馃摙 ATTENTION ALL GAMERS! ATTENTION ALL GAMERS! IT'S TIME TO BASH! 馃摙
Bring snacks! 馃槈
Right'o! It's been a while since I've talked about a fun game. I mean, all games are fun in their own way, but this one is a fun game! Specifically it's characterized as a 'party game'. And before Naughty Dog developed exclusively narrative-driven blockbusters, they were in charge of Sony's mascot. And with it, the childhood of millions!
Therefore鉂楋笍 In this edition of Through the Lens 馃帪, we'll be taking a look at Naughty Dog's party-game in the Crash franchise from 2000: Crash Bash Roll it! 馃摻
The soundtrack to this game feels like a scooby-doo soundtrack or a Luigi's Mansion soundtrack. It's just fun and explorative. Nothing to write home about, it won't win any awards or nothing. But for this type of game? Perfection!
Take a listen while you read to see what I mean! 馃槃
Everyone has their gaming mascot - you got the Marios, the Sonics - mine was Crash. I played every Crash entry constantly in my childhood. didn't necessarily have to be at its release, since we always played it on whoever had the game on their Playstation. Those were the days...
And I love Crash to this day, still think CTR: Crash Team Racing is the best party racing game, and I love the Bash series of games as well. 馃暫 So we got a bunch to talk about - lego!
Mascot games all follow a certain formula. Everything follows a formula, I know, cool your britches. But these games are especially so. How so? Let me tell you so!
馃懞 You got your mainline series of games, in this case, it's the Bandicoot titles.
馃懞 You got your racing game(s), in this case, it's CTR: Crash Team Racing.
馃懞 You got your party game(s), i.e. Mario Party etc. In this case, it's the Bash titles.
Nintendo started this off with Mario, and then as with everything, Sega followed suit. Soon, it was PlayStation's turn - in comes Crash.
Now, why did these companies prioritize their mascot games? Well, why are they called mascots? Because they were mascots of the console, silly! They represented your console and were its face. They served to shift console units, not just game sales. This made their value peak. Making them worth so much more than any other franchise character.
What was Microsoft's mascot? Master Chief! Moving on.
Lastly, on this topic, it's important to mention that Crash's line of Bash games were the most successful party games (outside of Mario Party, but ain't no one touching Mario anyway). There's a good reason for that, let's explore what made Crash Bash so fun, shall we?
We shall! 馃槏
Crash Bash is a 2-payer-co-op, mini-game extravaganza! Although it can be played as a single-player game as well. But who wants to do that? Not me... 馃槴
The setup of the Bash games - (and yes, we're covering all of them in this one article, I'm not planning on doing separate articles on every separate game - they're basically the same title anyway) - is that the two Tiki Gods: Aku Aku and Uka Uka are battling for supremacy over the Crash world. As one does.
To achieve this they have trapped our heroes in this battle of wits and skill and creativity. Depending on which of the 8 playable characters you choose out of the roster, you will either be guided by the good spirit (Aku Aku) or the bad spirit (Uka Uka).
You play in an overworld where you have to beat every stage to advance. These stages are all mini-games that you play versus your co-op partners. Now, the catch is these mini-games get progressively more complex as you advance through the game. The shell of each is the same from level 1, with each level (Warm Room) adding additional complexity.
You have to beat all 28 mini-games by completing a variety of challenges and objectives. 馃 These mini-games are:
Ballistix | Takes place in a square arena where each player controls a bumper car. Each side of the arena is a goal, and you have to deflect the incoming balls from entering your goals while scoring in the opponent's goal.
Polar Push | The players are on a slippery, iceberg. They ride polar bear cubs trying to push each other out of the ledge. The means by which you do this get more and more involved as you advance in the stages.
Pogo Pandemonium | Every player uses jumping sticks to mark an area of the map. Jumping on each other's squares deletes their mark and implants your own.
Crate Crush | A war! Or in gaming terms a free-for-all that sees our adorable characters throwing crates and TNT boxes and whatever they can find at each other.
Tank Wars | Everyone controls a tank. Said tank gives you access to powerful abilities such as firing turrets. Each tank is different depending on the character you play. Last one standing wins!
Crash Dash | A racing mini-game that sees our heroes and villains competing on hovercrafts in a circular arena. One of the harder mini-games for sure.
Medieval Mayhem | A variety of different styles of games all within the medieval theme.
The best party game out there? 馃槄 I know, I know, this all depends on which you've grown up with. But for me personally, it is.
I will always remember the many countless hours playing all these fun mini-games, and as the series progresses it just gets more polished.
Crash is a fixture in gaming. And Crash Bash is a fun series of games that will be in the hearts of thousands for decades to come. Especially if they remake these games with the recent reemergence of Crash.
If you have an old PS1/PS2 lying around, then try to grab a Crash Bash game, a buddy, some beverages, and have at it! It's a bash of a time. 馃槣
Thank you for reading, you rock! (and maybe roll) 馃憦馃憦馃憦
Shout-out to the 馃崟PIZZA馃崟 gang, 馃 gang. 馃
Next Through The Lens will cover CTR: Crash Team Racing, before finally arriving at the main Bandicoot line of games. Yes, it's Crash season! Yayyy!
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Hope everyone is having a fantastic day! And if you aren't, no worries! Tomorrow will be better! 馃檶馃檶馃檶
