0 - CTR Guides: Mechanics &  Facts

This is the most up-do-date and most detailed guide about mechanics of CTR.

THIS IS NOT SPEEDRUNNING GUIDE ([they are found here](https://www.speedrun.com/ctr/guides/5250d)) - This guide provides you details about the game. Just skimming through it is a good idea.

# The CTR guide

[Link to NiikCTR's guide (2023)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hG_mt-AnbU_z-fYaWDtQjcpKUVQm8VXPIqE-UqdzQTg/edit)

"This 2023 revision aims to demystify CTR, to fix the writing, and to update the guide with better definitions and new techniques that have been discovered or defined."

"First it was written by Arsene Lupin and Kang in the early 00s, and then translated to English with the help of Thomas60. Later it was revised by LinkZer in 2006-2008 and translated to Spanish. In 2015, another guide in this lineage was made by Mistrrlove. Finally, Justin Zimmermann began writing a comprehensive guide in the latter half of the decade, but it was never finished. This guide was inspired by the above players as well as the video guides by players such as Ale Mastroianni, Redhot, NyXx, and Natty."

[Author: NiikCTR](https://www.speedrun.com/users/Niikasd)

[Link to the guide translated to spanish](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oX1Z4MFN46WTPVUNfhvG8BE02_EJxyBb/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113051250836185397482&rtpof=true&sd=true)


[Link to the guide in Portuguese](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VK2vJ89bLqP3yVVV4uWm9l_uqLAjRtXqsJSOxwlis2k/edit?usp=sharing)

# Older guides

These do not contain wrong information. They are here for curious people since they inspired more updated guides.

[Pull's guide (2013)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kfmboAKhbbYrtEPljOQ5IAgN9n7y7yjThUXGF10V1xg/edit)

[LinkZer's guide (2010)](https://ctrgamers.forumotion.com/t1122-professional-guide-of-crash-team-racing)

1 - Speedruns: CTR Speedrun Tutorials

# Beginner tutorial by Hypnoshark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUBNeFdqMH8

Recorded live at a community showcase on the GamesDoneQuick twitch channel, this is a good starting point for any new runners looking to get in to CTR.

# Essentials by Pull

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C9dA3hcL70

# CTR tutorials by AleMastroianni

[Follow this link to the tutorials playlist](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_zr402DNn5bcsF3rb4lTy8RtUmv_Fa9I&si=gmjtueGxbje8u5QQ)

# Any NMG PAL Speedrun tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SId-6M3l76E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sd8PGX_1Wk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN9BhbYd7JI

# IL Skips

### 3 Beginner Friendly shortcuts and how to do them (Papu's Pyramid, Hot Air Skyway, Oxide Station)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmwZOgs_WCU

### Tiny Arena

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHdhjzhYvrI

My setup for Tiny Arena Skip explained. -Hypnoshark

# CTR ALL Shortcuts by AleMastroianni

[Follow this link to the shortcuts playlist](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_zr402DNn5aKVrjIBq75QLPxJOM4Af5U&si=BFL8s0BPjbSHAdI3)

# Tech: Dingo Canyon (Coco)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvZIYiPw3uU

~Some tips (if you don't understand the video):

How do I get the sg?

1- Down on a downhill and don't jump while you're falling down.

2 - Jump on the edge of the road. It is not simple as the first one, but you can do it with some practice.

3 - Do a double jump on a turbo pad.

A nice tip: If you get a great SG on the road, and you wanna continue froggying by the track, try to touch the first turbo pad of the track, it will give for you a little more of speed (even if you have the sacred fire).

# Tech: Tiger Temple (Coco)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK2ai9BpuqM

As you are suppose to know, grass SC is a old tech that Time Trial addicts do using Penta Penguin (because him is faster and have great turns). However, people didn't try it with Coco, and it is so easy! This shortcut is actually just possible on 2nd and 3rd lap, and it saves like 1s per SC (if you do it well). To do this SC, do a mid air powerslide on the downhill to get a good S.G. (speed ghost), and then froggy on the grass. It's simple OpieOP Here is an example of this SC with Coco (two good laps done on CTR token challenge).

# Memes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSuPNGRbv8c

bottom text

2 - Hardware: Console Guide

This guide is to focus on the best setup to run CTR and not necessarily strats and speed tech. Please check this guide by Pull (it's a little outdated but the fundamentals are the same): [CTR Guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kfmboAKhbbYrtEPljOQ5IAgN9n7y7yjThUXGF10V1xg)

[center] **Choice of Console** [/center]

CTR was released on the original Playstation, and therefore can also be played on Playstation 2 due to it's backwards compatibility. PS2's also came with a "Fast Disc Speed" option which can be turned on when booting your console, before a disc has been read. It therefore goes without saying that the PS2 is the optimal choice over a PS1.

Due to the competitive nature of CTR, the console model you use is also very important. As with disc-based speedrunning, no two consoles will ever run the exact same but there are certain models which yield the best results:

**PS2 "Fat" models**

PS2 Fats were the first release of the console, and earned their name due to their bulky size. These are consoles with the model numbers SCPH-30XXX, 39XXX and 50XXX. The first two digits show the model type, and the three numbers depict region (for example SCPH-39001 is NTSC-U America and SCPH-39003 would be a PAL-UK)

For playing CTR, these PS2 models have the least amount of lag. Although it's not completely understood why, they are the optimal version to use for speedrunning. The best suggestion is the older the better, so try and pick up either a 30k or a 39k console if you can. 

One additional thing to note is you need to take caution when using a Fat console in a different region. European sockets output a voltage of 230-240v, and if you plug an NTSC console straight into this you will damage it. Fat PS2 consoles do not have a built in voltage converter so you will need to buy one separately. 

**PS2 "Slimline" models**

These consoles have the model numbers SCPH-70XXX, 75XXX, 77XXX, 79XXX  and 90XXX. Although generally more common to find and cheaper to ship, these consoles lag much more than their Fat counterparts. During comparisons of people's runs it's found that a 90k console in particular can lose over 20 seconds due to lag. You can still be competitive with a slim console but you'll be playing with a handicap.

Another thing to note with Slim consoles, notably the NTSC-U 90k models, is that the game can sometimes crash during loads. It's strongly advised to not use this model for speedrunning CTR. 

[center] **Region Differences** [/center]

CTR has three versions which can be played - PAL and NTSC-U/J: 

**PAL**
- European version
- Runs at 25FPS
- Lower hops and jumps - froggy reaches a height of 23 on flat ground
- Faster SGs
- Features the language glitch by pressing triangle on the language selection screen (no language will be selected) 

For a Warpless speedrun, PAL is considered the much harder version to play. The lower jump height means SGs are less consistent, despite being faster on this version. 

Language glitch allows for PAL to still be competitive. This skips the Komodo Jo cutscene at the end of Hub 3, and also skips every time Aku/Uka says the voice-line "Congratulations, you win a trophy". These time saves make up for the lower frame-rate which loses pockets of time all across the run. 

**NTSC-U**
- American version 
- Runs at 30FPS
- Slightly higher hops and jumps - froggy reaches a height of 26 on flat ground
- Only one language hence no language glitch

Despite the slower SGs, the higher froggys allows for NTSC to keep speed from SGs consistently longer. Over a speedrun this is important in playing consistently well, and therefore NTSC is seen as the "easier" version. 

There's no language glitch so all the cutscenes play out, however, you can use the pause glitch (demonstrated [here](https://youtu.be/0wQ_plpyO6w)). Each pause glitch saves around 1-2s depending on how quick you unpause and begin movement. 

**NTSC-J**
- Japanese version
- Almost the same as NTSC-U, despite the language difference
- The cutscenes on the J version are over a minute longer than NTSC-U, which makes this version the slowest for Any% Warpless speedruns. 

[center] **Conclusion** [/center]

The best set up to play CTR would be a Fat PS2, models 30k or 39k and using "Fast Disc Speed". Loads are generally consistent but reducing the lag is a priority. 

The choice of region is down to your personal preference, however it is generally recommended to play on NTSC-U.  Fortunately you can play either PAL or NTSC-U and perform at a top level.

3 - Hardware: FDS option to reduce load times

FDS = Fast Disc Speed (for ps1 discs)
SDS = Standard Disc Speed (for the rest)

To reduce load times when running CTR (a PS1 game) on PS2 console a FDS option is used for Playstation driver.

FDS option often resets when console is reset. So you might want to check it just to be sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G4yRe288Os?t=23

- Main menu -> Version (Triangle)
- Version Information -> Playstation Driver -> Options (Triangle)
- Playstation Driver -> Disc Speed selection (X-button)
- Make sure that 'Disc Speed: Fast' is selected

Time spent outside racing tracks is usually as follows:

PS2 FDS (PAL/NTSC-U): ~15min +-15s


PS2 SDS (PAL/NTSC-U): ~17min (not enough data)


PS1 (PAL/NTSC-U): ~19min (not enough data)


NTSC-J adds roughly +1min

For comparison

Mednafen: ~18min +-15s

Detailed info about hardware differences is found here https://www.speedrun.com/ctr/guide/u6ydm

4 - 101%: Major Glitches

# 101%: Arcade/Battle Mode Token Storage Glitch Tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtOTvBhqFgk

Credit goes to McCrodi for finding this for use in the 101% category.

# Crash Team Racing 101% Major Glitches guide (Obsoleted? No one knows. Ask around.)

Info about the theory behind all this provided by AleMastroianni. Info about item award setups for PAL provided by RipperRooTMUF.

[link to guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PijBEjoCIhDUEDwg7tlL6CALYK7cCoItL1NY22zmfu4/edit?usp=drivesdk)

5 - Autosplitter: How to setup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky1CXj38G-Mhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky1CXj38G-M

6 - Time Trials: High Quality Time Trials Sheet

Here you will find mostly up to date time trials runs done on console and recorded in high quality.

I will try to keep it up to date.

Page 1 includes times done on any character.

Page 2 contains only Dingo times.

If you know of a better video that should be here you can find me on the crash speedrun discord or time trials discord, and @ me or DM me.

Link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pRwE6SMB9WUshnQXKDKYXdSQHV4RFt-033BgWSx84EU/edit?usp=drivesdk

7 - Emulators: Mednafen setup (Windows)

With MedGui: https://youtu.be/gGllz_0moBo

With Mednaffe: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VZ3_eOLshL_HtlSqZa9IKlCzMn99cGVyRUfbX_cOsIE/edit?usp=sharing

Natty

Hypnoshark

Lornoveo

Ahvena

Niikasd

Crash Team Racing

PlayStation 2

PlayStation

Axquit

TheQuickestMace

USA / NTSC

Disc

Virtual Console

Acceleration

Speed

Turning

Balanced

Emulator

Major Glitches

No Major Glitches

Classic

Modern

Platform

Character

Category (101%)

Style references the method of play. 'Classic' refers to the style of play before 2020 (the implementation of TA skip). Runs which use TA skip and/or tizi, or any future new SCs, qualify as 'Modern'

Style

Style references the method of play. 'Classic' refers to the style of play before 2020 (the implementation of TA skip). Runs which use TA skip and/or Tizi, or any future new SCs, qualify as 'Modern'

Name	Autor
0 - CTR Guides: Mechanics & Facts	Ahvena 3 years ago
1 - Speedruns: CTR Speedrun Tutorials	Hypnoshark 5 years ago
2 - Hardware: Console Guide	Natty 6 years ago
3 - Hardware: FDS option to reduce load times	Ahvena 3 years ago
4 - 101%: Major Glitches	Ahvena 2 years ago
5 - Autosplitter: How to setup	Lornoveo 9 months ago
6 - Time Trials: High Quality Time Trials Sheet	Niikasd 4 years ago
7 - Emulators: Mednafen setup (Windows)	Ahvena 3 years ago