Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

"Crash Bang Wallap!"

This is Crash's first ever Gamecube game. If you've played other Crash games read this.

It begins with the main enemy Uka-Uka, complaining about how badly his minions are doing. So Cortex, who is the second in command, thought of summoning some heartless enemies, called the Elementals.

Mean while crash and his sister Coco were relaxing at the beach, and suddenly they got hit by a wave. So Crash's friend Aku-Aku goes and sees what was going on. He just found out the elementals were re summoned. So Aku-Aku goes and warns them. Because they had to do something, they decided check out some hi tech things Coco made. These things take them to a place to collect crystals to destroy all five elementals. Now your mission begins.

Very similar to the other normal crash games, but for those who have never played any here you go. There are 25 levels; each of these is sectioned into 5 groups of five. Once all five in an area are cleared, you fight a boss, and then when the boss is defeated, you can go to the next area. There are three missions to a level. The first is the crystal challenge, all this requires is for you to pick up a crystal within the level, and then complete the level. The second is the gem challenge, in the gem challenge you must destroy every crate in the level, and pick up the gem towards the end. Finally the time trial, you simply finish the level within a time limit.

In the game its self Crash collects wumpa fruits, 100 of these gets him a life. He also gets Aku-Aku masks; these allow him to survive one hit from an enemy. Inside you have things called check points; these allow you to go directly back to them if you lose a life. As you defeat the bosses Crash gains powers, these powers allow him to do extra things in the levels; most of these are very handy.

The graphics are the best I have seen for a crash game, in the colder areas you can see his cold breath, and even his fur is looking realistic. To be honest some of the background is poor, and some can confuse you with the level, due to what the background is, and what the hidden parts in the game are. When a crate smashes, you can see the broken pieces break off and go into the ground. The picture looks awesome when you see his multiple ways of dying. The explosions of TNTs and Nitros are bright and orange. The colours in general though have both an amazing blend and tone.

The music varies on each level, but in the main the levels have a fast tempo, and have a high pitch, whereas the bosses are more serious and low noted. The tunes never get boring, and are worth hearing in the game. The explosions sound as if they're to make you jump as a real explosion would, and crash spinning sounds like nothing I've ever heard, it sounds like a mini wind tornado. In some of the levels, like where you skate, you can hear the scratching on the ground.

Well the game will last around two weeks if you do the main of it, but some of the harder things take so long there is no point in doing. It can be enjoyed many other times round.

This is a good idea to buy, not the best of Crash games, but worth getting. It's quite old now, but look around for it you will probably enjoy it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/09/06