Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and other parts of the franchise

This is a platformer and arcade game. The game is full of bright and juicy colors, just like the Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, which we talked about in the previous review.

In the center of events – as usual – is a marsupial bandicoot named Crash. By the way, he was named so because he breaks boxes with bonuses on his way. But more on that later.

In the first part of the video game, Crash defeats the evil Neo Cortex, with whom the story of Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back begins. The mad doctor falls from a great height down and ends up in a dark cave, where he finds the Master Crystal. Cortex was incredibly happy with the find, realizing that it would help in the implementation of the villainous insidious plans.

A year later, the mad doctor builds a new space station in Earth’s orbit and takes Dr. N. Gin – half-human half-cyborg – as his assistant. N. Gin tells Cortex about the existence of 25 more crystals. The villains need the crystals to create a laser beam capable of enslaving all living beings on the planet. Neo Cortex remembers his sworn enemy, Crash, and decides to use him to obtain the crystals. Crash himself is relaxing on the beach with his younger sister, who asks him to find a battery for her laptop. Bandicoot goes in search of the battery, falling into Cortex’s trap on the way, where the game itself begins.

The insidious Cortex deceives Crash, telling him about the need to collect crystals that will save the planet from imminent disaster. Throughout the game, Crash’s sister, Coco, tries to help her brother. She learns about Cortex’s evil plan and tries to tell Crash about it. How did Coco find out about the deception? She hacked the mad doctor’s computer and discovered the blueprints and machines of the Cortex Vortex station. Coco periodically hacks Neo Cortex’s hologram and tries to tell Crash the whole truth, but due to the resulting noise and interference, she cannot be heard.

In Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, Dr. Nitrus Brio, a former antagonist from the previous part, also warns about the deception. He suggests that Crash collect gems instead of crystals, to create an energy weapon from them that can destroy the Cortex station. However, the protagonist does not listen to Nitrus Brio, and he tries to stop him with the help of bosses – the crazy anthropomorphic dog Ripper Roo, the Komodo brothers (Komodo dragons), and the Tiny Tiger. In the end, Coco manages to tell Crash the truth about Cortex’s evil plan. However, it is too late, since he has taken all the crystals. Using a jetpack, Crash flies in pursuit of Cortex and takes the crystals back from him.

In the game Crash Bandicoot 2, gems play a significant, though not the main role. Nitrus Brio claims that they have a greater energy value than crystals. Crash can get different gems: regular, red, yellow, etc. For example, you will get a regular gem if you break all the boxes on the way and at forks during the level, and you will get a blue one if Crash doesn’t break a single box.

1. Superior to the first Crash 1996 in every way.
2. Revolutionized the gameplay to the point that all of its new features were copied by its successor (Warped – the third game and sequel).
3. Great difficulty balance, good scaling from start to finish, challenging but fair additional content (death routes).
4. Added new platforming features such as a combination of chase and bear ride levels, jetpack, hanging bars, and underground tunnels.
5. Fantastic sound and design.

1. Slightly easier to 100% than Crash 1996, Warped, Wrath of Cortex, Twinsanity, It’s About Time.
2. No vehicles (except jetpack).
3. Bad boss fights compared to other PS1 games.

By the way, this game is actively discussed on Reddit, sharing different views.

Also, among the shortcomings, players note the monotony of locations, namely the jungle, snow, and water. They complain about the linearity of the game and its similarity to the previous part.

In Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, the player enjoys colorful animation, which, by the way, has become better quality, compared to the previous part. The main character has new skills, namely crawling, sliding, and belly-slamming.

The sequel to the franchise was released in 2003. Most of the graphics were taken from Crash Bandicoot: Warped. Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced is a side-scrolling action game. You move from left to right, although there are also frontal views. The game follows the main trio of villains: the evil spirit Uka Uka, Dr. N. Tropy, and a new character, N. Trance. For their plan, they plot to capture and subjugate Crash, Coco, and Crash’s friend Crunch.

The villains kidnap everyone except Crash, who is saved by Aku Aku. The rest are in danger. N. Trance hypnotizes them, turning them into evil characters. However, the villains fail to kidnap Crash himself: during a portal malfunction, Fake Crash gets to them.  Now Crash’s task is to save his friends and defeat N. Tropy and N. Trance.

Most reviews of the game are positive. Players note the similarities with the original games. There is no Cortex in this game.

Here’s what fans wrote on Reddit: “This game was pretty good at expanding the supporting cast. I mean, no other game in the series was bold enough NOT to use Cortex, even those that used a different villain.

It’s also the first game to cement Crunch as a member of the active party of heroes (and, unfortunately, the only one that was close to him playing a role in a platformer)”.

Fans especially liked the new villain, N. Trance.

This game was released in 2010. This is an exciting race optimized for mobile phones with iOS. The game has a large selection of characters: there are as many as 10 of them! You will find 12 different tracks. The main goal of the game is, as in any race, to overtake your opponents and come to the finish line first. On your way, you will encounter wooden boxes, breaking which you activate a random bonus. The bonus can be acceleration, temporary invulnerability, or a weapon. Enemies can be slowed down using various weapons in the form of dynamite and rockets.

The real innovation of the game Crash Bandicoot: Nitro Kart 2 is the ability to arrange joint races (up to 4 people), connecting via Wi-Fi. Therefore, you can invite friends and reminisce together. Fans note the following disadvantages of the game:

1. Back of originality: the gameplay is similar to the previous parts, and nothing innovative and unusual was added.
2. No choice of difficulty settings.
3. The speed feels bad.