Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped - PlayStation

That’s warped as in time-warp, in case you were wondering about the possibility of this game bending your mind too much. Yes, Crash is back, with the lovely Coco in tow, invited once more to do battle with the evil Neo Cortex, this time sounding uncannily like actor Kelsey Grammer, of ‘Frasier’ and ‘Sideshow Bob’ fame. Cortex is up to his old tricks again, trying to take possession of the gems and crystals that he needs to hatch his wicked plan to take over the world.

Impenetrable logic, for sure, but the challenges that lie ahead for Crash are myriad, and make for a hugely enjoyable platformer of great depth. As Crash and Coco travel back and forth through time, you’ll find yourself putting the characters through their paces by taking part in an airborne dogfight, doing battle with sharks and mines in underwater sequences, and motoring around on a jet-ski. All beautifully animated and immense fun.

This doesn’t mean that it’s an easy game to complete, though. Initially, you’ll find yourself with a choice of five levels to conquer, in an order of your own choosing. Return from each level with a crystal, beat the boss of this particular world, and there’s another five levels plus end-of-level boss waiting for your attention. Great depth, remember?

As the challenges get tougher and tougher, power-ups can be acquired by beating the end-of-level bosses, and of course there are plenty of boxes and crates to smash, and grab the goodies therein. It’s easy to see why Crash Bandicoot has become such a popular character with gamers:the sheer imagination which has put this game on the shelf deserves top-billing, along with a memorable supporting cast of baddies, and of course, the titular hero’s almost maniacal, determined grin, stays intact throughout. You’ll be grinning too. Crash 3 is a hoot and a half.