"In his last adventure, Crash foiled my plans for total world domination, causing me to plummet
toward the earth, defeated. I ended up in a mysterious cavern, surrounded by glowing crystals
which I instinctively knew held amazing powers. My scientific curiosity led me to take one back
to my laboratory and examine it.
Imagine my horror when the truth became clear! The planets are about to align and cause a
disastrous solar flux, and only the crystals have the power to contain this terrible force.
Immediately I saw a chance to redeem myself for my evil deeds of the past - I will build a new,
crystal-powered Cortex Vortex, which will catch the solar energy and disperse it harmlessly. My
old colleague Dr. N. Gin, the notorious physicist, will aid me in the construction.
The problem is that I can think of only one hero that is brave enough to collect the 25 crystals
I need to save the world - Crash Bandicoot. The last time we met he saved the world from me but
now, he will save it for me."
But just one short year after his debut, Crash is back in a sequel that is so far superior to
the original that I'm willing to forget the mistakes of the past.
The new storyline is simple: A very gullible Crash is corralled into collecting crystals for
the evil Dr. Cortex and gems for the terrible N. Brio. There are 25 levels in all; each level
contains an easy-to-find crystal and hard-to-earn gems. Instead of being forced to approach the
game in a strictly linear fashion, you progress through a series of five warp rooms. Each warp
room contains five levels, which you are free to tackle in any order. After you have found the
crystals in each level, you can progress to the next warp room. This system of warp rooms is a
great innovation; it's clear how to progress in the game, and yet you have the option of moving
to a different level if you're hopelessly frustrated with one area. Best of all, you can save
your game in the warp room at any time (a big improvement over the original game's horrific save
system).
A lot of variety is packed inside this game. You'll navigate through simple run-and-jump areas,
try to outrun a very mad polar bear, work your way through sewer systems, and even fly around
with a jet pack. Within each level, the basic gameplay is similar to the original Crash: Running,
jumping, and spinning are still the order of the day. Even though most levels are set in a semi-3D
environment, Crash Bandicoot 2 is a platform game, plain and simple. The graphics are in a league
of their own among PlayStation games, and the music couldn't be better. Unlike the original,
Crash 2 is rarely frustrating enough to make you want to throw your controller at the TV. In
fact, some expert gamers might find Crash to be a little on the easy side.
There are only two real problems with Crash Bandicoot 2. First, the semi-3D setup is sometimes
hard to navigate, and you'll find yourself missing jumps because you're unable to judge distances
properly. Secondly, the game is just plain cheap at times; in some areas you must sacrifice many
lives until you memorize a level's layout.
In any event, these problems are balanced out by the game's excellent gameplay and intelligent
design. Crash Bandicoot 2 is a topnotch platform game. If you're a fan of the genre, you owe it
to yourself to check this title out.
Email: crashban@hotmail.com
