Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 Grand Prix Switch NSP Free Download In most cases, when a game is released and garners poor reviews, developers move on. Especially in the case of licensed titles, all parties involved are usually quick to cut their losses and start their next unrelated project. When Nickelodeon Kart Racers was released in 2018, that seemed to be the situation. With a small roster, little fan service, and rough visuals, it seemed like a one-off entry that wouldn’t see a future.  ROMSLAB.COM Best Switch Games

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 Grand Prix Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

But 2020 is a new year, and Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix feels like a direct response to the criticism that the first title received. Bamtang Games has addressed almost all of the issues players and press had with their initial offering and overclocked the sequel with plenty of features and content. I thoroughly enjoyed it and came away with so many questions.

Featuring references from decades of Nickelodeon cartoons, there is stuff here for players of all ages. I found as much to like as my six-year-old did. But there is enough missing that if we never get a third entry, I will settle for an oral history of how the development of this game came about. Stick around, I’ll tell you why. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One for your regional pricing.

NORMAL EARTH LARVA

In many ways, NKR2 is a ’90s-inspired Mario Kart clone. But the problem with finding fault in that is that Mario Kart is really good, so copying the mechanics doesn’t necessarily make a bad game. The drifting is the same, the racing is the same, the item use is the same. There’s even the “rubber band” effect of item strength depending on your race position. The case could be made that this is simply Mario Kart Wii with a Spongebob paint job. Evolution Board Game Switch NSP 

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 Grand Prix Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

Here’s the problem with that argument: it’s fun as hell. There was some obvious care put into the design of the characters, the karts, and the tracks. As much as everything is oozing green slime, it’s oozing references and easter eggs to the golden age of Nickelodeon cartoons. Things might not be as revolutionary as zero-gravity track design, and there isn’t much difference between vehicles beyond aesthetics, but their take on the standard kart racing items feels refreshing and doesn’t feel forced.

30 Characters

Instead of settling for twelve racers, the folks at Bamtang Games have upped the character count to 30, including more racers and TV show representation than the first title. Now players can choose from more characters from Spongebob Squarepants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hey Arnold!, and Rugrats, as well as characters from CatDog, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, The Loud House, Danny Phantom, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko’s Modern Life, and Invader Zim.

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 Grand Prix Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

Astoundingly, there is a playable character that is not from a specific Nickelodeon cartoon. Jojo Siwa, the actress with the large bows, can be chosen as a racer, with tracks and pit crew characters based on her brand. This may seem like a completely random addition to the roster, but since Siwa did sign on with Nickelodeon in 2017 and has made numerous appearances on different shows and movies, she fits the brand. Fallout Switch NSP

Happy Happy Joy-Con Joy-Con

We’re afraid we’ve got some bad news for you. If you opened this review expecting a typically sarcastic put-down of the latest half-hearted karting game with a cartoon licence cynically slapped onto it, you’re going to be deeply disappointed. Turns out this one’s actually quite good. To be fair, you’d be forgiven for expecting otherwise. The first Nickelodeon Kart Racers got an absolute kicking on this site for being underwhelming in practically every department. Hats off to the developers, then, for turning things around so dramatically for Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix. This is everything the original game should have been, and will appeal far more to Nickelodeon fans new and old. Famicom Detective Club The Girl Who Stands Behind Switch NSP 

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 Grand Prix Switch NSP Free Download Romslab

The most immediately noticeable difference is the character roster. The first game only offered 12 characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rugrats and Hey Arnold, which was perfectly fine for fans of those series, but given it was supposed to be a celebration of all things Nickelodeon, it felt woefully undercooked. This time there are a much more impressive 30 characters to choose from. The previous four franchises are still covered, but joining in now are characters from the likes of Rocco’s Modern Life, Invader Zim, Avatar, CatDog, The Loud House, Danny Phantom and Ren & Stimpy. Even the deeply irritating JoJo Siwa is in there for the young bucks, which does throw up some questions: if live-action people count, we’d have loved to have seen representation from such classic gems as Kenan & Kel, Pete & Pete or Clarissa Explains It All, but maybe we’re getting a bit too ahead of ourselves. The point is, things are far more varied this time.

Add-ons (DLC): Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix Switch NSP