Out of Time — Emperor Velo Time Trial (CTR: Nitro-Fueled)

Velo Time: 2:07:05
My Time: 2:00:92

Full playlist:    • CTR Nitro-Fueled — Emperor Velo XXVII...  

And now we come to Out of Time. This track has a reputation for being one of the most challenging in the game, and I quickly agreed with that assessment while braving Velo's time trial. Its highly technical design requires you to bring together all of the techniques and skills you've honed to date. What makes this trial especially difficult compared to several of his other trials is that Velo makes very few mistakes here, unlike Oxide. This means you'll need to keep Ultimate Sacred Fire (USF) for most, though not all, of the race.

Which, of course, is easier said than done. After failing over and over using speed class, I switched to drift and cleared the trial on my first attempt. It's one of the only tracks I prefer drift class on: your top speed will take a small (albeit noticeable) hit, but it allotted just enough more room for error around some of the trickier turns and switchbacks that I was able to keep blue-fire with less effort and precision, which in the end made all the difference.

As surely you'll know by now, air braking is mandatory for besting Velo here. As this technique is better illustrated than described, see the link below for how to do it. He has the controller inputs embedded in the video that light up in timing with his movements on screen, so it's super easy to see what's going on. The video shows a PS4 controller but I'm on Xbox One and can confirm it works with either the joystick or the D-pad. I personally prefer the joystick due to the Xbox One controller's layout, but use whichever feels more natural to you.

   • CTR NF - alt U-turn inputs  

At the start, I ignore the ! crate and go for the left ramp, not the right one like I did for Oxide's trial. Try to chain three power slides before taking it and jump at the apex. That should give you just enough in reserves to keep SF once you land. Slide your way through the rough then slide back toward the left to line up the shortcut. Use U-turn air brake to round the bend as sharply as you can without making contact with the overhang.

Continue building your reserves as you head into the clocktower. Inside, you'll need to air brake at the apex of the bend to navigate around it efficiently. For the next shortcut you want to aim as far left as you can without hitting the gear-shaped object on the ground there. Keep power sliding all the way to the windmill, where you'll pick up USF.

After hitting the USF pad, land in a perfect power slide, then air brake back to the left to avoid hitting the wall. From here, I retread the same exact racing line, this time at a much higher speed. Take the left ramp again, and this time your blue-fire will allow you to power through the rough without slowing your kart. Approach the shortcut as before, but with a more aggressive U-turn input. The hardest part of the track is navigating this shortcut successfully with USF, so once you have it down you should be set.

This might be the most difficult Velo trial in the game. Not only is there inherent difficulty in keeping USF all the way through—similar to Cortex Castle, Hot Air Skyway, and Oxide Station—but Velo also performs better here than he does in each of those other tracks. As you can see from the clip, managing to keep USF for all of lap 2 or 3 will put considerable distance between you and Velo. His best lap is lap 1, as he loses USF in laps 2 and 3. Keeping it for the entire two laps will put him to shame, but even here there is a lot of room for me to improve by tightening up my racing line in various places. As noted earlier, if speed class isn't getting it done try drift class out.