Crash Team Racing is the perfect middleground between Mario Kart and F-Zero for me. With the combination of MK's coin system and a turning-based variant of boosting, every single pathing decision on CTR that you make matters to a crazy degree. Every bit of level geometry becomes something you can bounce off of to get a boost when you hit the ground, every slope a chance to maintain your momentum by bouncing around, every turn not a chance to break, but boost through even faster than a straightaway as you take a perfect line. While I ultimately prefer its remake's focus on maintaining turbo pad boosts rather than short hops to keep momentum from fading on the ground, that doesn't take away from how truly excellent Crash Team Racing is, and what a marvel and technical achievement it is on the Playstation. It FEELS like the only appropriate kart racer for a platforming character, where the bounce and speed of your kart matters most, and god it feels good.

Plus it just nails character. TINY SQUISH PUNY KARTSH! BANDICOOT POWER! SAY GOOODNIIIGHT.