One of the best CB games ever made.
Basic Story
The story starts with a normal and classic pursuit: in one of the cars, the bad guys team, Nina Cortex, N. Gin and, of course, Dr. Neo Cortex, shooting a hi-tech weapon against the good guys car: Coco Bandicoot, Crunch Bandicoot and, of course Crash Bandicoot.
So far, so good huh? But the problem starts when they suddenly crash their cars in The Von Clutch's Motor World! This place is a racing theme park needing racers, and it's in there that you'll play the whole game, exploring the park looking for The Black Power Gem. This gem was stolen from his owner: Ebenezer Von Clutch. This Cyborg needs that item inside his body machinery, or he will turn off. Then, before the time runs out, these two teams will be racing and battling to save Von Clutch, and if one of them succeeds, he wins a prize: The park ownership.
Gameplay
This game is incredible in terms of playing! You can play exploring the park or racing in the multiple racing games, like the Crashinator, Rolling Rampage and more. If on foot, you play as Crash Bandicoot, searching the power gems, getting Wumpa coins (it's some sort of money) and more items. In the cars, you can play as any of the characters, if you already unlocked it. As you explore this free-roaming world with amazing graphics you need to unlock different park sections, with the respective power gem. Explore the entire park to find out who stole the Black Power Gem and win the park to you!
Features
As Crash Bandicoot, you can buy many cool outfits! These can be used in the race and in the normal exploring.
This game has funny jokes that will make you laugh a lot throughout the story! You can see jokes in the cutscenes, in Crash's moves and in two new features: the Die o' Ramas and the Gags. The Die o' Ramas are some funny ways of dying that Crash show us. There are some places and things in the scenario with killing potential… if you move Crash into that place and press a button there's a Die o' Rama! Gags are almost the same thing, but Crash doesn't kill himself, he just make some funny stuff… just find an object in the scenario and try to interact with him.
The racing isn't normal in this game! There is a very interesting feature while racing that you can activate at any time you want: the Clash. If you press the triangle button while racing, you will activate blue energy around your car, and when you get close any racer… watch as your two cars become a single killing machine with a powerful weapon!! One of you two stay at the shooting, the other one take care of the driving. Although your car will be slower, personally, I think it's better to be always in this clashing state. It's more fun and you win more cash at the end of the race! For each exploded opponent, 30 Wumpa coins bonus for you. Nice, huh?
There's more: not only racing and walking, but you also have Mini-games! Find and play, no fee… we have bowling, shooting and more highly entertaining mini-games.
And if you want more still, try and activate a secret shortcut for some tracks. When walking, try and find the secret shortcut trigger device! Or the secret chicken from a level: if you find one, the little animal shall challenge you for the Chicken challenge. Hurry then! Find and collect all little chickens scattered through the scenario!
Sound
In my opinion, a nice music, executed and composed by the previously encountered in Crash Twinsanity, Spiralmouth. Much people think his music is annoying at the extreme, but I don't think so. It's a good quality music. The sound effects are a bit cartoony, but I don't think this can damage the game in any aspect… the voice actors made a good job too, with Debi Derryberry, Lex Lang and some more. They made a great job with the sound in this game.
Conclusion
If you're a Crash fan, you definitely need to have this masterpiece in your collection. There were no bad points in the game. This is indeed one of the best Crash games ever made. Why? Because it have all Crash games in this singular relic. Racing, shooting, exploring and more. Do you need something else? This is one incredible job by Radical, a development company that I highly want to stay in charge of the CB games. I really really recommend this game.