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As a parent, I’m very conscious of the games my children play. Consequently, I want them to explore a safe space without too much violence, gore, or profanities. As such, whenever Outright Games publish a new title, I know I can’t go wrong. This family-friendly publisher has delivered some amazing child-friendly games. Recently, it released Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart and my kids were extremely excited about getting started.
Developed by 3DClouds and published by Outright Games, this is a child-friendly racing title. What’s more, it has been created by the same team behind Blaze and the Monster Machines: Axle City Racers. As such, if you have played this game, you’ll know exactly what to expect. This lighthearted experience is colourful, loud, and easy to play. Yet, if you ramp up the difficulty, the AI will push adults and experienced players throughout. Accordingly, it isn’t as easy as Blaze and this was a great move.
Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart has no story.
Disappointingly, the developers have incorporated no story at all. This was a shame, as the TV series has plenty of excellent characters and fun and quirky storylines. Unfortunately, the focus is purely on racing and I think this was a missed opportunity. However, let us not dwell on this point and move on to bigger and better things.
The gameplay revolves around 2 key modes. You may opt for a single race where you are free to choose any unlocked course or character. Alternatively, you can explore the adventure mode and take on 3 unique competitions. If you select the latter option, you will undertake 5 different races and if you win, you’ll unlock new skins for each character and a playable racer. On the other hand, you can take on friends and family and challenge one another to a race around your favourite track.
It’s all about the children.
What makes Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart so perfect is its child-friendly approach. Not only does the gameplay incorporate the main characters from the TV series, but the action can be as easy or as tough as you’d like. Accordingly, the developers have used an auto drive facility to help younger children learn the fundamentals.
This may seem like a silly idea, but if you have children, then you’ll know that it’s a godsend. Whenever you game with little people, the frustration of explaining the controls taints the experience. Yet, Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart overcomes this in the simplest of fashions. By allowing very young children to automate their vehicles, they learn the tracks and the gameplay without worrying about steering or acceleration. However, older players can choose their level of assistance and remove the auto driving at any point.
Alongside this, the tracks are simple to race around, and each has alternative routes and hidden pathways. This was another great move, as it allowed each player to explore each course as they wished. On top of this, there are power-ups to collect, skills to use, and ramps to increase your speed. What’s more, each race has its own perils and at times, you’ll have to avoid the attention of the big beast “Giganto”.
Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart lacks a modern polish.
3DClouds has created a super colourful world that captures the aesthetics of the TV series perfectly. However, the finish isn’t as polished as you’d hope to see. Furthermore, it doesn’t push modern consoles and this may disappoint some players. Yet, my children didn’t care, and the game performs admirably, whether you play it alone or with up to 3 others. Alongside this, the stage design is varied and well-considered, the UI is easy to understand, and each of the characters looks great. For a child-focused experience, the developers have done a great job.
The visuals are complemented by the in-keeping audio. With upbeat music, loud sound effects, and excellent soundbites, Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart gets it just right. Furthermore, if your children love the TV series, they’ll smile at the witty one-liners and the loud roar of “Giganto”. From an adult’s perspective, the audio is somewhat tedious, as the music is repetitive and the dialogue is limited. Yet, this isn’t designed for adults, so my complaints are pretty much mute.
Brilliant controls.
This isn’t as responsive as a serious racing title, but it doesn’t have to be. Unlikely its serious counterparts, Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart focuses on a fun experience. Accordingly, there isn’t the need to understand the balance of your kart, the acceleration, or any advanced elements. Instead, the action revolves around fun and a straightforward experience. As such, its simple approach ensures that the controls are responsive and easy to learn.
Where this is unfortunately lacking is the longevity and replay value. Once you unlock every track, skin, and character, there is little else to do. This was disappointing but understandable for a child-friendly game. If the developer added some additional modes, then this would improve the overall experience.
Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart is an excellent game for all the family.
Getting the right game for the family to enjoy isn’t an easy task. However, if you have young children, then they will adore this title. My munchkins couldn’t get enough of the colourful visuals, the loud audio, and the excellent stage design. What’s more, the driving aids make sure that arguments are kept to a minimum, and that the action is balanced. Accordingly, it was a big thumbs up from my tribe and I recommend that you buy it here! Do you fancy a race around Cretacia? Pick your dinosaur, get to the start line, and compete to be the victor.
