You all know what's a good cartoony item filled racing game that actually needs skill?
Mod-Nation-Racers.
No I mean it, it's very rarely based on luck.
It has the racing mechanics of Mario kart such as drift boosting.
The vehicle slamming of F-Zero.
The reward/item/kartpart unlock system of LEGO Stunt Rally.
AND the item upgrade system strait out of LEGO Racers.
The game's challenge comes not from luck (or lack of luck), but from actually using all the above in an strategic way.
In Mario Kart, drifting was a small little thing you could do to gain some ground.
In Mod-Nation-Racers, drifting is an essential skill. Unfortunately if you suck at drifting, you'll be stuck at the 3/4ths mark. There's a track designed for drifting, and the main track favorite guy is pretty much the drifting king. Seriously, I'm freaking stuck, it blows, it blows hard.
But I mean I'm not losing becuase of some blue-shell bulls***tery, I'm losing becuase I've yet to master drifting. Frustrating as it is, it's a legitimate challenge. If you want a good, fast paced, funny, challenging, cartoony, kart racer; Get yourself a PS3 and get this game.