Let Us Remember... Motor Toon Grand Prix!

[BioMotor_Unitron]

Motor Toon Grand Prix

I was never all that thrilled by Mario Kart. Not enough character to the vehicles, being that they were, as the title implies, Go-Carts. I also did not like the fact that it was a lot more like driving in an arena than on a track. No real feel of speed. A fun party game, maybe even intense at times, but I prefer Motor Toon Grand Prix.

I love the track designs. Each one has a different theme. In one, you are racing through a haunted mansion, another you are racing through someone's house from the perspective of a tiny toy car, other times you are racing through cities. Plus, the vehicles are so varied in their strengths that there is one suited to every style of play. The Penguin Brothers' car is very good for sliding, the Princess' carriage is amazingly good at cornering, etc. The music kicks ass, the voice for the game suits it perfectly, and if you know how to use your Power-Ups right, you can pull victoly from the jaws of defeat by using a Jump Power-Up to leap onto an overhead section of track to gain a bit on a rival.

The only real problem I have with the game is that you have to have a Link Cable, two PlayStations, two copies of the game, two televisions, etc. to play head to head. No split-screen mode. All in all, the game kicks ass though, and is a lot of fun even in the one player mode.

You can also unlock mini-games, like BattleShip, Tank Wars (Where your cars grow treads and cannons), and other little bonuses.

[BonusKun]

God to even make me think of this old school game is scary. I do have to agree with your points about the issues.
MTGP was a lot more fun than Mario Kart

[NeoZeedeater]

Motor Toon is decent but I wasn't wowed by it. I haven't seen it around much for sale lately. I guess it's kind of rare now for a domestic title.

[Sqoon]

I was considering getting it but I think last time I checked, it was too uncommon, too expensive, or both.

[Sl1p]

I was never all that thrilled by Mario Kart. Not enough character to the vehicles, being that they were, as the title implies, Go-Carts.

Gee, lets not forget that there may be people actually driving these things.

I also did not like the fact that it was a lot more like driving in an arena than on a track.

Difference being...?

I love the track designs. Each one has a different theme. In one, you are racing through a haunted mansion, another you are racing through someone's house from the perspective of a tiny toy car, other times you are racing through cities. Plus, the vehicles are so varied in their strengths that there is one suited to every style of play. The Penguin Brothers' car is very good for sliding, the Princess' carriage is amazingly good at cornering, etc.

Sounds like Mario Kart to me!

and if you know how to use your Power-Ups right, you can pull victoly from the jaws of defeat by using a Jump Power-Up to leap onto an overhead section of track to gain a bit on a rival.

See: Feather item from Super Mario Kart.

I remember playing this when the PSX launched. All I could think of was that it was a bad looking, Mario Kart rip-off. Never did bother to play the sequel.

[Mfkzt]

Are we talking about part 1 or 2? Part 2 is the only one that made it to America.

I thought it was a great game. I wouldn't rate it higher than Super Mario Kart, but I'd definately rate it higher than Super Mario Kart 64. It's the only Polyphony race that I like. I hate the Gran Turismo series. I dig working on cars, but I don't get off on buying digital parts for my digital Miata. I'd rather play a fucked-up, super-deformed cartoon racer.

[Prince Planet]

I have both Motor Toon 1 and 2 (both imports) and they were both among my favorite psx titles. First, both games looked absolutely incredible for the time (and maybe they still do). Second, they played very smoothly, and controlled well (powerslides galore!) -- I liked the fact that there was a vast difference in control and performance bewteen the various characters and their cars. Although, I recall that it really came down to 1 or 2 vehicles if you were serious about winning.

The art direction and tracks layouts were also unique and quite impressive -- I never got tired of zooming around those environments. Weird, vibrant stuff.

Great titles, IMO, and I'm glad I've hung onto them.

[skelly]

Originally posted by Mfkzt
Are we talking about part 1 or 2? Part 2 is the only one that made it to America.

Right, and it's worth noting that the US version got called "Motor Toon Grand Prix", despite it being the second game. Basically, the same trick Agetec pulled with King's Field / King's Field 2.

[BioMotor_Unitron]

Supposedly MTGP was supposed to get included as an extra on the Gran Turismo 3 disc. Never heard anything more about it though, so I take it they did not implement it?

[DHG Otaku]

mtgp2 OWNS. Never did get a chance to play the original though, but its sequal is a classic and one of the best racers ever, IMHO...up there with the Ridge Racers, Wipeouts, and Sega Rallys of yester-year.