Console Review: Crash Bandicoot 2 (Sony) PlayStation

If there's one thing the PlayStation lacks, it's a mascot to rival Nintendo's moustachioed figurehead. However, developers Naughty Dog may have come up with the answer; a kind of Tasmanian devil on Prozac called Crash Bandicoot. He made a big impact with his eponymous debut, and now he's back in Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back.

This time around, we find Crash working for his former nemesis, the despicable Dr Cortex. But don't fret, Crash hasn't gone over to the dark side. Rather, the evil doctor has duped our hero into searching through 25 levels for the special crystals which will allow him to reign supreme once again.

Crash 2 is a significant improvement on the original. The graphics, which weren't bad to start with, are absolutely gorgeous now. Crash himself is smoothly animated, the scenery is packed with interesting features, and there are plenty of cartoony touches to keep you amused. Most of the jokes come at Crash's expense; you can't help but chuckle when you see him get stuck to the bottom of a giant snowball or when he gets frazzled by an electric fence. Some of the gags put Wyle Coyote to shame.

The only real problem with the game is its lack of depth. Although it's got 3D graphics by the bucketload, the levels themselves are linear. In other words, you can only travel in one direction and you can't explore the environments which surround you. As a result, the game's long-term appeal is limited.

On release, pounds 39.99

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