Video Games : Categories : PSone : Type of Game : Driving & Racing : Cartoon Racing

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Video Games : Categories : PSone : Type of Game : Driving & Racing : Cartoon Racing

• Crash Team Racing - Platinum (PS)

  Sony Computer Entertainment UK

  
  PlayStation owners no longer need to borrow their friends' Nintendo 64 in order to have a rollicking good old time racing virtual turbo-charged go-karts through outlandish environments. Crash Team Racing does an excellent job of re-creating that same thrill on the PlayStation.

  Crash Team Racing has all the marks of the kart-racing genre, including big-headed characters driving diminutive go-karts, power-ups to increase speed and slow-down opponents, and thematic tracks with multiple paths for exploration. What CTR adds to the mix is fairness: tighter-turning cars are rewarded for precision driving, skilful jumping, and strategic placement of booby traps. Sure, the playing field is level, but the better the driver, the better chance he or she has of winning consistently without any annoying "catch-up code".

  The one-player game is wonderfully presented as an exploratory adventure, while the multiplayer mode is a split-screen must-play for anyone with a PlayStation (and, of course, friends). Twenty-five tracks, twelve characters, and responsive control make CTR the gotta-have racing game. -- Jeff Young

  
   

• Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase

  THQ

  
  
   

• Micro Machines 3 - Platinum

  Codemasters

  
  
   

• Disney/Pixar's Toy Story Racer

  Activision

  
  While Andy's away, the toys will play--or in this case, they'll race around in pint-sized vehicles. Toy Story Racer is a kart racing game that feature 10 characters from the popular film series, including Woody, Buzz, Hamm the pig, each with his or her own unique vehicle. There are 20 racetracks and a variety of power-ups to edge you toward infinity (though not beyond). But more than just racing through film-inspired environments, players can fulfil different quests, which make the game unfold like a storybook. Success opens up further quests and characters. The game's artificial intelligence adjusts the competitive drive of computer opponents to each player's abilities, so younger fans of the Toy Story films new to video games won't get frustrated by constantly eating Woody's dust. --Stuart Miles
  
   

• Lego Racers

  LEGO

  
  Virtual racing fans can simply load up Lego Racers, build a virtual car from the signature block parts and compete with computer opponents or a friend around tracks with such exotic names as "Dark Forest Dash" and "Tribal Island Trail".

  Players choose a driver based on preferred driving style, and then snap together their dream machine in the Lego garage. Real-world physics comes into play here: adding a "wedge" brick to the tail improves aerodynamics, and placing a few extra bricks over the wheels adjusts the traction (prior Lego building experience may come in handy). Each themed track offers unique racing adventures, such as dangerous lava geysers in the "Magma Moon Marathon", with power-ups supplying special abilities such as oil slick deployment and turbo boosts. Beat a champion racer and you'll earn the right to pick over his or her machine for the best parts--probably just like your older brother or sister's unwritten rule during your childhood Lego playtimes. --Eric Twelker

  
   

• Muppet Race Mania

  Sony Computer Entertainment UK

  
  
   

• South Park Rally

  Acclaim

  
  
   

• Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour (PSone)

  Eidos

  
  
   

• Speed Freaks

  Sony

  
  
   

• Micro Maniacs - Value Series (PS)

  Codemasters

  
  
   

• Running Wild

  Sony

  
  Running Wild is a racing game influenced by many others before it. Due to its adolescent target audience, Running Wild displays bright visuals, bringing a cartoon feel to the proceedings, similar to the Micro Machines series.

  The sound has also been influenced in the same way. There are many different characters to choose from, each with their own strengths and attributes. The courses are well constructed, with differing routes, weapons and obstacles to overcome in order to reach the finish post. Secret courses and characters can be discovered in the process, prolonging the game life span. More fun can be had through its multi-player function, enticing up to four players at once.

  Running Wild takes the best aspects of other racing games and, although not extremely inspiring, it is plenty of fun. -- Alex Leung

  
   

• Batman: Gotham City Racer (PS)

  Ubisoft

  
  
   

• Looney Tunes Racing (PS)

  Atari

  
  Kart racing games come in many guises, so to find one that is both addictive and a joy to play and watch, like Looney Tunes Racing, is a nice surprise. Take on the role of your favourite character and race against the other characters or a friend on the 10 tracks as hilarious surprises wait around every bend.

  There are eight of the best-loved Looney Tunes characters to choose from. Your chosen racer must then race against the other seven characters, and winning each race in turn will earn you points to unlock the bonus track. All the tracks have themes from the featured characters' regular cartoons and will be familiar to the young and the old, making the game a joy for all ages. Strategically placed throughout are special power-ups and weapons in the form of Acme bombs and custard pies to help you beat your opponents, as well as race-winning turbo ramps to give you that much-needed boost.

  The animated tracks are simply superb and the characters are very well-animated, with all the characteristics you come to expect from them. Children who enjoy Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Marvin the Martian will love to play this--as will their parents, when the children aren't watching. Good, clean fun suitable for ages five and over. --Robert Hyde

  
   

• Micro Maniacs

  Codemasters

  
  
   

• Bugs & Taz + Wacky Races Compilation

  Atari

  
  
   

• Monster Racer

  Microids

  
  
   

• Nicktoons Racing (PS)

  Hasbro

  
  Now you can give Angelica her comeuppance, help SpongeBob be a winner, or simply see how CatDog manages to drive a race car. Nicktoons Racing will thrill cartoon fans and gamers alike as it spices up a racing program with twists and turns that are pure Nickelodeon.

  Only in this program will you find tracks with giant fingers growing out of pink dirt, power-ups that include the "Powdered Toast Man Crouton Launcher" (yes, it enables you to launch huge croutons at your opponents), and prizes such as a wheel of cheese. Players can get behind the wheel with and race against 12 Nickelodeon characters, including Tommy from the Rugrats, Ren and Stimpy, or Helga from Hey Arnold. There is also a Mystery Rider in a black car; to uncover his or her (or its!) identity, racers must win on all 12 tracks.

  This Windows-only program has three difficulty levels, a feature that allows not-so-great racers to progress towards discovering who or what the Mystery Rider is. Five game modes include an option for two players to race head to head, a relay option and a couple of practice options that won't damage trophy standings. Players must win first place on the easier tracks before they can access the more difficult ones. And if players don't have a game pad or joystick, they must race using the arrow keys.

  Everything from talcum powder to "gritty litter" comes into play as racers manoeuvre their cartoon characters around the bends of these twisted tracks. Our one complaint is that we only get to see the backs of our favourite Nick characters as they speed through their surreal world. (Ages 6 and up) --Anne Erickson

  
   

• Chocobo Racing

  Sony

  
  Combining the action/adventure and racing genres, Chocobo Racing follows in the footsteps of popular "car-toon" titles Crash Team Racing and Mario Kart. While the cutesy bird character Chocobo lacks the mainstream notoriety of Mario or Crash, the kooky creature will likely appeal to fans of the popular Final Fantasy series. Chocobo makes a successful flight from sidekick to star in this quirky racer, which features seven competing cartoon characters including White Mage, Mog and Golem.

  All of the racing characters possess special powers and unique tracks designed around their personas. Chocobo Racing contains five challenging racing modes, including grand prix (four-track tournament), time attack, versus (two-player racing), relay race and story mode. We were particularly intrigued by the story mode, which places Chocobo in an old-fashioned pop-up storybook as he aims to collect several scattered blue crystals.

  We also liked the high replay value of this game. For example, a racing victory may reward players with the ability to customise a character. Chocobo Racing is far from a sophisticated racer--and, in fact, that is part of the appeal. This is an easy game to learn, so younger players can pick up a controller and play with little trouble. Still, plenty of challenges hide in the detailed tracks, which are filled with time-zapping traps and treacherous curves. --Carrie Bell

  Pros:

  • Diverse tracks and characters
  • Will appeal to fans of Crash Team Racing and Mario Kart

  Cons:

  • Weak steering and vehicle control
  • Cartoon theme may not appeal to die-hard racing fans
  • Not compatible with multiplayer adapter, so simultaneous racing is limited to 2 players
  
   

• Woody Woodpecker Racing

  Konami

  
  
   

• Wacky Races

  Atari