Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

The Good
Well, Crash is back. While not the best game in the series, if you're looking for more platforming and crystal collecting, it is perfectly serviceable. The new "hamster ball" levels are well-done, and Coco's levels are a return to classic platforming, before you got all those powerups, and give a rather different feel than Crash's levels.

The Bad
First, it doesn't look all that good. On a technical level, it looks about the same as Warped, which is a bit of a downer when Warped is a PS1 game. On an artistic level, while I can't point to anything specific, the game feels less interesting. While the main platforming controls are alright, there are some rather annoying platforms with beveled edges, which allows you to land on the edge, then fall off... The vehicle controls are somewhat uneven, going from acceptable to horrible depending on the vehicle in question.

The Bottom Line
Well, it's like Crash Bandicoot: Warped, but not as good.

The Good
There are more levels were most fun ways of gameplay like last one did. The graphics are nice but not really detailed but not to be. The game introduces a new character to the series to fight named "Crunch". I did like the boss battles being more original.

The Bad
I miss the simple difficulty that makes it fun to pick and play. The levels have areas were you can just die of cheap death. The first power-up you get is just lame as you only walk on Nitro boxes. The loading times are so long every time were you can just use the bathroom or drink to past the time, it can take up almost 2 minutes, however I never own the re-release version of the game were the load times are quicker. There is really no nothing new like last time were it just the same game.

The Bottom Line
This is just really an upgraded version of "Crash 3" as it has the same elements in it. This game is only for Crash fans only and not really other player that is not into platform games. As a positive note, I do think this the last game to be good in the series as Universal ditched making the games.

The Good
The thing is, Crash Bandicoot Wrath of Cortex is almost exactly like the last 3 games in the series. This is why it got the average reviews, but this is how a Crash game should play in my view. Crash Twinsanity was OKAY, at best. The newest games in the series are awful. Curse you Sierra! The graphics are pretty good for this generation of systems. It is also Crash's XBOX and GAMECUBE debut and it was a great start. This game has the best character look in the series. The story is typical for a Crash game. Dr. Cortex wants to take over the world but Crash, Coco, and Aku Aku have to stop him. This is also the first game that Crunch was in. The music is the best soundtrack in the whole series. It seems that Travellers Tales always makes good music. (Sonic R, Sonic 3D Blast, Crash Twinsanity all have great music) Also, the XBOX and GAMECUBE version of this game have WAY shorter load times then in the PS2 version. Big improvement.

The Bad
This was the first Crash game developed by a studio other then Naughty Dog, the mother of Crash. I think ND could've done a slightly better job with this game. This game was made by Travellers Tales. However, it was published by Universal Interactive, the publishers of the other Crash games before this one.

The Bottom Line
If you love Crash Bandicoot like I do, BUY THIS GAME NOW!! You will pay only a few bucks for it and it's worth every penny. Get it on XBOX or PS2.

 Weston- Age 12