Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (PlayStation 2)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Shane Satterfield
• Reviewed on: 11/01/2001
• Updated on: 05/17/2006
• Released on: 10/29/2001
• Originally published on GameSpot: Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (PlayStation 2) Review

It's impossible to talk about Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex without mentioning that the series' creator, Naughty Dog, didn't have a hand in developing it. Naughty Dog may have created the orange marsupial, but Universal Interactive owns the rights to the character. So it came as no surprise when Universal decided to hand the developmental duties for the first PlayStation 2 version of Crash Bandicoot to another developer after Naughty Dog decided it was time to move on. With interest in the franchise slowly waning over the past few years, it was hoped that new developers would attempt to try something new. But Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex maintains the status quo and fails to deliver a fresh, compelling experience.

The story in Wrath of Cortex is just enough to hold the game together but not much more. After suffering defeat at the hands of Crash in the past three games, Dr. Cortex has devised yet another vile plan to stop the bandicoot dead in his tracks. But in order to finish his secret weapon, he calls upon the god Uka Uka to provide him with power from four elemental masks. The masks possess the power to conjure avalanches, tornadoes, tsunamis, and electric storms, so Cortex decides to use their abilities to bring his diabolical creation, Crunch, to life. Crash must destroy all four elemental masks so he can get to Uka Uka and ultimately destroy his perpetual enemy, Dr. Cortex, once again.

Through three installments of the franchise on the PlayStation, controlling Crash remained relatively the same. Up until Crash 3, the sales numbers for the first two Crash games warranted such a design choice, but technology has marched on while the Crash series has treaded water. Traveler's Tales, the development house behind The Wrath of Cortex, has erred on the side of caution and decided not to mess with what was a winning formula in the past. All Crash's signature moves have returned, including the spin attack, the body slam, and the slide attack. Crash is rewarded with more moves, such as the double jump and the ability to glide after defeating the game's bosses. Older Crash Bandicoot games have included special vehicles to take control of, but Wrath of Cortex has more alternative vehicles than the other three games combined. Crash can pilot a jeep, a submarine, a beelike flying contraption, a mech suit, and more. The special vehicle stages provide the best experiences the game has to offer, but the controls for each vehicle can take some time to get used to. There are several stages in the game where you must control Crash's sister, Coco. Coco's levels are more traditional platforming affairs in that the jumps are more difficult and the combat is somewhat subdued. Veterans of the Crash Bandicoot series will be able to jump right in and start playing The Wrath of Cortex, but those who hoped for a wider variety of attacks for Crash's PS2 coming-out party will be disappointed.

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