Video game review: 'Crash of the Titans' is fun — and a bit wacky
Platform: Reviewed on Nintendo DS; also available on Wii, Game Boy Advance, Xbox, 360, PlayStation 2, PSP
Studio: Sierra Entertainment
Rated: E for Everyone
Score: 8.5 out of 10
THE REVIEW:
Crash. You know him, you love him. He's everyone's favorite Australian marsupial export. In cartoon video game format, anyway. The Crash Bandicoot series has been around, what is it, nearly 11 years now? My how this genetically-advanced kid has grown up. Almost freakishly, like a mutant. Wait, that's the point!
Crash, for those not in the know, is a wacky yet kind-hearted and laid-back guy, who wears jeans to go with his coyote-fox-Tasmanian Devil goofy good looks and charm. The dude wants nothing more than to play Frisbee with his friends, eat pancakes and be at the beach watching sunsets from his home on N. Sanity Island.
Standing in his way is the antagonizing Doctor Neo Cortex. Yeah, that same evil Doctor Cortex, the mad scientist who, in this installment of the story, captures Crash's genius sister Coco and the island spirit guardian Aku Aku in a plan to use stolen island mojo to create an army of wicked animal mutants. And take over the world. Big surprise. Wait, Aku what? Aku Aku, Crash's metaphysical ally, the ancient voodoo mask spirit of an old witch doctor who looks over the Wumpa Islands. Stay with it ...
The game's coup de grace, Crash's ability to "hijack" enemies (rather, commandeer them with a bull-riding technique) is a pretty cool idea: beat the bad guys at their own game. Hang on to the "jacked" mutants wearing the Aku Aku mask, using their immense powers against other enemies and you've got some seriously fun time-wasting on your hands.
Gameplay: The idea is basic and uncomplicated: (1) bash, smash and crash as many booty-filled crates and containers as you can; (2) jump, slide, skate and scale throughout the various lairs, landscapes and jungles, locating mojo, masks, gems and other items; (3) fight off the mutant attackers. Lather, rinse, repeat.
This is where the game gets a little monotonous, although the graphics and game play are very solid and intuitive on the DS format. The expanded fight moves are easy and also allow fun interaction with surroundings, rope-swinging, wall-running and general chaos. Just watch out for the toxic waste rivers, the green lab residue and other nastiness along the way. It seems there might be more storyline and depth of play in other formats, alas, it's still pretty imaginative.
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