Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex - Xbox

Evil is at an all-time decline, so Crash's arch-nemesis Dr Neo Cortex is designing the ultimate weapon: Crunch, the extra-evil-bio-engineered-super-bandicoot. However, in order to complete Crunch, the good doctor needs more power... the kind of power that only evil, renegade voodoo masks can provide. Enter the Elementals.

Set free by the evil voodoo mask Uka-Uka, the Elementals control various aspects of the environment. They are so powerful and so dangerous that they almost destroyed the earth once, and were sealed in special crystals to protect the earth from certain doom. Uka-Uka believes that by harnessing the power of these evil masks, Dr Cortex will have all the power he needs to complete Crunch and finally finish off Crash.

So once again Crash returns to his crystal-collecting, box-bashing, bad guy-spinning ways. Can he stop the masks? Will he defeat Crunch? Only time, and your weary game-playing hands, will tell.

The Wrath of Cortex is the hardest game in the series' history. There are 30 levels, seven different vehicles for Crash to use, bonus levels and a time trial mode. Also, as you progress throughout the game, you fight five bosses and for each boss you defeat, you unlock a new move (double jump, bazooka, tiptoe, Crash dash and death tornado). And in what is probably the coolest feature, you get to play as Crash's sister Coco on some levels.

Okay, so the game is good, but is it perfect? Well, the graphics are solid, but not much of an improvement over the PS2 version--it definitely doesn't take full advantage of the Xbox's hardware. Also, the long load times for the levels can be annoying. Lastly, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex was not developed by Naughty Dog, the company that started the series. The game, while faithfully following the traditional feel of the series, misses some of the polished quirkiness that Naughty Dog was known for.The Wrath of Cortex is a great game for all ages, and will give you 40-plus hours of gameplay. --Bryan Karsh Amazon.com