I've decided to replay this game after reading more about its development history and being excited about Sony (likely) making another Crash game next year 
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This was Traveler's Tales second (and last) shot making a Crash game after Wrath of Cortex (which was more or less a Crash 4). They wanted to make a game that was more open with level design, did more within the Crash universe and just do something crazy with the IP.
A new division of Travelers Tales (Oxford) developed this with that goal and the end product is a fraction of what they wanted to do. The game's development was very rocky, with funding cut mid-way through production and a large portion of the games levels and mechanics being cut (hoverboard mechanics, robot mech level, Coco levels, another Cortex and Nina level, more traditional Crash levels, ect). The end game is very impressive for one reason; despite not being fully finished, it is still a solid game, it is no Sonic 06.
With all that in mind, lets talk about the retail game.
Crash controls how you expect him too; spin attack, slide kick, belly flop, double jump, the works. But Crash does more here than in the past, he can push objects and spin them into things, and interact with the world around him more. This ties into Cortex's role in the game, as he is both playable and an extension of Crash. Crash can throw him, roll around with him as they fight it out, and gain a more powerful spin attack using him.
The level design accommodates Crash's more open nature, allowing a lot of side paths to take for collectible gems and a lot more platforming elements. To compare Crash Twinsanity (parts at least) to Jak 1, you wouldn't be wrong, as this took that games more open nature into heart when making this. In addition, loading times are masked behind hind cut scenes and parts of levels too.
This game also introduces Cortex as a playable character (with him blasting foes and being able to strafe for better aiming) and new character Nina Cortex (his niece or daughter....even Cortex doesn't know XD!) that his a bionic arm, so she garbles off walls and can spin like Crash.
The game does a lot of things the original trilogy doesn't do in terms of gameplay, like stealth sections, side objectives to complete in levels (to collect gems), Monkey Ball like rolling mini game, riding a Cortex like a Snowboard (its really damn funny :')) and more. The fact all of it controls very well and its a lot of fun really helps make them feel like a natural addition to the level designs.
The story is something that should be highlighted, as it was penned by Ren and Stimpy and Invader Zim writers....and it shows
. Cortex is really funny here, the villians are enjoyable and the animations/interactions between characters is fantastic. A big highlight of the game to me and one element the unfinished nature of the game makes me a bit sad over. Really creative level ideas would have been touched on, like a level in Cortex's mind as he sang a song, a level where you play as an Evil Crash beating the good out of a now-good Cortex and more. What matter is that the final game is really funny and that is great.
Another element I have to praise is the presentation. I talked about how great the animations are but the music.....is something else :'). It is sung by an acapella band and the tracks are some of the best in the Crash series. Here is my favorite track in the game but it has a playlist of the other songs in the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIxM1-XPza4&list=PL9A06BA8BC88B4F0F&index=11 Really creative stuff and something everyone should give a listen.
I have to cover issues with the game, as their are some to point out. Due to the game not being fully finished, some of the hit detection is off (leading to deaths happening), Uka Uka 3 Masks not making you impervious to explosions and odd visual issues every now and then. Compared to Sonic 06's library of infamous glitches, this is nothing to me (as I beat that game completely with little issue).
Overall, this is a great title that I hope you guys give a shot in the future. Best post Naughty Dog Crash game by far. You an play it on PS2 and Xbox. Hopefully thanks to PS2 games coming to PS4, maybe this might join it in the future but I doubt it :l.
Will share links to other videos covering cut content in case people are interested.
Story-Board's that are VA'd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xU77EkrOIE&list=PL9D33F6B9DDDBF83C
Cut Levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFa1-y5ZulM
Cut Levels 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB4vfcdORPI
.
This was Traveler's Tales second (and last) shot making a Crash game after Wrath of Cortex (which was more or less a Crash 4). They wanted to make a game that was more open with level design, did more within the Crash universe and just do something crazy with the IP.
A new division of Travelers Tales (Oxford) developed this with that goal and the end product is a fraction of what they wanted to do. The game's development was very rocky, with funding cut mid-way through production and a large portion of the games levels and mechanics being cut (hoverboard mechanics, robot mech level, Coco levels, another Cortex and Nina level, more traditional Crash levels, ect). The end game is very impressive for one reason; despite not being fully finished, it is still a solid game, it is no Sonic 06.
With all that in mind, lets talk about the retail game.
Crash controls how you expect him too; spin attack, slide kick, belly flop, double jump, the works. But Crash does more here than in the past, he can push objects and spin them into things, and interact with the world around him more. This ties into Cortex's role in the game, as he is both playable and an extension of Crash. Crash can throw him, roll around with him as they fight it out, and gain a more powerful spin attack using him.
The level design accommodates Crash's more open nature, allowing a lot of side paths to take for collectible gems and a lot more platforming elements. To compare Crash Twinsanity (parts at least) to Jak 1, you wouldn't be wrong, as this took that games more open nature into heart when making this. In addition, loading times are masked behind hind cut scenes and parts of levels too.
This game also introduces Cortex as a playable character (with him blasting foes and being able to strafe for better aiming) and new character Nina Cortex (his niece or daughter....even Cortex doesn't know XD!) that his a bionic arm, so she garbles off walls and can spin like Crash.
The game does a lot of things the original trilogy doesn't do in terms of gameplay, like stealth sections, side objectives to complete in levels (to collect gems), Monkey Ball like rolling mini game, riding a Cortex like a Snowboard (its really damn funny :')) and more. The fact all of it controls very well and its a lot of fun really helps make them feel like a natural addition to the level designs.
The story is something that should be highlighted, as it was penned by Ren and Stimpy and Invader Zim writers....and it shows
. Cortex is really funny here, the villians are enjoyable and the animations/interactions between characters is fantastic. A big highlight of the game to me and one element the unfinished nature of the game makes me a bit sad over. Really creative level ideas would have been touched on, like a level in Cortex's mind as he sang a song, a level where you play as an Evil Crash beating the good out of a now-good Cortex and more. What matter is that the final game is really funny and that is great. Another element I have to praise is the presentation. I talked about how great the animations are but the music.....is something else :'). It is sung by an acapella band and the tracks are some of the best in the Crash series. Here is my favorite track in the game but it has a playlist of the other songs in the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIxM1-XPza4&list=PL9A06BA8BC88B4F0F&index=11 Really creative stuff and something everyone should give a listen
.I have to cover issues with the game, as their are some to point out. Due to the game not being fully finished, some of the hit detection is off (leading to deaths happening), Uka Uka 3 Masks not making you impervious to explosions and odd visual issues every now and then. Compared to Sonic 06's library of infamous glitches, this is nothing to me (as I beat that game completely with little issue)
. Overall, this is a great title that I hope you guys give a shot in the future. Best post Naughty Dog Crash game by far. You an play it on PS2 and Xbox. Hopefully thanks to PS2 games coming to PS4, maybe this might join it in the future but I doubt it :l.
Will share links to other videos covering cut content in case people are interested.
Story-Board's that are VA'd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xU77EkrOIE&list=PL9D33F6B9DDDBF83C
Cut Levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFa1-y5ZulM
Cut Levels 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB4vfcdORPI
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