Crash Bandicoot Crash Lands Into Another Brilliant Adventure (Crash Bandicoot 3 : Warped (PS))

Member Name: GramiWay

Product:	Crash Bandicoot 3 : Warped (PS)
Date:	12/02/09 (83 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great game for kids and adults a like, lots of challenges and side quests

Disadvantages: None really

I don't review games often so I apologise if this is not appropriate.


Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped is part of the multi million selling platform game franchise revolving around the titular character. This third installment released in 1998 was the last of the series to be released on the original Playstation and in my opinion the last of the games to be interesting and not repetitive.

It follows on from the previous game Cortex Strikes Back and is the most challenging and interesting game of the first three.


The game focuses on antagonist Dr Neo Cortex having been defeated by Crash at the end of the last game and crash landing into some anceint ruins where he unleashes Uka Uka, the evil twin brother of Crash's protector mask Aku Aku. Together Uka Uka and Cortex join forces with Nefarious Tropy who uses his Time Twisting Machine to try and gather the power crystals. [Those pink crystals you had to collect during the second game].
Crash and his younger sister Coco, upon learning of their plan also heads to the time twister and attempts to stop them.

The game allows you to play as Coco for the first time. Though this bonus isn't that brilliant as you don't actually get to move around with her as the levels she appears in are either on a tiger [similar to the polar bear Crash rode in the previous game] or an aeroplane. However her levels are quite difficult especially the aeroplane themed ones and she has possibly the most difficult boss in the game in the form of Cortex's right hand man N. Gin.

In order to progress through the game, you need to collect the pink power crystals in every level. There are five levels open when you first begin in the first 'warproom'. You don't have to complete them chronologically but you won't be able to face the first bos sand move onto the second of the five warprooms until all five crystals have been collected.

Alongside the crystals, collecting all the crates in each level will earn you a clear gem whilst some levels have two gems up for grabs for completing a special bonus area and of course the five coloured gems can also be obtained in a similar manner. There are five levels in each warproom and they vary from simple walkthrough to a variety of different tools such as the tiger and a motorcycle. Crash also has some new moves up his sleeve like a super slide, a super body slam and even a bazooker that shoots apples.

The graphics are even more advanced than the first two Crash games with a more concrete story and actual character voices. Crash's moves have improved and even his appearance and the other characters look a lot better than they have in previous games. Like its predecessors the game is played in a third person perspective with the side scrolling and 3D tube levels players will be accustomed too.

Adults might find the game a bit too easy to complete but I think it's still just as enjoyable as you may progress through the warprooms easily enough but there is much more itinery to gather such as relics from the new time trial feature as well as a secret warproom.

The storyline is basic enough and there's nothing challenging or confusing about the game. It's all fairly straight forward and put right in front of you. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

There is hours of fun to be had with this game and some of the villains and levels can be frustrating and even when completed gaining all the relics in normal, gold and platinum form can keep you going for even longer. The time trial feature is completing the level within a set time in order to gain the three relics. Some of the boxes within the level will be replaced with 'time freezing' crates that freeze the clock for either 1,2 or 3 seconds. The time trial option is only open after you have completed the level for the first time and can be activated by grabbing the floating, yellow clock located at the start of each level.

Basically Crash Bandicoot 3 is a solid part of the Crash series and just as exciting and challenging as any other game in the collection. Definately a classic for the playstation console.

Summary: The third installment in the Crash franchise