Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex

Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex was the first entry in the beloved platforming series built directly for the PlayStation 2, with development this time handled by Traveller's Tales instead of the original Naughty Dog. Doctor Cortex once again teams up with his creator Uka Uka and builds a new robotic adversary named Crunch to fight Crash, tasked with gathering the scattered crystals needed to take over the world. The gameplay stays faithful to the original formula from the three PS1 entries — the player runs through linear levels, collects Wumpa fruit, destroys crates and enemies with a spin attack, and moves between levels through a central hub that unlocks further worlds and bonus stages.

The move to PS2 brought sharper textures, greater draw distance, and smoother character animations, but the level design largely recycled the tried-and-tested formula — a combination of classic running sections, water and flying vehicle interludes, and several boss fights against Crunch and Cortex's other henchmen. The music and sound design continue the playful, Caribbean-flavored style that has long defined the series' identity, with each world accompanied by its own rhythmic theme. The controls remain simple and accessible, making the game suitable for younger players and fans alike who already knew Crash from the original PlayStation.

Reactions at the time were mixed — players and reviewers were pleased to see the familiar hero return on a new console, but it was often noted that the game felt more like a safe rehash of proven mechanics than a genuine step forward, unlike rival titles of the same period such as Jak and Daxter or Ratchet & Clank. Still, Wrath of Cortex became a commercially successful kickoff to the Crash era on PS2 and paved the way for further sequels and spin-offs, including the racing series Crash Nitro Kart. Today it's viewed mostly as a solid, slightly conservative platformer for fans who want to relive the original feeling of jumping, spinning, and collecting, this time with the sharper graphics of the sixth console generation.

Why play: For fans of classic Crash who want to relive jumping and collecting with sharper PS2 graphics, even though it leans more toward a safe rehash of proven mechanics than a genuine step forward.