Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

"A great sequel to the original Crash Bandicoot."

Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is the sequel to the popular PlayStation platformer Crash Bandicoot. This game had a lot to live up to, and it certainly did its job.

Crash Bandicoot 2 is a simplistic PlayStation 2 platformer. There isn't really anything too special about it, but it is genuinely fun.

The story isn't one of this game's strong points. Crash has to stop the evil Dr. Cortex from taking over the world…again. However, the fun that you will have playing this game almost makes the story a non-factor in deciding whether or not you like this game.

As stated earlier, Crash 2 is a platformer like almost any other platformer out there for the PlayStation. You have to progress through a level, find the crystal, and reach the end of the level to move on. You will start out the game in a warp room with five levels unlocked. After completing all of the levels in the warp room, you can progress on to the boss. After defeating the boss, you will go on to the next warp room, with another five levels. This process repeats itself several times.

If Crash gets hit by an enemy or falls down a hole, he dies. You can collect Wumpa Fruit to earn more lives to prevent a Game Over. You will find Wumpa Fruit in brown boxes all over the levels. There are also bad boxes that you don't want to hit. A TNT box is yellow and red. By jumping on it, you start a countdown. When the timer reaches zero, the box will blow up. If you spin attack a TNT box, it will explode automatically. There is also the green and yellow Nitro box. By spin attacking or jumping on this box, it will automatically explode.

However, if Crash has a mask, he can be attacked without dying. With two masks, he can get attacked twice. With three masks, Crash is temporarily invincible.

There are a wide variety of different types of levels in this game. There are the simple, straightforward, walk through the level and don't get killed types of the levels, along with new types of levels. There are levels where you ride a baby polar bear, levels where you must run from giant boulders or giant polar bears, along with levels where you fly around with a jetpack.

Along with obtaining crystals, you can also obtain gems. To earn a gem, you must break every box in the level and then the gem will be presented to you at the end of the level. There are also secret colored gems which you can earn by completing certain tasks. The gems will help you toward a 100% completed game.

The bosses are definitely the best part of the game. Many of them are challenging and fun to fight again and again.

The graphics are good for their time, around mid-PlayStation era. There are no cut scenes in the game to show off anything spectacular.

The music is very good. It usually fits the mood of the level very well. The character voices are interesting, along with the sound effects of the enemies. Crash rarely makes any noises besides when he dies.

The game doesn't offer much in terms of replay value, but the game is very fun and you may find yourself playing through it again. I know that I played through it many times to enjoy the experience again and again. Overall, I give Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back a 9/10.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/19/06