When talking about some of the most iconic characters in gaming, something would be amiss not to mention the iconic Australian marsupial that has won the hearts of gamers since his debut in 1996. The iconic PlayStation original,Crash Bandicoot, has been a household name for decades, with its popularity sparking countless titles and even a remake of the original trilogy with resounding success.
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Crash Bandicoothas stood the test of time and remains one of the most replayable franchises in gaming, attributed to its plethora of challenging but memorable levels. Of the 100+ levels across the franchise’s original trilogy, there are a number of standouts that raise the ceiling of the gaming experience.
10Bug Lite - Warped
Combining sand and stone with a tomb that makes Cleopatra blush, the Bug Lite level in the thirdCrashinstallmenttakes players to Ancient Egypt, snakes and all. While theCrash Bandicootseries features a number of levels with this theme, it’s the limited availability of light that adds an extra challenge and point of difference.
Bug Lite features a number of sections that are too dark for any light to guide Crash’s way. Luckily for players, Crash gets the assistance of fireflies to help him navigate the level’s various obstacles. Be quick though, as the fireflies are only available for a short time before Crash is sucked into the darkness and at the mercy of any dangers in his path.
9High time - Warped
Much of the charm of theCrash Bandicootseries is its ability to commit to a level’s theme in the most stereotypical but comforting ways. In High Time, this holds true as Crash makes his way across the rooftops of an Arabic city that has players almost searching forAladdin and his magic carpet.
The High Time level provided a charming mix of environmental design, background music, and appropriately outfitted enemies to transport players to a Middle-Eastern city that was anything but welcoming. By scaling ceilings, dodging scimitars, and bouncing between floating carpets, Crash finds himself escaping death in another terrific space for some hard-hitting crystal hunting.
8Tomb Wader - Warped
The third installment of theCrash Bandicootseries answered the question that nobody was asking: “Can Crash swim?” The answer, according to Tomb Wader, was an emphatic “no.” Players were treated to the same Egyptian-style environment with the added thrill of making sure Crash didn’t end up washing away with the ever-rising and falling tide.
The Tomb Wader level urged players to combine well-timed attacks to ward off adversaries while ensuring Crash was on high ground when the water rose. The obstacles were well spaced that getting to safety was not an impossible feat, but still provided an enjoyable challenge that would punish even the slightest misstep or poorly-timed movement between safe points.
7Future Tense - Warped
The beauty of Nefarious Tropy’s Time Twister inCrash Bandicoot: Warpedis that it doesn’t just take Crash back to times of medieval knights and dinosaurs, but previewswhat life is to become in the distant future. In the Future Tense bonus level, which debuted as a brand-new level in theN. Sane Trilogyremake, the future looks very technologically advanced and extremely perilous.
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Future Tense is one of the game’s bigger challenges across all of its levels but still offers plenty of highlights. Tasked with climbing a skyscraper, Crash must dodge lasers, dismantle robots and sidestep missiles. The level was a fresh and exciting addition to the game that rewarded avid fans for their loyalty to the original games.
6Dino Might! - Warped
For everyone that dived into the Dino Might level ofCrash Bandicoot: Warpedwhen it came out in 1998, all the childhood dreams of dinosaurs were brought to life. Dino Might was one of a few segments that included everything a dino enthusiast could ever want: dinosaurs, lava, and more dinosaurs.
The Dino Might level was consistent in its chase scenes that saw Crash running from an enormous, rampaging Triceratops. What added to the experience of this level, in particular, was that not all the prehistoric lizards were out to get the player, witha two-legged dino hatchling offering his servicesto get Crash to safety.
5Un-Bearable - Cortex Strikes Back
The team behind theCrash Bandicootseries had an uncanny knack of being able to offer a consistent sense of familiarity for the game’s overall style, while simultaneously delivering a fresh angle with each level. One of the ways they achieved this was by having Crash change the direction he needed to run. One of the most memorable of these was Un-Bearable, mostly because no one is going to easily forget being chased by an enormous, angry polar bear.
The level is centered around avoiding raging bears, however, there is a bonus section if players know which pit to fall into. The multiplechase scenes in this level are riddled with land mines, running lizards, electric fences, and bottomless pits that keep players on their toes and require some quick thinking if Crash was to avoid becoming lunch.
4Air Crash - Cortex Strikes Back
The Air Crash level ofCrash Bandicoot: Cortex Strikes Backis one that flows smoothly. Much of this is because of the level being situated on top of a stream, but the inclusion of the aquatic skateboard makes for a thoroughly enjoyable gaming experience. The board handles very well and the team behind the level certainly upped their game in the trilogy’s remake.
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Air Crash tasks players with navigating through very treacherous waters as Crash weaves through wooden obstacles, dodge explosive mines, and steers clear of impromptu whirlpools. The addition of ramps encourages Crash to channel his inner Tony Hawk in a challenging but fun adventure for the furry orange protagonist.
3Cold Hard Crash - Cortex Strikes Back
Cold Hard Crash lives up to its name, as playing the level to 100% completion is cold, unforgiving, and challenging. This level has a frozen environment for Crash to traverse that is riddled with sections that are iced over, providing an additional challenge from lack of traction. Despite the game’s simplistic nature, the physics behind trying to run on ice in a pair of sneakers are spot-on, culminating in a comically tedious run.
The appeal to this level is its combination of classicCrash-style gameplay with a section dedicated to the classic platformer structure. Obstacles are wide and varied, so players need to be wary of obstacles ahead and above, on account of the falling icicles. Be warned about the penguins - they may look cute, but they certainly don’t play nice.
Some may argue that this godforsaken level has no place in the top 10, given it’s arguably one of thehardest levels in theCrash Bandicootseries. The concept of this level is quite simple, Crash needs to traverse a fragile bridge without falling victim to its perilously weak structure. While the concept may be simple, the obstacles in the bandicoot’s way are anything but easy.
This deceivingly difficult level has caused an endless amount of infuriating deaths and heartbreak, but there is no denying that it is one of the most memorable experiences in the franchise. While it has caused some white-knuckled grips on controllers and some suppressed tears, fewer levels offer the satisfaction that Road To Nowhere does of completing the death run of a bridge.
1The Lost City - Crash Bandicoot
The originalCrash Bandicoottitle grew to fame for a variety of reasons, namely itsiconic Australian marsupial characterand its quirky but surprisingly-hard levels. However, stripping away the layers of the game that made it so unique,Crash Bandicootwas a tribute to the classic platformers that inspired the game’s creation. In the trilogy’s first game, The Lost City level paid homage to the classic style of gaming.
Modeled in the classic left-to-right platformer style, The Lost City hosted a barrage of obstacles for players to dodge, duck, and spin their way out of to ensure Crash’s survival. With a plethora of moving platforms, strategic holes in the wall, and swarms of bats, players were challenged to time every movement perfectly.
