10 Reasons Why we Love Crash Bandicoot

At E3 this year, Sony announced that the original three Crash Bandicoot games will be remastered for the PS4. This is big news for fans of the series, who were waiting for the reappearance of their most beloved character. Crash will be making an appearance as an exclusive character in the PS4 version of Skylanders: Imaginators. However, this was not the triumphant return that we fans were anticipating. Many were hoping for a full Crash video game following the character in a new adventure. But then, Sony dropped a gem and we can barely contain our excitement.

These are just ten of the many reasons we cannot wait for the return of Crash Bandicoot.

1. He is a humanoid bandicoot who fights villains.

Who thinks of this stuff? It’s such a weird idea for a character because bandicoots are not eventful animals. They are marsupials that often get mistaken for rodents, and they pretty much hide from predators by day and find food at night. But, not Crash! There is no predator he cannot beat, and he doesn’t have to avoid them during the day.

2. Aku Aku

I think we can all agree, Aku Aku is the father figure many of us wish we had. He is an old witch doctor who lives as a wooden mask. Break the crates with Aku Aku’s face on it and after the third crate, Crash becomes invincible for a short period of time. While Crash is invincible, the game’s music changes to an awesome African drum sequence. The clip is so short, but it’s fun to listen to. It’s the little things that matter.

3. The levels where Crash has to run away from a giant boulder or some other menacing thing.

Nothing brings more fear than having to run away from a giant boulder that somehow traverses wooden bridges in order to kill you. These are the kind of things that give children nightmares.

4. Polar Bear Ride

In Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, Crash wanders into a snowy wasteland with scattered nitro boxes and dangerous Orca wales. But, sitting on the ground, seemingly waiting for Crash to arrive, is a small polar bear. In typical Crash fashion, he doesn’t ask questions, and simply jumps onto the polar bear and rides it throughout the level.

5. Coco

Coco is Crash’s sister. She is much smarter than Crash and serves as the brains of the operation, helping Crash get out of situations that he cannot get out of using his brute strength. In Crash Bandicoot: Warped, she assists Crash in collecting crystals by riding on a jet ski or on a small tiger named Pura. She dodges cannons, evades pirate ships, runs along the Great Wall, and jumps over dragons. You couldn’t ask for a better sister.

6. Crash Team Racing

Racing games are not what they used to be. Nintendo people have Mario Kart, and Playstation people have the first Crash Team Racing. What’s better than rolling bombs at other players, dropping toxic chemicals to disorient other racers, and facing off against bosses? A blue shell? I think not.

7. The villains

The character development for the villains did not have to delve too deep. It’s a game about a mutant marsupial, after all. But, the game developers didn’t settle and the villains are funny, smart, and they each have a backstory. Seeing Doctor Neo Cortex and his receding hairline every ten minutes in Crash Bandicoot 2 was frightening as a young child, but Cortex was flawed and deeply misunderstood. The guy just wanted to be loved.

8. The motorcycle rides

Have you ever seen a bandicoot pop a wheelie on a motorcycle? Enough said.

9. The artwork and design

The minions are all very clunky and weird looking, which makes the game funnier. Each time Crash dies, the sequences are not gory, but straight out of a cartoon show. When a nitro or TNT box blows up, Crash’s body disappears except for his shoes and his boxers, which comes falling back down to the ground. The background scenery is mesmerizing. The team at Naughty Dog created a world that kids would want to be a part of.

10. That dance

Everybody remembers the dance. Collect a diamond and Crash breaks out into the best dance sequence since the lindy hop. The marsupial has some moves.

Expect the remastered versions of Crash Bandicoot to come to the PSN Store at some point next year.