___  ______     ___      _____  .---.  ___
,'   ||   _  \   /   \   ,'  ___| |   | |   |
/    _||  |_) |  /  _  \ |   (_    |   |_|   |
!   ,'  |     _/ |  |_|  | \    `-._|         |
|  (    |   _ `. |   _   |  `-._    \    _    |
!   `-'\|  | \  \|  | |  |/`.___)   |   | |   |
\      \__|  \,'|__| |__/         /|   | |   |
`.___,'                `'-.___.-' `-._| '---'
_    _                           _   __
| \  | | _  _____  _____   ___   | | / /  ___   _____  _____
|  \ | || ||_   _||  _  \ / _ \  | |/ /  / _ \ |  _  \|_   _|
| | \| || |  | |  | |_) || / \ | | ' /_ | /_\ || |_) |  | |
| |\ | || |  | |  |  _  /| | | | |  _  ||  _  ||  _  /  | |
| | \  || |  | |  | | \ \| \_/ | | | | || | | || | \ \  | |
|_|  |_||_|  |_|  |_| |_| \___/  |_| |_||_| |_||_| |_|  |_|
+----------------+
|ASCII by osrevad|
+----------------+
Crash Nitro Kart FAQ
For the Nintendo GameCube
Copyright 2004-2006 Richard Beast
Version: 2.0
Date: 04/09/04
----------------
Version History:
----------------
+ 2.0 +
Holy moly, I noticed one major thing that I was missing: the CNK Challenges
were completely missing. So I added them to the walkthrough. Probably the last
update now.
+ 1.0 +
It's a bit incomplete, but still, it's going along pretty well. There a few
things that will be needing adding, but the walkthrough itself is complete. All
of the levels, the gem cups, and stuff like that are totally finished. Still,
be patient on me to finish the other stuff. =P
==============================================================================
Table of Contents:
==============================================================================
-!NOTE!-
This guide, as you will soon see, is a decent size. Seeing as how this takes
effect, you will might possibly be lost in trying to find out what you want to
read. There is one way to get to it, instantly. Press Ctrl + F, and then look
for whatever you want. Let's say you want to go to the Basics section. Type in
"V. Basics", and then you'll go to the bosses section, instantly! Pretty neat,
eh?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ -------------------------- * TABLE OF CONTENTS * -------------------------- ~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Introduction
II. Legal Disclaimer
III. Contact Rules
IIIa. E-Mail Rules
IIIb. IM Rules
IV. Basics
IVa. Driving Guide
IVb. Weapons
V. Characters
VI. Walkthrough
---TERRA---
VIa. Volcano Island
VIb. Jungle Boogie
VIc. Tiny Temple
VId. Krunk
VIe. Temple Turmoil
---BARIN---
VIf. Meteor Gorge
VIg. Barin Ruins
VIh. Deep Sea Driving
VIi. Nash
VIj. Frozen Frenzy
---FENOMENA---
VIk. Out of Time
VIl. Clockwork Wumpa
VIm. Thunder Struck
VIn. Norm
VIo. Desert Storm
---TEKNEE---
VIp. Assembly Lane
VIq. Android Alley
VIr. Electron Avenue
VIs. Geary
VIt. Magnetic Mayhem
---VELO'S CITADEL---
VIu. Velo
VII. Unlockables
VIII. CNK Challenges
IX. Credits
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
I. INTRODUCTION
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
OH EM GEE if it isn't that ol' Gbness again. Well, yep, I'm back. This is the
very first FAQ that I've ever done for a racing game, although it's the 20th
guide I've done (21st if you count one IGN exclusive). And that's not to
mention that a couple things here are incomplete. Yep, I'm lazy, shoot me all
you want. Actually, I had several projects to work on simultaneously, so
well... you know. Since I have got school and the like, I can't really work too
much. The reason that I wrote this guide is because there were NO FAQs
currently up for Crash Nitro Kart, which was a real shame, seeing as how many
there are for racing games released on like, the same day CNK came out.
This guide will basically go around detailing Crash Nitro Kart like this: first
of all, there's this introduction, then the legal disclaimer, and the rules for
contacting me. After that, we'll get to the basics of this stuff. I'll talk
about how to drive the kart, the controls, weapons, and how to become an
overall good driver. Then I'll tell you a little bit about the characters.
Following that, the walkthrough will tell you any shortcuts in all the courses,
how to get crystals quickly, and anything tricky in any course, together with
strategies for outracing the bosses. Then I'll give you hints for the relic
races and CNK challenges, tell you how to unlock stuff, and end the guide.
As soon as I began this guide, I had an urgency for it to be the greatest Crash
Nitro Kart guide that will ever be made. Still, don't push it on me if this
stuff sucks, since this is my first ever racing game guide. Although Crash
Bandicoot is dying off, he's fighting has way back to returning, and thus he
comes back in a sequel to Crash Team Racing. Still, I prefer Crash Team Racing,
but Crash Nitro Kart is still pretty good though. Anyway, I think that's enough
babbling. Welcome to this great turbo-charged adventure! The latest version of
this guide can always be found at GameFAQs (although I'll always have this on
IGN too).
- Rich "Gbness" Beast
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
II. LEGAL DISCLAIMER
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
You are NOT permitted to put this FAQ on your site without my permission first.
All you have to do is email me or IM me saying you want this FAQ on your site,
then you can tell me your site and the chance is high that I'll let you. But if
you put this FAQ on your site without my permission I swear you will regret it.
If I let you, not ONE word should be changed from this FAQ! NOT ONE! Got it?
Good. Also, make sure that no money is involved. If you want this FAQ to be
sold on eBay, then just forget about it, man. And don't sell this guide either,
or pay people to use it, or you'll be in such big trouble you don't want to
think.
Another little note is that I will not have this guide hosted on many other web
sites besides GameNotOver, GameFAQs, IGN, and Neoseeker. You need full-on
permission if it's not one of the four above sites. I am sick of people ripping
me off (I have been ripped off three times in the past), so if I don't like
your site, I won't let my guide be posted on it. I am sorry, but this is how it
has to be. If you ask politely and I like your site, you will definitely have
the luck of getting it up there. Thank you very much.
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
III. CONTACT RULES
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
+--------------------+
| IIIa. E-Mail Rules |
+--------------------+
I love getting good emails, so you're free to email me with a question any
time, but I will not answer questions already answered in this FAQ. I prefer
e-mails with good grammar, and subjects with Crash  or I
will delete them, sorry. Also, don't send me e-mails about Crash Nitro Kart
with some other game's subject, please. And don't bother sending me things like:
"u sux. Everything bout u sux. ur guides suck. U SUCK"
"C'mon, just kill yourself already."
"Hope ya fall down the stairs and break every bone in your body."
"BURN DOWN YOU STUPID CRAP"
"help me plz how doo i beet levl 6 im stuk were u get tha furst eg were doo i
go neckst thx"
I will laugh at such e-mails and delete them. So... if you're not just playing
a friendly joke on me or something, don't bother with that, cos I've been
through with it too much. Another thing: don't send me e-mails in any languages
other than English or Spanish. I can read both English and Spanish pretty well,
but I prefer English. Still, I can do Spanish pretty well, so if you absolutely
have to send me an e-mail in Spanish, hola. But if you know English, I want
that, thank you.
+----------------+
| IIIb. IM Rules |
+----------------+
My AIM list is closed, and since there are nowadays few people I can really
trust, you likely won't get on but there is still some chance, by the way. If
you're on, however, don't ever, ever advertise for your site and ask me to work
for it, or I'll probably remove you from it forever. I've had to do this SO
MANY times in the past, and it wasn't worth my time. Sorry if I'm rude, but I
am quite busy often and can't stay on a lot, so I will not work for your site.
It doesn't matter what it is; I WON'T WORK FOR YOUR SITE. Asking me to is
asking to never talk to me again. Thank you. And please don't IM me a lot too,
because I have like 20 people always IMing me, and although I hold nothing
against them, I would prefer having light IMs. Thank you again.
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
IV. BASICS
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
This is just about everything that you will likely need to know to get yourself
started on playing Crash Nitro Kart.
==============================================================================
IVa. Driving Guide
==============================================================================
Here are just a few things that you should know before getting yourself started
on your racing.
--------------
Power Boosting
--------------
It is more important to know how to do this than anything else. Hop using
either L1 or R1, and a gauge appears to the right. When it turns red, hit one
of the two buttons that you DIDN'T previously hit. Repeat this three times, and
you'll really be driving. Especially if you hit it when it's at the very top of
the gauge...
-----------
Wumpa Fruit
-----------
This is yet another incredibly basic thing that you need to learn. Drive past
wumpa fruit, and you'll get closer to the big ten of them. If you have ten of
them, your weapons become "juiced". They then have added features, and are just
in general much more useful. Wumpa fruit can be found throughout the track, and
in boxes without symbols on them. Keep in mind that if you are attacked, you
will lose a little.
-----
Boxes
-----
Ah yes, notice how the track is littered with those boxes? Drive through them
to collect something... these are the various kinds of boxes throughout the
race track.
**********
Bouncy Box
**********
Bouncy boxes contain wumpa fruit in them (about 3-4 of them, not enough to get
you juiced in one go). They have no symbols on them, and you'll definitely be
able to recognize them if you've played any other Crash Bandicoot games.
**********
Weapon Box
**********
These babies are marked with question marks "?". In them are a certain
weapon... but who knows? The weapon you get may depend on the place you are in
the track. The best weapons are for those in 4th-8th, usually.
********************
Special Weapon Boxes
********************
Special weapon boxes contain more than one of a certain weapon in them. You can
get 3 of the following: TNT crates, missiles, bowling bombs, orbs, and turbos.
If you get 'em juiced, you're really in luck.
**************
Activation Box
**************
Definitely the most important of the four. Unlike the other three, driving
through these get you diddly squat. But, they can change the layout of traps in
front of you, allowing you to damage opponents when they least expected it.
==============================================================================
IVb. Weapons
==============================================================================
Here are all of the weapons in the game. And yes, that means in race mode and
battle mode.
TNT Crate
----------
The TNT is the basic weapon, first making its appearance in the first Crash
Bandicoot and being in all of the other Crash Bandicoots. Now that I've bored
you with the history of the TNT Crate, when you get hit with it, it's stuck on
your head. You'll have to jump several times for it to come off. If you wait
for three seconds, it explodes and you take damage!
Juiced: The TNT Crate becomes the NITRO crate. If you run into that, it's no
mercy. It'll explode.
Homing Missile
---------------
Well, it's a shame that the Homing Missile was in Crash Team Racing, yet it's
really not as useful in Crash Nitro Kart. It keeps crashing into walls, it
frequently stops midway and doesn't hit, and it rarely hits. It's best used
when you're really close to an opponent, and then you can hit them with one of
these.
Juiced: The Homing Missile is much improved, as it goes a lot faster and
doesn't crash as much. Much better!
Bowling Bomb
-------------
Bowling Bomb is another useful weapon, especially if you're using it on a long,
straightforward path or hall. The Bowling Bomb goes straightforward when it is
used, and when it hits something it explodes. However, it's not that useful in
a curved area, so it's best used in a straightforward area. Also, Bowling Bomb
can be detonated when nearby an enemy by pressing O again. ;)
Juiced: The Bowling Bomb will go a lot faster, and it'll have a large explosion
radius. The O button twice, anyone?
Static Orb
-----------
Static Orb is one of the weapons that you will likely want to avoid. It's a
small orb of lightning that can be dropped behind you (or in front of you), and
when someone just happens to drive by and hit it, they'll get shocked and start
driving much slower. It is easy to avoid, however. Still, try to avoid getting
shocked. This will also change the opponent's weapon to a random other one.
Juiced: The Static Orb will lasts for longer and is drawn to karts that pass
by. And it'll make 'em go even slower.
Tornado Top
------------
Tornado Top is quite similar to the lightning orbs found in Crash Team Racing.
When you launch out a Tornado, it'll go along the course and track down the
character in the lead. Any character that's in the middle of the course will be
also caught in a dangerous gust of wind as well. The Tornado Top will slow you
down for five seconds.
Juiced: The Tornado Top has a higher chance of hitting characters in the way,
and goes faster.
Ice Mine
---------
The Ice Mine isn't personally one of my favorite weapons, but it can still be
quite useful. What happens when an enemy drives into it and then gets frozen in
a block of ice. While they're inside it, their kart drives much slower until
the ice melts. Still, there are a lot more useful weapons, but if you put an
Ice Mine around a corner and someone drives into it, they're in trouble.
Juiced: The ice takes a lot longer to melt, and the kart will drive like it's
on ice. Far more useful.
N. Tropy Clock
---------------
Ah, the clock! If you are fortunate enough to find one of these inside a crate,
then you can use this and not only will their weapons disappear, time will slow
down around them and they'll start driving all slow and clumsy, while you
manage to still drive quite quickly. It really sucks to be hit by this, but
pity that it's pretty rare.
Juiced: The effect of the clock will last about 1.5 times as long, and your
opponents drive even slower and more clumsily.
Invinciblity Mask
------------------
This is perhaps the best of all the weapons that you can pick up. Sure, it's
still rare but it's not as rare as, say... the Clock. When you activate this,
the team's mascot will start floating around them, creating a shield on them.
Also, anything that you touch will be damaged, and you'll go a considerable
amount faster too.
Juiced: Your mascot will stick around a little longer, and you'll drive a bit
faster.
Turbo Boost
------------
The Turbo Boost is basic, and there is just about nothing that can describe it.
If you drive into one of these, you will drive faster. There's nothing else to
it, except that the Turbo Boost works very well on speed pads. If you use it
when you get on a speed pad, then you can do a really good, fast, and high
jump. Doing three large boosts is also extremely nice.
Juiced: While juiced, you'll go even faster and the boost will last longer. Not
to mention the joined effect with speed pads or boosts will be better.
Invisibility
-------------
Not much to say about this, since the meaning is self explanatory... this
"weapon" (it doesn't harm enemies) is, sadly to say, not found in race modes,
only in battle modes. The Invisibility is a great asset of a good fighter in
battle mode though, because only the character's outline will be shown.
Remember that the arrow still will be, though!
Juiced: The Invisibility lasts for even longer, and the kart's even harder to
see.
Super Engine
-------------
Oh my god, this engine rocks, despite not being original in the slightest, as
it is practically the same as the Turbo Boost. However, if you get a Super
Engine you can use it several times to quickly get away from a missile or your
opponent who may have something quite deadly. To add to that, the Super
Engine's very fast. However, it's only in battle modes.
Juiced: Super Engine lasts even longer, it's even faster, and overall better!
One heck of a good "weapon".
Red-Eye Missile
----------------
This missile is only available in battle mode, but man is it good. It will
leave your kart a sitting duck, which will allow enemies to attack, but when
you shoot one of these off, you can control a fast missile normally, and then
find an enemy and crash the missile into him/her. Just shoot it from a safe
location...
Juiced: The missile will be even faster, and to boot, it will also be easier to
steer!
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
V. CHARACTERS
+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---+++---
Here is a listing of all the characters in Crash Nitro Kart. And yep, that's
all 16 of 'em.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
THE BLUE TEAM
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Crash
------
Crash Bandicoot is the main hero of the story. A long time back, in the
previous Crash Bandicoot games, he defeated the evil Dr. Cortex, who made
several threats of taking over the world. He now lives with his sister Coco,
his new bandicoot friend Crunch, and the witch doctor mask Aku Aku, along with
Pura and Polar (tiger and polar bear, both who occasionally hang around). In
the races though, Crash really isn't that great. He's the acceleration type and
has a medium build. Mediocre turning, excellent acceleration, and average
speed. Overall, he's pretty average, but I'd prefer Coco or Crunch.
Coco
-----
Coco is Crash's little kid sister, who also just happens to be the intelligence
of the bandicoots. She spends almost all her time on her computer, although in
the third Crash Bandicoot game she appeared, although she could only go around
in vehicles and on her trusty tiger Pura. Speaking of Pura, Coco also has a pet
cat/tiger. Isn't that nice. :) Coco is one of the better members of the blue
team inside of the actual races though. She focuses on turning. She hasn't got
the best speed, but she accelerates well enough and turns beautifully. She's
overall a very good pick, especially in places like, say... Clockwork Wumpa.
Crunch
-------
Crunch originally appeared in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, which was
the sixth ever game released in the Crash Bandicoot series. He was originally
created by Cortex and given supreme powers, but eventually he had a change of
heart and got out of Dr. Cortex's control, and then he sided with the
bandicoots. Crunch is still a powerhouse and is a big pile of muscles though.
As he happens to be a powerhouse, Crunch focuses on nothing but speed. He's
just about as fast as they get on the tracks, although he has medicore
acceleration and awful turning. Still, Crunch can be quite a good pick.
Fake Crash
-----------
Fake Crash is an incredibly unknown and rather useless character in the Crash
Bandicoot series. He happens to appear and taunt you in Crash Bandicoot 3,
inside the fifth level, and he was in Crash Team Racing and was on Dr. Cortex's
side, but for some odd reason in Crash Nitro Kart he happens to be on the
bandicoot team, perhaps just for his species. He's really incredibly
unimportant, but he is unlocked by getting 50 boosts on the Cortex Team (red
team). Fake Crash is very similar to Crash, he deals with acceleration and has
bad turning, and average speed.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
THE RED TEAM
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Cortex
-------
Cortex is one of the age-old Crash Bandicoot characters who appears in every
Crash Bandicoot game ever released, but I suppose that's obvious because he's
the main villian (besides the mask of evil, Uka Uka). Cortex isn't really good
looking as a villain though, because he has a big "N" on his forehead, a bad
temper, and he's short and has very bad-looking black hair. Still, Cortex is
more evil than he looks. He focuses on nothing but world domination, making
bandicoots extinct, and doing stuff with animals. Like Crash, he has great
acceleration. Not that great in anything else.
Tiny
-----
Tiny is a personal favorite villain in the Crash Bandicoot series for many,
although he does happen to be the clumsy one. He owns several pet lions and in
a fight with Crash in the third game, he enjoyed sicking them on him. Tiny
enjoys playing checkers, and since he's so big there's nothing he likes more
than squashing bandicoots. Still, Tiny is incredibly clumsy and has just done
something strange to his kart that makes it incredibly fast but stiff, making
it turn poorly. He's the top speed type, but since his kart is so stiff it
doesn't turn or accelerate that well.
N. Gin
-------
N. Gin is another one of the best villains in the Crash Bandicoot series, due
to his awesome voice, that strange missile in his head, and his overall
personality. He's gone a little crazy due to a missile getting stuck in his
head, so he's definitely not the type to be messed around with. He also just
happens to know quite a lot about robots and machines, seeing as how he's
fought with Crash before in machines. Also, in the races he focuses on the
kart's turning power, although he isn't incredibly fast. Acceleration is
medium, as opposed to what N. Gin was in Crash Team Racing.
N. Tropy
---------
N. Tropy is the master of time and fought Crash in the third game with the
forces of time and special magic. He also built the Time Twister machine, which
allowed you to go back in time. All in all, N. Tropy is an incredible
mastermind, almost as clever as N. Gin is. In Crash Team Racing, he wasn't in
the main races but in Time Trial, his best time could race you, then you'd beat
it. After you beat him in every single track, you could play as him. He's
exactly the same in Crash Nitro Kart, so you can get this amazing, speeding,
blue-faced scientist by beating him in all courses. He's the top speed type.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
THE GREEN TEAM
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
N. Trance
----------
N. Trance is a new character to the Crash Bandicoot series, who will hopefully
stay if there are future Crash Bandicoot games. N. Trance looks just about as
goofy as Cortex: he has a pink head that looks like an egg, and his body is
quite small. Still, he is much deadlier than he looks, and he is the master of
hypnotism. He's even hypnotized Dingodile and Polar so that they'll race for
him, and he got Pura as well, although Pura is not quite as important, since he
isn't in regular races. Since N. Trance is the leader of the Green Team, you
can expect that he is an accelerator.
Dingodile
----------
Dingodile is a little different in this showup in the Crash Bandicoot series.
Sure, he's exactly the same as always and enjoys frying small bandicoots for
supper, but when Cortex, N. Gin, Tiny, and himself were caught in the tower and
taken to Velo's citadel, he was caught and was brainwashed by N. Trance and now
races for him. Dingodile is yet another villain in the Crash Bandicoot series
that is pretty well liked, though. In the track though, Dingodile focuses on
top speed, although for some reason he doesn't seem as fast as Tiny. Still,
Dingodile is quite fast. He's also unlocked by completing the Red Gem Cup.
Polar
------
Polar was with the bandicoots at first. You may remember in previous Crash
Bandicoot games, a cute, white little polar bear sitting outside or inside
their home, but when Crash, Coco, and Crunch were taken over to Velo's citadel,
N. Trance got the cute little bear and brainwashed him to race for him. So now
Polar is an enemy. Polar appeared in Crash Bandicoot 2, and Crash could ride
him, although I have to say he didn't ride him enough. Polar can be unlocked by
completing the Blue Gem Cup, although it's a pity he still can't race for you.
As a small polar bear, Polar focuses on turning.
Pura
-----
Pura is Coco's pet tiger. Actually, Pura is a very small tiger, almost to the
point of being a cat/kitten. Still, that doesn't take off from the fact that
Pura is very cute. =) Pura was in Crash Bandicoot 3 and in Crash Team Racing,
and he even appeared in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, in a cutscene or
two. However, Pura met the same fate as Polar did, in being brainwashed by N.
Trance. Anyway, Pura is mostly the same as Polar is, if any different at all.
He turns well, but isn't really the fastest. Unlocking him is done with 50
consecutive boosts on the bandicoot team.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
THE YELLOW TEAM
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
N. Oxide
---------
Nitrous Oxide is more of a newer character. He first appeared in Crash Team
Racing, and he threatened to turn the whole world into a concrete parking lot
and making everyone his slaves if they didn't race him and win. As you can see,
he was pretty evil. However, he was beaten and returned in Crash Bash, only to
be defeated there too. N. Oxide is furious that Crash always wins, and this
time he demands pure victory. This time, he's brought along his servants Zam
and Zem to outrace Crash. N. Oxide is very ugly and not really that great,
since he deals on wheels. Oh wait, on acceleration. Not top speed or turning.
Zam
----
Zam is one of N. Oxide's two pet lizards, who are both racing for N. Oxide. Zam
is a new character to the Crash Bandicoot series and hasn't appeared in any
others, and I can honestly say that I hope that Zam won't. Sure, Zam is better
looking than Zem is, but just take one look at Zam and you'll say, "Ah, this is
Yoshi, oh whoops, I mean ZAM." Zam does look a lot like Yoshi from the Mario
series, yes. Anyway, there's not much to say about Zam. He's unlocked by
beating the Purple Gem Cup, which is rather unrewarding, seeing as how hard the
crystal challenges are. He focuses on turning.
Zem
----
Zem is Zam's, errr... brother, although Zem is quite a bit different from Zam.
While Zam looks like Yoshi from the Mario series, Zem looks like Velo. While
racing, he was in first, and I saw his portrait to the left, I thought, "Wow,
is that Velo there?" Another thing is that while Zam works upon turning, Zem
focuses on going as fast as possible, although I don't personally find Zem as
fast as, say, Tiny or N. Tropy. Zem is incredibly ugly, let me tell you that.
So even after unlocking him from the Green Gem Cup (that's where you unlock
him), I haven't used him more than once.
Velo
-----
Emperor Velo XXIII. His image first appears at the beginning of Crash Nitro
Kart, as his face. Even as the "ruler of the galaxy" as he calls himself, Velo
is quite ugly. His face is all green, and when he appears he's dressing in pink
and gold. I don't know about you, but those three colors do not match at all,
in my opinion. Anyway, Velo also claims to be the fastest in the galaxy. He is
indeed quite fast, although he gets thwarted twice. ^_^ Also, Velo has a large
secret revealed after you beat him for the second time. I won't spoil it here
though, don't worry.
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VI. WALKTHROUGH
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Anyway, here at last is the guide for Crash Nitro Kart. This guide will list
all of the shortcuts in each world that I know of, and it will guide you
through the course as well as I can manage it. Also, this is my difficulty
scale from 1 to 5 stars:
* (1 star): Easy
** (2 stars): Fairly Easy
*** (3 stars): Medium
**** (4 stars): Fairly Hard
***** (5 stars): Extremely Difficult
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VIa. VOLCANO ISLAND
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Difficulty Level: *
Recommended Character: Crash/Cortex
Volcano Island is a nice, sunny level. Your typical beautiful place to begin
with. =) Anyway, collect the crates right in front of you and soon to the left,
you will come to a small gap to go through, with a little hill right near it.
You'll want to speed up by doing several boosts right before cutting through
there. If you manage to do this, you can go really fast on that hill and jump
all the way up to cliff above. Then that will give you a shortcut over to the
bridge right ahead. Another tactic (although not recommended) would be to
intentionally fall in the water, and then Aku Aku will place you on the cliff.
Once you jump down to the bridge, drive forward to the beach. You will then
find two ramps. The upper one will get you to two boxes, and the lower one (the
one on the right) will jump you down to an X-box (no pun intended, and from now
on I'll call them special weapon boxes). Keep in mind that the lower one is a
bit harder to take, unless you're playing as Coco/N.Gin. It's average
difficulty as Crash/Cortex though. Once you've done that, just drive over to
the left and then go straightforward and you'll reach a speed pad to the right.
It may be a good idea to do a few boosts here.
After getting a little bit of speed on your wheels, drive as fast as you can to
the left, and then you'll find a small ramp on the right, and a path to the
left (below it). This is just like before, and really neither path is faster,
even though the upper one has a speed pad on it. Also, there's a special weapon
box at the end of it that you'll need to jump pretty high to get. Anyways, take
whichever path you want. Keep in mind the upper one has a speed pad though.
Once you've got that done, just drive forward from both of them, take a left,
and you'll find yourself back at the beginning of the course.
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VIb. JUNGLE BOOGIE
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Difficulty Level: *
Recommended Character: Crunch/Tiny
This track could get a bit confusing at the first see, although it is really
very easy to navigate and a pretty good course with two shortcuts. Get a good
start at the beginning of the track, then immediately jump. Wait for the gauge
on the right to turn red three times (yes, you'll need this much time and this
much speed to do the shortcut), and then look over to the right. Don't jump
down below to the water, just jump over to the ledge right above. This is the
first shortcut. You may want to hug the wall on the right a little bit to make
sure you don't fall off though, but there's a special weapon box right there.
When that ledge reaches its end, hop down and you'll come to a lot of Wumpa
boxes and a few weapon boxes too... try to drive through as many wumpa boxes as
possible to get juiced quickly. After getting them, just speed over to the
right, and you'll find a path to the left. Do a few boosts around here and then
speed quickly over to the left. Then take a right and you'll end up on a
bridge. Do another three boosts to go as fast as possible, then look for
another ledge to the left. There's a rope around it, and you may possibly land
on it (happened to me several times). If you do, jump drive to the left and
drop down there.
That is the level's second shortcut. Anyway, that is pretty much the end of the
level. There are a few weapon boxes on the way, so you may want to get those as
well. Speed a little bit over to the left, then drop down to the bottom and
continue forward, to arrive back at the beginning of the course. When you reach
the beginning, do some more speed boosts, but try very hard not to miss the
ledge on the right to take the shortcut. If you go too fast, you'll miss it. Be
careful, and don't fall off of it either.
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VIc. TINY TEMPLE
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Difficulty Level: **
Recommended Character: Crunch/Tiny
Tiny Temple is a good, straightforward level, even more so than Jungle Boogie.
Anyway, as you begin it may be a good idea to get some really good speed on the
ramp ahead of you, then start rushing forward and take an immediate left to
meet up with another ramp, and two faces breathing fire below the ramp. Take
the ramp, and when you land back on the ground you will be speeding for at
least five seconds, especially if you're Crunch or Tiny. Once you do that,
continue and then head downhill and you'll find an activation box and two
tunnels to take.
The activation box will make some faces start breathing fire. First of all, in
either tunnel it'll be one side with a face, the other side, then the first
side, then what was the second, and then the paths will meet up. Take whichever
one you want, although this part will be easier if you're ahead of the other
racers and make it across before any racers get to the activation box, because
you'll have less risk of getting flamed. Just be careful, since you don't want
to get stunned. After getting out of there, just take a left and then get out
of that room to head forward.
You will meet another ramp after you make your way through there. Use it to go
a little faster, but I remind you that after you go a little further, you will
find several creatures along the track that will try to get in your way and
stun you. Try to avoid them. The ramps do a good job of helping you avoid them,
so use them. Continue to drive onward until you get to a really large jump and
then land back at the beginning of the course. Now prepare for none other
than... the KRUNK!
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VId. KRUNK
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Difficulty Level: **
Recommended Character: Crunch/Tiny
The race with Krunk takes place in Jungle Boogie. Krunk is quite easy to
outrace, although he will lay out about three weapons for every normal box that
he collects. It will be a bad idea to stay right behind him. Instead, note that
he doesn't take the shortcuts. You'll get far ahead of him if you can take both
shortcuts at least once. That way, you need never worry about Krunk, since all
of his attacks will be right behind you. After that is over, Crash gives Krunk
his yo-yo if you're on Team Bandicoot, and Cortex will threaten to take over
Terra if you're on Team Cortex. Either way, you can now go to Barin.
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VIe. TEMPLE TURMOIL
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Difficulty Level: ***
Recommended Character: Coco/N. Gin
Yep, this is the special level of Terra. To begin this course, drive slowly
over to the left to get a crystal there, and then drive across the round course
four times to get any single crystal you find in your way. Coco or N. Gin are
good for this. However, you'll find in the center four crystals that need some
jumps to be gotten. I recommend only going in there once you've gone behind any
objects on this course and taken any hills to jump up to crystals until you get
16 of them. Then drive up to the center and get two of them, one by jumping and
one by driving, then return back and get the last two. It shouldn't really be
too difficult.
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VIf. METEOR GORGE
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Difficulty Level: **
Recommended Character: Crash/Cortex
This is my personal favorite track in Crash Nitro Kart. Maybe it's because I'm
super good at it, or perhaps because it has one of the nicest shortcuts in the
game, but this is one hell of a nice track. As you start, get a good boost and
then go up the hill in front of you and take a left. The first shortcut is
right to the left. Make sure you're going fast enough, and then when you get to
a large drop below, head to the left and you'll find a special weapon box. If
it's three turbo boosts, make sure you save these up for a slightly harder
shortcut. Drive to the speed pad and drop down to the ground.
Drive past the small amount of ice on the track, and collect the wumpa crate on
the left. Then take a left and you'll find a blue pad. This type of pad will
allow you to jump into the air and collect stuff up there. In this case, it's a
Wumpa crate up there. It's not really important, but an extra 3-4 Wumpas never
hurt anyone. After you collect those, drive down that hill and head to the
right, and then we're just about at Meteor Gorge's second shortcut, and perhaps
the game's fastest one. You'll find a speed pad right in front of you. Do three
EXCELLENT boosts, and when you get to the speed pad, take a left.
If you go fast enough, you'll land on an island across the lava down below. Do
another jump to get the other side of this area. Two jumps instead of halfway
around what would be a circular track. Not bad! Anyway, that pretty much
finishes Meteor Gorge. Continue and you'll end up at the finish line at last,
and by now you should be going fast enough to easily take the shortcut to the
left (the one with the ice below). There's a reason I love this course, and
that's that shortcut.
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VIg. BARIN RUINS
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Difficulty Level: **
Recommended Character: Crash/Cortex
Before you even begin, you will notice in front of you, four boxes. However,
there is a small hill of ice to the right, which prevents you from getting them
a little quicker. There's also a large titan storming around, in which you will
want to avoid being caught under. You may want to drive across the center to
get those boxes. After that, you will enter a cave. Do some power boosts inside
it and jump out of it, then below you will see a large deal of lava below. Once
again, don't take too many risks. You can drive close to the edges of the path
you are on to get some special weapon boxes though.
Once you finish that, you will have to take several turns to the right.
Continue doing that until you find a tunnel to go through. You'll find several
wumpa crates and special weapon boxes in here, but there are also a few
obstacles. Drive carefully, and then you'll find a small hill on the right, and
a little passageway right above it which will lead to the finish line. If you
plan to take this, locate it ahead of you and do three really large boosts on
the hill to get inside. Be warned that a bit before the finish line is a large
titan, though.
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VIh. DEEP SEA DRIVING
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Difficulty Level: ***
Recommended: Coco/N. Gin
Deep Sea Driving is the game's first "hard" course. Not saying that it's very
difficult, but it's much harder than the first five courses. Get a good start
as you begin, and then head forward. There is a small shortcut right in front
of you, and that's cutting through the land right in front of you instead of
taking the path to the right. It's only recommended if you have a really good
speed on it though, because driving through it will REALLY slow you down. If or
if you don't do that, then you'll have two tunnels through the sea in front of
you. It doesn't matter which one you take; both are fast and give you crates.
Continue driving onward, and then take a right. You'll then land on a series of
paths. Drive across three of them, and then you'll find a path to the right,
way below the path you are on. If you go pretty fast on the speed pad, it
should be no problem taking it, and it will save you a little bit of time.
After you land, take a right, then drive past the pillar and take a left, and
you'll end up in another long tunnel through the sea. I can't really give a
strategy for this, but there are several obstacles around here, and you can
drive up to get other crates. Try to avoid the obstacles by timing yourself,
and then you'll wind up back at the beginning.
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VIi. NASH
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Difficulty Level: **
Recommended Character: Coco/N. Gin
This race takes place in Deep Sea Driving. Alright now, racing Nash is like
racing Krunk, although Nash is slightly more dangerous. He will place teeth and
shark mouths behind him very frequently, and they're hard to dodge. Try and
avoid getting right behind him, and stay in the air a lot. Fortunately, Nash
doesn't take the main shortcut in Deep Sea Driving, so you should be able to
keep a lead on him. However, don't try too hard. Try and move around a bit when
you're on the straight paths before you can take the shortcut, and you should
be just fine.
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VIj. FROZEN FRENZY
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Difficulty Level: ***
Recommended Character: Crash/Cortex
You'll begin in a small cave. I recommend driving very slowly while you're in
it, so that you can get all of the crystals inside the cave. It may, however,
be a good idea to get half of the crystals right now and then get the rest
later. After you get all the crystals in the cave, head out into the main
arena, and you'll find several ramps leading to a higher ground. What you
should do is first get up there, then do a full circle around the higher ground
(it's entirely circular), while avoiding TNT crates. Then get on all of the
ramps and collect the crystals there, and if any crystal remain in the cave in
the center, collect them. You should be able to do all this in the given time.
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VIk. OUT OF TIME
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Difficulty Level: ***
Recommended Character: Crash/Cortex
Out of Time has two shortcuts right at the beginning of the level. Shortly
after you start at the beginning of the level, you'll find two blue jump pads
in front of you. They will alternate which one will be up, and the first small
shortcut on this level can only be taken if you take a jump pad. Time it so
that one of them is up when you drive by, and when you're in the air take a
large right through the sand, and you'll already be ahead of the other racers!
Just drive a little bit further while boosting a LOT, this is what is required
for the next shortcut.
Make sure that you're going extremely fast, and then look for the above arrow
on the right. There is a fence below it, and between the arrow and the fence is
a gap to drive through. You'll have to go REALLY fast to head between them, and
don't fret if you don't do it on your first time through. This is honestly one
of the hardest shortcuts in the game to take. If you do manage to do this
though, continue driving to the left, even though it'll say that you're driving
the wrong way when you're not at first, however. If you don't make it, go
straight and head to the left, then continue down the road.
You will then come to a long path, and a large clock on the right. Just head on
straight forward, and then drop down and go forward. Drive over to the right,
and then just head up the next hill and drop down to a new area. You'll find
several dunes around here, with holes in all of them. Stay as far away from
them as possible (the dunes alternate from right to left to right to left, etc;
with this being the case, drive across the center of the road), or large worms
inside the holes will eat your character, then spit him out, greatly slowing
you down. Avoid this happening at all costs.
Anyway, after you make it past the dunes there's not really much more to this
level that's left. Take a right after you go through the area with the dunes,
and then drive down the next road. This would be a good place to get some
boosts, so keep that in mind. Just a little bit further, you will end up back
at the entrance, again. Now usually with me anyway, the ramp up in the first
lap is the ramp down in the second lap. Usually, the ramp that was down when
you passed this area will be the one you take this time. Keep that in mind on
your second way through.
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VIl. CLOCKWORK WUMPA
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Difficulty Level: ****
Recommended Character: Coco/N. Gin
Clockwork Wumpa is probably the most difficult course in the whole of Crash
Nitro Kart. It requires a lot of turns, it has several tricks and traps, and
it's plain out not an easy course. It also has a few shortcuts. :) Anyway, as
soon as you begin, start going really fast and then head up the ramp facing
you, then turn to the right. Hurry down a little, and you'll find a huge gear
spinning in the middle of the area. Try to avoid this as best as possible, as
it'll squash you and if you go too far into it, you'll fall off the course. Not
exactly a help for your speed.
Hug the right wall a little bit and just continue behind the gear, then head up
another ramp and to the right you'll find another gear just like the last,
except there's no wall and it's on the right. This time, go to the left of the
gear, but try not to go too fast, and centralize yourself. Otherwise you may
fall off the course or into the gear. After you get past it, go to the right
and then in front of you, you'll find a few wheels and a path to the left. The
wheels are the shortcut. This is one of the weirdest shortcuts, but anyway...
continue driving forward and fall onto the wheel.
DO NOT do any boosts on these wheels by any means. If you do, the direction
that you try to boost in will be the direction that you fall off of the wheel.
Anyway, just jump to each wheel, and then do a jump to the path ahead of you.
Take a small left, and then use the speed pad to land at a lower bridge. You'll
find an Activation Box in front of you. If you drive through this, a huge
trapdoor in front of the next area will open. Try to avoid this trapdoor unless
you're in 7th or 8th and haven't driven through the Activation Box. Falling
through the trapdoor is equivalent to falling off the course. Be careful.
Once you manage to get into this room, take a right and start doing three long
power boosts. Make sure you're speeding as fast as you can and when you get to
the ramp, do a large jump and you'll get to the bridge above the track. From