Video Game Review - Crusi'n Blast

Rob reviews Crusi'n Blast on Nintendo Switch...

The Cruis’n series has a somewhat checkered history when it comes to Nintendo. Throughout the generations, the arcade-racing franchise has seen its fair share of releases on most of the Nintendo consoles. Sadly most of these have either been mediocre (Cruis’n World) or just plain dire (Crusi'n - Wii). The latest release - Crusi'n Blast - aims to take the series back to its best, and in doing so brings back that oh-so-familiar feeling of some classic arcade racing. 

Crusi'n Blast originally started its life back in 2017 as an arcade exclusive. The brightly lit cabinets allowed for up to 8-players to race across a variety of tracks within plenty of licenced cars. Thankfully the experience has now been brought to the Nintendo Switch, which not only opens the experience up to more players - you'll save a bit of cash too! 

Fans of the arcade version will notice that all five tracks are included within this home console release, and have been faithfully reproduced. Aside from these this new version also comes with a brand new "tour mode" which brings with it 24 extra tracks that enhances the arcade experience. Tracks are grouped together with each having a central theme. These themes are a bit extreme and will see you racing against the elements, helicopter gunships, and even rampaging dinosaurs. 

It's over the top which is a far cry from the roots of the franchise way back with Crusi'n USA. If anything Crusi'n Blast shows just how far arcade racing has come, as jamming tracks with plenty of explosions and set pieces has become the new norm. One of the few tame tracks sees you racing around London as the London Eye rampages across the city. It's certainly eye-catching, albeit just to see how crazy each track gets...I'm looking at you giant Yeti!

Even with the silliness, the game is an absolute joy to play. Controls are pretty tight and the game handles with all the finesse that you'd expect from an arcade racer. There's also a handy drift mechanic which sees you rewarded with a speed boost if done correctly. It's very easy to learn, but the difficulty is in mastering the how and when you use it. Each car also comes with a few cosmetics unlocks such as neon under lights, stickers, and engine upgrades. These become available as you complete more races in that particular car and serve to give you a bit of flair. These upgrades are also purely cosmetic and don't affect the cars in any way, apart from looking cool. 

Speaking of cars, Cruis'n Blast has plenty to unlock. These are all acquired by collecting hidden keys on the games various tracks. To unlock everything you'll have to find all 87 keys, which are mostly hidden in some pretty tight places. This adds to the longevity of the game as you'll be replaying tracks to learn the locations of - and hopefully - collecting these keys. In true arcade-style the vehicles on offer are a mixture of the traditional, to the more...shall we say exotic!? You'll see everything from your street racers, to UFO's, and even a dinosaur. And who doesn't want to cause havoc whilst riding (driving?) a dinosaur? 

In keeling with its arcade roots, the game also features a local multiplayer mode that supports up to four players. This is played via split-screen or through four different consoles. Sadly there isn't any support for online play. Whilst it isn't a big issue, its inclusion would have made the game more akin to its 8-player arcade predecessor, and allowed for plenty of chaotic racing. 

Naturally, playing a fast-paced racer on the Switch is going to have some limitations, and in this case, it's the odd drop in frame rate. For the majority of gameplay, Crusi'n Blast offers some smooth racing and it's only on occasion that FPS takes a hit. This issue becomes more noticeable during big set pieces or when you're close to another car that happens to boost - or go over a speed pad. Even with these 'issues', the game is still playable, and it doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment. 

For those of you looking for something different to Mario Kart, Crusi'n Blast is a definite contender for the crown. This racer does a lot of things right and it's a great mix of beat-pounding tunes, and tight arcade racing. While it doesn't include an online multiplayer, there's still plenty here for those who like their action closer to home. With plenty of cars to unlock and tracks to master, Crusi'n Blast will have you playing for quite some time. Now, where did I park my dinosaur? 

Rating: 8/10 

A code was kindly provided for this review. 

Crusi'n Blast is out now and can be purchased via the Nintendo Switch eShop by clicking here. 

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev