Cocoto Kart Racer (Nintendo DS) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

Following our recent interview with Neko Entertainment we thought we'd raid the office to see if we'd missed out on any of their previous releases. Amazingly, we had and tucked under a pile of dusty boxes was this Cocoto Kart Racer, sadly overlooked due to Mario Kart being released only months before so we were all raced out. That hasn't stopped developers continuing to produce racers for the DS though and like the humble puzzler the platform is awash with games from this genre. The question is have we overlooked a DS classic?

Gameplay

Although this game is called Cocoto Racers it not all about the main character, in fact this DS title allows you to immerse yourself in a strange universe with a plot revolving around a sacred pot. We kid you not. As with most racers there are numerous tracks but as most of these are blocked to begin with, you have to find out how to access them and the best way to do that is with the Championship Mode. This allows you to not only pick your car but also your player although, as with the tracks, most of these are locked initially. Unlocking stuff is simply a case of winning races and while the Championship Mode doesn't require you to win every race, you will need to have the most points. Success allows you to replay the tracks in Single Player Mode which is really just for fun although it does come in useful to discover various shortcuts and also to work out just when is the right moment to use any one of the special powers you have managed to collect thanks to the many pick-ups dotted around the track.

This, mixed with the track designs, really does demonstrate just how much the developers were influenced by Mario Kart and, while they've done much that is similar, it is the aspects they've missed out that make the package as a whole that much weaker. The Multiplayer, for example, requires multiple copies of the game and the advertised Time Trial doesn't appear to exist at all. 

Controls

The control system is very odd indeed, with the developers opting to swap the usual layout around and use the 'B' to accelerate and 'Y' to brake. To make matters worse, pick-ups are activated with the 'A' button (not the shoulder buttons which control the jump and skid actions) and there's no way of altering this configuration. It's difficult to explain just how frustrating it is; when even after spending hours with the game you still sit motionless, on the starting grid, as all the other racers fade into the distance, with your finger on the 'A' button.  

Graphics

While the 3D engine on display here isn't bad, it's not nearly as sophisticated as we've come to expect from the DS. Another thing you'll quickly notice is that huge areas of the tracks are repeated, thanks to the ability to block off various 'side roads' to change a race's route. The various car and driver models are similar and they are passable but no more than that. Probably the most disappointing part of the whole package is the overall interface which feels rushed and can be a little confusing especially for the younger gamer.

Sound

Like the rest of the production values here, the music is best described as average. There are a few voice samples from the various racers and the usual generic driving audio but that's about it.

Dual screen

Other than the map and your current position, there's nothing going on here at all.   

Final comments

It's always difficult to release a racer for the DS and not be compared with Mario Kart and Cocoto Racer suffers from the same shortcomings of just about every game which has followed Nintendo's beloved plumber. The first problem is the overall production values but just as important is the entertainment value and, while this may offer a lot of fun for younger gamers, it's just not in the same league as Mario Kart. It's still worth a look though; just don't expect it to still be in your DS case a month from now.

Pro: It will be Cheap Now.
Con: No Single Cart Multiplayer, Not Enough Tracks, Poor Presentation.
Final score: 5.1

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