The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we shine the spotlight on PSOne platform sequel Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back.
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Developer: Naughty Dog
Region(s) available: North America, Europe
Players: 1
The House of Nathan Drake (otherwise known as Naughty Dog) really hit their stride with Crash’s second outing, ironing out any glaring niggles of the marsupials triumphant debut for a stellar follow-up. Still, our big-grinning hero hasn’t got much brighter since his last outing, with Cortex Strikes Back seeing the gullible chap on a hunt for a bunch of crystals for his arch nemesis, as well as some shiny gems for the dastardly N. Brio.
Crash 2 spans a meaty 25 levels, each one packing plenty of the aforementioned treasures to hunt for. Some are easier to locate than others however, with crystals proving little trouble to spot, while the gems require you to be a little more thorough in your search. Deviating from the original’s linear template however, Cortex Strikes Back offers five warp rooms to check out, each one featuring five stages to tackle in any order you see fit. Once you’ve nabbed all the collectibles in each stage, it’s on to the next warp level.
Fans of the original will also be pleased to hear that players can save their game in any warp zone, nullifying any concerns you may have after putting up with Crash 1’s botched system. The meat-and-potatoes of the action remains very much as you’d expect. Crash runs, jumps and spin attacks his way through each level, with a few set pieces such as outrunning a crazed polar bear or strapping on a jet-pack punctuating the rudimentary platform-based antics. It’s worth pointing out that the game is decidedly less tricky than its predecessor (cynics may say dumbed down), leading to less frustrations. Still, if you’re a Crash fanatic, you’ll find little to moan about with Cortex Strikes Back.
Join us again same time tomorrow as we take another gander Inside PlayStation Network.