Explosions, Fast Cars, Police and Rush Hour – Alarm für Cobra 11 / Crash Time 5: Undercover
Let’s talk about Crash Time — or as it’s known in Germany, Alarm für Cobra 11. The game is based on the long-running German TV series.
I’m finally back — and it feels great! Even better, I now have a proper space dedicated to this blog and all my Amiga and gaming-related projects, without having to cram everything onto random shelves in another room. It’s been a while since my last post, so let’s dive right in!
Let’s talk about Crash Time — or as it’s known in Germany, Alarm für Cobra 11. The game is based on the long-running German TV series about a two-man highway police squad, known for high-speed chases, big explosions, and lots of over-the-top action.
The TV show has been airing for well over a decade, and the game series started around the early PS3 era (2006/2007). The first Crash Time game to hit the PS3 was Crash Time 4: The Syndicate, which released just last year…
Crash Time 4: The Syndicate…
The game is filled with poorly written dialogue, and honestly, it’s often best just to skip it — most of it doesn’t make much sense anyway.
Visually, the graphics are below par. They get the job done, and yes, it’s technically an “open-world racer,” but everything feels overly simplistic. Worse, the game clearly struggles with its own engine — there’s a lot of screen judder and frequent frame rate drops that really hurt the experience.
Crash Time 5: Undercover…
Spectacular crashes, insane jumps, and plenty of familiar-looking cars with “creative” names (since there are no official licenses — yes, that Hummer is definitely not called a Hummer). And of course… explosions. Lots and lots of explosions!
Crash Time 5: Undercover…
The game features rush-hour tracks that feel like a throwback to the first three Burnout games — pure chaotic fun that practically encourages you to crash over and over again.
Unlike Burnout, you can actually tweak the difficulty settings here, which will no doubt be a welcome relief for some players.
Crash Time 5: Undercover…
The game is split into two types of races: every second event takes place on a race track (why? I have no idea — I skipped most of the dialogue…), while the others are set on the highway.
The race track sections can be frustrating at times, but also surprisingly fun, depending largely on which car you choose. The AI isn’t exactly brilliant, so picking the right vehicle makes all the difference.
And one more thing — the constant chatter during races often broke my focus, which got pretty annoying after a while.
Crash Time 5 is a weaponised driving game where you get to play both the Bandit and the Smokey, giving you a taste of everything — from oil slicks and boost pads to calling in roadblocks, laying spikes, and even using a harpoon-like hook to latch onto the car ahead for a turbo boost or a takedown. It’s fast, chaotic, and a lot of fun.
The game keeps things fresh with varied tracks, diverse cars, and multiple locations.
Sure, it has its flaws, but I genuinely enjoyed it. It’s not a blockbuster or a must-play classic, but it’s perfect for gamers who are tired of the same old “top-shelf” racing titles.
