My review on the games:
Crash Bandicoot:
This game was actually quite enjoyable and not many people have had the chance to play it. The story line develops and has a cohesive flow to it throughout the game, with boss levels and all other levels. The characters are original which makes them the best.
In terms of gameplay, its really fun and although 40% of the game is just 2d, side view gameplay, its still enjoyable. There are not many objectives in the game though. All you have to do is finish each level and collect a gem. However, this is a bit harder than it sounds as in order to save your game, you need to collect a gem in the bonus level. To get to the bonus level, you must not lose a life in the level and finish it collecting all the boxes (breaking them open) at the same time.
This was very difficult for some levels, especially when you had invisible platforms which would be spread out (you could fall through) or you had to go back and forth along 3 sets of boxes to get all the boxes but one mistake would make you fall and die.
Overall this game took a while to get used to and was one of the most challenging Crash Bandicoot games I have ever played (also I played it for the first time a few years ago through PSN buying).
It was very enjoyable and the boss levels were quite fun as well as every other level in the game.
I'd give it a 9.5/10.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
This game was many people's favourite of the series. This game is in a different format to the first and is the first to involve warp rooms. The game play in this one also involves crystals and the storyline developed much better than the storyline in CB1.
The only downfall I had with this game is that it was not challenging enough in comparison to the rest and although very fun to play, I didn't get to make the most out of it and less time was spent playing it in comparison with some others.
I give it a 9.25/10.
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
This game introduced relics. It is similar to CB2, but included more things needed to be done, due to time trials. So I could enjoy the gameplay for longer in this one as it was a bit tougher. Also, I had no memory card originally for this one, yet when I was 8 years old, I actually still bothered to play the game for months. It was great fun and even though I had to restart every time, I enjoyed it (Though its quite easy to please an 8 year old).
Then a few years ago when I got it on PSN, I still bothered to play it all the way through and enjoyed it.
The gameplay was as equally as fun as the first two so I still had fun with it.
I give this one a 9.5/10.
I will skip the racing games for later.
Crash Bandicoot 4: Wrath of Cortex
This game is similar to CB3. the main differences were a few added modes of levels and a few that had been scrapped from the other games (such as running form the boulders or pterodactyls, etc.). Similar to CB3 I originally had no memory card and I still played it for months without getting bored.
Overall this game started to skew away form the original gameplay. It was awesome and fun and with a great storyline (though too similar to CB2 with the addition of the elemental masks) and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Though the originality was a little off, I think Traveller's Tales got off to a good start making it slightly different to the rest.
The only problem I had was the fact that I missed some of the original gameplay, the original types of levels and the general game was a little different to the rest.
I give it a 9.25/10.
Crash Twinsanity
This game was epic. It was epicly out of proportion too. I really enjoyed it and the storyline was actually so out of proportion that it only just made sense. This game was completely 3d in gameplay and camera mode, allowing you to free-roam for the first time ever in a Crash game.
Although this game was a huge difference to the rest, it came at a few big costs. The free-roam option meant that the developer's spent a lot of time into making this game, although it is quite short to finish. Being a PS2 or Xbox disc, the game would be short as the developers would have hit time and data constraints in this game.
This platformer spin-off was definitely the only type of platformer spin-off (not including the party or racing games) worthy of a Crash game.
Though the lack of short game play killed it for me. The first time I finished the game in about 25 hours. Every other time after that I finished it in less than 10 (Including gems and crystals, I think I did it in 4 once), so the game became quite boring quickly. If it was longer I might have given it a 9/10 but unfortunately:
I only give it a 7.5/10.
Crash of the titans
The gameplay was ok.
But the big question: Is this even a Crash game? To me it is not.
Everything about this was bad and only led to something worse later on.
Though I have to give it two ratings.
As a random game that is first in a random series: 6/10
As a Crash game: 2/10
Crash Mind over Mutant
As above with Crash of the titans this is not a Crash game at all. Though the gameplay in this one is much better than that in Crash of the Titans.
As a random game: 7/10
As a Crash game: 2/10
Crash Team Racing
I actually played this after CTTR because I had to get it on PSN.
It was quite an awesome game and was much longer than CTTR so it did better in terms of gameplay and keeping me entertained. Though this one had quite a "Mario-kart" feel to it which I didn't like.
So I give it a 9/10.
Crash Tag Team racing
This was a bit like a developed version of CTR, though it was much shorter to finish 100% (depending how easily you could do the chicken challenges which I would complete easily).
I liked the theme park feel to it. It made it quite an interesting game as well.
The story line could have been better, but the gameplay in this one was more enjoyable than the one in CTR.
So I give it the same rating as CTR of 9/10.
Btw, I really love platform video games like this including Spyro (though I only got to play two of them) and MediEvil (I just recently played Resurrection), so my ratings are quite high on these games in comparison to others. Even Need for Speed games I would rate less than the Crash games because the original Crash games are timelessly awesome and I can imagine playing them again in the future if I got the time to, or even introduce them to any little children relatives around me.