Category: Kartography

Kartography #6 – Crazy Frog Racer

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

Kartography is my regular series in which I look at licensed kart racers throughout gaming history, and figure out where they fit on my all-time karting game leaderboard.

For more information on my scoring policy for Kartography, check out this introductory article.

Digital Jesters / Neko Entertainment
PS2, PC, DS, GBA (PS2 version reviewed)

Before Tired Old Hack went on a brief hiatus, the Kartography series had ended on a high note with Team Sonic Racing, an enjoyable karting game whose tight handling and teamwork gimmick made up for its relative lack of character diversity.

Now it’s time for Kartography to return, and what better way to mark its comeback than with one of the most notorious karting games ever made?

Crazy Frog Racer is one of the titles that’s regularly rhymed off by folk when the topic of bad licensed racing games arises. But is it truly as bad as it seems, or is it one of those Metroid Prime: Federation Force situations where it didn’t get a fair shake because gamers were ready to hate it anyway?

There’s only one way to find out: let’s kick its tyres. Or not, as the case may be here. Continue reading “Kartography #6 – Crazy Frog Racer” →

Kartography #5 – Team Sonic Racing

Published on by Chris Scullion4 Comments

Kartography is my regular series in which I look at licensed kart racers throughout gaming history, and figure out where they fit on my all-time karting game leaderboard.

For more information on my scoring policy for Kartography, check out this introductory article.

Sega / Sumo Digital
PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC (PS4 version reviewed)

My last Kartography article looked at Sonic R, Sonic’s debut home console racing experience.

Given that today marks the launch of the latest one – Team Sonic Racing – it only makes sense that a Kartography double-bill is in order.

Thanks to Sega, yer man Scullion has been playing the PS4 Pro version of the game for the past week and a half, which is just enough time to deconstruct the entire thing in trademark Kartography style.

In case you aren’t aware, Team Sonic Racing’s main gimmick is team races, where you’re grouped together with two other partners and your Grand Prix points are all added up for a total score.

Where will this new twist place it on my Kartography leaderboard though? Let’s find out. Continue reading “Kartography #5 – Team Sonic Racing” →

Kartography #4 – Sonic R

Published on by Chris Scullion3 Comments

Kartography is my regular series in which I look at licensed kart racers throughout gaming history, and figure out where they fit on my all-time karting game leaderboard.

For more information on my scoring policy for Kartography, check out this introductory article.

Sega / Traveller’s Tales
Sega Saturn, PC (Saturn version reviewed)

Not all karting games feature karts, you know.

While it’s clear that the majority do, it’s perfectly acceptable for a developer to ditch them in favour of something else.

What makes a game part of the karting genre isn’t the fact you’re using karts: it’s the idea of multiple characters – each with distinct personalities – racing against each other, often with items to collect.

After all, when you choose a bikes-only race in Mario Kart Wii, does it suddenly stop being a karting game? Does it balls.

Sonic R on the Sega Saturn was an early advocate of this idea: not only did it ditch the idea of using karts, many of its characters don’t even have vehicles at all, instead choosing to run across the course.

Does it work? Read on and find out. Continue reading “Kartography #4 – Sonic R” →

Kartography #3 – Mickey’s Speedway USA

Published on by Chris Scullion6 Comments

Kartography is my regular series in which I look at licensed kart racers throughout gaming history, and figure out where they fit on my all-time karting game leaderboard.

For more information on my scoring policy for Kartography, check out this introductory article.

Nintendo / Rare
Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color (N64 version covered)

The first two Kartography entries – in which I treaded the murky waters of Hello Kitty Kruisers and Garfield Kart – looked at fairly recent titles.

Not all karting games were released during the shiny HD era, though. With that in mind, it’s time to dive into the blurry-as-all-hell world of the Nintendo 64 (where possible, I always play and capture games on original hardware, not emulators).

Up next, then, is an N64 karting game from legendary UK studio Rare. No, not that Rare N64 karting game: Diddy Kong and chums can wait. I’m talking about the other one.

With its odd focus on real-world locations and relatively restrained racing controls, can Mickey’s Speedway USA overtake Hello Kitty and Garfield and claim the top of the Kartography leaderboard at this early stage? Continue reading “Kartography #3 – Mickey’s Speedway USA” →

Kartography #2 – Garfield Kart

Published on by Chris Scullion7 Comments

Kartography is my regular series in which I look at licensed kart racers throughout gaming history, and figure out where they fit on my all-time kart game leaderboard.

For more information on my scoring policy for Kartography, check out this introductory article.

Microids / Artefacts Studios
PC, 3DS, iOS, Android (PC version covered)

After kicking off Kartography last week with the mediocre Hello Kitty Kruisers (which scored 13/40), it’s time for game two to drive up to the… um, judging chamber. Or something.

Shortly after I posted the first Kartography I was informed that Garfield Kart was available for a dirt cheap price on Steam (it isn’t any more, but it’s still only £3.99).

Since it seems to have some sort of internet buzz around it at the moment as the alleged “worst game ever” (presumably by meme kids who’ve never experienced the joys of Wheelspin, Ninjabread Man, Rise Of The Robots or Superman 64), I decided to cover it next.

Although it was also released on mobile and 3DS (where it reportedly looks horrendous), today I’m looking at the version on Steam, where it currently has a suspicious 9/10 rating. You pesky meme kids.

TO THE JUDGING CHAMBER WITH THEE, GARFIELD KART. Continue reading “Kartography #2 – Garfield Kart” →

Kartography #1 – Hello Kitty Kruisers With Sanrio Friends

Published on by Chris Scullion9 Comments

Kartography is my regular series in which I look at licensed kart racers throughout gaming history, and figure out where they fit on my all-time kart game leaderboard.

For more information on my scoring policy for Kartography, check out this introductory article.

Rising Star Games / Scarab Entertainment
Switch, Wii U, iOS (Switch version covered)

For the first instalment of Kartography I’ve decided to look at the most recent karting game I played.

Hello Kitty Kruisers With Sanrio Friends – to give the game its full name – originally launched on the Wii U back in March 2014, where it was released in such limited numbers that it’s become one of the system’s rarest games (in America, at least: you can still get it fairly cheaply in the UK).

Just a few months back, it was ported to the Switch and published by Rising Star Games. I recorded a First Play video at the time, but have since completed it.

Because it’s fresh in my mind, then, it’s the first game to get the Kartography treatment. Continue reading “Kartography #1 – Hello Kitty Kruisers With Sanrio Friends” →

New regular feature: Kartography

Published on by Chris Scullion8 Comments

I’ve always been fascinated by karting games.

Ever since I got the original Super Mario Kart 26 years ago, I’ve always been tickled by the idea of countless developers and publishers imitating the formula with any group of licensed characters they can get their hands on.

What makes it interesting to me is that the karting genre – maybe more than any other – has continued to stick to a solid set of rules that’s almost always the same across the board.

Cups consisting of four or five races. Boost starts. Weapons, some going forwards, some going back, some homing. Maybe a power slide or drift mechanic. Unlockable tracks or characters. The vast majority of karting games tick all those boxes.

What intrigues me, then, is seeing how developers take a wide variety of licensed IPs and try to pour each one into this rigid mould, with the success of the resulting creation varying wildly.

Every time a new karting game comes out, then, I can’t help being interested to try it out. Even though the vast majority are utter piss, I’m always curious to see how each IP is treated and how the developers managed to shoehorn it into strict karting game guidelines.

Sometimes it’s a hit: Star Wars Episode I Racer was a no-brainer. And sometimes – most of the time, actually – it doesn’t work quite so well (step forward, Crazy Frog Racer).

Kartography, then, is my new regular series dedicated to mapping out the world of karting games over the past three decades. Continue reading “New regular feature: Kartography” →