Sony CRASH TEAM RACING part number CRASHTEAM or C-RASH-TEA-M Compatible with:

PlayStation owners no longer need to borrow their friend's 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, skillful 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, 12 characters, and responsive control make CTR the gotta-have racing game. --Jeff Young

Pros:

• Excellent kart control, including power slides, hops, and wheelies
• Wide tracks encourage passing
• High replayability, especially in multiplayer mode

Cons:

• Characters aren't as cute as those in Mario Kart