Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

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Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Developer(s)	Naughty Dog
Publisher(s)	SCEA
Picture format	240p (LDTV)
Release date(s)	October 31, 1998 December 13, 1998 December 17, 1998
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone (E) ELSPA: 3+ OFLC: G
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Media	CD-ROM

Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (クラッシュ・バンディクー3 ブッとび!世界一周, Kurasshu Bandikū 3: Buttobi! Sekai Isshū^?, lit. "Crash Bandicoot 3: Flying! Globe-Trotting") (shortened to Crash Bandicoot Warped in the game's title sequence) is a platform game created and developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation. It was well-received publicly and critically, selling 3.05 million copies worldwide[1] and scoring an average of 91% in Metacritic's aggregate.[2] The game serves as a direct sequel to Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back. It was the last platformer in the series developed by Naughty Dog, who then developed Crash Team Racing.

The story centers on Crash and Coco Bandicoot and their mission to gather Crystals scattered across time before their enemies can.

1 Gameplay
- 1.1 Time Trial
2 Plot
- 2.1 Story
- 2.2 Setting
3 Audio
4 Reception
- 4.1 Scores
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Gameplay

Like previous installments in the Crash Bandicoot series, Warped consists of two main modes of gameplay: a hub room and the levels. The hub room (called the Time Twister here) is split into five areas, each containing five levels and a boss fight. Initially, only one area in the hub is accessible, but more are opened as the areas are completed. The levels featuring Crash largely follow the "follow-the-path" gameplay seen in previous games in the series, but other modes, such as riding a biplane, jetski, and tiger among others, can be seen along with this. Another new feature is the ability to gain new abilities by defeating a boss. These abilities include faster running speed, a longer spinning attack, and a bazooka among others. The game also makes heavy use of the then-new Dual Shock controller by using the vibration effect frequently.

[edit] Time Trial

In addition, the game features a new Time Trial mode, in which a level must be raced through in the fastest time possible. Boxes are laid throughout the levels that are able to freeze time for 1, 2, or 3 seconds. A Sapphire or Gold Relic will be earned if the given time is beaten. In addition, there are Platinum Relics and developer times set by the Naughty Dog and SCEA testers. A platinum relic can still be received before completing the game with 100%, but the times will only be seen on the level info box if the game is completed with 100%. Completing the game with 105% (the maximum percentage of the game) shows a sequence in which Crash and Coco watching a fireworks display.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Story

The game takes place immediately after the previous installment, in which Doctor Nitrus Brio uses the 42 gems Crash has collected to power his giant laser weapon to destroy Doctor Neo Cortex's space station. As a result, large chunks of the space station's debris plummet down to Earth and crash into an ancient-ish monument. When the smoke clears, an evil entity flies off into the night.

Back on N. Sanity Island, the home of Crash and his friends, an evil laughter rings through the air. Aku Aku appears shaken, and urges everyone to come inside, as a great evil has come.

In an as-of-now unknown area, Doctor Neo Cortex is seen cowering before the evil entity (now known as Uka Uka), who appears upset that Cortex has failed him twice. Cortex insists that it is all Crash Bandicoot's fault, but Uka Uka's patience is spent, as there is now no other power source on the planet. But since Cortex has indirectly set him free, Uka Uka spares Cortex's life, and introduces Doctor Nefarious Tropy, master of time and the creator of the "Time Twister" that the trio is currently standing on. With N. Tropy's Time Twister, the villains plan on gathering the Power Crystals in their original places in time.

Inside Crash's home, Aku Aku tells the Bandicoots a story of how many eons ago, Uka Uka, Aku Aku's evil twin brother, was locked in an underground prison by Aku Aku to protect the world from his malice, and now that he is free, he must be stopped at all cost. With that, Crash and his friends travel to the Time Twisting Machine, where their adventure begins.

When Crash and Coco have defeated N. Tropy and collected all of the Crystals and all of the Gems, Crash battles Doctor Cortex in the core of the Time Twisting Machine. Upon Cortex's defeat, the Time Twister implodes (due to N. Tropy's defeat), taking Cortex, Tropy, and Uka Uka with it. Crash and the others escape just in time for the snow season. As the ending credits roll, it is seen that the three villains are trapped in a time prison, with Cortex and Tropy transformed into infants and fighting over Uka Uka's possession.

[edit] Setting

Much of the game takes place in Nefarious Tropy's Time Twisting Machine, where Crash and Coco travel through numerous periods of time. The Time Twister consists of two hub rooms (one underground), the first one containing five chambers, each of which containing six portals, each leading to a different period of time, including (but not limited to) Medieval times, Prehistoric times, Ancient Egypt, the future, and more.

[edit] Audio

Like the previous two installments of the series, the soundtrack for Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped is provided by Mutato Muzika, made up of Mark Mothersbaugh and Josh Mancell.

[edit] Reception

Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped was well received by the media, and was given high scores by some of the most prominent gaming critics, with gaming website IGN awarding a 9.1/10[3]. GameSpot, who granted it an 8.9/10, commented that the game is "easily the best Crash yet" and a "must-have for fans of platformers".[4]