After a solid, if generic first game; Naughty Dog not only succeeded in fine-tuning the Crash formula and learning from their mistakes; but also in establishing a sense of identity Crash 1 sorely lacked. There's so much more variety and much less linearity in Cortex Strikes Back; that any monotony the player feels disappears quickly. Vehicles (the jetpack levels are awesome), challenging alternate paths, a whole bunch of secrets to hunt for, air-tight controls, some great, upbeat music and lively, cartoonish visuals all spice up the game and keep it from feeling boring and unrewarding. Also, the Warp Room was a smart innovation as it lets the player choose which level he/she wants the play in any order.
One of the only major issues with Crash 2 are those incredibly easy boss fights. Aside from N. Gin’s boss fight, all of them, especially the final fight vs. Cortex, kinda suck ass. Speaking of easy, you’re most likely not gonna see a game over screen since lives are extremely common. The game isn’t a cakewalk by any means, but failure just isn’t punished enough. Even if you die repeatedly; the game gives you extra Aku-Aku masks and stuff like that; which is kinda hand-holdey. Sometimes, the game requires you to backtrack if you’re going for all the gems, which can be annoying when you can’t see in front of you when you move backwards in the 3D sections.
All things considered, Crash 2 holds up as the best of the Crash trilogy and of the entire Crash series. Highly recommended.
*Final Score: 84/100 (Silver Medal)*