Collecting ten wumpa fruit improves any item used. The game has a special "power slide" move that gives the player a speed boost while turning. It should be noted that in the last Jak and Daxter game from Naughty Dog: Jak X: Combat Racing also has a "power slide" which gives you an extra speedboost.
In the races, boxes contain weapons or other powerups that give the player an advantage. Green and black arrows on the ground (turbo boosters) will give the player a short speed increase. Most of the courses contain obstacles that cause a loss of speed, and must be avoided.
As in Mario Kart, CTR has a battle mode, in which players attack each other in one of several special battle arenas, some of which are unlockable.
Collectible items include trophies, crystals, gems, and relics. A number of secret characters can be activated throughout the course of the game.
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Story:
Crash and his friends are preparing to enter a kart racing tournament. Unfortunately, an extraterrestrial named Nitros Oxide sees this, and travels to Earth to compete. He claims to be the fastest racer in the Galaxy, who travels the stars looking for creatures to test his skill. He then challenges Earth to a "little game" he calls "Survival of the Fastest", and explains the rules: Oxide races against the best racer on Earth. If Earth's driver wins, Oxide will leave Earth alone. But if Oxide wins, he'll turn the entire globe into a concrete parking lot, and make Earth's inhabitants his slaves. The drivers of Earth prepare to race for the fate of their planet.