Crash Bandicoot Warped: Favorite PS Game Ever

Introduction

It is for this game and this game only that I purchased a Sony Playstation. Crash Bandicoot Warped is the most fun playstation game I have ever played. Not only is it fun, but you can play it again and again and again -- hardly ever growing tired of it or being unchallenged by it.

Other Crash Bandicoot Series

The other crash bandicoot games left much to be desired. The first one had simply awful graphics. It was also very difficult to control crash, and the game ended way too soon. There were bonuses and other such things, but they were either too hard to get to or didn't really provide anything once you obtained them.

The second game was a big improvement over the first. The graphics had improved, and the control was excellent. The designers obviously learned from their mistakes as they presented a game which people wanted to play again and again. Still, there was something lacking ... enter Crash Bandicoot Warped.

Basics

The basic stage on Crash Bandicoot Warped consists of you, as Crash, trying to make it through 25 levels. On each level, you have to get a crystal. At first only five levels are open to you. Get the crystal on each of the levels, beat the boss of the five levels, and then you open up the next five. This continues through all 25 levels.

You start out with a few basic moves (jumping, spinning), but then add new moves each time you beat a boss. By the time you get to the last set of levels, you know how to run, how to double jump, and how to do a flying flop by which you destroy almost everything in the immediate vicinity. Ah, and did I mention the best skill you learn: the bazooka.

Levels: Basic Scrolling Level

The boards vary a great deal. There is the normal scrolling board which are by far the easiest. These boards entail you jumping, spinning, and usually avoiding enemies in order to try to get to the end. There are bonus levels in each board, enemies too numerous to count, and different ways to perish with each enemy. For instance, when the frogs get you, they give you a great big kiss and turn into a prince; when the knight slices you, the bottom half of your body walks off the screen. The graphics and animations are very cute and funny -- no graphic illustrations here.

Other Levels: Motorcycle, Jet Ski, Plane, Tiger, Underwater

There are three other types of levels that you enter as well. In one of them, you are in a motorcycle race and must beat the other racers to get the crystal and advance. In another, you are on a jet ski and must just make it to the end. There is also a plane level where you must shoot down all the biplanes or blimps while other planes shoot at you. One of the best levels occurs as you ride on the back of a tiger, jumping and running to avoid other objects. Finally, there are swimming levels where you are underwater in scuba gear. All these add great variation to the game.

As if that's not all ... Other Challenges

In addition to trying to collect all the crystals, you must also try to collect all the gems and relics. On each stage there are a number of boxes. You must destroy every box for the gem to pop up at the end of the stage. This can get very hard as many of the boxes are hidden or in very hard to reach areas.

The relics are earned by going through the level in a certain amount of time. Not only can you get a relic, however, but there are three different types of relics: silver, gold, and platinum. The silver is the most basic, and you should be able to get this without too much difficulty on most levels. Getting the gold or platinum, however, requires a lot of skill -- knowing just when to jump to make it to the end in record amount of time.

Then We Add Five More Stages!

As if there wasn't enough to do already, another world will unlock which adds five more stages to the mix (now 30 in all). But that's not all. There are also two bonus stages which you get to by doing certain things in other stages. I won't give it away, but you can do a quick search on the Internet to find out how to enter these.

Sound/Graphics

You won't find the latest graphics here as the game was made a couple of years back, but they are still exceptionally good. Especially the water stage with its multi-colored fish and gurgling noises seems almost realistic. While the graphics don't make the game, they certainly don't detract. The soundtrack on the other hand is exceptional -- something I would consider listening to without even playing the game.

A Short Note About Violence/Age Groups

Another great thing about this game is that there is almost no violence. You will find no blood, no screaming, no nudity or other such profanity in this game. It is good, clean, fun that everyone can enjoy. Parents should not worry about this game for their kids.

Conclusion

Not only do you have the challenge of just making it through the game, you have the gems to collect, the secret stages to open, and three levels of time trials to beat. To complete 105% of the game (the maximum) took me roughly two months. Even after that, however, the game seems to never get tired. I often go back and start playing from the start again, or just play some of my favorite levels. This is the best game on the playstation, in my humble opinion, and it is a reason to buy the entire hundred dollar unit.