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DORITOS CRASH COURSE (X360)
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Publisher: Microsoft.
Developer: Wanako Games. Released: December 2010. Genre: 2D Platformer. Other versions: PC. Posted 30th September 2022. By Shane Battams © 2022 |
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Product advertisments and gaming haven’t always made for the easiest of bedfellows, but Doritos would persevere with a trio of games in collaboration with Xbox. Doritos Crash Course, a runner-up in a 2010 competition that also featured Harms Way, is one of the resultant titles. On the surface, it doesn’t seems like its worth looking into: a quick cash-grab made to advertise a tortilla snack. However, two major factors help Crash Course: firstly, it’s available for free and, unlike modern games, isn’t riddled with microtransactions. Secondly, it comes from Wanako Games, who helped craft a slew of Xbox Live Arcade titles during the late 2000s. It seems like an ideal match, though that’s not to say this one gets an easy recommendation, despite not costing a penny.
Doritos Crash Course is a 2.5D obstacle course runner which sees you dodging across assault courses set in the USA, Europe and Japan. Players can import their 360 avatars into the game, meaning whatever monstrosity you’ve created serves as your playable character. It’s a very basic game mechanically, as you simply run towards the right of the screen while avoiding a myriad of obstacles, jumping over gaps and sliding down slopes. Checkpoints are spread between each of the short levels and repeatedly succumbing to hazards offers the option to skip checkpoints while invalidating your performance time. Better times earn one of three medals, with Gold times proving brutal difficult as you progress. 15 short levels might sound fairly brief, but considering the game costs nothing, it’s pretty fulfilling.
The Japan courses are absolutely brutal, but DCC offers a compelling, old-school test of coordination and platforming nous
Crash Course proves easy to get to grips to, but mastering it is a little more difficult. Hammers sway back and forth, crushers splat you on the spot and water sends you straight back to the previous checkpoint. The frustration is tempered by some helpful features, as pressing Y instantly sends the player back a checkpoint and reloading a level from the start is rapid, too. That being said, the challenge isn’t always fair. The physics are a bit wonky, sometimes seeing you careen off ledges, get stuck between small gaps and slip off sides, causing a few frustrations. The difficulty really starts to ramp up by the Europe levels and Japan serves up a handful of hugely difficult courses, so these inconsistencies are a shame and cheapen the curve somewhat. It’s also worth a mention that every level can be played against a friend on Xbox Live, as you challenge each other to the best time, and leaderboards also pit the player against the world, even when playing solo.
FOCAL POINT: CITY LIGHTS DLC
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While the base game itself is free, there’s paid content available too, though nothing that will break the bank. Costing £1.29, the City Lights add-on inserts 10 new levels across Las Vegas and the UK, along with three additional achievements, as well as some slightly less barbaric Japan levels. The new courses are quite a treat, adding new kinks such as giant magic hats that shoot you across the air at speed and pop-able balloons that raise you into the sky. The distinctive changes to backdrops and level features are welcome, while the higher difficulty offered by these courses is worthy of the main game. As something which costs less than most grocery items and doubles the content available, it’s especailly worthwhile if the main courses leave you wanting more.
Doritos Crash Course isn’t exactly a showcase for the Xbox 360’s hardware capabilities, but its colourful style is appealing enough. On a technical level, everything looks a little basic, but stages benefit from unique music, course colour palettes and slightly different backgrounds, though it does seem a bit samey looking after a longer session, especially as you repeatedly bang your head against some of the challenges. Some comical effects, such as hammers smashing your poor avatar into the screen, are charming to say the least. It also runs quite smoothly, meaning slowdown doesn’t affect your gameplay too much.
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Doritos Crash Course is a pleasant surprise, a free game that feels substantial. The gameplay isn’t flawless and some of the mechanical deficiencies can lead to frustration. But this obstacle course runner avoids a total wipeout thanks to its charm, satisfying course designs and the prospect of a good challenge in earning those coveted gold medals. Sure, it can be blown through in a single-sitting, but it doesn’t leave you out of pocket. As a result, this freebie is probably worth a look.
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VERDICT
"While Doritos Crash Course certainly isn’t flawless and suffers from some technical deficiencies and repetition, this freebie feels more substantial than it sounds." OVERALL: 6/10 |