Game Details
Price
  • $0
Available on
Genre
More details
See more game reviews

KartRider (Windows)

common sense media says

Addictive online racing game with hidden costs.

parents & educators say
See 1 review | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this MMOG (massive multiplayer online game), in beta, was very addictive. In fact, it has 150 million fans in Korea. For these short races there are no real rules of the road, so kids won't learn responsible driving by playing. Players are also subject to the occasional rude and inappropriate play and comments of others they race against, which is why Common Sense Media only recommends online games for kids 12 and up. Watch out for extra costs: The game makes money by having its players upgrade cars and characters. A new virtual car can cost up to $10. Outfitting your character with cool gear costs about $2-3 per item.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Depends on who you play with. Others in an MMO can be mean, from bumping you off course to sending you angry messages.
Violence: Just some bumping of cars into each other.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Upgrading cars and character extras costs money -- between $2 and $10 per item.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on KartRider

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the differences between arcade racing and real driving. If you love arcade car racing, you can talk about the similarities to Nintendo's Mario Kart series. Families can also talk about fair play and MMOGs. Some players do things like just sitting in a lane and trying to block others from racing. There's always a rotten apple somewhere in an MMO.

What's the story?

What's the story?
If you love Mario Kart you'll love KARTRIDER. This online Nexon game that was free to play during its recent open beta in North America garnered 150 million fans in Korea soon after it launched. Fans in the U.S. and Canada loved playing the racing game, which makes money for the company when the player upgrades a car or a character. Nexon believes its own cel-shaded characters Dao and Dizini are so cute and cuddly that they're destined to be as popular as Nintendo's Mario and Luigi. That remains to be seen.

The beauty of the game is in its ease of play. Just use your keyboard's directional arrows to move forward, slow down, and steer; your CTRL button to launch a bomb; and your shift button to drift. Just like driving school, you'll go through various tutorials before you can begin racing as a rookie. KartRider has 450 levels, 10 ranks from Beginner to God, and 18 environments for racing. Players can bring along a teammate or be matched with those who are at their level of play for a seven-person race in the typical racing venues -- ranging from the tropics to cemeteries to a place full of cookies and sweets.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Five modes of play add variety, but most players enjoy normal mode the most. Here, you'll toss water bombs at other drivers in an effort to slow them down. Another mode, called Hedgehog, turns you into the tiny, spiny mammal with special powers like the ability to pop water bombs.

A word of warning, though. Once the game itself is launched, downloading the free game program can take up to an hour with a slower connection.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Windows
Available online
Genre: Racing
Developer: Nexon
Released on: May 1, 2007
ESRB Rating: E
This review was written by Harold Goldberg
 
 

Review It

 

Review KartRider

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

Most useful reviews by all members

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you play KartRider?

Game on
Press pause
Game over

Already played it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more games
About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines