Crash: Mind Over Mutant

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Crash: Mind Over Mutant

Released logo of Crash: Mind Over Mutant
Developer(s) Radical Entertainment (PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii)
TOSE (Nintendo DS)
Virtuos (PlayStation Portable)
Publisher(s) Sierra Entertainment
Distributor(s) Vivendi Games
Series Crash Bandicoot series
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, Xbox 360
Release date NA October 8, 2008[1]
EU 2008[1]
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player, multi-player
Media Wii Optical Disc, 128-Megabit cartridge, DVD-DL, DVD, UMD
Input methods Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Xbox 360 Controller, PS2 Controllers

Crash: Mind Over Mutant is an upcoming action-adventure game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable (the PSP version will be ported from the PS2 by Virtuos), Wii, and Xbox 360; the Nintendo DS version of the game will be developed by TOSE.[2] It is set for release in North America on October 8, 2008,[1] and in Europe on the same year;[1] release dates for other regions have yet to be announced. The title of the game is a pun on the phrase "Mind over matter".

Crash: Mind Over Mutant is the fifteenth installment (seventh when not counting spinoffs) in the Crash Bandicoot video game series, which began with Crash Bandicoot in 1996. It is the second Crash Bandicoot game to appear on a seventh generation home console, the first being Crash of the Titans. The game's story centers on the arrival of a popular technological device (a parody of the iPhone[3]) that puts whoever uses it under the control of the device's creators and antagonists of the story Doctor Neo Cortex and Doctor Nitrus Brio. The protagonist of the series and the only one unaffected by the device, Crash Bandicoot, must free his friends from the control of the device and put an end to Doctor Cortex's plot.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

The player controls Crash Bandicoot, who must free his friends from the control of Cortex's latest device. Crash begins the game with some of the upgraded attacks he received from Crash of the Titans, with the exception of those that were considered too powerful to have at the start of the game, such as Crash's unlimited spin [2] Crash also has a new digging ability that will allow him to unlock bonus items.[2][4][5][6]

Mind Over Mutant is a mission-based game as opposed to Titans's level-based structure, with goals being given by non-playable characters.[7] Also scattered throughout the world are golden stopwatches that trigger a time-limited nanogame, which usually involves collecting objects or breaking things to earn bonuses.[2] Red Running Shoes serve to temporarily power up Crash's kick attack and move quickly through levels, and the new Quad Damage Super Punch power-up can be used by Crash and the Titans.[2]

[edit] Titans

The Titans of Crash of the Titans make a return appearance in Mind Over Mutant, along with Crash's ability to control these enemies by "jacking" them.[4][8] When the player beats a Titan into submission, the Titan can be mounted, allowing Crash to jam the sentient mask Aku Aku into the Titan and take control of it.[9] A new feature in the game involves Crash storing the Titans in his pocket, upgrading them, and utilizing them when they are most advantageous.[4][5][7][8][9] However, there is a limit to the number of enemy powers that can be carried at one time.[3]

[edit] Multiplayer

A second player, in the form of either a white-furred Carbon Crash[10] or Crash's sister Coco Bandicoot, can join in the game at any time with the aid of a second controller.[3][4][5][6][8][11] Coco can fight alongside Crash with her Kung Fu-influenced moves[2] and use her tactile "treasure hunt" ability to aid Crash in his journey.[4][5][8][11]

[edit] Plot

[edit] Setting

Main article: Wumpa Islands

The game is played in a free-roaming format rarely seen in previous games.[3][4][6][7][8][11] However, the DS version is played as a 2-D platformer as to exploit the strengths of the DS itself.[2] Crash's house will be accessible for the first time in the series, and can be used by the player to access skins, concept art, enemy bios, and cutscenes.[2]

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of Crash Bandicoot characters

Five characters are confirmed as appearing in Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant. Alongside Crash Bandicoot and Doctor Neo Cortex, Doctor Nitrus Brio makes a return appearance as Cortex's partner.[4][7][8][5] Crash's sister Coco Bandicoot appears as a playable character during the co-operative mode of the game.[3][4][5][6][8][11] Aku Aku also appears, retaining his ability to help Crash jack Titans. Unlike Crash of the Titans, he does not appear on the face of the Titans he is mounted on.

[edit] Story

Mind Over Mutant picks up from where Crash of the Titans left off.[3] The Titans, free from the control of Doctor Neo Cortex, have spread throughout the Wumpa Islands and cultivated their own societies [2] All seems well until a rejuvenated Doctor Cortex teams up with his old partner Doctor Nitrus Brio to invent a personal digital assistant that can control the minds of both mutants and bandicoots by transmitting bad Mojo.[7] Crash, who is not affected by the device,[3][7] must free his friends from this control and save the day.[4][5][8][11]

[edit] Development

Production of Mind Over Mutant began immediately after the completion of Crash of the Titans.[2] The idea of preserving a Titan for later use came from the play testing sessions of Crash of the Titans, in which the testers were found to be reluctant to leave the Titans behind after an epic battle was won.[2] Fans of the series were also a source of inspiration for Mutant, having such wishes as a playable Coco, a free-romping environment, and the return of Nitrus Brio.[2] Full camera control was considered for the game, but was rejected for graphical reasons and to avoid inserting a split-screen view in the cooperation mode.[2]

The Wii version of Mind Over Mutant was created first, with the graphics scaled up for the Xbox 360, and scaled down for the PlayStation 2.[10] Online gameplay is currently being considered as a feature in the finished game.[3] A PlayStation 3 version of the game was rumored,[10] but was promptly debunked by Radical Entertainment as a mistake on many press sites' behalf.[12]

There was an open call for fan art of Crash Bandicoot to be submitted as part of a contest. The contest was hosted at Kidzworld as part of a preview page and was aimed at younger fans. Artwork has now been selected and will be included in the final build of the game with the artists' names appearing in the game credits. In addition, winners will receive a free copy of the game when it's released.[13]

[edit] Audio

[edit] Voice cast

Crash: Mind Over Mutant features over 8,500 lines of dialogue, the intention being that the audio literally never repeats.[10] Jess Harnell will be reprising his role as the voice of the main character Crash Bandicoot. Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame is also set to provide a voice for the game.[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Crash: Mind Over Mutant (Wii) at IGN. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Crash Mania interview with Radical Entertainment. Crash Mania (2009-05-09). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h De Marco, Flynn (2008-04-28). Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant Impressions. Kotaku. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Crash Franchise Returns This Holiday in Sierra Entertainment's Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant. GameSpot (2008-04-28). Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Nintendo News: Crash Bandicoot Bounces Back On Wii And DS. Official Nintendo Magazine (2008-04-29). Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
  6. ^ a b c d Magrino, Tom (2008-04-28). Spyro, Crash tag-teaming consoles, handhelds again. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  7. ^ a b c d e f PS2/Wii/X360 Preview - 'Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant'. WorthPlaying (2008-05-17). Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Burnes, Andrew (2008-04-28). Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant Screenshots & Announcement. Voodoo Extreme. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  9. ^ a b Joynt, Patrick (2008-04-28). Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant (Wii) Preview. GameSpy. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
  10. ^ a b c d Stern, Zack (2008-04-28). Joystiq impressions: Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant (Wii). Joystiq. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  11. ^ a b c d e Snow, Jean (2008-04-29). New Crash Bandicoot Game Set for Fall Release. Wired. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  12. ^ Bowden, Mike (2008-04-28). Sierra Spring Break 08: Wii lead SKU on new Crash title. videogaming247. Retrieved on 2008-04-29. “We then asked her if there was going to be a PS3 version, to which she replied, “No”.”
  13. ^ Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant :: Game Preview. Kidzworld. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
  14. ^ McInnis, Shaun (2008-04-28). Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant First Look. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-04-29. “You'll also hear familiar voices, with talent appearing from Invader Zim, Futurama, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill.”

[edit] External links

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Crash Bandicoot series
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Crash Bandicoot  • Cortex Strikes Back  • Warped  • The Wrath of Cortex  • Twinsanity  • Titans  • Mind Over Mutant
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