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Crash Tag Team Racing Q&A Feature
Derek dela Fuente
22/07/2005
TVG chats to the Producer of the Bandicoot's forthcoming combat-racing title...
Crash Tag Team Racing looks like itās got the perfect mix/formula for success. Created by a team with an impressive track record, Radical Entertainment, featuring the ever popular marsupial, Crash Bandicoot, it seems irresistible. Crash Tag offers whacky and hilarious action in an arcade racing game with some uniquely moreish features especially the crazy mad cap but highly playable experience where you can fuse two cars into one special vehicle and thatās not all! Highly destructive and inventive weapons with head turning technology add even more appeal and if you tire of driving then set out and explore the world on foot. To entice you even more we got Joel DeYoung, Producer at Radical Entertainment to spill the beans
TVG: Itās fair to say the importance on Crash has dwindled a little in recent years, however Radicalās announcement earlier in the year appears to throw him back in the limelight; firstly do you believe the Bandicoot still has life in him and perhaps you could outline a little of the future direction behind the brand ā“ why did you choose a follow-up to the kart racer firstly?
We chose to put Crash in a racing game because itās an area that has never really been fully explored in the Bandicoot universe. Crash Tag Team Racing is more than a kart racer: itās a combat racing game with a completely new twist. The clashing feature provides the player with a whole new experience. Doing racing was also a natural fit for the team since our most recent title was The Simpsons Hit & Run.
Crash has a new home at Radical with the Hit & Run team and we believe he has a bright future on both the current and upcoming consoles.
TVG: What do you see as a couple of its real innovation in terms of gameplay ideas and what do you see as Crashās addition to the game mechanics?
Clashing is certainly the most innovative element of this game. You can combine two cars together in a race to form one super-car; one player drives while the other player shoots at other cars with a powerful 360 degree turret gun. We iterated a lot on this core feature very early in production, resulting in a really polished end product thatās tons of fun.
Another new twist in the game is Die-O-Rama. We have made death a collectible: try to find places in the platforming levels that are dangerous for Crash and watch him meet his demise in over-the-top hilarious ways. We have really worked hard to get people laughing out loud when they play this game.
TVG: Although primarily a Kart racing game, it also offers some platforming elements; please elaborate more on this aspect for our readers and what percentage is racing and platforming ā“ is there any worry that one might be sacrificed for the other?
Itās about 60% driving, 40% platforming. But realistically thatās going to vary from player to player. We have structured the game so that you can work through the story at your own pace and in your own way. So whether itās winning races, solving platforming puzzles, playing on-foot mini-games or something else, you can work through the game in whichever way you find the most fun. And you can always go back to any point to ensure you get it 100% completed and unlock everything.
TVG: One of the unique elements of the game is a āclashingā feature in which you can merge with another kart; please tell us about this technique ā“ how it works, the combinations and the benefits, etc...?
Combine two cars in the race to form one super-car. One player drives while the other is mounted on a 360 degree rotating turret on the back. Each of the eight playable characters has their own unique turret weapon, each with different strengths. When clashed you can use your characterās weapon and can also borrow the weapon of the character you clashed with. You can clash and unclash as many times as you like during a race and while clashed you can choose to drive or shoot. You can clash with AI or with other human players.
Itās a really cool mechanic because while you are ultimately competing with all the other racers, clashing puts you into a temporary cooperating relationship with another player. This is especially fun when youāre competing against your friends in a multiplayer race.
TVG: What are some of the diverse objectives for the player and what forces will be on hand to stop you achieving your goals?
The on-foot levels are full of missions, collectibles and platforming puzzles. Crash fans will really enjoy the variety of stuff there is to do on foot. But watch out for the kung fu ninja penguins!
TVG: There are five themed worlds so what differing impact do they play in changing or adding to the gameplay experience and are they more than eye candy? Tell us about one theme that the team are especially pleased with.
In addition to the obvious differences in art direction and feel, the different themes have allowed the team to create a variety of jokes and gags that are theme-specific. We have filled the world with lots of hidden jokes. This gets people exploring the various parts of the levels and makes sure there is always something putting a smile on your face.
TVG: How technology focused is the team to make Crash have a certain cutting edge and what engine have you employed?
We were able to make use of the technology we built on The Simpsons Hit & Run, most notably the driving engine. Radical has always been strong in technology and the great engine and tools the team has had access to have really allowed us to focus on creating solid and fun gameplay.
TVG: Crash Tag Team Racing puts fun at the centre; perhaps you could elaborate on the selection of mini-games and goodies that ill have players coming back for more?
There are a number of driving mini-games that are both fun and useful for learning the core mechanics behind driving and shooting in the races. We also have battle arena and stunt arena which feature deathmatch and stunt gameplay respectively. Both of those can be played single or multiplayer. On-foot, we have some classic midway shooting games as well as a bowling mini-game that is truly addictive.
TVG: Is there any reason beyond cost and penetration why Crash Tag Team Racing doesnāt support online play?
When playing with others, we feel our core audience is more focused on a solid multiplayer experience rather than playing online. For the hardcore multiplayer we do support hooking multiple machines together to play up to eight players per race.
TVG: What can PSP owners look forward to that will differentiate their version from others?
The PSP version of the game will feature some unique cars and battle arenas, as well as a unique co-op racing mode. And if you have the PS2 and PSP versions of the game and connect your PSP to your PS2 via a USB cable, there are some surprises to unlock!
TVG would like to thank Joel DeYoung at Radical Entertainment for taking the time to answer our questions. Crash Tag Team Racing will be released on Xbox, PlayStation2, GameCube and PSP later this year.
twinkles511
Date Added:Tue 9th Sep 2008 10:37
tikicobra
Date Added:Sat 30th Jun 2007 03:08