't have any marks is simply there for one reason and that is to enhance the speed of your kart or in short, juiced.
- Activation crates: The crates with exclamation points is there to allow the dangers of the track to be use as an advantage. If you time it right, you'll have more time to yourself.
Power-ups[edit | edit source]
- Turbo Boost: It's a canister item. You can use it to blow past your opponent with a brief moment of speed. If you're juiced, you get a longer and bigger boost.
- Bowling Bomb: It's a bomb with a skull labelled on it. It's not just a weapon, you can also detonate it from it. If you're juiced, the bomb moves faster and the explosion bigger. You can shoot it at front or behind you.
- Homing Missiles: It's homing rocket which latches on the nearest opponent you can see and zoom after him. But if you see a crosshair on you, get away from it! If you're juiced, your homing missile goes faster and tracks better.
- TNT Crate: If you drop one of these, they'll get a nasty surprise. But if you land on it, hop made madly to get it off your head. If you're juiced, your TNT goes from red to green and will explode as someone hits it.
- Static Orb: It's a glowing sphere surrounded by electricity. It will protect you if one of the opponents run into you. It will slow him down, short circuit the kart and change their weapon to something else. If you're juiced, the orb will also reverse the steering for a short time.
- Invincibility Mask: This is probably the most protective item you really need in the game, although it's reserved for karts that's far behind the other racers involved. No weapons and hazards hurt you and any karts that bumps into you will spin out. Also will boost your kart slightly faster until it wears out but will end if you fall off a cliff. If you're juiced, your mascot mask will stick around for even longer.
- Power Shield: This is quite the same as the invincibility mask. Once you get hit by a kart, the shield is over. If you're juiced, there's no time limit once you hit something.
- Ice Mind: This can completely slow down the racer. If you're juiced, the ice cube takes longer to melt and cause the kart to drive like it's on ice.
- N.Tropy Clock: This item is available only in race modes. This simply there to slow down time, everyone spins out and you get to drive by since you'll be protected from the vortex. Not exactly like "The Matrix" but it does help if you're far behind the racers. If you're juiced, the effect last longer than before.
- Tornado Top: If you're opponent is far ahead in first place, use this to blow through the karts to level the playing field. Also it's only used in race modes. If you're juiced, it will go faster than normally intended.
- Invisibility: You can use this to hide from your opponents. You'll see a shadow of yourself and no-one else will be able to find you. It's only available in battle mode and if you're juiced, the effect would last longer.
- Super Engine: This will replace your kart engine with something more powerful. Use it to outrun missiles or get away from the opponent. This is also only available in batllte mode and if you're juiced , the effect would last even longer.
- Red Eye Missile: This is pretty much a James Bond style weapon. Find a safe spot and control your missile until you hit your opponent. It's only available for battle mode and if you're juiced, the explosion last longer, the missiles bigger and it's easier to steer.
Characters[edit | edit source]
There are a total of twelve racers to choose from in Crash Nitro Kart. Ecah have their own strengths and weaknesses that are separated into three "classes": Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Kart types are also determined by teams, their karts taking the model of certain cars. Be aware that only Team Cortex and Team Bandicoot can participate in the game's Adventure Mode. The other teams are only playable in other modes.
Team Bandicoot[edit | edit source]
The good guys, wanting to complete the Galaxy Circuit in order to go home in time for a nap. Aku Aku is their patron Mask. Their carts are blue, built like common cars.
- Crash Bandicoot: The game's main protagonist. An all-around Intermediate racer specializing in acceleration.
- Coco Bandicoot: Crash's Younger sister who is a genius with computers. A beginner racer with a great affinity for tight turns, but lacks speed power.
- Crunch Bandicoot: A new addition to the Bandicoot family, formerly serving Cortex. An Advanced racer with a great top speed and so-so acceleration, but horrible with tight turns.
- Fake Crash Bandicoot (Unlockable): An alternate version of Crash, his origins greatly debatable. An all-around Intermediate racer with weak speed, acceleration, and turns.
Team Cortex[edit | edit source]
The bad guys who have been a thorn in Crash's side for years in constant fruitless attempts to conquer Crash's world. Uka Uka is their patron Mask. Their Carts are red, built like ATV Bikes.
- Doctor Neo Cortex: Crash's main enemy who uses his genius-level intellect to terrorize Crash's world. Specializes in acceleration, like Crash. Is an Intermediate racer.
- Doctor N. Gin: A scientist who converted a Missile that got stuck in his head into a life-support system. A Beginner Racer specializing in tight turns, but having weak speed as a result.
- Tiny Tiger: One of Cortex's henchmen. Not the sharpest tool in the shed. An Advanced racer with great speed, but weak turns.
- Doctor Nefarious Tropy (Unlockable): A villain with time-bending powers. An Advanced racer with a high speed and acceleration, and average turning.
Team Oxide[edit | edit source]
The original villain from Crash Team Racing is back, along with his minions. He is racing for Emperor Velo in the Galaxy Circuit to get revenge on Crash. Emperor Velo is his team's patron Mask. Their karts are yellow with green stripes, built like dune buggys. (Note that Zam and Zem can only be played as on the console versions of the game, making no appearance in the GBA, N-Gage and Mobile versions.)
- Nitrous Oxide: The villain from Crash Team Racing looking to defeat Crash in the Galaxy Circuit. An Intermediate Racer with average speed, acceleration, and turning.
- Zem (Unlockable): Oxide's minion. Loves to eat almost anything. An Advanced racer with maxed out speed and average turning, but low acceleration.
- Zam (Unlockable): Oxide's frog-lizard like pet. A Beginner Racer with weak speed but maxed out turning.
- Velo (Unlockable): The main villain of Crash: Nitro Kart. An Expert racer with the best speed and acceleration, and average turning. Drives a hovercraft when facing him as a boss as well as in the GBA version. Drives the team's native kart type in the console versions.
Team Trance[edit | edit source]
N. Trance is also racing for Emperor Velo in the Circuit, even going as far as brainwashing those from other teams to form his own. Velo is also his team's patron Mask. Their karts are green and uniquely egg-shaped.
- N. Trance: An egg-shaped outer dimensional villain with hypnotic powers. An Intermediate racer with average speed, acceleration, and turning.
- Polar (Unlockable): Crash's pet polar bear cub, brainwashed into racing for Trance. Mind control may have affected his sanity slightly. A Beginner racer with weak speed but maxed out turning.
- Dingodile (Unlockable): One of Cortex's henchmen, brainwashed into racing for N. Trance. Mind control seems to have mentally damaged his character. An Advanced racer with maxed out speed and average acceleration, but weak turning.
- Pura (Unlockable): Coco's pet tiger cub, brainwashed into racing for Trance. Mind control may have affected his sanity slightly. A Beginner racer with weak speed but maxed out turning.
Other racers[edit | edit source]
The Galactic Champions can only be played as on the Game Boy Advanced version of the game. You can play as Emperor Velo also, but his kart is unique. The Champions don't drive Karts, instead driving floating platform-like devices that are different colors depending on the driver.
- Krunk: Terra's Champion who races the teams to see whether Terra or Earth is the better planet.
- Nash: A Shark-like creature engineered by Velo to constantly move, and is extremely impulsive. Hates sharing and is Barin's Champion.
- Norm (Small) Fenomena's Champion that can split into two entities. His small incarnation is slightly defiant, but enjoys reading, which Velo takes advantage of to motivate him to race. Behaves like a mime, staying quiet at all times. Hates losing.
- Norm (Big) The alternate version of Norm. More social and isn't afraid to speak his mind. Often instucts Norm and watches over him. Only wears a mime outfit since he was asked to. Also hates losing.
- Geary: A robot engineered by Velo to be Teknee's Champion. A compulsive cleaner. May be germaphobic. His eye color changes depending on his mood.
- Emperor Velo XXVII: The main villain of Crash: Nitro Kart. Best statistics. Drives a hovercraft.