Customer Reviews

Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(55)
3 star:		(35)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

I have been playing this game for about 5 days with my 2 sons (ages 4 and 7) and we have been enjoying it for the most part. I had really high hopes for this game as we play through Crash 3 (Warped) every few months.

This game is much more difficult than Crash 3. We have gotten through about 20/25 levels. Some of the boss stages have been (unnecessarily) frustrating. I would say that my 7 yr old can do about 75% of the levels and my 4 yr old has only been able to do 3 or 4.

There is only real new play mode we've seen so far - on several levels Crash is in a glass ball and you run in the ball through the level. I think these are pretty good, we have replayed some of these just for fun.

On a couple of levels Crash flies an airplane as in previous games. These levels aren't nearly as difficult as the past games and are now kind of frustratingly easy.

There has been 1 racing level that I didn't enjoy too much. There are holes in the road that you can't see until too late, and the other cars seem to make it their mission to get in your way. It took me about 12 tries to complete it, and when I did it seemed like it was random instead of that my skill had increased.

On a couple of levels you play as Coco, and in parts of these levels Coco rides a scooter or a snowboard. It is kind of irritating that Coco doesn't inherit the skills you acquire like tip-toeing or double-jump. We really like the levels in the old game where you rode the baby tiger and were kind of disappointed that there weren't any of those in this one. The Cocoa levels are pretty good, though.

There are a few underwater levels in which you swim or drive a submarine through. There are some mine-looking things that fall down from above as you approach them. The only trouble is that they are sometimes off the top of the screen. You either have to take baby steps through the level or memorize where they are. I don't think these levels are very fun (but then again I didn't like either the swimming or jet ski levels from Crash 3 either).

The load times are extremely annoying. My 7 year old and I have 2 ways to entertain ourselves during the load times. Sometimes we imitate Crash falling through the air. Sometimes we joke about how many things we could do while a level is loading. (I say "Wanna go eat dinner while this loads? He says: "Are you sure it will be done by then?") I usually turn the game on and walk away and do something. Then I load a level and walk away again.

I don't think this game is as polished as Crash 3 was. Some things are irritatingly hard and others seem too easy - it seems like they rushed it out for Christmas 2001. One of the little things that drive me nuts is that you can fall off the edge of cliffs when you are trying to go onto the platform for bonus levels. It seems like the key to success is often to die and die until you memorize the level enough to get through it (jump here, don't jump here. That box is not worth trying for, etc...). The first game of the series was kind of like that, but I thought the 2nd and 3rd were less so.

When you collect the 3rd mask it is hard to tell that you are invincible. The previous games had a really distinctive drum beat that played - in this game the music changes but it is really subtle and you have to be paying attention to even know.

I also think the music is not nearly as good as in the previous games. The songs from the previous Crash games were pretty hummable but I can't say I even really notice the music in this one.

One more thing I wanted to mention is that I get some motion sickness sometimes when playing 3d games. I know that many people suffer from this. One if the things I appreciated about the previous games is that I could play it without getting dizzy. This game does contain a few levels in it that make me a bit dizzy, but it isn't too bad.

So what you want to know is, should you buy it. I think I've been really hard on this game because my expectations were so high due to home much we enjoy Crash 3, which is my favorite platform game ever. Some people have complained that it is too easy, but it matches my attention span for a game pretty well. (...)

I really enjoy Crash Bandicoot games. The Wratch of Cortex was also enjoyable in its way, but there were too many frustrations for me to really be enthusiastic about it. There are 30 levels in the game, including the bosses. If you have ever played a Crash Bandicoot game before, then you will find everything you have come to expect from one. You are in a 2.5-D world, sometimes side-scrolling, sometimes a third person view from the front or behind, and sometimes using one of the game's numerous modes of transportation (i.e. biplane, mine cart, dune buggy, etc.). If you were expecting improved graphics, then your expectations will be pleasantly fulfilled. The game moves very smoothly through some beautiful environments.

So what are my complaints? First, Crash seems harder to control than I remember from his previous adventures. I think one of the biggest factors in this are the camera angles. Sometimes it seems that the camera is too close so that you cannot see everything around you, and then sometimes it seems too far away and it is hard to judge the depth of your enemies. I think I noticed this the most on the levels where you have a front view of Crash and he is being chased by something behind him. The camera seems to be in way too close, so that nitro crates, holes, and other obstacles just jump out in front of you, forcing you to die a million times while you memorize the route you have to take. Second, some of levels tended to be repetitive. Granted, I did enjoy some of the newer levels. There were a couple of short sections of levels where you got to ride a mine cart, which was fun. There were also three levels where you were rolling through the level inside a sphere, giving it a marble madness feel. I would have liked to see more levels like these rather than the underwater and biplane levels that seem to pop up repeatedly in every single game in the series. Third, the bosses were just painful. I may be biased because I really do not like bosses, but these ones seemed more annoying than usual. Lastly, the loading times were the worst I have ever seen in any video game. You have spend at least a minute or so staring at a loading screen every time you enter and leave a level. I was actually discouraged from playing this game many times because I knew how much time would be wasted on loading screens.

Of course a Crash Bandicoot game would not be complete without the gems and relics. After you beat a level, you can replay it and try to open every box in the level to win a gem, or race through the level and beat a set time to win a relic. Once you beat the final boss you are granted access to a secret room with 5 extra levels that are earned by winning relics from the levels. This could be interesting if you actually have the patience to play through all the levels over again.

I might have given this game 4 stars had it not been for the hideous loading times. It got so ridiculous that I would start flipping channels during the loading screens because I got so bored. Aside from that, this is a pretty adequate helping of Crash if you have enjoyed previous games.

I was so excited to rent this game, rush home, and play it, being a big fan of the Crash games. This has to be, without a doubt, the biggest gaming letdown I've had. There is absolutely no excuse to release a game in this state for the public. Sure, the game itself may be enjoyable, but it is difficult to enjoy a game between unrelentless load times. I kid you not, the first thing you see when you start this game is "LOADING." Then, five seconds later you see it again. After you hit Start, you see it again. When you finally, after an eternity of waiting, get to any screen that lets you play the game, you have to wait about 30-40 seconds for your level to load. After you beat the level, you have to wait again for the warp room to load (why should it take 30 seconds to load a warp room .... what is the PS2 exactly doing all this time?) Then you wait again when you start the next level .... it is an endless series of waiting. I couldn't stand it any longer and turned it off. Perhaps it's my problem that I don't want to wait 30 seconds between ever single part of a game (like every 3-5 minutes or less) but I guarantee I'm not one force fed by the MTV generation; I can be patient within reason. I just can't believe that the game designers actually believed this game was ready to fly--but then again, it is Christmas time, and so certainly time for a quick buck. I hope the developers read this and take note that such lengthy load times are bad programming in my opinion. I'v played plenty of more complex games on PS2 with basically no load times (check out ICO for that matter.) Please do us all a favor, and don't release a game with such shoddy technical planning to the public again. Work out the kinks so we can enjoy the quality game it should and otherwise would have been.

I played the first four levels of this game (on a rental, thank goodness -- at least I didn't buy it), and I spent more time watching the loading screen than actually playing. At least, that's how it felt.

I agree with the other reviewer who said he's a big fan of Crash, and it was hard giving the bandicoot only two stars. Other than the horrendous load times, the game is pretty good -- the level design is innovative, the graphics are nice, and Crash, Coco and Dr. Cortex are all in fine form. But the load times ruined it for me.

This was the first game I ever played on my brand-new PS2, just bought today. I hope PS2 games don't usually have such obnoxious load times.

First off, let me say I'm a huge fan of Crash games and it really hurts giving our beloved bandicoot only 2 stars. However, this game takes way to long to load. In fact It takes about 20-30 seconds to load at the beginning of the game. Then another 20-30 seconds to load when you start a level. Then another 20-30 seconds to load when you finish a level. This is the most & slowest loading game in the PS2 series of games. The new designers really messed things up with the loading because it really takes away from the game play.

Okay enough with the negative! Once the game finally loads It's great! The levels are fun and the graphics are very good to say the least. This is by far the best looking Crash game yet.

On a side note I can't wait for Jak & Daxter to be released. This game is created by Naughty Dog (the former designers of Crash). According to reports this game is similar to Crash & there is no loading problem like in Crash 5: The Wrath of Cortex!

This game is great, but it could do without the loading. When the game has to load it takes WAY to long. This game is so fun! To start out with you can be Crash's little sister Coco not riding on anything! She can do karate kicks and under kicks. There is so many vehicles! There is a copter pack, a jeep, a spacefighter, a glider, a little mechenical airplane type thing that shoots missils called the firefly, he has a robot suit with a water cannon and a bazooka called the mech, and he has a submarine. As for Coco, her not Crash, has a spacefighter, a scooter, and last a snowboard! This game is really great and the evil bandicoot with the elementals (evil masks of elements) named Crunch is cool. If you really like the Crash series and think you absolutely have to have this game immediately like me, than you should have fun with it and not be disappointed. If you're not used to the Crash games than you should give it a rent.

Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex gets four stars from me, but it could have been a five-star sellout. The three-dimensional graphics are great, the levels are fun and complex, and, unlike any other previous Crash game, Coco is now playable. You can even pilot vehicles such as a jeep, hang-glider, and Crash Mech.
The cons, primarily, consist of the loading time. On some levels, the loading time takes a minute. This can get very frustrating and tiresome when you travel back and forth among levels. Also, Vivendi, while making Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex your average, mediocre adventure game, could and should have made this first-rate by tweaking it a little and making the levels deeper and more intricate (i.e. in the Crash games, you can't *explore* any of the levels. You just run straight through. The Spyro the Dragon games have more in-depth levels and worlds).
But all in all, Crash was an average, enjoyable game...If you're looking for something along the lines of the Crash series, check out the Spyro games if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed.

I would consider myself a Crash Bandicoot fan, so a bought this game, even after reading the reviews, which are less than great. I read about long loading times, no big deal. I read about same old stuff, so what, I like the same old stuff. I played the game immediately upon my reception. 20 minutes later, I was ready to get started. Why 20? Because these loading times are RIDICULOUS!!!! They'll force you to look at a floating Crash for 3 minutes just to get to the screen where you will load your game, which is quick, but then when you enter a level, it's back to the load sequence. When playing this game, get a book, you can finish it in between the gameplay. You may wonder why I still gave it 4 stars. I like the game, yes there is a game. Easy? Yes. But I still find it fun. However the levels are so easy the bosses are something of a shock, as you will have whipped through the 5 levels only to... yes actually lose a life. Crash fans will be initially disapointed, yes, but eventually pleased.

There are some strong opinions of this game in the consumer reviews. It seems to fall into two categories the game "sucks beyond all belief" or the game is the "greatest ever". I own the game and have played about half way through and can say in all honesty it is not horrible bad, but not anywhere near previous versions of the game. Also for the record the game was not developed by Naughty Dog, it was developed by Travelers Tales you can see their logo on the back of the box. The load times are unbearable and definetely hinder your ability to enjoy this game. It is one of the worse load times in video game history (I guess they have that going for them). Also be warry when reading through consumer reviews, there are several very positive reviews, which scored the game 5's that were reviewed prior to the game's release. Which is suspect at best. I know this to be the case because I read the reviews and tried to buy the game and was not able to. I was really upset by this because it reaks of corporate interferance which muddies the water of what this review area is all about.

The game has some positive aspects, the "atlasphere?" is really cool (best part of the game) and some of the vehicles are fun. The platform elements of the game were not that good. The camera, control and gameplay was "off". There was also a lot of "trial and error" type of game play that I hated. All and all with so many good games out there I would not recommend this game, you may want to rent if you are into the series before you buy.

To start off the game shows us just how great the PS2 graphics can be. I don't know if this is because Konami helped out with this or what but the game certainly lacks in what the first three on the PS1 surely had, and that my friends is gameplay.

Crash returns in this game to once again battle Cortex. The formula for Crash isn't changed much at all but this game suffers from what the first one suffered from. That my friends is Tedious load times. It takes a minute just to enter a level for crying out loud! The load times of this game definitely make this game suffer.

The in-game levels are fun, but are immenesly populated. Not just with enemies but with obstacles too. Some levels are also extrememly lengthy and it seems like your going to ask the question "Are we there yet?" several times.

Awkward camara angles in conjunction to enemy placements and platform placements was a pain. The camara would be at an awkward angle and you'd think the platform was in front of you, but you end up having to move to the right or left a bit. By the time you figure it out you'll probably have died several deaths that could've been avoided.

As usual the controls are very easy to learn and shouldn't be a problem to get the hang of. But sometimes the response of the controls can cause you to lose sometimes.

Overall this wasn't a bad game but it certainly wasn't a good game either. The series lost its edge of solid gameplay and went down to the frustrating level.