Game Reviews
Here are some amazing reviews for all of the games mentioned in this blog, including the Crash Bandicoot trilogy, the Spyro trilogy, and Crash Team Racing:
Crash Bandicoot (1996)
⭐⭐ "A Beautiful, Brutal Start"
"Naughty Dog's debut on the PlayStation is a gorgeous technical achievement. The vibrant, cartoon graphics and quirky character design gave Sony the mascot they sorely needed. The tight, forward-scrolling 'corridor' platforming is a fresh take on 3D, demanding the precise jumps of a 2D classic.
However, be warned: this game is punishingly difficult. The original game's lack of analog control combined with some tricky perspective jumps and a frustrating save system (requiring you to complete a challenging bonus stage or an entire level without dying just to save your game) means you will be seeing Crash's hilarious death animations a lot. It's a classic for starting the series, but its flaws make it the toughest entry to revisit."
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (1997)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The Perfect Sequel: Refined and Ramped Up"
"The developers at Naughty Dog clearly listened to fan feedback. Cortex Strikes Back takes everything great about the original and perfects it. The platforming is tighter, the level variety is vastly improved (hello, snow levels and polar bear rides!), and new moves like the slide and belly-flop add strategic depth.
The biggest game-changer is the quality-of-life improvements: a much fairer Warp Room hub and an intuitive save system. The difficulty is still present for 100% completionists, but the general playthrough is far less punishing. With beautiful graphics, an infectious soundtrack, and a surprisingly engaging story, Crash 2 is simply the definitive PS1 platforming experience."
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (1998)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Time-Traveling Fun, But Watch Out for the Vehicles"
"Warped goes all-in on variety, sending Crash and his newly playable sister, Coco, across ancient and futuristic time periods. Crash's new abilities—unlocked after boss fights—like the super body slam and the speedy running shoes are permanent, fun additions that make the classic platforming stages an absolute joy.
The sheer imagination on display is brilliant, from riding a tiger on the Great Wall of China to fighting in an Egyptian tomb. The downside? The game attempts a bit too much with its vehicle levels. While the jet ski and biplane stages are a decent diversion, they sometimes feel less polished than the core platforming. That said, it's a stellar, action-packed conclusion to the original trilogy that focuses on sheer fun."
Spyro the Dragon (1998)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A Whimsical, Colorful Foundation"
"Insomniac Games introduces the world to Spyro, a charming, spunky purple dragon, and delivers one of the most vibrant and visually impressive titles on the PlayStation. The game shines with its sheer sense of scale and freedom, allowing players to run, flame, and glide across enormous, beautifully colored levels with virtually no draw distance pop-up—a technical marvel at the time.
While the original is simple in scope—your main task is to rescue crystallized dragons and collect gems—this simplicity is its strength. It's a purely joyful, meditative experience. The only real criticisms are the overall low difficulty for core progression and the limited move set, which leaves some fans wishing for more complex challenge. Still, backed by Stewart Copeland's whimsical and innovative soundtrack, Spyro the Dragon is an essential, foundational classic."
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (1999)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The Perfect Upgrade: More Heart, More Variety"
"Where the first game was about exploration, Ripto's Rage! is about adventure. This sequel takes the core formula and dramatically expands it, setting the bar for 3D platformers. The introduction of the villain Ripto and an entire supporting cast (Elora, Hunter, The Professor) gives the game a much-needed narrative backbone.
The biggest improvement lies in the gameplay variety. Levels are now mission-based, requiring Spyro to complete numerous, well-designed mini-games and side quests to earn Talismans and Orbs. The addition of permanent new moves like the Headbash, Climbing, and Swimming (purchased from the greedy Moneybags) rewards player progress and opens up a far more interesting world to explore. This entry is bigger, deeper, and simply the most well-rounded and arguably the best title in the original trilogy."
Spyro: Year of the Dragon (2000)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Ambitious Conclusion: A Content Overload"
"Insomniac Games closed out the PS1 trilogy with its most expansive and varied title. Year of the Dragon builds directly upon the mission structure of Ripto's Rage and pushes the envelope by introducing multiple playable characters—including Agent 9 the monkey, Sheila the kangaroo, and Sgt. Byrd the penguin—each with their own unique levels and mechanics.
This massive focus on variety, from skateboarding to free-flying shooters, ensures that no two levels feel exactly alike. The quest to find the 150 stolen dragon eggs is huge, offering tremendous value and challenge for completionists. While the game is universally loved for its sheer size and charm, some players found that the focus on the new characters and frequent mini-games sometimes detracted from the core, pure platforming action, making it feel slightly less focused than its predecessor. It is, nevertheless, a fitting and content-rich finale to the PS1 era."
Crash Team Racing (CTR) Review 1: IGN (The Technical Ace)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Move Over, Mario: The PlayStation Finally Has a Kart King"
"Naughty Dog has done it again. While critics are quick to point out that Crash Team Racing is heavily 'inspired' by the Nintendo kart-racer formula, to dismiss it as a clone is a disservice. CTR is arguably the most technically refined racer of its generation. The game's engine is a showcase for the PlayStation, delivering vibrant, colorful tracks with remarkable draw distance, rarely seen on the hardware.
What truly separates CTR is its skill-based turbo system. The necessity of precisely timing the 'power slide boost' around corners rewards advanced players and raises the overall skill ceiling far above its contemporaries. The Adventure Mode provides unprecedented depth for a kart racer, with Relic Challenges and hidden CTR tokens giving solo players a huge incentive to master every track. It's not just the PlayStation's best kart game; it's a genre benchmark."
Crash Team Racing (CTR) Review 2: Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (The Content King)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "An Essential Purchase: Thrills, Depth, and Couch Chaos"
"If you own a PlayStation, you need Crash Team Racing. The game is a triumph of fun, whether you're playing alone or with three friends via the MultiTap peripheral. The Adventure Mode is the heart of the single-player experience, providing a brilliant mix of traditional trophy races, challenging time trials, and fun boss battles against characters like Ripper Roo and Papu Papu. It drives you to go for 100% completion in a way only the main Crash platformers did.
The controls are tight, responsive, and incredibly satisfying once you nail the rhythm of the triple power-slide boost. Each of the starting eight characters (including Crash, Coco, and Tiny Tiger) feels distinct, appealing to different driving styles. This is the ultimate party game for the console, and it proves that the Crash Bandicoot universe translates perfectly to the racetrack."
Crash Team Racing (CTR)Review 3: Player Opinion (The Nostalgia Factor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Fast-Paced Fun that Doesn't Need Luck"
"As a lifelong PlayStation kid, CTR was my answer to Mario Kart. What I loved most was that the game wasn't just about hoping for the best item; it was about driving skill. If you could successfully chain those power-slide turbos together, you could dominate a race, even without a good weapon.
The track design is inventive and feels incredibly fast, making the Time Relic Challenges a true test of dedication. The whole atmosphere—the unique items like the tracking missile and the bowling bomb, the vibrant graphics, and the addictive music—is pure late-90s joy. It's the best of Naughty Dog's platforming polish translated into the racing genre, and it holds up remarkably well today."