Nicktoons Racing
Nicktoons Racing is a racing video game developed by Software Creations for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. An abridged version was developed by Pipe Dream for the Game Boy Color in 2000, while Crawfish Interactive developed another abridged version for the Game Boy Advance in 2002. An arcade version developed by Chicago Gaming was released in 2003.
Plot
Various Nickelodeon characters each receive a letter invitation to compete in a Grand Prix for the top prize, the Krusty Krab Big Bun Award. The host of the competition, also the individual who sent the invitations, is an unknown, unseen driver of a sleek, black car with a tinted dome window simply dubbed as the Mystery Rider, which the participating racers are challenged to beat, as well as each other. Upon arriving and being announced by the Race Announcer, the Mystery Rider and other Nicktoons speed off to begin their first race.Once the player ultimately completes the game and wins the final Cup to obtain the Krusty Krab Big Bun Award, their playable Nicktoon receives a year supply of Krabby Patties as it is hitched to their go-kart. The Mystery Rider arrives in his cart and is revealed to be Plankton. It stated by the Announcer that Plankton created the entire series of races as a plan to obtain the Krabby Patty secret formula. The winning racer then rides off into the sunset with their Krabby Patties and the credits begin to play.
Gameplay
Nicktoons Racing focuses on engaging players in go-kart racing through various Nicktoons-themed circuit tracks in a variety of different modes, similar to the Mario Kart series. The game features a wide selection of playable characters from various 1990's Nicktoons. The game offers an Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty for the gameplay. The game also has a multiplayer option and can be played with a second player via split-screen utilization.Each track features power-up presents that allow the player to gain advantages against their fellow racers in the form of various weapons and obstructions, as well as small orbs that a racer can collect and utilize to get a short-term speed boost. Each track also contains a variety of alternate routes and shortcuts that allow the various racers to shorten their laps.
;Cups
The primary mode for the racing gameplay. This mode allows the player to take control of one of the Nicktoon racers and compete in a series of 4 races in the form of a Cup. There are 3 Cups and the second and third have to be unlocked by beating the previous Cup series. This is the mode required to beat the game's main story, unlock all the tracks for other modes of play, unlock The Mystery Rider as a playable kart, and the bonus minigames.
;Time Trial
A mode that can be used by the player to test their speed ability on each unlocked track. After finishing your first lap, a ghost racer will appear and perform the lap as the player did it on previous lap.
;Race for Fun
A mode that allows the player to race a single track without competing in a Cup. The player progressively earns random collectible rewards for a trophy shelf the more races they participate at in a row and win.
;Versus
A mode that is generally the same as Race for Fun, but for two players instead. This mode does not feature collectibles.
;Relay
A mode that allows the player to pick three characters and race them in a 3-lap relay where each character performs one lap before tagging in the next racer. If the player hits their next racer directly, they get an initial speed boost for their next lap.
;Bonus Levels
Besides the main racing tracks, the game also has a single-player and multiplayer specific bonus minigame that you unlock as you play-through and beat all the cups in Medium and Hard Mode.
- For single-player, the player unlocks the Hey Arnold!-themed level Big City Clean Up in which the player is given a time trial in order to find and collect 60 of the power-up presents seen in the main racing gameplay.
- For multiplayer, the player unlocks the SpongeBob SquarePants-themed level Beach Soccer in which two players push a beach ball around a field attempting to score more goals than the other in a timed match.
Characters
Outside of the playable cast, other non-player characters make cameo appearances in the game's cutscenes and stages, such as Ren Höek from The Ren & Stimpy Show, Oblina from Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Squidward Tentacles from SpongeBob SquarePants, and Rancid Rabbit from CatDog. Stump from The Angry Beavers appears as an in-game item. All playable characters retain their original voice actors via reused audio samples from their respective shows. The Race Announcer is a fully new character created specifically for the game.