If you're looking for an adventure, then this is where you'll find one. Join the wild and crazy Crash Bandicoot in a brand new adventure as he once again goes up against his evil archenemy Dr. Neo Cortex! Only this time Crash has to battle both Cortex and another toadish type of character (Ripto) Can Crash handle this new battle? Only you know the answer. Are you up for the challenge of helping Crash Bandicoot save the universe?

Crash is a brave soul, and he's definitely resourceful, but he needs your help. Your job is to help Crash find his partner "Spyro". Crash Bandicoot used to only be made for play on a Play Station, but now it's moved into a GameBoy system. The graphics are top of the line. One feature that Play Station games have been famous for. I'm sure if any of you have ever played different GameBoy games, then you'll agree that many games vary in their graphic quality. I would have to say that this particular games graphics are a "10". I'm truly impressed.

Get ready for Game Play!!!

When beginning the game, you'll notice that the GameBoy Advance automatically gives you 3 save slots. The game will save your game process as you play. If you want a New Game, then choose an empty slot. If you wish to continue where you left off, then choose one of the saved games instead.

Unless you plan on linking up and playing a multi-player game, then the "Story Mode" would be your typical choice. This mode allows you to help Crash explore many different worlds in search of his friend Spryo. Crash needs your help, and he'll need it when it comes time to defeat Cortex and Ripto.

As I just mentioned there are other modes. You have your "Party Mode" as well. This is where you can play a Multi-Player game which will require you to link up with another GameBoy Advance system. *Requires a special GameBoy Advance linking Cable* You can share game play either using one or more game packs.

The Last mode in this came is called a "Trading Mode". The title pretty much describes everything. This isn't really for game play, but instead you can link up with another player and trade cards that you've collected while playing in the "Story Mode".

Unfortunately, I do not have any information on how exactly this all works, because I've never seen it done. I can only take peoples word for it. But it's like networking your GameBoy with another system.

Throughout the game you will find several different things. Warp Pads being one of the things you'll use. These warp pads will take you into mini-games, that will allow Crash to try out different controls, and learn new tricks. Don't worry though, because you'll have instructions appear on your screen when you enter. If you don't find instructions, then obviously just continue game play using the usual controls.

What You'll Find & What to Watch Out For During Game Play!!!

» TNT Boxes: These are abundant throughout the game. Be very careful because they will explode on contact.

» Arrow Boxes:
These boxes or crates will help you jump higher and they won't break when jumped on. The only way to break these boxes would be to SPIN into them. They they'll shatter. Be careful, you might not want to shatter these boxes, you may need them to jump up with.

» ? - The Mystery Box - ?:
With just one spin or jump, you can break these boxes open. These boxes usually contain lots of Wumpa fruit. This is a good thing, get as many as you can.

» Aku Box:
This is the Aku Spirit Mask. If you come across one of these boxes, you may break it open and retrieve the Aku Spirit Mask which will help protect Crash from his enemies and other hazards that may lye ahead.

» Time Box:
In timed levels, this box will let you freeze the clock. This box will usually display either a 3 - 2 - or 1 on the box. Keep moving, or you'll get clobbered by a falling Grandfather Clock when your frozen clock thaws.

» !!! Nitro Switch Box !!!:
This box is iron, with a big yellow exclamation point on it!!!! In order to destroy all other nitro boxes in that level, simply hit this nitro box.

» Iron Boxes:
These boxes are indestructible and only serve as a platform. They are perfectly safe. Use them when you can!

» Wumpa Fruit:
You'll want to collect as many of these as possible. Crash needs his fruit to keep healthy. (Don't we all?)

More about Warp Pads:

As I said earlier, the Crash Bandicoot Purple game has Mini Warp Pads. It reminds me of "Beam me up Scotty"!!! You can warp into a mini-game where you can pick up Wumpa Fruit. When you finish that mini-game, you will notice that these warp pads will show a clear holographic sketch of a purple crystal or a clear gem of some sort. Those are NOT the real thing. they are only a holograph. The real gems will appear only when you've actually earned them.

These warp pads don't warp you to another game board such as those in the Mario Land games used to do, but they are mainly game boards that let Crash collect more Wumpa fruit, find his clear gem, and hopefully you'll find a trading card as well. When leaving the mini-game and getting ready to warp back in the Story Mode, make sure Crash gets the purple crystal. HE NEEDS THIS. There are also World Warp Pads. THIS is where you can actually travel into another world, but only after Crash has found all the purple crystals in that area. He can't go without them.

Even though you'll notice that Crash Bandicoot doesn't run out of lives in this game, it's still wiser to be careful. Keep him healthy, but if you do make mistakes, Crash will re-appear at the last check point. Everything done after that point will be lost. You will have to re-collect your fruit, your crates or boxes, and your gems or crystals. You may have to fight your enemies all over again. So it's best to help keep Crash alive and well. If you do, then you'll join him in his victory against the evil Cortex and his side kick Ripto.

Now before you start thinking that I've already told you quite a bit about this game, you better think again. Even though I haven't had the opportunity to link up, there is much more to be done when you do. According to the user manual, there are different types of multi-player games, but this information I will have to give you directly from the instruction booklet. I have no way to test it, because I have no way to actually link up and try these out for myself.

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Types of Multiplayer Games:

• Ballistix: 2 - 4 players can use their hover-ships to deflect balls away from their goal. Outlast your opponents in several different types of play, such as Crash Ball and Magnet Ball.

• Ship Shuffle: These games are also playable by 2 - 4 players. Each player chooses a character to pilot a hovering spaceship. Players ram each other to stun or tag opponents within a small overhead scrolling level.

In order to play Ballistix or Ship Shuffle, all you need is ONE copy of Crash Purple and the appropriate number of Game Link Cables. but in both Ship Shuffle and Ballistix, players start out with 4 default characters that they can choose from. You can unlock other characters by finding very special trading cards while playing the single-player mode.

• Bridge Fight: 2 players battle precariously over a precipice, trying to knock each other off a bridge and into an abyss. (If you are like me, then you will wonder what the heck is a Precipice? - Sorry but I don't usually use such words as this.... but according to the Dictionary a Precipice is - An overhanging or extremely steep mass of rock, such as a crag or the face of a cliff.

In order to play Bridge Fight, you will need two copies of Crash Purple, or one copy of Spyro Orange, and a second copy of Crash Purple: Ripto's Rampage. So you can't both run off of the same exact game.

After reading this section of the manual, it makes me want to try this whole linking up thing. I would love to give these a try. The Bridge Fight sounds like it would be pretty fun, and even the Ship Shuffle. Maybe one of these days I will get to try this. All I have to do is get one of the Linking Cables, and find someone else with another GameBoy Advance. I have a GameBoy Color, but I don't think that I can connect two different versions. So I'm out of luck in that department (for now anyway)


• Playing a Game of Cards:

In the single player mode, or "Story Mode" you will manage to collect cards along your journey, and you are certainly able to LOOK at what cards you've earned, but there really isn't much you can do with them until NOW. In the Multi-player game mode you can actually play a game of cards, you can trade cards or whatever... Here is what the user manual has to say about that. Once again, I have not been able to try this out.

By defeating mini-games, completing special goals, or spending hard-earned Wumpa fruit, Crash Purple players can earn collectible in-game trading cards. there are 100 collectible trading cards in "Crash Purple: Ripto's Rampage" and at least 100 in "Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy". All of the Crash cards are available in the Crash game, but only a certain number of Spyro cards can be found in Crash Purple. To get all possible cards, you must trade with a player who owns "Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy".

In addition to being fun to collect, certain very special cards will unlock additional characters in multi-player games. However, be warned: if you lose or trade away these cards, you will not be able to play as these characters in the Multi-Player games. Other very rare cards may grant you special abilities, fun cheats, or other surprises. Again, if you lose on of these cards via trading, you also lose the special abilities or cheats granted by that card.

Trading Cards are rated for rarity by their color. Least rare to most rare are in the colors, blue, green, yellow, orange and then red being the most rare. Blue cards are the easiest to acquire, while red cards require you to do something extra special. If a card is removed from the inventory. You must replay the single-player game and trade again to regain that card.

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I realize that I've given an awful lot of information taken from the manual, but honestly I had no other option, because I thought it necessary to give potential buyers of this game this information. When I bought the game, I didn't even know that there were this many options, and since I have no way of linking up and trying these extra features, I can't very well give my personal opinion on these options. I wish I could. Some of this stuff sounds pretty interesting, and fun, I'd love to give it a try. While other things seem to be pretty detailed, and maybe the more serious gamer would understand it all better. But either way, my son loves this game, and so do I. It's definitely a game worth owning, whether you want to play alone, or with others. The fun never stops. I'm honestly considering buying the other side of the story.... =) I think I will purchase "Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy", since my son has a birthday coming up in about a month.


See My Other GameBoy Advance Video Game Reviews:

» The Lost Vikings
» Monster Trucks
» Quad Desert Fury
» Mighty Beanz Pocket Puzzles


© 2005 - Lynda Nielsen §





Recommended: Yes