Crash Bash

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Crash Bash

Developer(s)	Eurocom
Publisher(s)	SCEA
Release date(s)	November 9, 2000 December 1, 2000 December 14, 2000
Genre(s)	Party
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone (E), ELSPA: 3+, OFLC: G
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Media	CD-ROM

Crash Bash (クラッシュ・バンディクーカーニバル, Kurasshu Bandikū Kānibaru^?, Crash Bandicoot Carnival) is a party game developed by Eurocom, the first Crash game not to be developed by Naughty Dog. It was released on the PlayStation in North America on November 9, 2000. It is somewhat similar to and often compared to the Mario Party series.

1 Gameplay
2 Story
- 2.1 Prologue
- 2.2 Epilogues
3 Playable Characters
- 3.1 Aku Aku's Team
- 3.2 Uka Uka's Team
4 Soundtrack
5 Reception and criticism
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Gameplay

Gameplay takes the form of a 5-floored hub room, much like the platforming installments of the series. Each floor contains a different number of four-player minigames and a boss battle. Minigames can be played against the CPU or a human opponent. Winning the minigames earn the player Trophies, after which Gems, Crystals, and Relics are obtainable. When a certain amount of items are collected, a boss battle can be fought. If the boss is defeated, the next floor of the hub room is unlocked. Each of the 28 mini-games can be fitted into seven different types, based on the goal of the game. In addition to normal play, one can play in tournament mode, competing in minigames of a certain type for some number of trophies.

[edit] Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Prologue

In an unknown part of space, Aku Aku has an argument with his brother Uka Uka about whether good is truly stronger than evil. Uka Uka believes that he is the strongest, and that evil will ultimately prevail. Aku Aku decides that the bickering can go on no longer, and that they must settle this once and for all time. When Uka Uka prepares to fight, Aku Aku stops him, reminding him that the Ancients would not allow it, and that there could be no malice between them. Uka Uka agrees on holding a contest, with Aku Aku's players going against his. Aku Aku agrees with this, and they summon the teams. Aku Aku summons Crash Bandicoot and Coco Bandicoot, while Uka Uka summons Doctor Neo Cortex, Doctor Nitrus Brio, Tiny Tiger, Koala Kong, Dingodile, and Rilla Roo. Aku Aku protests saying that Uka Uka's side has too many players. He claims that if his confidence in evil is high, he could play with equal sides. With that he demands that Uka Uka surrender two of his team. Uka Uka let's him choose which players. Aku Aku chooses Tiny and Dingodile, then the games begin...

[edit] Epilogues

If the good side wins, Uka Uka, extremely furious, demands to know what kind of trickery was used to defeat his team. Aku Aku denies using any tricks, and announces that he knew from the start that Uka Uka was actually attempting to steal the Crystals. Uka Uka, filled with rage, decides to take it all out on Cortex and Brio when Aku Aku locks the Crystals away in a stone cabinet. He claims that the Crystals are too powerful to be left lying around, and in that cabinet the Crystals will remain safe for all eternity. Uka Uka demands what is his, and Aku Aku gives him just this: the penalty for disturbing the Crystals. Uka Uka is ejected into space.

If the evil side wins, a supernatural storm rages throughout the universe announcing that Uka Uka has won. He reveals that it was his plan all along to steal the Crystals, and that now all of them, along with their power. Aku Aku wonders how on Earth he could be so naïve to think that good by itself could triumph over evil. Now that Uka Uka has become too powerful for anyone to handle, Aku Aku pleads Crash and Coco to run away and save themselves. The Mighty Uka Uka bellows that there is nowhere to run or to hide.

If one player is good and the other player is evil, Aku Aku and Uka Uka will state that they must fight each other to find out which side is stronger. The mini-game played, called "Tie Breaker", is a Crate Crush level with music from Papu Pummel. Here, the players fight against each other with the same rules and events that occur in Jungle Bash. The only difference between the two mini-games is that the extra one consists of only two players and takes place in Hyperspace on a stone floor with small stone walls around the edges. After winning one round, the announcer will say "Good wins" for the good character and "Evil wins" for the evil character. Whoever wins three rounds determines the ending.

[edit] Playable Characters

[edit] Aku Aku's Team

Crash Bandicoot - The star of the series

Coco Bandicoot - Crash's brainy sister

Tiny Tiger - A large Thylacine. He temporarily joined forces with Aku Aku to even the teams.

Dingodile - A flamethrower wielding dingo/crocodile hybrid. Like Tiny, he temporarily joined forces with Aku Aku to even the teams.

[edit] Uka Uka's Team

Doctor Neo Cortex - The main villian of the series

Doctor Nitrus Brio - Cortex's original assistant. He later double-crossed Cortex, but rejoined him temporarily in this game.

Koala Kong - An overly muscular koala

Rilla Roo - A gorilla/kangaroo hybrid who hates having his photo taken.

[edit] Soundtrack

The music is composed by Steve Duckworth. The soundtrack is available only in Japan. This disc contains four versions of the Crash Bandicoot song that would air during the commercials in Japan and a remix of the Crash Bash theme.

[edit] Reception and criticism

**Review scores**
Publication	Score
IGN	7 of 10
Game Informer	6.5 of 10
Electronic Gaming Monthly	6 of 10
GameSpot	6 of 10
Game Revolution	B

Crash Bash has sold, as of now, 1.10 million copies in the United States, and is currently one of the "Greatest Hits" titles on the PlayStation console.^[1]

Reviews of Crash Bash have been mixed, garnering a 70% rating at Game Rankings.com.