Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

"Good, but needs more sauce..."

Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is a Platform game developed by Naughty Dog. Following the success of the first one, Crash Bandicoot 2 came much improved but without really big changes involved, something that isn't necessarily bad since when something isn't broken it doesn't need fixing!

Story: N/A

Typical stuff here, Cortex is back and seeking some sort of Gems. The strange thing this time is that you are the one who must gather them for him, since he is now friendly towards you. Of course in the end he will show his true face… was that a spoiler??? I think not, who cares about plot in these games?!?

Graphics: 8.5/10
Design: 8.5/10

Great like in the first game with 3D models, (mostly Crash), looking more “smooth” and less polygonal. The game has more special effects that look good and enhance the various stages you'll traverse through. Speaking of stages, no big changes here, since the game has the same jungle\tribal theme everywhere. Ancient temples, ice caverns, jungles and of course the standard machine zone. All stages look better than the first game but a little more variety wouldn't actually hurt but besides that CB 2 looks very good.

Sound: 8/10
Music: 7/10

Same quality as the first game, funky tribal music for most of the stages, full of bongos and various wood instruments and the typical sounds you would expect from a platform game, box breaking, spinning sounds, fire\explosions etc. No complain here…

Gameplay: 8.2/10
Replay Value: 7/10

Crash is the same fast and wacky bandicoot. He runs, spins or jumps and kills his enemies, break various kind of boxes with apples inside, gather Aku-aku masks that protect him from hits and serve as invulnerability items when 3 are gathered. Levels are still not fully 3D, and by that I mean that you follow a certain path and not roam where you want like Mario 64 or Spyro The Dragon. Each level is harder than the previous one with more traps and harder enemies and the occasional special stage where you are chased by a giant snowball or bear, you ride a rocket like vehicle in water, or a small bear cub while avoiding various stuff. What has changed? Nothing really… you still have two things to do, you either pass all levels and finish the game or try collecting all the Gems the thing that is actually the most entertaining feature in CB games since finding all gems can be quite challenging. Other than that nothing really special…

Positives:
-Gathering Gems is both fun and challenging
-Better level design than the first game
-You can now save after each level
-Very good graphics, colorful and detailed

Negatives:
-Still a bit hard to calculate where you want to land after jumping
-Not much of a replay value

Also Play:
Crash Bandicoot (Series)(Playstation)
Spyro The Dragon (Series)(Playstation)

Overall: 7.9/10

That's it folks just another Crash Bandicoot game. Well designed and all but without any really good additions. Fans buy fearlessly but those of you that want something different will be a bit disappointed. For people that don't know Crash Bandicoot know that many consider this, the best in the series so if you want a CB game get this or the third one.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/03/09

Game Release: Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (EU, December 1997)