Crash Bandicoot

"Crash Bandicoot: A Worthy Challenge"

Crash Bandicoot: A Worthy Challenge

Crash Bandicoot is a rather challenging plat-former for PS One. I got this game after playing the second and third in the series, and although it was different it is also worthy of recognition. With great graphics for that period of gaming, game play that was not boredom inducing easy, it is great.

Story: The story is perhaps the biggest fault this game has. Crash Bandicoot sets out on a mission to rescue his girlfriend, who is being held captive by an evil Dr. Cortex. It's a pretty sound story. The problem however, is it's presentation. Unless you took the time to read the instruction booklet, then you would press New Game and end up not knowing at all what the point of the game was. You would have to sit and rot at the TV screen waiting for the beginning sequence before even starting a new game.
SCORE: 6

Game Play: This is where the game shines and at the same time fails. The game play is always in the form of a straight path, or a side scrolling level. There is no room for exploring the world of Crash Bandicoot. The game play, under these circumstances, is still amazingly fun. You'll find yourself playing some levels over just for fun. There is also a fair share of very difficult levels, made difficult because of the somewhat sloppy controls. This adds to the overall difficulty of the game, as well as collecting the gems. The Gems. That is a phrase that scares people who play the game. Not only do you have to break all the boxes, but you have to finish the level without dying. On some levels, I spent what seemed like ages trying to get that one gem that was so close, only to get squished by an obstacle near the end. If your not a person who likes to complete games 100%, the gems are not for you.
SCORE: 6

Controls: The controls for this game are icky. At first glance they seem okay, until you progress further in the game, where the controls get nasty to use. You'll find yourself hoping that you don't over jump that box that you need, or miss the next bounce to get further up. If you are not good with the controls, you will end up losing lots of lives on wimpy obstacles. This is mostly because the d-pad is hard to use, and the game is not compatible with the stick.
SCORE: 4

Graphics: The graphics are simply amazing. They might be bad compared to today's games, but when it first came out, it had better graphics than Mario's blocky hands and nose. They also give off a sense of mystery and thrill because of the environments in which you are placed. Some places do deserve better graphics, but for the most part, the graphics are above average.
SCORE: 9

Sound: Sound for this game must have been done by a master, because they are awesome!. They accurately portray the environments and gives you a taste of what the places and levels really stand for. It completes the mysterious feel of the environments and makes even the hardest levels worthwhile. The sounds of most other games for the PS1 cannot compare.
SCORE: 10

Replay Value: This game's replay value can be high or low. It all depends on whether or not you like challenges. I replay this game from time to time because this offers a sense of satisfaction from completing only a few of the levels. I would give this a high score, but there are many who would not enjoy the difficulty of this game.
SCORE: 7

Final Score: 7
The decision to buy or rent comes down to your style of game play. If you like challenges, then this is a must buy game. If your more of a casual gamer, then you should rent it.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 08/28/06