REVIEW
Crash Bandicoot 2 is often composed of unoriginal
gameplay that makes it a title that is frowned upon
at first, but clever level design, variety of
action, solid control, and refined graphics
quickly change initial impressions.
The level design is varied, and offers players
a significant change of pace from world to
world. To make this variety work, the
developer improved the purely linear
progression of the original with a new design
that allows players to choose between a
selection of levels to enter at any one time.
This keeps the action fresh, as players can
now skip over a difficult, and return to it later.
For instance, if a player is having trouble with
the ice level, he can jump over to a boulder
level for a change of pace. This keeps players from getting bogged down
by
a single difficult section.
The action is much more varied than the original title with new experience
like
jet ski driving, and jet pack piloting. This variety keeps the action from
getting monotonous and insures that players will want to return again and
again.
Control is dead-on, which is absolutely a necessity for platform games.
The
simple button layout and control scheme is quite intuitive and becomes
unnoticeable after a short while. Because of this, players are able to
focus on
the action at hand.
While the graphics are still locked on a single track, the environments
and
characters are more colorful and detailed than ever before. The visual
variety
is also more notable, which is a perfect compliment the gameplay.
Despite the fact that Crash 2 is a wonderful example of an established
genre,
it still must be said it is not a very original game. Those looking for
something
wildly innovative should look elsewhere, but those simply fishing for a
mindlessly enjoyable game will find this title more than worthy, and much
better than the first
CRASH BANDICOOT 2: CORTEX STRIKES BACK CHEATS AND HINTS
Boss Warp
To go to the next or previous boss, press and hold L1, L2, R1,
R2, and Triangle when standing on the middle platform of a warp
room.
Clear Gems
Here's how to get some of the clear gems!
Level Instructions
3 Beat level in the given
time (Hint: when
you go to the bonus, die right away.
This gives you more time.)
17 Take the death route.
21 Take the death route.
23 Take the death route.
Colored Gems
Here's how to get all the colored gems!
TURTLE WOODS (Blue): Get no boxes.
THE EEL DEAL (Green): Go past the dead end in the Nitro box
filled room.
PLANT FOOD (Yellow): Get no boxes and beat the timer.
BEE-HAULING (Purple): Go up the stairs of Nitro boxes.
Submitted by WebHog
Extra Lives
In the second warp room, go to the barking bear and jump on him
until 10 extra lives come out of him. This can only be done once.
Submitted by ThaRiver, Jacob Eisenhardt and others
Hidden Warps
Several warps are hidden througout this game. Here's how to find
some of them.
1. BEAR DOWN: The small ice floe at the end of the stage.
2. AIR CRASH: The 2nd river. Don't jetski, but jump on the
boxes to the platform.
3. UNBEARABLE: When the cub bucks you off, go back until
you see him again.
4. HANGIN' OUT: when you drop down a hole into some
eel-less water, go into the foreground and drop down the hole.
(Pssst....use R1 to make Crash pull up his legs.)
5. DIGGIN' IT: Near the end there is a spitter plant on a circular
platform. Bellyflop onto it.
6. TURTLE WOODS: When you find the stone face in the
ground, belly flop on it to enter a bonus-type level. Be careful
though as you can die in this one.
More Extra Lives
When you are on the 4th floor with the vortexes, get into the level
with the bees. Instead of going underground to avoid the bees, hit
all 5 of them away.(it takes practice) If done correctly, you should
receive two lives, if done again, one more life will be given. Do this
as much as you wish.
Playing Tip for Totally Bear
When playing Level 26, Totally Bear, use the long jump (O or R1
button and X button) when riding the bear. This allows you to
jump farther than on regular bear levels like Bear It and Bear
Down. Without out the long jump, you can't get past any of the
jumps. Bueno Suerte!
Red Gem
To get the red colored gem, get the Air Crash warp (at 1st river,
bounce off boxes to platform.) This should give you a Snow Go
gate at the secret warp screen. Jump into it and beat the level to
gain the red gem.
Submitted by Vhati24
Secret Levels
When Crash's sister says "Make yourself useful and get batteries
for my computer," wait and a bonus stage will appear.
Right before the first "Check Point" box in Turtle Woods there is
an octagon on the ground with a menacing face. Belly-flop onto
the face and Crash will fall right through it into a new level.
In the "UNBEARABLE" level, when the second bear falls off the
bridge, go back and jump into the space where he fell. This should
take you to a level with turtles and enemies who shoot at you.
Submitted by Falcon, Joey Portes and Justin Wrobel
Unlimited Lives
Go to the secret level in UNBEARABLE. At about the halfway
point there is a bouncing box and an arc of fruit. Go to the highest
step and super jump up to find two extra lives. Get both of them
and kill yourself. Return to that spot for 2 more lives. Repeat as
many times as you want!
Yellow Gem Time Saver
When trying to beat the clock on level 11 (PLANT FOOD), get
to the bonus ? lifter. Start the bonus and fall down the first gap
after the boxes and TNT. This will allow you to start at 1 minute,
24 seconds. Continue the level and if you finish in that time which
is fairly easy, the yeallow gem is yours after entering the teleporter
room that takes you back to the warp room. Don't forgot to grab
it.
