Crunch Bandicoot

Crunch Bandicoot is a supporting character in the Crash Bandicoot series and is a genetically altered cyborg bandicoot who was originally created by Doctor Neo Cortex to destroy Crash Bandicoot. Crunch debuted in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex as one of the main antagonists, alongside Uka Uka, Cortex, and the Elementals, his main power source. After his final defeat in Crunch Time, Crunch had a change of heart as he broke free from Cortex's control. He has since befriended Crash, Coco and Aku Aku, helping on their quest to save the world and living with them as a new member of the Bandicoot family, acting as an older sibling to both Crash and Coco.
==Appearances==
===Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex===
Crunch was created by Doctor Neo Cortex in private as a super weapon that would be capable of harnessing frightening powers. Doctor N. Gin and N. Tropy (who only had a slight understanding of the project) were the only other individuals who knew about the weapon. During a bad guy convention held by Uka Uka, Tropy and N. Gin reveal the weapon in desperation for one good plan to defeat Crash Bandicoot, who Uka Uka wants eliminated. Doctor Cortex formally announces the super weapon, but reveals that it is still missing a power source. Hearing the word "element", Uka Uka brings up the Elementals, a group of destructive masks that could create enough energy to bring the secret weapon to life. It is also presumed, due to him following Cortex's orders, that the super weapon, which is a live creature, had been successfully brainwashed by the Cortex Vortex. The weapon, who is revealed to be Crunch Bandicoot, attempts to defeat Crash with the aid of the Elemental masks, but when Crunch is defeated in Cortex's space station, he snaps out of Doctor Cortex's control. Although his first instinct is to introduce his fist to Cortex's face, Aku Aku informs Crunch of the space station's imminent destruction, and the group decides to flee back to Earth. Back on Earth, Crunch shows his gratitude toward Crash and the gang, and becomes part of the Bandicoot family.
Crunch plays a role in each of the game's boss fights. In the first four, he joins together with one of the Elemental masks to take on a new form and gain the mask's powers. In the fifth and final battle, he accompanies Cortex and all four of the masks, and will inadvertently help Crash by striking at Cortex in frustration. He also appears as an opponent in Ghost Town, where he races Crash on minecarts. 
===Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced===
In N-Tranced, Crunch is seen lifting weights with the rest of the bandicoots, when he is suddenly abducted by N. Trance and is brainwashed alongside Coco, who was abducted with him, and Fake Crash, who was taken by mistake. Crash battles a brainwashed Crunch on a flying carpet over the skies of Saudi Arabia, with Crash firing shots of energy at Crunch whenever the latter is stunned by exploding Nitro crates. Upon snapping out of N. Trance's control, Crunch becomes a playable character in all of the Atlasphere levels (excluding the first, where Crunch hadn't been freed yet) . He shows up with the rest of the bandicoots at the end to take a group photo with N. Tropy upon the doctor's defeat and capture.
===Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled===
Crunch is an unlockable playable character in the game, sporting a look very similar to his CNK appearance, with a few notable differences, such as a being a light brown color rather than his usual red. As a pre-order bonus with the Nitros Oxide Edition, Crunch can be unlocked from the beginning with an exclusive Robot skin. He was originally purchased from the Pit Stop for 1500 Wumpa Coins, but as of the Post-Grand Prix update, he is unlocked immediately via the free Beenox Pack.
===Other major appearances===
Crunch is a playable character in Crash Nitro Kart, as he is abducted along with Crash and Coco. He is trying to lose weight and discusses some fitness tips with Aku Aku during a workout. He and Coco share the roles of talking for the bandicoot team, as Crash can't speak. When Velo refuses to let the bandicoots go back to earth, Crunch tells him they'll keep racing. Over the course of the game, Crunch is an enthusiastic but gracious competitor, even complimenting Norm's teamwork upon defeating him. After Crash lets the real Velo keep his empire, Crunch makes the former emperor hold up his end of the deal and sends the Bandicoots back to earth. In the end, he is shown sunbathing, relaxing with the other Bandicoots and Polar. He drives a blue, low-turning kart with average acceleration and great speed like Tiny and Dingodile. He is a member of Team Bandicoot with Crash, Coco and Fake Crash.
;Stats
Console	GBA/N-Gage
 	
Crunch appears as a playable character in Crash Tag Team Racing, in which he searches for Ebenezer Von Clutch's lost Power Gems alongside the other racers. He, such as the other playable characters, is found in various hubs, giving Crash missions which come with a reward, such as Crunch himself as playable character, or simply just a Power Crystal (The latter being the main collectable of the game, the player needs them in order to progress.) Crunch is also seen briefly believing Crash as the culprit to Von Clutches missing jewels along with the rest of the cast. In the ending of the game, Crunch lifts Willie Wumpa Cheeks (Who had previously admitted himself as the culprit) by his nose shortly before Cortex melts him with his weapon, and then is finally seen giving Crash an awkward thumbs up before Crash takes a car and flees the scene. His clashed weapon is the Hot Rivet Gun which acts like a mini-gun.
Crunch appears as a playable character in Crash Boom Bang!. He too is invited to the Viscount's search brigade, but has little dialogue in the actual game. He also appears at the end of the game, surprised by Crash taking the wish of the Super Big Power Crystal for himself.
In Crash of the Titans, Crunch is ambushed by Doctor Neo Cortex during the beginning of the first episode, leaving him frozen from the neck down. He stays this way until the end of the game, in which the Doominator's collapse is able to set Crunch free. Coco says that he smells like bacon then Crash, Coco and Crunch have a big hug and eat pancakes. Crunch does not appear in the DS version of the game. In the Game Boy Advance version, Crunch is taken prisoner by Tiny Tiger by order of Neo Cortex. He is freed upon Tiny's defeat. He also appears in the ending of the GBA version.
In Crash: Mind Over Mutant, he and Coco become addicted to the NV, a mind control device disguised as a virtual reality headset. They are so distracted that they are unable to help Crash and Aku Aku defend their home from N. Gin's Ratnician army. When they are later mutated by the negative Mojo transmitted by the NV, Crunch runs off, leaving a mutated Coco to fend off Crash. 
Crunch is later found at the Junkyard, where N. Brio commands him to attack Crash. He is soon freed from the NV's control, but continues to be beaten up by Crash for a short time. He then decides to go back home and get some sleep. From then on, he can be found offering mini-game rounds on top of the remains of the Doominator on Wumpa Island.
===Minor appearances===
Crunch has a minor appearance in Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage, aiding Crash in the weightlifting minigames. Beating the final minigame of this variety, Weightlift in Tech Park, rewards the player with Crunch's Trading Card, holding the Highest value.
In Crash Twinsanity, Crunch has a cameo in Crash's "birthday party", which is a gathering of past Crash villains. While Crunch is in the gathering, he (being an ally of Crash) actually believes that it is really Crash's birthday, donning a green paper birthday crown and holding a cake topped with a candle whilst looking surprised over the villains around him. Despite Crash being redesigned for the game, Crunch retains his design from The Wrath of Cortex. Strangely, he is also significantly shorter in this game.
In Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 2, Crunch appears in this game as a playable racer. He is unlocked when 28 Mission points are acquired.
;Stats
Crunch has a cameo in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, appearing on a screen in the background of the Flashback Tape level, "Outfit Durability Exam". His name can also be seen spelled out in fridge magnets on the refrigerator at the beginning of Rude Awakening.
While Crunch himself doesn't physically appear in Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!, a Crunch-themed skin for Crash was added in Season 5: 25th Anniversary!.
==Characteristics==
===Physical description===
In contrast to Crash and Coco's meager size and build, Crunch is generally depicted as a large, muscular, burgundy-colored bandicoot with a metallic arm, camouflage pants and large boots. In Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex Crunch also wears spiked shoes, a trait not carried over to other games. He was also significantly larger in his first appearance, arguably standing as Cortex's largest mutant, while in all later titles he is only a few feet taller than Crash and Coco. While Crunch's metallic arm usually takes the form of an arm, it can also be turned into a laser cannon-like device, as shown in the boss fight against him in Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced. In the games prior to Crash of the Titans, Crunch's metallic arm only covered his right forearm and hand. 
In Crash Tag Team Racing, Crunch is depicted as a darker brownish-red rather than his usual red with a metallic ear, a feature that was not carried over to future games. In Crash of the Titans, the cybernetics not only cover his entire arm, but take on a new, futuristic appearance. In addition, two scars can be seen above Crunch's chest. Mind Over Mutant, Crunch has a new metallic arm which seems to hold a lit furnace, and new scars; he has 2 scars on his right eye and 1 more on his left pec.
In It's About Time, Crunch's cameo undergoes yet another redesign, being his original red color and bearing sharp teeth, similar to his Wrath of Cortex design, while also still containing his blue eyes and bushed eyebrows, as he was in CNK.
===Personality===
In Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, Crunch is first portrayed as being the over-confident type, constantly believing that he can eliminate Crash with ease. This behavior causes him to become arrogant later in the game, insisting that he doesn't even need the Elementals (his main power source) to defeat Crash, and becoming generally annoyed with Cortex. It is not until he is defeated that Crunch snaps out of Cortex's control and leaves to live with the Bandicoots.
Because of his time with the Bandicoots, Crunch's personality has gradually changed after his liberation from Cortex's control. In Crash Nitro Kart, Crunch is shown to be an avid weightlifter. He is also interested in nutrition and, at one point in Crash Tag Team Racing, plans to sell the Crash gang out through future endorsements in hopes of becoming a famous and respected figure. 
In Crash Tag Team Racing, Crash of the Titans, and Crash: Mind Over Mutant, Crunch displays a tough personality and mannerisms based on those the actor Mr. T. Despite his rather masculine demeanor, Crunch occasionally shows a soft side; in Crash Tag Team Racing, it is revealed that Crunch sleeps with a pink teddy bear aptly named 'Pinky Bear' and is unable to sleep without it. Crunch does not take kindly to rude behavior or bad manners. For example, in Crash of the Titans, he admonishes Crash for belching loudly. As a habit, Crunch gives Crash life advice, though it is usually unrelated to the topic at hand.
In Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, Crunch's personality is reverted to more of a tough jock attitude with several abrasive traits similar to his personality in Crash Nitro Kart.
==Additional information==
==Gallery==
See: Crunch Bandicoot/Gallery
CrunchDebut.png|Crunch makes his debut in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
Crunch good.jpg|Crunch making peace with Crash and Coco at the end of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
Assembly lane loading.png|Crunch on the loading screen for Assembly Lane in Crash Nitro Kart
TeamBandicootRelaxing.png|Crunch relaxing on the beach at the end of Crash Nitro Kart
Nf victory crunch.png|Crunch claims victory in Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
==References==
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ja:クランチ・バンディクー
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ru:Кранч Бандикут
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