 The playable protagonist character is Crash Bandicoot , a bandicoot who has been mutated by an invention called the Evolvo @-@ Ray . The main antagonist is Doctor Neo Cortex , a mad scientist who was often ridiculed by the scientific community for his outlandish theories and is now motivated to prove his tormentors wrong by creating a mutated army of animals to conquer the world . Cortex 's henchman is Doctor Nitrus Brio , the insecure creator of the Evolvo @-@ Ray . Crash 's love interest is Tawna , a female bandicoot about to undergo experimentation by the doctors . Helping Crash in his journey is an ancient witch doctor spirit by the name of Aku Aku , who has scattered masks of himself throughout the islands to grant Crash special invincibility powers . 
