Games Database
GBA
Platform
| Viewed: | 2D Side-on, Scrolling | Genre: | Platform |
| Arcade origin: | No | ||
| Developer: | Vicarious Visions | Soft. Co.: | Universal |
| Publishers: | Universal
(US) Vivendi (GB/GB) |
Released: | 15 Mar 2002
(GB) 2002 (US) |
| Ratings: | 3+, ESRB Everyone | ||
| Connectivity: | Link Cable | ||
Video
Summary
After a few good years on PlayStation, the famous marsupial is coming to Game Boy Advance in an all-new 2D adventure, courtesy of Vivendi.
When asked what made the Crash Bandicoot series on PlayStation such a popular title, the only conclusion we could reach was that it was a simple idea. Unwittingly, developers often find themselves producing games with unnecessarily complex gameplay, but in most cases, 'old skool' playing styles are the most captivating and addictive. Naughty Dog got it so right with PlayStation’s former mascot, and successfully combined classic gameplay with 3D technology and game design. Crash Bandicoot XS (CBXS) does the same, but in a 2D fashion.
The story once again turns its attention to Doctor Neo Cortex and his destructive antics. He's bent on world domination and revenge against Crash, but this is a platform game, and like most, is not driven by a captivating story, but by progressive gameplay.
The cartoon-like CBXS game world is large, spanning some six areas with a total of 20 levels, all of which are viewed in a traditional 2D side-on scrolling perspective. The game mechanics of the earlier pseudo-3D releases have been retained and the general feel of the game is pretty much the same as it was since its creation in 1996.
There’s the usual run, jump, spin, slide and bodyslam controls which must be mastered quickly to progress through the game. The previous games in the series were known for their fiendish level design and CBXS is just the same. You’ll often find yourself plummeting down deep chasms in a series of attempts to get from one platform to another. Keep your lives stocked up and don’t miss those checkpoints.
Quite simply, Crash Bandicoot XS is a graphically toned down version of the PlayStation original that doesn’t lose its classic gameplay as a result. It’s still challenging, it’s still funny, it’s still Crash Bandicoot through and through.
When asked what made the Crash Bandicoot series on PlayStation such a popular title, the only conclusion we could reach was that it was a simple idea. Unwittingly, developers often find themselves producing games with unnecessarily complex gameplay, but in most cases, 'old skool' playing styles are the most captivating and addictive. Naughty Dog got it so right with PlayStation’s former mascot, and successfully combined classic gameplay with 3D technology and game design. Crash Bandicoot XS (CBXS) does the same, but in a 2D fashion.
The story once again turns its attention to Doctor Neo Cortex and his destructive antics. He's bent on world domination and revenge against Crash, but this is a platform game, and like most, is not driven by a captivating story, but by progressive gameplay.
The cartoon-like CBXS game world is large, spanning some six areas with a total of 20 levels, all of which are viewed in a traditional 2D side-on scrolling perspective. The game mechanics of the earlier pseudo-3D releases have been retained and the general feel of the game is pretty much the same as it was since its creation in 1996.
There’s the usual run, jump, spin, slide and bodyslam controls which must be mastered quickly to progress through the game. The previous games in the series were known for their fiendish level design and CBXS is just the same. You’ll often find yourself plummeting down deep chasms in a series of attempts to get from one platform to another. Keep your lives stocked up and don’t miss those checkpoints.
Quite simply, Crash Bandicoot XS is a graphically toned down version of the PlayStation original that doesn’t lose its classic gameplay as a result. It’s still challenging, it’s still funny, it’s still Crash Bandicoot through and through.
