Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

"Crashes head first into the XBOX"

First of all I like to give a hand to Travelers Tales for delivering great hits including Sonic 3D Blast which not many people liked. I think they did a wonderful job on Crash in his 4th installment on the XBOX. You notice the difference from the PS2 version right away when you pop this baby in. The graphics, the lighting, the sound, and the inevitable LOADING TIMES!

Presentation 8/10
Classic in your face weird announcer with all the little bells and whistles that an original Crash Bandicoot game has. From the start you know you're getting in to Crashology when you see it from the star up menu. Characters are somewhat delivered well and voiced acting is polished up a bit, but I still wonder why Crash himself never speaks?

Graphics 10/10
I mean, look what system it's running on? I mean if the graphic weren't good, someone at Microsoft would have to be fired. Really nice textures, great lighting from ice looking objects and fire effects. Even the infamous Wampa Fruit looks good. Great particle effects, nice to see how all of them aren't flat sprites when you looks at them from the side. The highlight of the graphics is the XBOX's ability to fur shade. When you get close to Crash, Coco and some other character, you can really see fur! A cool addition to make Crash and his little sis look like the marsupial's they are. Nice work Microsoft and Travelers Tales!

Sound 6/10
Could have been done a little better. Too many old sounds and not enough new ones. His spin could have used some work, the voice overs are weird and the stage music is kinda off. Doesn't really mix well together. Travelers Tales could have put forth more effort in making this game a musical masterpiece like they did with Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic R, some of the best music I've heard in a game. Crash loses points here because the lack of enjoyable sound. Come on TT's bring on the beats that made a couple of Sonic's games musical masterpieces.

Gameplay 9/10
Typical platforming. What else do you expect from Crash? Flying a Crop Duster, manning a Sub, rolling a Jeep, and piloting a robot that's similar to the one use in Aliens 2 that Ripley used to fight the Queen Alien. The return of the Bazooka was nice and his other abilities with few new ones, but more new ones should have been added. That's most peoples gripe with the 4th installment, too much of the same and not enough new. I think it's fine, it's great for little kids and appeals to the older audience, and it keeps to the original game that made Crash so addictive form the beginning. Don't want and go pull a Luigi's Mansion do we? Nice job here.

Replay 9/10
With all of the objectives to get, it requires you to obtain a new ability and back track to unlock some secret stuff. Getting to a full 100% is gonna take some time, I say 40+ hours of platforming. There is enough crates, gems, and relics to keep you coming back for more, and the insane vehicle rides will have you wanting more. Nothing new to the Crash series, but still fun none of the less.

Final Run 8/10
Crash Bandicoot:Wrath of Cortex provides platforming action with lots of fun. A good amount of replay and a nice touch to the graphics department thanks to the hardware of the XBOX. And lets not forget the LONG LOADING TIMES! have been eliminated down to a good 10-15 seconds. A lot of people say it's ''more of the same'' but why change a good game and make it worse? Better to stick with the original formula and keep the game fun like a Crash game is supposed to be.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/18/02, Updated 06/18/02