Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex on PS2 (2001)

Brief synopsis of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex

Crash has finally made his next generation debut for PlayStation 2 in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex.

Crash Bandicoot first saw the light of day in 1996 on PlayStation. Soon after, the hip marsupial was dubbed as Sonys new mascot. Even today, many gamers believe Crash is to Sony what Mario is to Nintendo.

The Wrath of Cortex sees the return of many popular characters from the famous Naughty Dog creation, and includes Crashs arch-enemy, Dr Neo Cortex (hence the title). Yes, the yellow-headed freak is up to his old tricks, seeking revenge for the losses Crash inflicted upon him in the last three games. Watch out!

Although Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex still manages to avoid the fully 3D free-roaming environments that so many ardent gamers crave, the game retains the linear approach and solid visuals that made the original so appealing to the younger player. The developers seem to have reached a compromise with the two conflicting consumer points of view. The game is now less restricted than its predecessors albeit still linear, and certain spin-off sections of the game give complete freedom of movement.

The Wrath of Cortex boasts a handsome 30 colourful levels that pose a variety of life-threatening obstacles. Quite simply, your challenge will be to reach the end of each level without loss of life, before progressing to the next. And while the concept appears a little too easy, tackling a level of The Wrath of Cortex with success takes great skill. The previous games were notorious for their fiendish platform elements and tough bosses: this instalment is no exception.

Veterans of the series looking for a tougher experience can take it upon themselves to revisit earlier levels and collect missing crates and gems for hidden bonuses. Such an addition adds greatly to the longevity of this game.

All in all, Crash Bandicoot for PlayStation 2 retains its winning formula and adds some nice touches that will make it appealing to everyone. Enjoy.