Nickelodeon Kart Racers
{{Short description|2018 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Nickelodeon Kart Racers
| image = Nickelodeon Kart Racers cover art.jpg
| caption =
| developer = Bamtang Games
| director = Adam Johnston
| producer = Stephanie Villalobos
| designer = Rodrigo Hidalgo
| programmer = Edward Nancay
Carlos Madrazo
| artist = Ivan Olarte
Miguel Almeida
| composer = Charles Loli
| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|GameMill Entertainment|EU|Maximum Games}}
| series = Nicktoons
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|October 23, 2018|EU|October 26, 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maximum-Games-NKR-PS4-Nickelodeon-Racers/dp/B07GCQF1N9/ref=sr_1_1_twi_gam_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1536041091&sr=1-1&keywords=Nickelodeon+Kart+Racers|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers (PS4)|website=Amazon|access-date=December 24, 2018}}}}
| genre = Racing
| modes = Single-player, Multiplayer
| platforms = Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
| engine = Vector Engine
}}
Nickelodeon Kart Racers is a 2018 racing game developed by Bamtang Games and published by GameMill Entertainment in North America and Maximum Games in Europe. The game features Nickelodeon characters in a crossover, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Hey Arnold!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Rugrats. The game was released in North America on October 23, 2018, and in Europe on October 26, 2018, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamestop.com/nintendo-switch/games/nickelodeon-kart-racers/163553 |title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers for Nintendo Switch | GameStop |access-date=2018-10-24 |archive-date=2019-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716235319/https://www.gamestop.com/nintendo-switch/games/nickelodeon-kart-racers/163553 |url-status=dead }} A sequel, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix, was released in October 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nickelodeon-kart-racers-2-announced-trailer |title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix Arriving This October - IGN Expo |first=Joe |last=Skrebels |date=June 11, 2020 |website=IGN |access-date=March 14, 2021 |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211183846/https://www.ign.com/articles/nickelodeon-kart-racers-2-announced-trailer |url-status=live }} A third entry, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway, was released on October 14, 2022.
Gameplay
Nickelodeon Kart Racers features a selection of twelve playable characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Hey Arnold!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Rugrats. 24 courses and 8 arenas based on different locations from the shows are included in the game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-inspired-game-with-nickelodeon-characte/1100-6460742/|title=Mario Kart-Inspired Game With Nickelodeon Characters Announced|work=GameSpot|date=2018-07-26|access-date=2018-07-29|archive-date=2019-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301174715/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-inspired-game-with-nickelodeon-characte/1100-6460742/|url-status=live}}
It also has a team-based co-op mode, where two players can use a hammer to stop every other team and get an advantage. The karts can be customized and power-ups can be picked up from the courses. Kart parts, including tires, engines, spoilers, jet skis, and paint jobs, can be purchased using coins collected from the courses. Courses that entirely consist of slime include slalom and elimination modes.
= Playable characters =
{{Collist|
- Angelica Pickles (Rugrats)
- Arnold Shortman (Hey Arnold!)
- Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Helga Pataki (Hey Arnold!)
- Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Patrick Star (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- Raphael (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Reptar (Rugrats)
- Sandy Cheeks (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongeBob SquarePants)
- Tommy Pickles (Rugrats)
}}
Development
The game was announced on July 25, 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamestop.com/xbox-one/games/nickelodeon-kart-racers/163551 |title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers for Xbox One | GameStop |access-date=2018-10-24 |archive-date=2019-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716210816/https://www.gamestop.com/xbox-one/games/nickelodeon-kart-racers/163551 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamestop.com/ps4/games/nickelodeon-kart-racers/163549 |title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers for PlayStation 4 | GameStop |access-date=2018-08-02 |archive-date=2019-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716190608/https://www.gamestop.com/ps4/games/nickelodeon-kart-racers/163549 |url-status=live }} A trailer for the game was released on September 13, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXG6dAb0cr8|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers Announce Trailer|date=13 September 2018|via=www.youtube.com|access-date=24 October 2018|archive-date=2 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702155816/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXG6dAb0cr8|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 42/100 (PS4){{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nickelodeon-kart-racers/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers (PlayStation 4)|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=December 24, 2018|archive-date=January 21, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250121023133/https://www.metacritic.com/game/nickelodeon-kart-racers/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|url-status=live}}
41/100 (NS){{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nickelodeon-kart-racers/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers (Switch)|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=December 24, 2018}}
49/100 (XONE){{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nickelodeon-kart-racers/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers (Xbox One)|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=December 24, 2018}}
| OXMUK = 5/10{{cite magazine|last=Towell|first=Justin|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers|issue=172|magazine=Official Xbox Magazine (UK)|publisher=Future plc}}
}}
Nickelodeon Kart Racers received "generally unfavorable" reviews on all platforms according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Nintendo Life gave the game a 3/10, criticizing it for the roster size which only consists of two to four characters from four different shows while lacking characters from other popular Nickelodeon shows such as The Fairly OddParents, Invader Zim, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and The Loud House. They also criticized the game for the lack of voice acting.{{cite web|last=Vogel|first=Mitch|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/nickelodeon_kart_racers|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers Review (Switch)|publisher=Nintendo Life|date=November 4, 2018|access-date=November 4, 2018|archive-date=July 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702155819/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/nickelodeon_kart_racers|url-status=live}} PlayStation LifeStyle gave the game a slightly higher score of 5.5/10, stating that "while [it] provides plenty of content and has smart references that integrate well with some very solid racing, the poor visuals and botched battle mode leave plenty to be desired. If you accept the game for what it is there’s definitely some fun to be had but its shortcomings are jarring enough to require some substantial blinders."{{Cite news|url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/10/29/nickelodeon-kart-racers-review-needs-another-coat-of-slime-ps4/|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers Review — Needs Another Coat of Slime (PS4)|date=2018-10-29|website=PlayStation LifeStyle|access-date=2019-11-03|archive-date=2022-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702155816/https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/10/29/nickelodeon-kart-racers-review-needs-another-coat-of-slime-ps4/|url-status=live}}
Chris Wray of Wccftech panned the PlayStation 4 version with a 2/10, stating that "with basic at best visuals, terrible audio design and quality, as well as just downright bland kart racing, this isn't the kart racer for you."{{Cite web|last=Wray|first=Chris|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers Review - Oh The Humanity|url=https://wccftech.com/review/nickelodeon-kart-racers-review/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=Wccftech|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702155817/https://wccftech.com/review/nickelodeon-kart-racers-review/|url-status=live}} Chris Compendio of DualShockers gave the Nintendo Switch version a similar score, calling it "a sin masquerading as a video game, and now we must all wish for forgiveness."{{Cite web|date=2018-10-23|title=Nickelodeon Kart Racers Review — Nostalgia is Dead|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/nickelodeon-kart-racers-review-switch/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=DualShockers|language=en|archive-date=2022-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702155816/https://www.dualshockers.com/nickelodeon-kart-racers-review-switch/|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
See also
{{Nicktoons video games}}
{{navboxes|list1=
{{Hey Arnold}}
{{Rugrats}}
{{SpongeBob SquarePants video games}}
{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games}}
}}
Category:Cooperative video games
Category:GameMill Entertainment games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Nicktoon racing games
Category:Nintendo Switch games