Cruis'n Blast
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video game development |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Video games |
Cruis'n Blast is a racing video game created and distributed by Raw Thrills. It debuted in arcades in 2017 as the sixth entry in Nintendo's Cruis'n franchise. On September 14, 2021, a version for the Nintendo Switch was released, featuring extra vehicles, tracks, and gameplay modes.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Cruis'n Blast preserves the fundamental mechanics of earlier series titles: competing against a countdown timer on multiple courses while reaching checkpoints to add more time. Players have the option to enhance their cars to improve performance. Unlike previous versions, this installment does not include a concluding scene after completing all levels.
There are five tracks available: two classified as easy—Death Valley and Madagascar; two at a medium difficulty level—London and Rio de Janeiro; and one challenging course set in Singapore. Although some track names correspond with those from earlier games like Cruis'n USA and Cruis'n World, these are unique adaptations specifically designed for Cruis'n Blast.
Development and release
Nintendo, which holds the trademark, officially licensed the game. During its development phase, it was tested under the provisional titles Cruis'n Adventure and Cruis'n Redline before settling on Cruis'n Blast. A promotional trailer debuted on October 24, 2016, through Raw Thrills' official YouTube channel.
The Nintendo Switch edition became available on September 14, 2021.
Reception
On the Nintendo Switch platform, Cruis'n Blast garnered "mixed or average reviews" according to Metacritic. Polygon compared its racing action to the Fast and Furious series but highlighted certain limitations. Meanwhile, IGN described it as an enjoyable arcade-style game that might lose appeal after extended play.