Crash Bandicoot

THE BAD:
-VERY difficult
-Recycled levels
-Bad controls and camera
-Stupid saving system
-Limited, lame cheats (all you can do is jump to a certain percentage)
-Really not that fun
-Collecting keys and gems is pointless

SUMMARY:
How did a tough game like this start create such a famous character? Most people aren't skilled enough to easily complete such a poorly set up game. Perhaps it was the innovation? Who knows? All that matters is that this geometry test of a game was the start of an awesome game series.

Graphics: 7.7 -- For the first game in the series, the graphics are quite nice. True, they're only simply PS1 models, but that's not the point. The character models, though short in variety, are done with simple yet cool designs and colors. The animation, however, is pretty slim. While Crash Bandicoot and the bosses are smooth and realistic for a PS1 title, the enemies are clunky, stiff, and twitchy; they appear to have difficulty moving. Also, some enemies look ugly compared to the main characters. Not that this is a bad thing, since they each have very small roles. As for the level designs, I'm more satisfied. Though narrow and crammed, the detail that went in is about as good as it gets on the PS1. Each level has a variety of plant life and background scenery. Unfortunately, the water looks really cheap. It definitely looks like water, but it's so pathetic. Luckily, there are few levels that actually have water. As for the texturing of these levels, it's pretty good for the first game in the series. The stone looks like stone, the wood looks like wood, and so forth. As mentioned before, the water (along with all other free flowing liquids) is less significant. Likewise, the effects are pretty cheap. The enemies and collectables leave no particles behind. Also, the fire and light is as sharp as a marshmallow and as energetic as a sloth. True, there really isn't much of that, so it doesn't matter much. That's about it for graphical detail of this game; it's beautiful waste.

Sound: 7.4 -- I've gotta say, Naughty Dog did a pretty good job with the sound system of the game, especially for an early PS1 title. To begin with, the music is pretty cool. It's also so fitting for each level design. However, it gets oxymoronic in some places; some music is more laid back in rough levels, while other tracks are fast and energetic in simpler, easier levels. Though it's not a problem, it sort of confuses the difficulty of the level, making it tougher than it should be for gamers of less experience. The sound effects, on the other hand, provide no flaws. Each sound times the actions almost exactly, and they're all very realistic for its time. But, even by today's standards, it's not bad on a PS2. Everything that you come in contact with sounds more realistic than some of today's games (that's pretty pathetic for those games)! It's true that the enemy effects are less affective, but enemies are infrequent in this title, anyway. As for the dialog, I'm very disappointed. There is almost no spoken language, and it's all drowned from itself. It's fuzzy, deep, and laughable. There aren't even any scenes between the introduction and ending! But this game revolves around platforming and exploration, so it really doesn't need spoken dialog nearly as much as most other games do. With all of that combined, you should be at least somewhat satisfied with the overall sound of this game.

Handling: 2.5 -- As you might have guessed by the title, this is not a great way to start a game series. Seriously, this is way to hard to be the first game! The level designs, camera, and controls work together to create an amazingly difficult game. For one thing, the camera is too close to you, and it doesn't let you see enough of the level. As a result, you often find yourself dying on a regular basis simply because you can't see them in the over-eager camera. But that's the least of your worries in the case of bad controls. You simply jump and spin; that's it. And if that's not enough, there is no Analog control; you have to rely on the unreliable directional buttons. That makes it that much more difficult to move around. What's really stupid is that you have to have Analog OFF for the controls to work. Anyway, these controls just aren't enough to get past most levels easily. Sure, it's not impossible to pass each level, but it takes skill; not exactly a good way to begin a game series. Since the levels are so crammed, and there are lots of small platforms (often too far apart), this is the making of a stress-inducing title. Even the first few levels take a little practice to advance through them. But the worst part of the game is the saving system; there is no automatic saving, nor can you save manually. Instead you have to complete a bonus stage within a level in one go to save. Not every level has these bonus levels, and they are not easy to acquire or complete. If you run out of lives, and you haven't had a chance to save for the last few levels, guess what? You have to start over from the last level you saved! Whatever was Naughty Dog thinking? This game is a joke! Young gamers will not even be attracted to the intense difficulty, yet teens and adults will be repelled by the crap controls.

Entertainment: 5.4 -- Despite it's popularity, I didn't find Crash Bandicoot to be a whole lot of fun. Yeah, it has lots of levels, but they're all the same levels over and over, but with new obstacles and enemies. It's basically side-scrolling vertical levels, not-so-lengthy pathways, complex passages, chasing challenges, and levels where you ride some sort of animal. Are they fun? Within the first few minutes, yes, but it only goes so far. There are also a few bosses, but they are not a lot of fun. The strategy of each is clever and fun at first, but most people may find themselves yawning or straining throughout. Seriously, by the time you finish the first island, you've seen it all. The only reason people bought this is because it was a colorful new idea. This game is fun while you're still experimenting, but I lost interest--fast.

Features: 3 -- The variety is pretty much what you would expect for the first of a game series. There are a lot of (repeated) levels, many with bonus stages, and a few bosses. I like how there are lots of levels, but the fact that all of them are similar to another one defeats it. It's really not hard to come up with different levels, so why couldn't they put in anymore? Oh, you can collect gems and keys if you clear a stage with every crate broken and without dying. But the only reward (if you can call it that) for that is a crappy little level called The Great Hall, which you run through by only taking a few steps and jumping over one pathetic little pit. That's definitely the WORST possible unlockable idea of this world! If you're not attracted to it, you can enter a few cheats to unlock certain percentages, which goes up to 100%, but that makes you look like a lazy, wimpy, cheating quitter. Really, you won't find anything worth unlocking or reaching in this game.

Replay Value: Low

Overall: 5 -- How this dull game made Crash Bandicoot so popular, I will never know. I don't even get how it got a sequel. I regret I ever bought this game, and I don't know how I got stuck with it. Oh, that's right, I clearly asked my mom to buy me Warped online (but maybe I just wasn't specific enough), but instead she got me this. If you really are a true fan of Crash Bandicoot and love him no matter how bad his games get, buy the game. If not, spend your money elsewhere.

THE BAD:
The Save System
If you die once, you don't get a gem

SUMMARY:
Here is my review for Crash Bandicoot. Enjoy it because it's LONG!
Crash Bandicoot is about two evil scientists (Dr. Neo Cortex and Dr. Nitrus Brio) creating two machines: The Evolo-Ray, which will bring animals to life, and the Cortex Vortex, which will make them evil. But, (as usaul) things didn't turn out the way they expected. 3 of their evil creations (Ripper Roo, Koala Kong, and Pinstripe) were evil, but, 2 of their creations (Crash Bandicoot and Tawna Banicoot) were failures. They kicked Crash out and held Tawna captive. Now, Crash must travel through 3 islands to save Tawna. But, there will also be some (crazy) bosses he will fight such as Papu Papu, Dr. N. Brio, and even Dr. Cortex, himself. Can he do it?
Here are my comments on Crash Bandicoot:
THE STORYLINE:
The storyline is okay, I wouldn't call it the best storyline. I mean, Crash is supposed to save the world from Cortex. The only reason he's doing it is to save his girlfriend, Tawna. I would have to say that all of the other Crash games have better storylines than this one.
THE SAVE SYSTEM:
The save system is the worst thing in the game. You have to go throug (sometimes VERY difficult) bonus round by collecting Tawna tokens. If you die in the bonus rounds, YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE WHOLE LEVEL OVER AGAIN! Grrr... I hate that save system. One time I was at The High Road level. I hadn't gotten past a bonus round since the Up The Creek level. I turned my Playstation off since I was tired. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, I HAD TO REPLAY RIPPER ROO, THE LOST CITY, AND TEMPLE RUINS! Even if you work VERY hard to get 100% but you have passed all of the Tawna rounds before you got 100%, no 100% for you. I HATE the save system. Like the stoyline, all the other Crash Bandicoot games have a better save system than THIS game bacause in the other ones, you can save anytime you want, unlike this Crash Bandicoot game.
THE SFX:
Finally, a good point in this game! The SFX are great! I like the sounds when Crash is spinning, collecting Wumpa Fruit, and being chased by a boulder. I don't know what else to say except that the SFX are brilliant!
THE SPEECH:
BAD! Dr. Nitrous Brio only talks in the beginning of the game. Dr. Cortex talks only in the beginning and right before you start to fight him. Crash only talks in the beginning and when you get killed. Crash really dissapointed me because the only words he says are Uh-oh and Woah! I expected that there would be a lot more speech in this game, especailly from the hero.
THE GRAPHICS:
Another great point in the game. Okay, so maybe the characters need a few changes, but other than that tiny detail, they are superb!
REPLAY VALUE:
This is the best point in the game. You'll want to keep playing this game until your memory card is full. I didn't even finish the game and I kept on replaying it. This game is perfect when it comes to the replay value.
MY RATINGS:
THE STORYLINE: 7/10
THE SAVE SYSTEM: 1/10
THE SFX: 10/10
THE SPEECH: 4/10
THE GRAPHICS: 9/10
REPLAY VALUE: 10/10
OVERALL: 7/10
Well, I hope you enjoyed my review for Crash Bandicoot. Be sure to read all of my other reviews!
Sincerly,
Spyro_rocks (so does Crash!)

THE BAD:
Too difficult and frustrating.
Too linear.

SUMMARY:
Naughty Dog want to make money with a game. They have already had a rather un-successful SEGA RPG, Ring of Power, and now they are turning their attention to Sony's new Nintendo-created console. Yes, this is how I would have written this paragraph BEFORE this game's release.
Yes, Crash II: Cortex Strikes Back is a classic, Crash III is an inventive and very popular game, and Crash Team Racing is the angel of PlayStation Kart Racers (unlike its sequel, Crash Nitro Kart, which is nowhere near as good). However, this game is nothing on this sacred trio.
How did this game evolve into such a phenomenon? I have no idea. All that I DO know is that it shouldn't have done. Had this game been treated as it deserves to be treated, the craze would have begun with Crash II - in fact, Crash II and all of the games after it may never have come into existence shoud this game have recieved its deserved ratings.
The Gems are virtually IMPOSSIBLE to obtain in some cases - take Sunset Vista, for instance. A twenty to thrity minute trek through a ridiculously long and boring Level, fending off annoying lizards which leap at you, pits which periodically shoot flames up, the water at the bottom of the Level is enough - but there are rotating bridges which could send you right back down through the Level - or even worse, drop you into the water or something and kill you.
This game is currently sitting in its game and demo disc box in my cupboard, and I take it out once every two or three months to play through the Boss Levels and play a few of the better Levels of the game. Other than that, I only own a copy of this game to complete my collection of Crash Bandicoot platformer-style games.
Nuaghty Dog - this wasn't very good, but now, with Crash II, Crash III and CTR, all is forgiven. Please stop working on those sometimes rather cheesy Jak and Daxter games and buy the license for Crash back? Please?

THE BAD:
whatbad?

SUMMARY:
This game is basically one of the best crashgames ever! Seriously it is no downer! This game is absoloutly brilliant. totally amazing!

THE BAD:
everything else, graphics especially

SUMMARY:
may i say anymore? This game does not keep u gripped, the graphics r terrible, the sound's terrible, and the gameplay's rubbish cos it's not interesting and doesn't make u want to find out more. i thought the storyline was great but i only got to 7% before i got bored. the bad things are that you can only save through bonus levels if you make it to the end and the password screen. I cheated to find out what happened and it wasn't worth it.The voice acting was okay but not that brilliant. the music was terrible. i preferred playing it when it was off. Basically, this was the worst crash in the series and it was great the improvement for the other games. i don't recommend it but if you want to try it, i suggest you rent it or buy for £10.

THE BAD:
There is a password screen in this game

SUMMARY:
If there was no password screen I would give this game a higher score because I do not want anyone to cheat in this game.