Pros: A great adventure game for the entire family. Many lands and levels.
Cons: Makes you want ALL of the Crash games!
The bottom line: Crash 2 is a game that will captivate your mind for days, weeks, even months. There's always something new to discover and more fun to have!
CRASH BANDICOOT 2: Cortex Strikes Back was one of the very first games we purchased for our Sony Playstation a few years ago. As a child of the Sega Genesis and Nintendo, I learned that Crash was similar to Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog and Nintendo's Mario Brothers, in the way that it is an adventure game with many lands, levels and monsters. I greatly enjoyed those games, so with the recommendation of my stepson, and the support of my husband, we purchased Crash Bandicoot immediately.

Who is Crash Bandicoot? Crash is a bright red/orange animal who loves to get into trouble and defeat his enemies. No challenge is too great for Crash with you behind the controller. Crash is a tall, sneaky fellow with spectacular spinning ability. He can sling most objects and get his enemies to buzz off just by spinning into them ferociously. Crash is a character who loves new adventures. He enjoys each level that he comes upon and loves the fruit that he collects along the way.

What is the purpose of this game? This is part two of the Crash Bandicoot series. Crash's main enemy is Cortex. In this episode, Cortex has kidnapped Crash's kid sister. It's up to you and Crash to rescue her from the evil Cortex, but it sure won't be easy!

What do I go up against? Oh my, what DON'T you go up against? Cortex has a team of evil beings out to get you. You have "Crash eating plants," turtles with spiked shells, seals that will kill you (even though they look so cute), and so many more enemies to conquer. Each level features a new creature and new challenges. There are some where you are on ice, or you have animals to ride on. There are some where you guide your way through the water on water vehicles. There are even some levels where you have to out run huge boulders rolling quickly to crush you!

Do I have any friends? What would a game be without help now and again? Crash has Wumpa Fruit to collect to add to his health and give him extra lives. These are of vital importance throughout the game. There are TNT boxes that can be for or against you, depending on how you use them. Then we must discuss the masked character who says nothing but "ooga booga!" This mask is earned and worn by Crash to protect him. He is invincible while wearing the mask, but it doesn't last too long, so Crash must act quickly!

Overall: Crash Bandicoot 2 is a great game for all ages. It's full of excitement and fun for the entire family. Kids fall in love with Crash and will want all of the Crash Bandicoot games. Unfortunately, we don't own them all. We've rented them and found them just as exciting, but this is the only one of the series that we own.

You are sure to have a ball playing this game for hours on end. Just when you think you've conquered the hardest stage or level, another one of greater challenge comes along. The music is wonderful. Kids catch on to the tunes and hum along with the game. The graphics are unbelievable. So bright and colorful! This game will keep your attention for quite a while. You can't deny the challenge to get further along in the game. It's a wonderful saga for the family to get into and enjoy. I highly recommend CRASH BANDICOOT 2: Cortex Strikes Back!

Specifics
Developer: Naughty Dog
Release Date: October 31, 1997
Publisher: SCEA