Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

"Like Warped, minus Naughty Dog & adding some more things to do, increasing the fun, but changing the feel that came from the Playstation games."

Being my first review, I will try my best. Crash Bandicoot: WoC is a great game, but is the last to use the Warp Room system. Like Warped, it has 5 main areas, each with a theme, plus an extra one by getting 5 relics. Without too much blabbing in one paragraph, I'll move over to sections-----

Story: After failing to defeat Crash in Warped, Cortex & his minions, as well as his master, Uka-Uka, are trying to think up a plan to defeat Crash Bandicoot. Cortex is keeping a secret weapon from Uka-Uka, but his right hand man N.Gin spills the beans, causing them to proceed with the plan. His "weapon" hasn't got any power though. Uka-Uka then revives the 4 elemental masks Rok-Ko, Wa-Wa, Py-Ro & Lo-Lo to give the "weapon" power. Their release causes natural disasters on the island where Crash, his sister Coco & Aku-Aku are currently having a vacation. Aku-Aku has a theory on what is going on & warps to this place to see whether his evil twin Uka-Uka had released the 4 elemental masks. After the encounter, he warps back to announce what has happened. They must collect 25 crystals to gain leverage over the enemies, but that means that there are 25 levels ahead... I give the story 3.5 / 5

Gameplay: The game begins the main room. It consists of 6 areas & the room that connects them all. You begin in the connection room, which has the Load/Save screen (& later, a pad that'll take you to the extra area). After a holo-conversation with Cortex & his "weapon", which is a hulk-like version of Crash with a metallic arm named Crunch, you can move around. There are 5 areas around you, each with a theme, but 4 are blocked by electricity, which will push you away if touched. In the open area, you have 5 circular pads & an unaccessable one in the middle. The 5 pads are the first 5 levels. Each level in the game requires many different ways of getting to the end. Most common is by foot. There is also jeep, swimming, mouseball, titan suit & the flying levels, where you must destroy a certain amount of whatever is causing trouble (satellites, ships & tornado-makers from memory). Among that, there are also levels where you play as Crash's sister Coco. She can go on foot, by scooter, snowboard & has one flying level. Through each level, there is one mandatory thing - TO GET THE CRYSTAL!!! After you get the crystal, you may retry the level if you wish to get it's Gem (get all 46 for an alternative ending to the game) or to go for a time trail from start to finish to win a relic (every 5 unlocks 1 level in the 6th area). Relics, as in Warped, come in 3 forms - Sapphire (you did it!), Gold (you did very well!) & Platinum (OMG, you perfected it!). Each has 1 relic value, but getting a gold makes you feel like you did well & Platinum is a real achievement. To unlock the next area, you must beat the boss. Where is the boss? In the unaccessable pad. How do you get into the pad? Get the 5 crystals in the 5 levels surrounding it. Each boss is Crunch, but with a different elemental mask, giving him different powers. Beating a boss gets you a new ability (there is also a secret ability in one of Coco's levels). After winning, Cortex & Crunch speak to you again & it's off to the next area! Overall, the gameplay gets a 4.5 / 5

Graphics: Wow, it sure is 3D. The colour goes well with it. Some of the villains from the introduction cutscene look rather strange, but it is the first on the PS2 & they don't really make much appearances in the game. Tiny is an obstacle in mouseball levels, while Dingodile & N.Tropy are enemies who can't be defeated in mouseball levels. I think N.Gin is in the ships that attack you in flying levels. Other than that, no more appearances. The areas are pretty cool, the weather is cool, the atmosphere is something that you yourself have to judge, but I find them.... cool. Graphics get 4.5 / 5

Sounds: Who cares about Sounds? Well, I suppose I should talk about them anyway. Every time Crash gets hurt, he makes a sound, which I can't describe, but if you play this game, you'll know what it sounds like. If he had Aku-Aku take the hit, Crash will make the sound & Aku-Aku will say something in gibberish, like finedacrisacrsh. I used to think he was saying "find the crystals Crash", but he said it in the first Crash game, where there weren't any crystals. What else for sound... revving of a car, touching a wumpa fruit, speech in the seldom seen cutscenes. Basically, every sound is where it should be & sounds appropriate - what more could you ask for? Making that statement, it makes sense to give Sound a 5 / 5

Finishing words---

First of all, I hope this is a successful review, being my first. Getting back on topic, should you rent or buy? If you enjoyed the Playstation games, go ahead & buy it. If it sounds a bit different & your not sure, rent it or borrow it from someone. It is a very enjoyable game, which will take some time if you want the alternative ending. That's all from me. Enjoy the game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/25/08

Game Release: Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (Platinum) (EU, 10/11/02)