After seeing that Wrath of Cortex followed the same tried-and-true gameplay formula that the original trio of Crash Bandicoot games has proudly boasted, you'd think that the marsupial's next platforming adventures would follow suit in this same way. Crash Twinsanity, however, actually manages to break the tradition and then some; not only does the structure end up feeling freshly different, but there's also new life sprinkled into various elements in general!

So what is so special about this game? Well, a lot! And the game wastes no time to let you know how much things have changed; from the moment you start playing, Neo Cortex disguises himself as Crash's sister Coco (donning an attempt to sound feminine no less!) to lure him into his newest trap, and as you start moving around, you'll realize that you can run around freely in the open 3D tropical jungle/beach. Yep! We're talking levels are at about the scope of 3D Mario game levels, if not a little bigger! And it feels GREAT, too! The game also moves at a silky-smooth 60 FPS, and takes full advantage of the PS2 controller, even allowing for a freely controllable camera (Crash even moves his head to complement those movements). Add in gorgeous-looking scenery vastly superior to previous installments, and you've got a Crash game that genuinely feels like the next big step in the franchise and not simply just a game that happens to be released for newer-gen consoles.

But enough about technical mumbo jumbo; let's talk humor! The Crash series hasn't particularly been low on this aspect, as the dialogues between the villains always tend to be amusing, but someone at Traveler's Tales seemed to think that wasn't enough and decided to crank the funniness to the MAX! Cartoon slapstick and mixes of witty and silly antics are everywhere in Crash Twinsanity, and the game is probably all the better for it! There's a playable scene where Neo Cortex gets chased by bees, and as Crash helps clear a path for him, a beehive falls on his head and a bear follows him afterward! Multiple levels have Crash ride Cortex like a snowboard! There are so many hilarious moments and interactions that occur that it really makes me wish Crash Bandicoot had a cartoon show (They even make fun of the idea of a fetch quest and throw in a surprise cameo at the end of the game for comedic measure)! I think Neo Cortex may be my favorite character in at least this game; he is arguably even more flexible and cartoon-y than everyone else, and his voice actor's deliveries (and complementary animations) absolutely make his character!

The gameplay is pure platforming bliss; Crash can do everything he can do in the Playstation games such as double jump, smash crates, slide, belly slam, etc. Breaking crates has felt as great as ever, and the levels are filled with challenge and variety. With the newly implemented open-world aspects in mind, there's a whole lot more to do than just head straight to the next AutoSave crate. For an important instance, there are gems scattered around, and collecting them grants you fun little extras like concept art, storyboards, and cutscenes. Even without going for side-stuff, though, this is undoubtedly the longest Crash game; I didn't try to 100% the game and it took me under four hours (whereas a traditional Crash game would take me not anymore than two). However, not a minute was pointless, as the game flowed seamlessly throughout with its connected environments, and always had you going to or through the next platforming gauntlet.

Not everything about this game is perfect, though. There are a fair amount of things that do kind of bother me, and seeing that the game surprisingly went through development troubles, I'm just glad the game came out this well! Nevertheless, I should address the problems. Somehow, there are certain dialogue-less cutscenes or parts that lack a couple sound effects or even any sound whatsoever. And while the difficulty is usually kept at a fair pace and challenge, there are some times where it would end up feeling uneven, especially considering that the Nitro crates kill you instantly regardless of whether or not you have the Aku Aku mask as your hit point(s) this time. Lastly...It just simply makes me wonder how this game would've been if it was FULLY completed the way the developers imagined it to be.

Whatever the case may be, though, I had a blast with Crash Twinsanity! It was that Crash Bandicoot game that I didn't know I wanted, but am more than glad I have now that I've played it through!

(Also.....I had no idea where to fit this in the review, but the soundtrack is something I really want to mention; it's unique in which it's not done through instruments, but entirely in human vocals, which is very impressive in its own right! It definitely helps that the resulting soundtrack is pretty catchy and even atmospheric in some ways!)
After seeing that Wrath of Cortex followed the same tried-and-true gameplay formula that the original trio of Crash Bandicoot games has proudly boasted, you'd think that the marsupial's next platforming adventures would follow suit in this same way. Crash Twinsanity, however, actually manages to break the tradition and then some; not only does the structure end up feeling freshly different, but there's also new life sprinkled into various elements in general! So what is so special about this game? Well, a lot! And the game wastes no time to let you know how much things have changed; from the moment you start playing, Neo Cortex disguises himself as Crash's sister Coco (donning an attempt to sound feminine no less! ) to lure him into his newest trap, and as you start moving around, you'll realize that you can run around freely in the open 3D tropical jungle/beach. Yep! We're talking levels are at about the scope of 3D Mario game levels, if not a little bigger! And it feels GREAT, too! The game also moves at a silky-smooth 60 FPS, and takes full advantage of the PS2 controller, even allowing for a freely controllable camera (Crash even moves his head to complement those movements). Add in gorgeous-looking scenery vastly superior to previous installments, and you've got a Crash game that genuinely feels like the next big step in the franchise and not simply just a game that happens to be released for newer-gen consoles. But enough about technical mumbo jumbo; let's talk humor! The Crash series hasn't particularly been low on this aspect, as the dialogues between the villains always tend to be amusing, but someone at Traveler's Tales seemed to think that wasn't enough and decided to crank the funniness to the MAX! Cartoon slapstick and mixes of witty and silly antics are everywhere in Crash Twinsanity, and the game is probably all the better for it! There's a playable scene where Neo Cortex gets chased by bees, and as Crash helps clear a path for him, a beehive falls on his head and a bear follows him afterward! Multiple levels have Crash ride Cortex like a snowboard! There are so many hilarious moments and interactions that occur that it really makes me wish Crash Bandicoot had a cartoon show (They even make fun of the idea of a fetch quest and throw in a surprise cameo at the end of the game for comedic measure)! I think Neo Cortex may be my favorite character in at least this game; he is arguably even more flexible and cartoon-y than everyone else, and his voice actor's deliveries (and complementary animations) absolutely make his character! The gameplay is pure platforming bliss; Crash can do everything he can do in the Playstation games such as double jump, smash crates, slide, belly slam, etc. Breaking crates has felt as great as ever, and the levels are filled with challenge and variety. With the newly implemented open-world aspects in mind, there's a whole lot more to do than just head straight to the next AutoSave crate. For an important instance, there are gems scattered around, and collecting them grants you fun little extras like concept art, storyboards, and cutscenes. Even without going for side-stuff, though, this is undoubtedly the longest Crash game; I didn't try to 100% the game and it took me under four hours (whereas a traditional Crash game would take me not anymore than two). However, not a minute was pointless, as the game flowed seamlessly throughout with its connected environments, and always had you going to or through the next platforming gauntlet. Not everything about this game is perfect, though. There are a fair amount of things that do kind of bother me, and seeing that the game surprisingly went through development troubles, I'm just glad the game came out this well! Nevertheless, I should address the problems. Somehow, there are certain dialogue-less cutscenes or parts that lack a couple sound effects or even any sound whatsoever. And while the difficulty is usually kept at a fair pace and challenge, there are some times where it would end up feeling uneven, especially considering that the Nitro crates kill you instantly regardless of whether or not you have the Aku Aku mask as your hit point(s) this time. Lastly... It just simply makes me wonder how this game would've been if it was FULLY completed the way the developers imagined it to be. Whatever the case may be, though, I had a blast with Crash Twinsanity! It was that Crash Bandicoot game that I didn't know I wanted, but am more than glad I have now that I've played it through! (Also.... . I had no idea where to fit this in the review, but the soundtrack is something I really want to mention; it's unique in which it's not done through instruments, but entirely in human vocals, which is very impressive in its own right! It definitely helps that the resulting soundtrack is pretty catchy and even atmospheric in some ways! )