[OPINION/EDITORIAL] Feedback I’ve got for Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (What I liked, what can be improved, changed or removed)

NOTICE: This is an editorial opinion post about the general feedback that the author has for the game, things might be slightly different for you or other people. It is also why the author is open for suggestions for other feedback points from readers like you to add onto this post, so others can learn about them.

It has been long coming since I have wanted to do a post like this. I would greatly appreciate it if more suggestions kept coming for what needs to be improved for the game as well. You can submit your own feedback like I did in the Feedback Form on Activision’s Support website (if you have bug reports, you can submit them in its own respective form). Let’s get started!

What I liked:

• The game looks and plays great (even if somewhat off when it comes to drifting and jumping), Adventure Mode is just as good, I would also love to see Crash Nitro Kart’s Adventure Mode be implemented in the future as a bonus, if possible. Cutscenes and the presentation look outta this world and it puts Team Sonic Racing’s cardboard cutscenes to shame.
• The addition of Legacy OST, while great, needs to have better quality and be louder (Subtitles are perfectly implemented into the game, noting at the character by name and icon).
• Online, while barebones and rough even after months of the game’s launch, is fun for what it is, it is the dream scenario of CTR being online without the netcode hassle of PS1 emulators from back in the day…
• The addition of Crash Nitro Kart and Inspired Crash Tag Team Racing tracks via the Grand Prix, are pretty much almost perfect (except for some cut sections in Hyper Spaceway, for example). It is quite unbelievable at times just how much more fun it is to race on retrofitted CNK tracks with CTR-style handling.

What can be improved, changed or removed:

• Handling should be changed, the stats also should not lie about what the actual handling is, many people have been suggesting “Engine Swap” as an option, and also changing the turning radius/stats in terms of how each class handles. (Images, Reddit Post)
• Hotfixes should be more consistent and not end up breaking half of the game when they get rolled out. The Grand Prix end period shouldn’t have to be so inconsistent and broken, despite announced date and time. Major patches should be addressed better in the future.
  • I would like to see better communication overall in a more consistent manner and not just in one-offs (like recently with the Super Engine and Clock/Warp Orbs reduction).
• Online reliability is still rough, P2P is barebones at best, should’ve been more prepared ahead of release with Betas released to select players, improve P2P netcode, or at least implement dedicated servers.
  • Online Mode needs more features and modes, like ‘no item’ mode for races, we need Cups and maybe even Championship mode for online.
• The game needs a proper checkpoint system, to avoid having to constantly fix shortcut exploits. Collisions/walls need to be reworked, so they don’t become a problem, especially in online. In Sewer Speedway, the physics for rolling on the half-pipe need to behave more like the one in CTR PS1 (this will help immensely in smoothly hopping onto the shortcut).
• The terms of condition should not force you to see the whole thing, it is aggravating and inexcusable to have that. Just let the user see it on their own and then have the user agree to it if they want to, since people will reset their consoles or play it somewhere else and don’t want to deal with such an inconvenience.
• This is likely not gonna be changed but it has to be mentioned still: Wumpa Coin Bundles (Microtransactions) are still predatory to those with gambling addiction or those who might slip themselves into in, including kids. You can read more about this whole ordeal from this article.
• Grinding and Wumpa Coin rewards need to be improved, even playing locally, which would be great if WCs are awarded without the need for internet connection for those playing locally only. Nitro Gauge fill-ups, while great on paper, makes it look only worse with the WC bundles being present, since it hinders the purpose of progression and rewards.