Konami Krazy Racers

Konami Krazy Racers[lower-alpha 1] is a kart racing video game published and developed by Konami for the Game Boy Advance handheld video game console. It was first released in Japan, and was later released in North America and some PAL regions. It was also re-released for Wii U Virtual Console on October 15, 2015 in Europe. It was a launch game for the system. Konami Krazy Racers makes use of a variety of characters and concepts from several of Konami's franchises, including Castlevania, Metal Gear, and Gradius. It plays similarly to the Mario Kart series, with eight characters per circuit and offensive/defensive items placed at predetermined points in the tracks.

Konami Krazy Racers
Konami Krazy Racers box art featuring eight playable characters. From left to right:Takosuke, Nyami, Goemon, Dracula, Power Pro, Pastel, Cyborg Ninja, and Moai.
Developer(s)KCEK
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)Toyokazu Nonaka
Producer(s)Etsunobu Ebisu
Keita Kawaminami
Programmer(s)Hiroshi Shibata
Junichi Taniguchi
Ken Yokota
Artist(s)Toyokazu Nonaka
Shōichi Maekawa
Chieko Tobioka
Composer(s)Sotaro Tojima
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance, Wii U
ReleaseGame Boy Advance
  • JP: March 21, 2001
  • NA: June 11, 2001
  • PAL: June 22, 2001
Wii U Virtual Console
  • EU: October 15, 2015
  • NA: November 26, 2015
  • JP: February 3, 2016
Genre(s)Racing game
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Konami Krazy Racers received mostly positive reviews.

Gameplay

Konami Krazy Racers plays similarly to other kart racing games, most notably Mario Kart Super Circuit.[1] Each race begins at the starting line, where eight racers are lined up in certain positions. Each of the seven computers are placed in the closest seven positions to the starting line, but the player character always starts a circuit in eighth place. This placement may change in the next race of the circuit depending on how well the racers do. If the player places first, he or she will be in the first position, as the placement in the following races is based on how the racers did in the previous race. The race is seen from behind the player, and uses Mode 7 effects to simulate the three dimensions.[2] A timer will count down to indicate the beginning of the race, and the player must hold down a button to accelerate at the beginning. The player can pick up coins off of the track which may be spent on items in a shop, and depending on the character the player controls, he or she may try to cause another player to spin-out. The player may use other buttons to do such actions as jump and brake, which aides in maneuverability.

Placed throughout the races are red and blue bells. The red bells contain any variety of items, while the blue bell contains a speed-boosting item.

Characters

Konami Krazy Racers features a total of 12 characters, each with unique features, including weight, speed, and acceleration.

  • Goemon - the player character from the Legend of the Mystical Ninja series.
  • Takosuke - a player character from the Parodius series.
  • Dracula - the most significant antagonist of the Castlevania series.
  • Gray Fox - a supporting character from Metal Gear.
  • Pastel - a player character from the TwinBee series.
  • Power Pro-kun - a character from the Power Pros series.
  • Moai - an enemy from the Gradius series.
  • Nyami - a character from the Pop'n Music series.
  • Beartank - a character from Rakugakids.
  • King - a character from the Pop'n Music series.
  • Vic Viper - the player character from the Gradius series.
  • Ebisumaru - a character from the Legend of the Mystical Ninja series.

Reception

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3] NextGen was generally positive to the game, but regarded it inferior to Mario Kart: Super Circuit.[14] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40.[8]

It was ranked #10 on a top ten list of the best Game Boy Advance games in Electronic Gaming Monthly, beating Mario Kart: Super Circuit, another Game Boy Advance kart racing game.

Sequel

Krazy Kart Racing is a sequel to the title for iOS and Android, featuring a total of 12 characters from Konami franchises, including new ones not in the previous game. It received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[17] Pocket Gamer gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five.[18]

Notes
  1. known in Japan as Konami Wai Wai Racing Advance (コナミ ワイワイレーシング アドバンス, Konami Wai Wai Rēshingu Adobansu)
  2. In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the game, two critics gave it each a score of 8.5/10, and the other gave it 9/10.

References
  1. "Konami Krazy Racers for Game Boy Advance". MobyGames. Blue Flame Labs.
  2. "Konami Krazy Racers (2001) screenshots". MobyGames. Blue Flame Labs.
  3. "Konami Krazy Racers for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  4. Nicholls, Shawn. "Konami Krazy Racers - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  5. Edge staff (May 2001). "[Konami] Wai Wai Racing [Advance]" (PDF). Edge. No. 97. Future Publishing. p. 77. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  6. Johnston, Chris; Dudlak, Jonathan; Sewart, Greg (July 2001). "Konami Krazy Racers" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 144. Ziff Davis. p. 94. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  7. Bramwell, Tom (July 10, 2001). "Konami Krazy Racers". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  8. "コナミ ワイワイレーシング アドバンス [GBA]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  9. "Konami Krazy Racers". Game Informer. No. 99. FuncoLand. July 2001.
  10. Four-Eyed Dragon (June 13, 2001). "Konami Krazy Racers Review for Game Boy Advance on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 13, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  11. Varanini, Giancarlo (June 8, 2001). "Konami Krazy Racers Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  12. Bub, Andrew S. (January 30, 2002). "Konami Krazy Racers (GBA)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 12, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  13. Harris, Craig (June 14, 2001). "Konami Krazy Racers". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  14. "Konami Krazy Racer [sic]". NextGen. No. 79. Imagine Media. July 2001. p. 65. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  15. "Konami Krazy Racers". Nintendo Power. Vol. 145. Nintendo of America. June 2001.
  16. Metts, Jonathan (July 8, 2001). "Konami Krazy Racers". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  17. "Krazy Kart Racing for iOS (iPhone/iPad)". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  18. Mundy, Jon (August 19, 2009). "Krazy Kart Racing". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
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