Just like they used to make 'em!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Clear graphics; Addictive; Crash is an awesome character!

Cons: Can be very frustrating; Not enough levels to start with

The Bottom Line: 
Buy it if you like platform games; it's a triumph of style and substance for the GBA

Author's Review
You know, it's ages since I'd played a platform game before this fell into my hands. I loved the Sonic series for the Megadrive all those years back, but gave up platformers when I graduated from my formative years. I wish I hadn't so readily shunned this genre; it's such great fun, yet so simple at the same time.

Crash basically has to save the world from an evil scientist called Neo Cortex (you all know the story). He's shrunk the world and it's he job of this bandicoot to set things straight. There are 20 levels with 4 bosses, and that's the first real complaint of this game. Not enough levels. in my opinion, there should be 50 levels with 10 bosses, as it would increase the overall enjoyment of the game 10 fold.

To cut a long story short, you need to collect a crystal from each level, and at least one gem in every level. There are secret gems in some levels in addition to this. You obviously don't have to do this to complete the level, but you do have to if you want to finish the game. Basically you get a 'percentage completion' figure showing you how much more you have to do to finish the game, and I worked out that roughly 70% of it consists of traipsing through the same levels looking for gems. Well, not quite...

They've also included a time attack mode, which is pretty self explanatory. It makes up the vast majority of the challenge and, indeed, fun of the game as a whole. Basically, get through the level as quickly as possible, and if you die then you go right back to the beginning. I can tell you, it's fiendishly hard to do this for the later stages, but nothing is more satisfying when you beat the required time to obtain the 'relic' for that level. So, complete the levels, collect gems and crystals and finish levels quicker than a set goal to win relics. If you're anything like me, that should keep you going for ages. I still haven't finished it. Yes, it can make you grit your teeth in frustration, but the overwhelming sense of achievement when you do it is inspiration enough!

So, buy this game if you're after a long term, great fun and very slickly presented old-skool platform romp. There's nice variation in the stages (flying and front on 'escape', as well as diving and standard side scrolling), and while there aren't enough levels, it really isn't too much hassle that much of the game is repetition. Shop around, get a good deal, but don't miss out if you're anything like a platform fan.