Crash Bandicoot is becoming a very underrated and forgotten franchise. Back when it was at it's glory days, people praised it for being one of it's kind. It introduced aspects into platforming and it looked good doing it too. This is the review for the very first game in the series, in which Dr. Neo Cortex, with his sidekick, Dr. Nitrus Brio, are doing experiments with a bandicoot named Crash. He hopes that this bandicoot would turn into this massive monster to help Cortex take over the world. He puts Crash into his Cortex Vortex to begin his transformation, but it fails. Cortex kicks Crash out of his Lab and plummets down to the beaches shore. Meanwhile, Crash's girlfriend is still trapped inside, and it's up to Crash to find Cortex and defeat him and his minions.
GAMEPLAY --> 9/10
Crash has to go around 4 of Cortex's Islands in order to save his girlfriend. In the levels, you have to proceed to the end of the level. Simple, right? Well, the cunning traps and dangerous foes say otherwise. There are crates and other special boxes that Crash can break with his Spin Attack. They usually contain Wampa Fruits, the Crash Bandicoot version of Mario's coins (get 100 for an extra life). Other items include Aku Aku, an ancient protective floating mask that protects Crash. Collect one Aku Aku mask for 1 hit invulnerability, two Aku Aku masks for 2 hit invulnerability, and three Aku Aku masks to have short invincibility for a couple of seconds. Levels include you running away from boulders, you exploring ancient ruins, climbing up a tower, and many more. Bonus Rounds are scattered throughout most of the levels, but in order to get to a Bonus Stage, Crash must collect 3 character panels. If Crash collects 3 of his girlfriend's panel, he can go to the regular Bonus Stage. If he collects 3 Brio panels, he'll go to a harder Bonus Stage for a secret gem or key. If he collects 3 Cortex panels, he can get something special at the end. Speaking of gems, if Crash brakes every single crate in the level (including the Bonus Stage's crates), then he can get a Gem. Gems are important for later levels.
MUSIC --> 5/10
The music in Crash is somewhat vague, and it only consists of jungle beats, soft nature themes, or techno-like music. Certainly not the best in the series, but in the later games, it will come...
GRAPHICS --> 7/10
Naughty Dog, the developing company of Crash, certainly did a good job of expressing what kind of graphics the PS1 can create. The 3D like environments can be breath-taking from when Crash is up on a mountain or when he's way up in Cortex's Machinery Room. Everything looks neat and orderly, but the camera sometimes is a little shaky and sometimes can lose focus on Crash. Nevertheless, the graphics in this game is okay in my book.
REPLAY --> 8.5/10
Once you beat this game, you'll want to play it again. There is so much to do in Crash Bandicoot, whether it is beating a secret level or getting those Gems. You'll want to experience climbing up vines or avoiding hot machinery pipes again when you beat it the first time. I did. I've had this game ever since it came out and i'm still playing it today. It is that great of a game. I can assure you.
OVERALL --> 8.5/10
Overall, this game is awesome. Good levels, nice challenge, and decent gameplay. This is sort of like if you take Mario's sidescrollers and put them into 3D perspective, but what makes it different than Mario is that it has totally original characters and game style.
GAMEPLAY --> 9/10
Crash has to go around 4 of Cortex's Islands in order to save his girlfriend. In the levels, you have to proceed to the end of the level. Simple, right? Well, the cunning traps and dangerous foes say otherwise. There are crates and other special boxes that Crash can break with his Spin Attack. They usually contain Wampa Fruits, the Crash Bandicoot version of Mario's coins (get 100 for an extra life). Other items include Aku Aku, an ancient protective floating mask that protects Crash. Collect one Aku Aku mask for 1 hit invulnerability, two Aku Aku masks for 2 hit invulnerability, and three Aku Aku masks to have short invincibility for a couple of seconds. Levels include you running away from boulders, you exploring ancient ruins, climbing up a tower, and many more. Bonus Rounds are scattered throughout most of the levels, but in order to get to a Bonus Stage, Crash must collect 3 character panels. If Crash collects 3 of his girlfriend's panel, he can go to the regular Bonus Stage. If he collects 3 Brio panels, he'll go to a harder Bonus Stage for a secret gem or key. If he collects 3 Cortex panels, he can get something special at the end. Speaking of gems, if Crash brakes every single crate in the level (including the Bonus Stage's crates), then he can get a Gem. Gems are important for later levels.
MUSIC --> 5/10
The music in Crash is somewhat vague, and it only consists of jungle beats, soft nature themes, or techno-like music. Certainly not the best in the series, but in the later games, it will come...
GRAPHICS --> 7/10
Naughty Dog, the developing company of Crash, certainly did a good job of expressing what kind of graphics the PS1 can create. The 3D like environments can be breath-taking from when Crash is up on a mountain or when he's way up in Cortex's Machinery Room. Everything looks neat and orderly, but the camera sometimes is a little shaky and sometimes can lose focus on Crash. Nevertheless, the graphics in this game is okay in my book.
REPLAY --> 8.5/10
Once you beat this game, you'll want to play it again. There is so much to do in Crash Bandicoot, whether it is beating a secret level or getting those Gems. You'll want to experience climbing up vines or avoiding hot machinery pipes again when you beat it the first time. I did. I've had this game ever since it came out and i'm still playing it today. It is that great of a game. I can assure you.
OVERALL --> 8.5/10
Overall, this game is awesome. Good levels, nice challenge, and decent gameplay. This is sort of like if you take Mario's sidescrollers and put them into 3D perspective, but what makes it different than Mario is that it has totally original characters and game style.