Super Adventure of Crash

Players may enjoy Bandicoot purely as a test of jumping abilities.

Players may enjoy Bandicoot purely as a test of jumping abilities. And make no mistake: jumping is key. Crash executes every type of jump ever seen in a platform game: short jumps, long jumps, short AND long jumps, quick jumps, jumps onto icy ledges, jumps onto tiny ledges, and so on. Players looking for an old-school platform game with uncanny visual effects will certainly find it here. However, for players who want a true nonlinear 3-D run-and-jump game

The graphics may be 3-D, but gameplay is flat as roadkill on a four-lane highway. Forget about plot: in most levels, Crash simply marches along a linear path, spinning into enemies and smashing crates filled with fruits. Collect 100 pieces of fruit and you get an extra life - a tribute Several levels are side-view jump-fests, as seen on 16-bit machines dozens of times before. Rumor has it that the game's most interesting feature - hidden gems that are revealed by executing levels flawlessly - was added only at the behest

There’s still fun to be had with the original entry, though, and it’s easy to see the solid foundation on which the next two games were built. And Vicarious does include some needed quality of life tweaks like box counters and time trials that make for a more fleshed out experience. But for those jumping into the trilogy for the first time, the original Crash won’t leave the best first impression.

Having years to reflect on them and returning now to the trilogy in this new form, Cortex Strikes Back endues as the best overall package. There’s an excellent blend of truly challenging core platforming and extra objectives — secret levels