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Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled Reintroduces Tracks From The Sequel Nitro Kart
The upcoming remaster for Crash Team Racing channels much of the same energy and cartoonish personality that made the classic PS1 title such a well-loved game. Developed by Beenox, Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Refueled also manages to go a bit further than updating the original, including more content than people had anticipated. During PAX East 2019, we spent some time racing on the different tracks in Nitro-Refueled, which included the return of some tracks found from the sequel Nitro Kart.
Speaking with GameSpot at PAX, Beenox co-studio head Thomas Wilson described the approach they took with the remaster, and what sort of content they wanted to include with the game.
“With the name Nitro-Fueled, we wanted to see how we could complement the original experience,” said Wilson. “We did that by adding new tracks that originated from Crash Nitro Kart, and which we decided pretty early on we were going to do that. We felt it was the right decision, and it was all about creating a more well-rounded package for fans.”
During our hands-on time, we got to play across four different tracks pulling from CTR and Nitro Kart. One thing that the original game was known for was its challenging difficulty, and that’s certainly present here. I really found myself struggling to keep up with other opponents–both AI and other players. One sudden hit from an enemy’s missile or driving straight into a vial of chemicals almost inevitably put us in a bad way. With that said, I still felt that Nitro-Fueled managed to recapture that same sense of fun from the original, which was present in the updated art style that looks more vibrant than ever.
This remaster also includes a number of changes and revisions to the core gameplay. For instance, all the anti-gravity sections from Nitro Kart’s tracks have been removed in order to keep it consistent with the courses from the original game. Nitro-Fueled also offers an upgrade to the original’s car combat mode. Featuring only the standard battle mode, the remaster will also incorporate the maps and modes from Nitro Kart as well, bringing it to a total of 12 different battle maps with multiple game types, including standard combat and capture the flag. From our recent hands-on, Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is shaping up to be a solid remaster that will rekindle the fast-pace and fun of the original.
For more from PAX Eat 2019, including the latest on Borderlands 3, and other games that caught our interest in the show, be sure to check out
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/crash-team-racing-nitro-fueled-reintroduces-tracks/1100-6465918/
Mortal Kombat 11 On Switch Doesn’t Compromise What Matters Most
The announcement of Mortal Kombat 11 wasn’t much of a surprise, but the word that it would be appearing on Nintendo Switch alongside PC, PS4, and Xbox One certainly was. In part because the ultra-violent series has had a checkered history contrasted with Nintendo’s family-friendly image, and in part because the series has recently turned into a fidelity-pushing powerhouse, the Switch wasn’t an expected home for NetherRealm’s latest gore-fest. Following hands-on time at PAX East, it feels perfectly at home on Nintendo’s hybrid platform, even if the visuals are predictably downgraded.
The port isn’t being handled in-house, instead having been handed off to Miami-based Shiver Entertainment with NetherRealm overseeing production. The mission given to the studio was apparently to make sure it runs smoothly at 60 FPS. While we didn’t verify the exact frame rate, the message came through clearly: the priority was the fighting mechanics themselves.
Shiver succeeded, with some visual compromises. One close-up of Sub-Zero’s biceps looked more like painted on musculature than the curves and shadows you’d expect on other platforms. The x-ray effect of the Fatal Blows are less detailed, looking more like a bloody mess than the stomach-churning viscera of the other versions. And naturally, the backgrounds are lacking some of the cool lighting effects that give the game such a moody atmosphere. The result is something not quite as downgraded as the mobile ports of Mortal Kombat X, but the drop in visual quality is still noticeable.
That said, the gameplay itself has made the transition beautifully. Mortal Kombat’s revival is almost rhythmic in its style, with hard-hitting blows pummeling opponents into the ground with a kind of gory grace. Those elements rely on smooth animations and clockwork-tight controls.
If seeing every crunching bone and snapped tendon with perfect clarity is what matters to you, of course, the Nintendo Switch will not be your platform of choice. But NetherRealm and Shiver appear to have succeeded at their apparent mission, to make a Nintendo Switch version that is on-par with the others in the fighting fundamentals. That’s good news for those who want to take their Kombat on the go, and don’t mind a few compromises.
Mortal Kombat 11 launches April 23 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Check out our pre-order guide for more details.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mortal-kombat-11-on-switch-doesnt-compromise-what-/1100-6465920/
No Elder Scrolls 6 Or Starfield At E3 2019, Says Bethesda
Bethesda has announced that it will not be showcasing or revealing additional details for either The Elder Scrolls VI or Starfield during E3 2019. Both games were announced and given tiny teasers during E3 2018, alongside more detailed reveals for Fallout 76 and Rage 2.
“That’s just a little sneak peek at the technology that we’ve been building,” Bethesda executive producer Todd Howard said during a PAX East panel, in regards to further details about a new game engine. “People are going to see [the tech] at first, actually, in Starfield. And so that tech will have like the second version of it in TES6, and–before everyone asks–please be patient. It’s going to be a long time. It’s not something we’re going to be talking about at E3–either of those games–this year. And so patience, please. But given the [Elder Scrolls] anniversary, we did want to give everybody a taste.”
It’s not that much of a surprise to hear that neither game will be shown at this year’s E3, given that their showings from last year’s event implied both titles are still in the early stages of development. Howard has said he already knows the release dates for both games, but he’s “not going to tell” as it “would be foolish to say it.”
During PAX Australia 2018, Bethesda marketing boss Pete Hines and ZeniMax Online Studios game director Matt Firor said The Elder Scrolls VI is still a long way off, most likely releasing on the next generation of console hardware. Howard said something similar about Starfield during last year’s E3, but clarified, “I can’t absolutely say yes to [leaving current generation consoles behind]. We’re not going to limit the game that way yet. I’m willing to [leave current generation consoles behind] but it’s not a priority right now. I’d put it that way.”
Next to nothing is known about Starfield, other than it’s the first new IP Bethesda has announced in 25 years. The first and only trailer for the game showcases a planet outlined by a distant sun, only for the camera to pan down and focus on a small space station which is seemingly sucked into some sort of black hole.
Even less is known about The Elder Scrolls VI. According to its trailer, the game takes place in a mountainous region. There are some trees and patches of fog. That’s about it. Even with so little information, though, fans are still theorizing and trying to piece together The Elder Scrolls VI’s setting.
In the meantime, Bethesda has plenty of other games to occupy players as they wait. Fallout 76 has already received the first of three major expansions, and the other two are scheduled for later this year. The Elder Scrolls: Blades has technically released as well. Also, Rage 2, Doom Eternal, and Wolfenstein: Youngblood (all published by Bethesda) are all scheduled to release in 2019–the latter of which comes with a pretty cool incentive to upgrade to the Deluxe Edition.
from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/no-elder-scrolls-6-or-starfield-at-e3-2019-says-be/1100-6465919/
