A game that will still have you addicted 10 years after it was released.
It's tough for me to rate the graphics 10 years after the game was released, but I can remember being impressed with the colorful worlds and smooth racing at the time. The only problem I can think of is while playing certain tracks in 4-player mode (small screens), it can be tough to see items and boxes approaching you, so you often get frustrated slamming into a bomb or missing an item box.
The games music definitely increases the intensity of the racing, and the characters will shout out some pretty funny comments as they zip into first place or fire a missile.
CTRs adventure mode is clearly the highlight of the game. The world map consists of several sections, all containing several tracks to be raced. You must take first place on every track against 7 computer opponents to win the trophy for that track. Once you win the trophy for each track in a section of the world, you can go back and do a time trial mode for that track and another mode called the CTR challenge. These tough races require you to collect tokens that spell out CTR and then come in first place against 7 computer opponents. This isn't it, however. You have to race a boss race in each section of the world to get to the next section, and there are a few bonus tracks and features you can try your hand at to unlock some nice secrets, too.
The single player adventure mode is enough to make the game a worthy addition to your library, but it's the multiplayer that you'll be hooked on for years to come. The battle mode is a simple mode that puts players not on a racetrack, but simply in an arena type map where they can try to take each other out with an assortment of weapons and powerups, some powerups are an exclusive to the battle mode. The vs. mode is where you and your friends will keep coming back to, however. 2-4 players can choose their character and race for hours on end on any of the games tracks.
The combination of great track design, intense sound effects, and smooth controls make CTR a racing game that gets pulled off the shelf around 9 PM and stumbles its way back on the shelf covered in pizza and soda sometime before the sun rises the next day.