As Microsoft very recently acquired Activision Blizzard, that could mean that fans will see another Crash Bandicoot game in the not too distant future. Not only that, but it could also mean that the next Crash release could be an Xbox exclusive, which is ironic given how the bandicoot started out as the mascot for Sony’s first PlayStation.
The Crash Bandicoot series has had a long history with the Sony consoles ever since it was created by Naughty Dog, and with a potential new game on the horizon, it’s worth looking back on what made them great. And Redditors have been quick to debate what their favorite games in the series are. However, just as there are with every long-running series, the Crash Bandicoot franchise has a few stinkers, but the fanbase is so loyal that they even love those.
Crash Bash (2000)
While many fans think Crash Bash is a fun game, even despite its middle reviews, it’s far from the best, but Grandmaster_Rush begs to differ. The Redditor “really liked how fun and addicting it was.” The 2000 game is made up of several minigames, such as trying to push other players off icebergs. In fact, most of the levels see the player trying to push their opponents out of the game arena.
Crash Bash is a party video game, and like the much more famous Crash Team Racing, it’s better with the more players there are. The game does have a single-player mode, but it’s nowhere near as fun and there’s no purpose to it. It’s almost as if the beloved Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games were made up of only the minigames like Graffiti, Tag, and Horse.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (1997)
Rob_Highwind thinks that Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is the best game in the entire series because of its core elements. The Redditor posits, “It’s simple, has tight controls, and most importantly, it’s fun.” And while that doesn’t sound all that exciting, Cortex Strikes Back introduced loads of new mechanics that made the game much less frustrating than the original.
Between double jumping, skidding, and crawling, there are newer ways to kill any oncoming threats. And the Naughty Dog team got more creative when it came to hiding secret areas too. It might have the least memorable levels of the original trilogy but it has the best functionality of the three.
Crash Nitro Kart (2003)
After one hugely successful kart racing game in the series, the logical next step would be to make another one, and that’s exactly what happened. The development of the follow-up was spearheaded by Vicarious Visions this time, and while the developer did a great job of remaking the original trilogy with 2017’s N. Sane Trilogy, it clearly still had a lot to learn 19 years ago.
However, Vic-Treasuresson thinks it’s the best game in the series, and they know it isn’t the answer fans are looking for when they explain that they “await pitchforks.” In fairness, the game did a decent job of mixing kart racing with traditional on-foot platforming levels, but it was nothing groundbreaking.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (2020)
So many Crash Bandicoot games were released in the interim between Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped and the most recently released It’s About Time that it’s impossible to keep count. And, unfortunately, even fans recognize the downward spiral the series has been on ever since Naughty Dog abandoned it.
However, that all changed when developer Toys For Bob created Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, and it simply pretended that anything released after Warped didn’t exist. Nebrepins thinks the fourquel is so good that, “Even though I love the original trilogy, Crash 4 makes them seem really outdated and boring.” The new game kept the tone of the first three, brought the graphics up to date, was full of hidden Easter eggs, and is extremely difficult. “Cortex Castle” is the toughest level in the series, but it’s also one of the best.
Crash Bandicoot: Wrath Of Cortex (2001)
After three incredible main games and the best ever kart racer that isn’t Mario Kart, Naughty Dog dropped the property, and development duties were passed down to Traveller’s Tales. Wrath of Cortex was the first game in the series developed by the new studio and the first to drop the numbers from the titles, which was probably to stop drawing attention to the series’ age. But Wrath of Cortex displayed the franchise’s age by having absolutely no new ideas in the game.
Despite the game being broken, it’s still loved by a small number of people, and ThomasTheGreen not only thinks it’s the best, but they wonder why other Redditors don’t feel the same way, asking, “Where’s Wrath of Cortex…” But, in reality, the game was broken, and players can literally complete “Ghost Town” without even touching the controller.
Crash Twinsanity (2004)
Twinsanity was the next big release in the series following a huge three-year gap after the badly received Wrath of Cortex. And while the 2004 game did have a better reception, that isn’t saying much. The developer, Traveller’s Tales, didn’t learn from their mistakes with Wrath of Cortex, as the 2004 release was again broken in so many areas that it was almost impossible to collect certain gems. But the game still has a huge fanbase amongst fans of the Bandicoot, and Sportakus1 loves it more than any other game in the series.
The Redditor notes, “the fact soundtrack is awesome, some levels are really good, and Cortex shines.” Twinsanity is the closest the Crash series will ever come to having an open-world game, as players could freely explore a good chunk of Sanity Island. And it was a team-up game too, as players controlled both Crash and the evil scientist Neo Cortex. At the very least, more than any other game in the series, Twinsanity proves Crash deserves the Netflix treatment.
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (1998)
Some think Crash Bandicoot 3 is overrated, but Psi001, along with many other users, think the game is not just the best Crash release, but one of the best games ever made. The Redditor notes, “Warped’s variety and even within the traditional gameplay, I prefer its faster-paced levels and move-set progression, not to mention the awesome bosses compared to most of the other three.”
While there was a big increase in quality and variety in the levels from the first game to the second game, Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped is a sprawling epic compared to Cortex Strikes Back. Along with riding on the backs of tigers along The Great Wall of China, Crash rides motorbikes, flies planes, and even rides on dinosaurs. Not only that, but the game incorporates time travel, meaning that levels can be set hundreds of years in the future, or during the Dynastic or Mezasoic periods.
Crash Of The Titans (2007)
Crash of the Titans again saw the property switch hands, and this time, it was Radical Entertainment’s turn to try to inject some fresh new ideas into the series. Nechotik is almost afraid to share their opinion of the 2007 game. The Redditor reluctantly admits, “Please don’t hang me, but Crash of The Titans. Does ANYONE enjoy it? It is my favorite”
The 2007 game follows Crash as he attempts to stop Cortex, who has turned the inhabitants of Wumpa Island into mutants known as “Titans.” The game allows players to jump on the backs of these titans and control them, but it wears thin after just a few levels, and it’s generally one of the most hated games in the franchise.
Crash Bandicoot (1996)
While Crash was originally a wombat and it went through so many redesigns, development was eventually smoothed out and the original 1996 game was unlike any other at the time. Where other console mascots’ games were cutting-edge in terms of gameplay mechanics, whether it’s Super Mario or Sonic the Hedgehog, Crash Bandicoot was all about the aesthetics.
C4-ABD puts it best by explaining, “I like the creepiness, how evil Cortex is (not goofy and dumb), the soundtrack, and the simplicity of it.” With a soundtrack from the weird and wonderful band Devo, roaming through the depths of the jungle of Sanity Beach, and slowly working up to Cortex’s Castle, Crash Bandicoot is a vibey, thrilling adventure unlike any other.
Crash Team Racing (1999)
While the main series is its own kind of platformer, Crash Team Racing owes a lot to its peers. The game is heavily influenced by Mario Kart and many other games in that genre. Crash Team Racing sees players racing through familiar territory, as all the race tracks are inspired by levels from the original trilogy, and players can use weapons that were often used against them in those three games too.
AbandonedBySony thinks there are no two ways about it, and that the best Crash game is “definitely Crash Team Racing.” Just like the main series, there’s an eerie vibe to many of the levels, and Devo’s music is just as good as it ever has been. And with the complete remake of the game in 2019, it’s better and more popular than ever.
