Once thought of as Sony’s unofficial mascot for the PlayStation, Crash Bandicoot is some kind of marsupial many of you will never have even heard of. Well he’s here, a new character in an all-new adventure.

As bandicoots aren’t very clever, developer Naughty Dog decided that this bandicoot was going to be no exception. He can run and jump... that’s it. The simplicity of the character capabilities reflects on the structure of the level design. This game is a platformer, pure and simple. ... more >>

Once thought of as Sony’s unofficial mascot for the PlayStation, Crash Bandicoot is some kind of marsupial many of you will never have even heard of. Well he’s here, a new character in an all-new adventure.

As bandicoots aren’t very clever, developer Naughty Dog decided that this bandicoot was going to be no exception. He can run and jump... that’s it. The simplicity of the character capabilities reflects on the structure of the level design. This game is a platformer, pure and simple. The developers here have attempted to throw a 3-dimensional element to the platform genre, as the entire surrounding scenery is in full 3D. In some levels, you get to run into and out of screen. One example is an Indiana Jones style area where you have to run into the screen, and away from a huge boulder.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that Crash Bandicoot is a true 3D game, it’s not. While the environments are 3D, the levels are not. You are given a set path to walk on, and camera angles are static. This 2.5D or 3D on rails gameplay is an familiar from games like Pandemonium!

In terms of gameplay, Crash Bandicoot has a “just one more go” feel about it. This game appears deceptively easy at first, but environments soon become a harsh challenge, as deadly platforms, long jumps and moving obstacles attempt to bring you the “Game Over” screen. Complete with thirty challenging levels, bosses, and a loose plot line, this is a standard platform title, but with a few well-polished corners. << less