This gaming generation has been packed to the brim with exciting titles. From giant multi-platform titans such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare to system-selling exclusives such as Marvel’s Spider-Man, the variety and polish on some of our favorite titles has never looked better. In the indie space, titles such as Darkest Dungeon and Slay The Spire have stolen our hearts with simplistic innovation and charming design. With the eighth generation coming to a close, we here at Duel Screens wanted to highlight some of our must-play experiences before grabbing your new PS5 or Xbox Series X. This is Duel Screens Selects.
Crash Rides Again
The Kart Racer is a strange genre in gaming. The approachable arcade-inspired controls are easily grasped, yet very few have come close to the charm or excitement offered by the king of them all, Mario Kart. One game, however, stands out in the history of the genre as a contender to the throne. Released in 1999, Crash Team Racing or CTR by developer Naughty Dog made a huge splash as the original Playstation’s answer to Nintendo’s pristine mascot racer. The title proved to be a hit with fans and newcomers alike, carving out a place for itself in video game history as the best contender the genre has ever seen. Fast-forward to June 2019 and the release of CTR Nitro Fueled by Beenox on the PS4, Xbox One and Switch revives the classic with impeccable style and all the charm of the original. Not only does it feature all the modes, characters and tracks of the classic title but adds even more, drawing from other titles in the Crash racing franchise. You can even play as Spyro The Dragon or his arch enemy, Gnasty Gnorc as an added bonus!
This all comes with a kart customization system that puts the competition to shame. These cosmetic options are vast and brilliantly dynamic. Shining Gem colors, Volcanic wheels and more await you in the customization garage of CTR Nitro-Fueled. From body, to paint job, to decals, it is surprising how much you can personalize not only your kart, but your driver as well. With a huge roster of 54 racers, each oozing with a fun and unique personality, there is someone here for everyone. Each racer also comes with a nice spread of skins and since each driving style is available to every racer, you will never be punished for trying someone new.
Unique skins give new spins on these fun characters that sometimes include new voice lines and victory podium animations. Along with the lovingly made detail in each track, CTR Nitro-Fueled is beautiful to behold on the PS4 and Xbox one, and still looks great on the Switch in spite of the lower graphical quality. While the majority of this content is locked behind Wumpa Coins, you are awarded them fairly and frequently for completing races and challenges. With daily, weekly, and Pro challenges complimenting hefty race bonuses for online races. After each race or failed challenge attempt, you’ll find yourself thinking “just one more time” more often than not.
Road Wars
CTR Nitro-Fueled is fun and frantic. There are a ton of tracks, characters and cosmetics to enjoy. The adventure mode is fun and challenging, complete with cup races and boss battles identical to the original game, with some added flair. The online matchmaking is simplistic but very fair and does a great job of putting you in with players around your same skill level. This is very important in CTR, because to really rake in the Wumpa Coins for some sweet unlocks (without dipping into your own cash to buy some), you’ll want to master the art of the race. The signature Power Slide is a uniquely skill-based mechanic, allowing those who can use their boost meter during these drifts to reach ludicrous speeds. This the the defining feature of CTR and when understood it quickly creates a powerful addiction to the speed it brings.
Seeing the fire roar from your exhaust pipes in various intensities is awesome to behold, even more so when you slide past an unsuspecting rival at breakneck speed. These moments create palpable tension from an underlying eagerness to see which of your rivals has the skills to take you on and meet you neck-and-neck. This feeling is compounded when you realize that many of the items in the game are not the traditional “catch-up” style items you’ll find in other kart racers. Many of these weapons are skill-based shots, boosts, or other munitions that are not meant to blow the entire pack out of the water while you cruise by without a scratch. They are meant to compliment the learning curve of the game, promoting tactical item use that can make for intense mid-race war zones.
Forever A Classic
It’s no surprise by now that the eighth console generation saw the return of Crash Bandicoot. Crash Bandicoot: N-Sane Trilogy turned heads when it was released and reinvigorated the once dormant franchise. CTR Nitro-Fueled pushed this further, with Beenox adding a mountain of new content over the lifespan of the game at no cost to the user. From fan-favorites to guest characters, to original creations, the amount of heart and fun put into this title is second to none. Wumpa Coins are plentiful when obtained from races and daily online bonuses, making nothing seem out of reach with just a day or two of play. The inclusion of a full-fledged adventure mode makes this a great single player experience as well. Other fun arcade options make this title a blast to play with friends, on the couch or online, and makes for one of the best games of the eighth console generation.
