Shop Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

Description

Let me go on record and say that I was never a fan of the original Crash Bandicoot. Even though Crash was disarmingly cute and fuzzy, and even though the game's graphics were just about as good as they got in those days, the frustrating design of the game made playing it such a painful experience that I still have flashbacks when I see small marsupials on the Discovery Channel. But just one short year after his debut, Crash is back in a sequel that is so far superior to the original that I'm willing to forget the mistakes of the past. The new storyline is simple: A very gullible Crash is corralled into collecting crystals for the evil Dr. Cortex and gems for the terrible N. Brio. There are 25 levels in all; each level contains an easy-to-find crystal and hard-to-earn gems. Instead of being forced to approach the game in a strictly linear fashion, you progress through a series of five warp rooms. Each warp room contains five levels, which you are free to tackle in any order. After you have found the crystals in each level, you can progress to the next warp room. This system of warp rooms is a great innovation; it's clear how to progress in the game, and yet you have the option of moving to a different level if you're hopelessly frustrated with one area. Best of all, you can save your game in the warp room at any time (a big improvement over the original game's horrific save system). A lot of variety is packed inside this game. You'll navigate through simple run-and-jump areas, try to outrun a very mad polar bear, work your way through sewer systems, and even fly around with a jet pack. Within each level, the basic gameplay is similar to the original Crash: Running, jumping, and spinning are still the order of the day. Even though most levels are set in a semi-3D environment, Crash Bandicoot 2 is a platform game, plain and simple. The graphics are in a league of their own among PlayStation games, and the music couldn't be better. Unlike the original, Crash 2 is rarely frustrating enough to make you want to throw your controller at the TV. In fact, some expert gamers might find Crash to be a little on the easy side. There are only two real problems with Crash Bandicoot 2. First, the semi-3D setup is sometimes hard to navigate, and you'll find yourself missing jumps because you're unable to judge distances properly. Secondly, the game is just plain cheap at times; in some areas you must sacrifice many lives until you memorize a level's layout. In any event, these problems are balanced out by the game's excellent gameplay and intelligent design. Crash Bandicoot 2 is a topnotch platform game. If you're a fan of the genre, you owe it to yourself to check this title out. -- John Broady --Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc. -- GameSpot Review

Features

Customer Reviews

This is a fun game that keeps you coming back to get 100%

Crash 2 is a great platformer that any playstion owner should have. While beating the game might be a little on the easy side, beating the game and getting all the gems and secret levels you need to get 100% is not. If you are a perfectionest you will enjoy that feature. And don't knock the game because of its cute appearance, it has enough depth for even older gamers to play it. And it also has amazing graphics, (No pop up or draw in at all) control(especially with an analog controller), and depth to keep players coming back until they have 100%. And trust me you will not beat it in a week, it will take time. Just be prepared to sacrifice alot of live for som of the later levels(put lives are pretty plentiful). All in all a great game. If you don't own it yet, buy it!

Fun in the tradition of super mario bros.

If you like Mario games, you'll enjoy this game. It's a challenge to complete the game 100%, so if you're the obsessive type, this game will keep you occupied. It's also fun for the less obsessive- you can see the ending without completing it 100%.

And Your How Old!

If you liked Crash 1, you'll love Crash 2. This game is for 3 to 50 year old. A great game to play with children (you can after they are asleep, if not they yell it's not fair).This is a colorful animated game in which your character is allowed to turn 360 degrees. There are 5 levels consisting of 5 courses on each level. Crash 2 allows you to play on any course on a level in any sequence collecting crystals and silver diamonds. This games challenge continues to increase as it progresses. You jump on or over boxes, thorny turtles, flying birds, bees, lumber jacks, seals, penguins, beavers, sharks, lizards, alligators, monkeys, flying saucers, moving floors, and rolling barrels or mines if you are unlucky. Let us not forget the bears and bolders that chase you while you try to run your course.Hours and hours of fun. Parents remember to share with the children. A game they won't get tired of.

Pretty good

Crash 2 is a good game. A great game if your on a budget. It would be better had I not played Crash 3 before it. Crash 2 is a game worth getting, just for the fun of it, and to see how the crazy Bandicoot has evolved in between the two games.Crash 2 is a fun game, but Crash 3 is better.

A Must Have Crash Game!

you just have to have this game! I have played all the crash bandicoot games and this is just pure great! the graphics are great game control is great. If your a crash fan you gotta have this game

Crash's Costumed Commercial Counterpart Might Be A Pain...

...but the game version Crash is cool. Sure, "Crash 2: Dr. Cortex Strikes Back" (or "Crash 1," for that matter) might be on the "kiddie appeal" side, but older adolescent gamers might get a kick out of the depth of this limited 3-D platform game. C'est tres facile.. to beat the game, but finding all the gems to get to 100% completion... that's a doozie! I mean, I don't play this much, but my brothers have beat this, and still have to go back to find all the gems. On top of the challenging obstacles & goals of "Crash 2," the graphics ain't too shabby neither. I mean, the peach icon may be a tad bit trite, but, in fact, the graphics are quite... funny. When Crash gets stung by a swarm of bees... his face blows up! When he gets burned by the flamethrower-yeilding guy... he get's burnt to a crisp! And when he says "Whoa!" when he loses a life, that's pretty darn funny. I'm sure everyone really likes the ice stages where Crash has to ride a puny lil polar bear (and dogde the leaping whales- it's a trick to it)... those are kewl. But anywho, no gamer, little kid or mature adolescent, shouldn't be without a little Crash Bandicoot in their PSX collection. It's a doozie.

Great game whether you're 8 or 80
Gary Bisaga

I hadn't played a video game to any extent for probably 15 years when my son got this game for his birthday last year. He loved it and immediately started playing it, so I checked it out. I quickly became completely hooked. I have now beat all the boss levels and are going back and cleaning up the gems.And that leads me to my second point. One of the best things about the game is that, even after you beat the game, there is still a lot to do. At each level, you collect boxes; you can get through the level fairly easily (thus earning the crystal), but to earn the gem you have to collect all the boxes. This is not easy! I beat the game (i.e. got all the crystals) within several weeks of playing the game; but I am still (months later) only up to 80% on the gems. There are sometimes boxes (or extra lives!) hidden just out of view, usually above the top of the screen. You certainly get your money's worth from this game.The best levels, in my opinion, have got to be the jet pack levels, especially the final boss level where you take on Neo Cortex himself. The funniest levels, though, are the tiny polar bear levels - Crash sees the tiny polar bear, turns around and arches his eyebrows at you, and then hops on for a wild ride.As far as family-friendliness, it's very high on the scale. There are no guns that you wield (though your foes sometimes shoot at you). The vast majority of the foes are either vanquished by jumping on them or "spin-moving" or "sliding" them (both of which just knock the opponent out of the way), or you simply escape from them. The only exception is the TNT boxes, which you jump on then have 3 seconds to escape before they explode. There are a few cases where you need to get rid of foes using the TNT boxes. The violence that is in the game is very cartoonish, however, with no blood or gore.The graphics are a bit dated (being from 1997). Some kids may thus turn up their noses at the game. That's unfortunate, because it's a great game. Only playing the newest, latest thing is both expensive and gives short-lasting pleasures. The graphics are much better than the original Crash Bandicoot.Will adults like it? I don't know, but they should: In my view, games unsuitable for kids are not actually suitable for anybody. In any case, *this* adult certainly does like it.Get it, whether you're 8 or 80. You won't regret it. Read more ›