Much better than the original Crash Bandicoot
- Great visuals and sound
- Nice environments
- Offers non-linear game
- Immersive boss fights
- Save game is much, much better than it was
Negative
- A bit easy
- Some minor annoying things
The 2nd Crash Bandicoot game is much better than the original. It's a full 3D, there are some 2D parts in levels but those are good too. Many improvements have been made, such as the graphics, better level design and the saving thing.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back has a new, non-linear story. At first, if you don't skip the intro you will find yourself in a level. Then you will finish in a warp room, which you are welcomed by a friend you remember from the first game. There will be 5 levels at first. Your objective is to get the 5 crystals in each warp room for Cortex and then face a boss. There are 25 crystals in the game you have to get for Cortex and 42 gems to collect. If you get all the gems you will get a special ending. You can enter any of the 5 levels there are, but you need to get to crystal to say that you've beaten that level. All levels have a white gem; others either have a white gem and a color gem, or only a colored gem. The color gems are just a bit tougher. White gems normally consist of smashing all boxes. Bosses are challenging and interesting. There are about 5 of them. You can re-challenge the bosses any time but using 2 buttons on the middle circle of the room. Oh, I was about to forget, after you get the crystals, Cortex at first will tell you that you have to go to the center of the room and press the up button to advance.
Graphically, Crash 2 is very impressive. Backgrounds and environments are superb in every single level, no glitches or bugs, looks awesome. Sound is almost different in every level, non those which are the same. There are the same kind of levels in every warp room. The more you advance the tougher and long these levels will be. The game isn't so hard and rarely is annoying to stop playing. Enemies, like in the first game still not all attack you. They still seem to protect their territory. Save game is much better. Unlike in Crash Bandicoot 1 you must do a couple of levels to save and then end up losing and much have to load it and end up re-doing all the levels that you did and lost because of this. In every warp room there is a big screen which lets you save. You can save any time and how many times you want to. Game is not as challenging as the first though. Crystals are easy to get. Most people find it easy because there is confusing level design and takes less risks than the first game. Some skilled Crash Bandicoot players might find this game too easy, like I did. Gems take some time but it's not impossible to get a total of 100% in the game. In some hidden gem levels you have to take a few risks. There are certain things like jump that sometimes are a little annoying.
Crash Bandicoot 2 can easily be one of the best platformers of 1997, if not one of the best on the Playstation. If you're a fan of Crash Bandicoot, you should defiantly check this out and if you're looking for a fun and non-frustrating game, this one is a great one to enjoy for long hours.