Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

"Is Crash's second adventure a crash?"

Crash Bandicoot 2 is the sequel to the extremely popular platformer for Sony designed by Naughty Dog with the intention to get a piece of the the platform market from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog and Nintendo's Mario. Right as Crash 2 was about to come out, it had appeared that Sony might have been successful in carrying out their plan. But as time passed, as well as a couple shoddy games that used Crash as their main selling point was made, the Bandicoot family name had lost much of their respect in the market, even though they still have managed to produce multiple good games. Crash Bandicoot 2 has stood up and become, what is likely to be considered the most mediocre game of the series.

In the first Crash Bandicoot game, Crash went form island to island playing a series of worlds in each one of the islands. However, like most of the sequels, the whole setup has changed around. Now you are based in one room and have multiple warp zones that you have to go through to get into each one of the levels. Then, once you beat that world, you go into the room you just came from, starting the series all over again. Personally, I do not like the new setup at all. I like being able to see where I have come from and where I will be going, and the often confusing setup of Crash Bandicoot 2 creates a major crash in styles. (Pun intended)

Visually, everything has been updated from the first version of the game. The greatest improvement to Crash 2 is the level designs. In Crash Bandicoot, there was not too much background designing at all, but Naughty Dog stepped up to the plate and made a huge hit. No longer is it just the main trail that you must follow and nothing else on the screen. Although they are nothing to remember, Crash Bandicoot 2's graphics are pretty good, especially considering just how old the game is.

Platformers have always been notorious for immaculate controls. The first Crash Bandicoot had laid down a solid foundation for Crash Bandicoot 2, and just like Crash's first adventure, he hit the nail right on the head. Being able to pick up a game and play it is a great feature in a game, and the Crash Bandicoot series is one of the fore runners in the pack of games.

One very disappointing feature about Crash Bandicoot 2 is the overall lack of challenge. Any person that was able to get through the first game without too much difficulty should be able to fly through Crash 2 in no time. Naughty Dog, in my opinion, directed this game more towards their younger audience when the integrated the challenge for Crash Bandicoot 2.

Another complaint that many people have with Crash's second adventure is the absence of a multiplayer mode. Most gamers will play their games with either their friends or their family members, but Naughty Dog just ignored that fact all together and left it out of this game.

On a whole, Crash Bandicoot 2 is a very good game that just has a few fatal problems; problems that most video game fans will get annoyed with quickly and abandon the game not soon after they beat it. However, if you are looking for a game that anybody from the very young to the fairly old will enjoy, Crash Bandicoot 2 is a game for you. I would definatly recommend that everybody at the very least, rent this game and beat it. After that, move onto another game.

STORY LINE: 8/10
GRAPHICS: 8/10
CONTROLS: 9/10
SOUND: 8/10
GAMEPLAY: 7/10
REPLAY VALUE: 6/10
CHALLENGE: 4/10
MULTIPLAYER: 1/10
ORIGINALITY: 5/10
ENTERTAINMENT: 7/10
BUY RENT?: Rent

OVERALL: 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/28/01, Updated 12/28/01