Summary
Kart racing games are a blast to play, featuring a more arcade-y style of racing that can be enjoyed for some casual fun. The kart racing king,Mario Karthas released numerous titles that fans absolutely love.Their latest game,Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, is another feather in the cap of this polished series that sells boatloads of copies with each entry.
The sheer ease of starting a game ofMario Kartwith friends and enjoying the chaos that ensues makes for a great time indeed. Most people may not even think about trying out another kart racing game, but the fact is thatthere are actually several great kart racing titlesthat players can try out if they love the genre. They may not boast the same level of polish asMario Kart, but players who can look past that downgrade will love racing as one of their favorite characters across a bevy of franchises.
There’s no denying that the release ofChocobo GPon the Nintendo Switch was pretty rough. Despite being a decently charming kart racing game, the sheer shamelessness of some of the microtransactions in this game just rubbed players the wrong way. Square Enix wasn’t enjoying the greatest reputation in the market at the time, which made the release of this title even more grating for the masses.
After this poor launch, Square Enix decided to go in a different direction for their game. Instead of the steady stream of purchasable content that was planned for this title, the company canceled any post-launch content and changed the model of this game. Instead of a free-to-play model, players could just buy the game itself and obtain everything in the title via in-game collectibles, which should’ve been the case all along. Unfortunately, as things stand, it seems that this game is already well on its way to becoming one of Square Enix’smany disappointingFinal Fantasyspinoffs.
4Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway
Metascore: 70
Most people have no idea thata Nickelodeon kart racing game exists,with this series spawning three games already! WhileNickelodeon Kart Racersstarted off on a rather shaky note, fans have noticed that the series has improved with each successive entry. The latest title,Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway,is easily the best one of the lot.
There may still be some issues with the game, but the upward trajectory of the series is certainly praiseworthy. If things continue on this track, then there’s a chance thatNickelodeon Kart Racersmay rivalMario Kartat some point, even if the possibilities of something like this happening are quite slim.
Even Sonic’s biggest fans have to admit that Sega’s hedgehog completely and utterly lost the battle against Mario. While the speedy critter certainly enjoyed his time in the spotlight, Sega’s consoles simply weren’t selling, andSonic’s shift to 3D wasn’t remarkable in the slightest. This ultimately led to the blue hedgehog having to find a home for itself on other consoles, including the rival it was competing with for the longest time.
Still,Sonicfans can enjoy some of the good gamesthis series has created, even if most of them either try to do something original and fail or just go down the path thatMariodid.Sonic & All-Stars Racingis an example of the latter, but this kart-racing game is still pretty great and worth checking out for fans of the genre. Controlling characters from Sega’s many beloved franchises is a treat to witness in every way.
Another mascot of a big player in the industry who competed against Mario with games of his own is Crash Bandicoot. Naughty Dog’s mischievous marsupial featured in his own trilogy of platforming games that felt satisfying and snappy to play through. Sony eventually shifted their focus to more mature offerings, butCrash Bandicootstill holds a special place in the hearts of many.
So, fans were glad to see Sony rekindle the embers of this once-dying franchise. The first three games were remade from the ground up and the franchise received a fourth game as well. Along with this,Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueledwas released on most major platforms. While the arcade racing style is still prominent here, the game does demand more from the player if they want to win a race, compared to other kart racers. This added layer of difficulty is very much appreciated in a genre that can be a bit too casual for its own good.
There was a time when bothDonkey KongandMarioreigned supreme as some of the best platformers that players could check out on Nintendo’s consoles. While the latter has continued to deliver excellent video game experiences, the former comes once in a blue moon and is nowhere near as relevant as before.
During the franchise’s heyday,Donkey Kongcouldn’t put a single foot wrong.Their debut kart racing title,Diddy Kong Racing,was also lauded for its fun gameplay and charming visuals. If players still own a Nintendo 64, then it’s very much recommended to get their hands on this amazing game and enjoy the things that made it so special in the first place.
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