Crash Team Racing

Version Differences

Between NTSC-US and PAL

Evil Penta: In the NTSC version of the game, Penta Penguin is protected by Aku Aku, but a slight goof makes an Uka Uka icon appear when he gets a mask power-up. This was corrected in the PAL version, making Aku Aku appear both in icon and protection.

Slow Penta: Whereas in NTSC Penta's stats match that of Polar and Pura, his stats are maxed out in all categories in the PAL version.

Location, location, location: The PAL version shows each hub's name at the bottom of the screen when you're arriving at it in Adventure Mode.

CPU Times: The CPU High Scores for Time Trials are always 9:59:99 in the NTSC version. The PAL version has regular times for each track.

Scrapbook: The scrapbook was shortened considerably for the PAL version. All games shown have less pictures and the music was cut short as a result too. There is no fading transition between the pictures and the Japanese merchandise section was completely removed. This was likely done to save space, as the PAL version of CTR just barely fits all the content in the disc (due to the multiple languages).

Between NTSC-J and the others

Submitted by Venusy and Crashspyro150
Title Screen and Character Icons: The title screen and some of the character icons were changed.

Music: As in Crash Bandicoot 3, the main song is completely different in Japan.

Boost Counter: There is a boost counter in the Japanese version that peeks from the right side of the screen, whenever the player gets 3 consecutive boosts. It will remain counting boosts until the player stops them (just like in Crash Nitro Kart). At the end of a race, the player is told the maximum number of consecutives boosts achieved.
Note: The boost counter can be activated in other versions via cheat code.

Contacts: Isabella has brown eyes in this version, as opposed to the usual light blue. It's probable that this change was made so that people wouldn't mistake her for Tawna, who happens to have blue eyes in Japan.

Difficulty Ratings: Tracks have difficulty (なんいど) ratings, viewable by highlighting them. They range from 1 Wumpa (easy) to 5 (hard). The ratings are:

Crash Cove *
Roo's Tubes *
Mystery Caves **
Sewer Speedway *
Coco Park *
Tiger Temple **
Papu's Pyramid ***
Dingo Canyon **
Blizzard Bluff ***
Dragon Mines ***
Polar Pass ****
Tiny Arena ****
N. Gin Labs *****
Cortex Castle ****
Hot Air Skyway *****
Oxide Station *****
Slide Coliseum ***

Not That Crazy: Instead of speaking through laughter, Ripper Roo actually talks in this version (thus eliminating the need for subtitles).

CBR Tokens: The Tokens have the letters C, B and R now and, logically, they're the letters you have to pick up in the Token challenges.

Skull Rock Keys: Instead of a single Boss Key, you need two of them in order to unlock the Skull Rock arena challenge.

Bonus Video (Submitted by Zoton2): A bonus video is unlockable in the Japanese version of CTR. It contains scenes and hints from the previous games, as well as Crash and Fake Crash's zany antics with a female reporter.

Scrapbook: The Scrapbook in this version is unique too. It features multiple images of the Japanese Crash, including stills from adverts and photos of the guy in the suit doing the usual crazy stuff.

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