Crash Bandicoot

***Crash Bandicoot*** is a 1996 platform video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The player controls Crash, a genetically enhanced bandicoot created by the mad scientist Doctor Neo Cortex. The game is played from a third-person perspective in which the camera trails behind Crash, though some levels feature forward-scrolling and side-scrolling perspectives.

## Plot

After being rejected by N.Cortex as a failed experiment, Crash must return to N.Cortex to stop his evil plans of world domination and rescue Tawna Bandicoot, Crash's girlfriend and a female bandicoot created by N.Cortex.

## Why It Rocks

1. It starts Crash Bandicoot, one of the most iconic videogame platformers in gaming.
2. Lots of Crates to smash and they can reward you with stuff such as extra lives, bonus rounds, wumpa crates and
3. Crash’s iconic attack is a spin that once you spin most enemies they will fly away.
4. Aku Aku masks located in many locations in the game either in crates or just there to collect them, collecting one Aku Aku mask will protect the player from one hit, collecting two masks will protect the player from two hits, collecting three masks will give the player a limited time invulnerability.
5. 6 Great boss battles, specially N.Brio’s boss battle.
6. Amazing soundtrack that would be very iconic to the series and even remixed in some games.
7. The game has an optional and easy password system for those who didn’t have a memory card to save at the time.
8. With the exception of bosses and the great hall, all levels have a gem that can be obtained by breaking all the crates without dying, once obtained you can save the game (or earn a password, depending on what you choose) and it would later be available to reach certain locations that were impossible to reach, depending on the level.
9. 3 different bonus rounds you can enter in a level, depending on the character mugs you collect:
	* Tawna bonus rounds are simple and peaceful, once you finish them the game lets you save your progress.
	* N.Brio bonus rounds are harder but usually has lots of extra lives you can collect and farm there.
	* N.Cortex bonus rounds are only in two levels and hard, however finishing them awards you with a key that unlocks an optional level.
10. Iconic levels such as the boulder levels and wild hog levels, both of which would become staple in the series.
11. The great hall level that’s before the final boss where if you collect all gems, you get to see an alternate ending of the game.
12. Amazing graphics for the time, Naughty Dog was able to use the game’s limitations to its best, Even the Engineers who created the PlayStation were impressed.
13. The Japanese version was well designed to fit well among Japanese gamers, with amazing marketing and extra goodies that helped the game succeed there, which is rare for a Western game.

## Bad Qualities

1. The game can be difficult at times, specially the level slipperly climb which is long, has slippery platforming and lots of hazards.
	* Another level called Stormy Ascent which was similar to slippery climb but was removed from the level because it was even harder than Slippery climb, however the level returned again in the N.Sane Trilogy Remake.
2. In order to obtain a gem you must break all crates without dying, this gets really annoying in the later levels.
3. The only ways to save your progress is to either obtain a gem or beat a Tawna or N.cortex bonus round, and worst of all, if you died during a bonus round, you return back to the level and can’t play the bonus round, therefore **you lose the ability to save**.
4. The game doesn’t tell you how many crates in the game and doesn’t tell you how many crates left in the game, instead it tells you how many crates you missed after you finish the level (which is hilarious though).
5. Obtaining 100% is a little pointless since the ending turned out to be non-canon thanks to its sequel.
6. The Japanese version, among with it's sequels, is really cringe and too childish.

## Reception

*Crash Bandicoot* was released to generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the game's graphics, presentation, audio, difficulty level and title character, but criticized its linearity and lack of innovation as a platform game. The game went on to sell over 6 million units, making it one of the best-selling PlayStation games and the highest selling ranked on sales in the United States. For the game's Japanese release, the gameplay and aesthetics underwent extensive retooling to make the game more palatable for Japanese audiences, and as a result it achieved commercial success in Japan. *Crash Bandicoot* became the first installment in an eponymous series of games that would achieve critical and commercial success and establish Naughty Dog's reputation in the video game industry.