Hello everyone! Today, I wanted to take some time to write about a game that I hold a lot of affection for and that I consider one of the greatest platforming classics of all time:
"Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped"
I remember the first time I played it, it caught my attention right away, and to this day, I still feel it was the absolute peak of the original trilogy on the first PlayStation.
A Journey Through Time with Plenty of Variety
The story kicks off right after Dr. Cortex's defeat in the previous game. This time, the evil mask Uka Uka enters the scene, and alongside Nefarious Tropy, they build a time machine to gather crystals across different eras. To stop them, we have to travel with Crash and his sister Coco through the Middle Ages, ancient Egypt, the future, and even the Great Wall of China.
What I enjoy most about this third installment is that it doesn't limit itself to being a game where you just run from left to right breaking boxes. The gameplay variety here is huge:
*Traditional levels: These work the best, running, jumping, and dodging traps as Crash.
*Coco sections:Riding a jet ski in the ocean or riding on a small tiger along the wall.
*Vehicles and flight:Motorcycle road races, aerial dogfights in planes, and underwater scuba diving sections.
Plus, every time you defeat a boss, you earn a new ability—like the double jump or the fruit bazooka—which makes going back to earlier levels to collect what you missed even more entertaining.
What I Like and What I Don't
What I love:
*Character controls:Everything feels super fluid and responds instantly.
*Special powers:They give the character a great sense of progression as you advance.
*Relics and Time Trials:For those of us who like completing games 100%, the challenge of beating level times adds massive replay value.
*The soundtrack: The music for each era is fantastic and really stays stuck in your head.
What could have been better:
*Vehicle levels: Although they add variety, the handling physics for the motorcycle or plane don't feel as precise or comfortable as controlling Crash on foot.
*Main story difficulty:Beating the standard levels is relatively easy compared to the first or second game; the real challenge comes when going for 100% completion.
Final Verdict
To me,Crash Bandicoot 3 is a true gem. It took everything that worked well in the previous two titles, fixed annoying details, and introduced mechanics that made it unforgettable. If you enjoy retro platformers or just want to have a good time reliving classic gaming moments, you can't go wrong with this one.
I'd give it a "9.5 out of 10".
Did you get a chance to play it back in the day? What was your favorite era or level in the game? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments and see if you also struggled trying to get those platinum relics. See you in the next post!
Note: Truly and without a doubt, a fantastic game :)
ALL IMAGES WERE TAKEN FROM PINTEREST