Game Boy Advance

Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy

Overall though, this is a good, solid game. Which version of the game you’d choose, I think will depend on which character and game series you prefer. They really are very similar to each other, and I don’t think it’s worth owning both of them unless you find the other half cheap somewhere. The choice is yours… Dragon or Bandicoot…

Crash and Spyro games have been cash cows on whatever platform they've been issued on. Their original creators Naughty Dog and Insomniac moved onto franchises new a long time ago now (so much so that both are now onto their third incarnations already), but the likes of Traveller's Tales and Vicarious Visions have kept the brands alive by giving the masses what they want. To the discerning platform kleptomaniac, though, they've drifted off and contracted sequelitis to an extent, and most of those who really want some serious platform kicks tend to mutter something along the lines of "they're for kids", and they're not far off the mark.

Spyro Orange and Crash Bandicoot Purple are known as "cross-over" games for the Game Boy Advance: two independent games developed side-by-side that directly interface with each other. The storyline pairs up the two characters' nemeses in an attempt to take over the world, causing Spyro's and Crash's universes to tear and link together, and the dragon and bandicoot now must work together in order to save the two worlds from Ripto's and Cortex's evil plans. Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy offers a much different style of gameplay compared to what's been available on the system before, but its weak platforming elements overshadow its focus on gameplay variety.

Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy, is a companion game to Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage. Each game is a side-scrolling platform adventure with lots of mini-games interspersed throughout, plus each features a trading card system. This is a big departure from the traditional gameplay format of Spyro, as the three previous GBA games featuring the little dragon were all isometric in design and didn't feature the mini-game challenges.

Given the choice between either Crash or Spyro, you should probably know that Spyro is targeted for younger gamers while Crash is a bit more difficult and aimed for experienced players, thus giving you the most and more challenging gameplay experience. Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy is a great concept marred by a few design flaws and an overall lack of depth and content. Crash and Spyro lovers are going to love the joining of the two franchises and anyone who enjoys classic platform gaming with challenging mini-games will find several hours of entertainment inside. Whether it’s enough to justify a purchase is up to you and your budget.

In theory, the card-trading and cross-game sharing features are cool, but I highly doubt this mediocre addition will generate a kiddie game phenomenon.

Fire-breathing, purple dragon Spyro has already starred in a couple of Game Boy Advance titles. Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracies is a little different, though. Rather than an isometric experience, it's a simpler sideways-scrolling platformer that still includes all of Spyro's characteristic moves.

There's something innately entertaining about buddy movies. You have two people with totally different personalities teaming up for the greater good. It's a hook we see time and time again. Just look at the movies Lethal Weapon, Shanghai Noon, Turner and Hooch … okay, maybe not Turner and Hooch, but you get the idea. This time around, Vivendi Universal is getting into the mix with the release of Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy and its companion game, Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Revenge.

Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy is better suited for novice players who mainly want to see how the Crash-Spyro crossover turns out.

Spyro’s new Game Boy Advance cart is a weird collection of differing ideas. It breaks from the dragon’s latest handheld entries by abandoning an isometric view in favor of a side-scrolling vantage point for the platforming sections – which, for us, is a good thing. But, unfortunately, the jumping is painful as all get-out.

Ah, the video game crossover. I don’t think there’s ever been a gamer that hasn’t thought up an idea for two of his or her favorite characters to cross paths. However, the crossover isn’t really utilized too much in the video game world. This is partly because such games are really hit-or-miss with gamers. The developers could have a huge hit on their hands, like the Capcom vs. SNK series, or they could have a major bomb, such as Battletoads/Double Dragon (spare me the hate mail, you know it was bad). Well, Vivendi Universal has decided to try their luck by having their two biggest action/platforming stars cross paths in two games for the Game Boy Advance. Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon finally team up in Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto’s Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy. Get it? They switched colors. Anyway, below is the review for Spyro Orange. Find out if the crossover gambit paid off or not.