Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

true <img src="/contributed/1219343871OV7XenbTXA.gif" width="362" height="164"> Name: Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped Platform: PS1 Year Released: 1998 <img src="/contributed/1224789353fn1BibiBgF.jpg"> Earlier this week, I reviewed the latest game in the Crash Bandicoot series, and noted how the new, next-gen Crash games somehow can’t live up to their PS1 predecessors from a decade ago. Ever since playing Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant for the 360, I’ve had that bandicoot on the brain—but not in one of his more recent adventures. I decided to give the third game in the series, Warped, a go this week and see if it was as good as I remembered. This particular Crash Bandicoot game has always been my favorite in the series, so I wanted to see if it was still a blast ten years later. The short answer: hell yes. Like the two games in the series that came before it, Crash Bandicoot: Warped is a 3D platformer, with levels that can be side-scrolling, front-to-back, or some combination of both. The level design in this game is fantastic, and the main reason it works so well. First of all, there is a pleasant variety of level types, meaning that you probably won’t play through similar levels twice in a row. In addition to typical platforming stages, Crash (or his sister Coco) can ride motorcycles, jet skis, tigers, and biplanes. Because the game centers around time travel, different worlds resemble both different time periods and geographical locations. In one level, Crash runs from a giant dinosaur, while in another, he might be in the future. The exceptional and varying level design keeps the game from ever getting redundant or stale. <img src="/contributed/1224789333Q1bJhKaJ7E.jpg"> Crash Bandicoot: Warped differs from the first two games by allowing Crash to gain a special move after each successful boss fight. Our bandicoot friend starts with only the ability to spin around, but over the course of the game learns to double jump, body slam, spin longer, run faster, and shoot a bazooka loaded with fruit. In addition, each level can be beaten multiple times, and the player can go back and attempt to run a time trial or collect special gems for hitting all of the boxes or finding a secret area. It lengthens the game significantly, making it one of the most replayable platformers of the era. While the graphics for Warped might look antiquated now, they were pretty sharp back in 1998. Just like the first game in the series, this one took full advantage of the PS1’s power, and it shone through. The locations are detailed and vibrant, which makes the experience even better. Once again, the audio also accompanies the gameplay beautifully, especially the dynamic sound effects that occur when Crash hits a box, loses a life, or performs his trademark spin. Altogether, the sounds and sights of Warped, combined with the gameplay, make for a memorable experience. <img src="/contributed/12247893445StRtz2uzx.jpg">   Unfortunately, not everything about this game is perfect. Like with many 3D platformers (especially in that era, when they were still fairly new), it’s easy to accidentally walk or jump off a platform because you haven’t aligned yourself correctly. It can be frustrating, but never enough that you’ll stop playing the game. My main issue with this game—which I have had for ten years—is that some of the levels are more of a chore than a challenge. This sort of occurrence is rare, but it does occur. In particular, the World War II-style biplane stages are not at all enjoyable, and some of the underwater levels can be a pain, too. This has never stopped me from beating the game, but has kept me from getting the full 104% completion, just because there were a few levels that I couldn’t bear playing over again. It’s rare that a developer can take a great game, make it into a system-selling franchise, and then actually exceed expectations on a later title in the series. Sequels often disappoint, but thankfully, Warped was not one of them. It takes everything good about the first two Crash games and then adds more, and ten years later, it’s honestly still great to play. In fact, I didn’t want to stop playing long enough to write this review. This is the kind of game I can take out every few years and still have a blast playing through. I just wish that the Crash series would fall back in the hands of original developer Naughty Dog and perhaps make a return to glory someday. However, as that’s pretty unlikely, I’ll have to stick with the old games I’ve got.     <a href="http://www.gamerankings.com/"><img src="/contributed/12049090913D6uenyIJz.jpg" width="111" height="42"></a><a href="http://www.metacritic.com/games"><img src="/contributed/1204909164Gepk74pXtB.jpg" width="154" height="51"></a>   Related Articles: <a href="/gamer/sarah/reviews/article/adventure_island_nes">Adventure Island - NES</a> <a href="/gamer/sarah/reviews/article/toe_jam_amp_earl_in_panic_on_funkotron_genesis">Toe Jam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron - Genesis</a> <a href="/gamer/sarah/reviews/article/ssx_tricky_gamecube_throwback_thursday_">SSX Tricky - Gamecube</a> review

2008-10-23T15:37:35-04:00

<img src="/contributed/1219343871OV7XenbTXA.gif" width="362" height="164" /> Name: Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped Platform: PS1 Year Released: 1998 <img src="/contributed/1224789353fn1BibiBgF.jpg" /> Earlier this week, I reviewed the latest game in the Crash Bandicoot series, and noted how the new, next-gen Crash games somehow can’t live up to their PS1 predecessors from a decade ago. Ever since playing Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant for the 360, I’ve had that bandicoot on the brain—but not in one of his more recent adventures. I decided to give the third game in the series, Warped, a go this week and see if it was as good as I remembered. This particular Crash Bandicoot game has always been my favorite in the series, so I wanted to see if it was still a blast ten years later. The short answer: hell yes. Like the two games in the series that came before it, Crash Bandicoot: Warped is a 3D platformer, with levels that can be side-scrolling, front-to-back, or some combination of both. The level design in this game is fantastic, and the main reason it works so well. First of all, there is a pleasant variety of level types, meaning that you probably won’t play through similar levels twice in a row. In addition to typical platforming stages, Crash (or his sister Coco) can ride motorcycles, jet skis, tigers, and biplanes. Because the game centers around time travel, different worlds resemble both different time periods and geographical locations. In one level, Crash runs from a giant dinosaur, while in another, he might be in the future. The exceptional and varying level design keeps the game from ever getting redundant or stale. <img src="/contributed/1224789333Q1bJhKaJ7E.jpg" /> Crash Bandicoot: Warped differs from the first two games by allowing Crash to gain a special move after each successful boss fight. Our bandicoot friend starts with only the ability to spin around, but over the course of the game learns to double jump, body slam, spin longer, run faster, and shoot a bazooka loaded with fruit. In addition, each level can be beaten multiple times, and the player can go back and attempt to run a time trial or collect special gems for hitting all of the boxes or finding a secret area. It lengthens the game significantly, making it one of the most replayable platformers of the era. While the graphics for Warped might look antiquated now, they were pretty sharp back in 1998. Just like the first game in the series, this one took full advantage of the PS1’s power, and it shone through. The locations are detailed and vibrant, which makes the experience even better. Once again, the audio also accompanies the gameplay beautifully, especially the dynamic sound effects that occur when Crash hits a box, loses a life, or performs his trademark spin. Altogether, the sounds and sights of Warped, combined with the gameplay, make for a memorable experience. <img src="/contributed/12247893445StRtz2uzx.jpg" />   Unfortunately, not everything about this game is perfect. Like with many 3D platformers (especially in that era, when they were still fairly new), it’s easy to accidentally walk or jump off a platform because you haven’t aligned yourself correctly. It can be frustrating, but never enough that you’ll stop playing the game. My main issue with this game—which I have had for ten years—is that some of the levels are more of a chore than a challenge. This sort of occurrence is rare, but it does occur. In particular, the World War II-style biplane stages are not at all enjoyable, and some of the underwater levels can be a pain, too. This has never stopped me from beating the game, but has kept me from getting the full 104% completion, just because there were a few levels that I couldn’t bear playing over again. It’s rare that a developer can take a great game, make it into a system-selling franchise, and then actually exceed expectations on a later title in the series. Sequels often disappoint, but thankfully, Warped was not one of them. It takes everything good about the first two Crash games and then adds more, and ten years later, it’s honestly still great to play. In fact, I didn’t want to stop playing long enough to write this review. This is the kind of game I can take out every few years and still have a blast playing through. I just wish that the Crash series would fall back in the hands of original developer Naughty Dog and perhaps make a return to glory someday. However, as that’s pretty unlikely, I’ll have to stick with the old games I’ve got.     <a href="http://www.gamerankings.com/"><img src="/contributed/12049090913D6uenyIJz.jpg" width="111" height="42" /></a><a href="http://www.metacritic.com/games"><img src="/contributed/1204909164Gepk74pXtB.jpg" width="154" height="51" /></a>   Related Articles: <a href="/gamer/sarah/reviews/article/adventure_island_nes">Adventure Island - NES</a> <a href="/gamer/sarah/reviews/article/toe_jam_amp_earl_in_panic_on_funkotron_genesis">Toe Jam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron - Genesis</a> <a href="/gamer/sarah/reviews/article/ssx_tricky_gamecube_throwback_thursday_">SSX Tricky - Gamecube</a>

5743

5856

2009-10-06T20:42:47-04:00

2008-10-23T15:37:35-04:00

6287

9.0

crash_bandicoot_3_warped_ps1 published Do the Time Warp Back to 1998 Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped - PlayStation

2009-10-06T20:42:47-04:00

763