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Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped ("Crash Bandicoot 3: Flying! Globe-Trotting" in Japan) is a platform game created and developed by Naughty Dog. Released in 1998, it was the third platformer game in the Crash Bandicoot series and the last platformer game in the series made by Naughty Dog, who became an in-house developer for SCEA after Crash Team Racing.
The game's story centers on a duo of anthropomorphic bandicoots and their mission to gather Power Crystals scattered across time before their enemies can.
A large critical and commercial success, Crash Bandicoot 3 is considered the best game in the series and one of the defining platform games of its era, alongside Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie.
Like previous installments in the Crash Bandicoot series, Warped consists of two main modes of gameplay: a hub room and the levels. The hub room (called the Time Twister here) is split into five areas, each containing five levels and a boss fight. Initially, only one area in the hub is accessible, but more are opened as the areas are completed. The levels featuring Crash largely follow the "follow-the-path" gameplay seen in previous games in the series, but other modes, such as riding a biplane, jetski, and tiger among others, can be seen along with this. Another new feature is the ability to gain new abilities by defeating a boss. These abilities include faster running speed, a longer spinning attack, and a bazooka among others. The game also makes heavy use of the then-new Dual Shock controller by using the vibration effect frequently.
Time Trial
In addition, the game features a new Time Trial mode, in which a level must be raced through in the fastest time possible. Boxes are laid throughout the levels that are able to freeze time for 1, 2, or 3 seconds. A Sapphire or Gold Relic will be earned if the given time is beaten. In addition, there are Platinum Relics and developer times set by the Naughty Dog and SCEA testers. A platinum relic can still be received before completing the game with 100%, but the times will only be seen on the level info box if the game is completed with 100%. Completing the game with 105% (the maximum percentage of the game) shows a sequence in which Crash and Coco watching a fireworks display.
Settings
Much of the game takes place in Nefarious Tropy's Time Twisting Machine, where Crash and Coco travel through numerous periods of time. The Time Twister consists of two hub rooms (one underground), the first one containing five chambers, each of which containing six portals, each leading to a different period of time, including (but not limited to) Medieval Times, Prehistoric Times, Ancient Egypt, the future, and more.
Story
The game takes place immediately after the previous installment, in which Doctor Nitrus Brio uses the 42 gems Crash has collected to power his giant laser weapon to destroy Doctor Neo Cortex's space station. As a result, large chunks of the space station's debris plummet down to Earth and crash into an ancient-ish monument. When the smoke clears, an evil entity flies off into the night.
Back on N. Sanity Island, the home of Crash and his friends, an evil laughter rings through the air. Aku Aku appears shaken, and urges everyone to come inside, as a great evil has come.
In an as-of-now unknown area, Doctor Neo Cortex is seen cowering before the evil entity (now known as Uka Uka), who appears upset that Cortex has failed him twice. Cortex insists that it is all Crash Bandicoot's fault, but Uka Uka's patience is spent, as there is now no other power source on the planet. But since Cortex has indirectly set him free, Uka Uka spares Cortex's life, and introduces Doctor Nefarious Tropy, master of time and the creator of the "Time Twister" that the trio is currently standing on. With N. Tropy's Time Twister, the villains plan on gathering the Power Crystals in their original places in time.
Inside Crash's home, Aku Aku tells the Bandicoots a story of how many eons ago, Uka Uka, Aku Aku's evil twin brother, was locked in an underground prison by Aku Aku to protect the world from his malice, and now that he is free, he must be stopped at all cost. With that, Crash and his friends travel to the Time Twisting Machine, where their adventure begins.
When Crash and Coco have defeated N. Tropy and collected all of the Crystals and all of the Gems, Crash battles Doctor Cortex in the core of the Time Twisting Machine. Upon Cortex's defeat, the Time Twister implodes (due to N. Tropy's defeat), taking Cortex, Tropy, and Uka Uka with it. Crash and the others escape just in time for the snow season. As the ending credits roll, it is seen that the three villains are trapped in a time prison, with Cortex and Tropy transformed into infants and fighting over Uka Uka's possession
Ending Controversy
Some fans consider the ending to be the end of the whole Crash series storyline, as there is no given way that Cortex, Uka Uka, or N. Tropy returned. However, in the next game, all of the villains return as if nothing happened.
One of the most likely theories brings up the fact that the only villain in the game not to be caught up in the Time Twister was Doctor N. Gin, who could have fixed the Time Twister somehow and let Cortex and the others loose.
Levels
Crash Bandicoot: Warped has 37 levels - 25 normal and 5 boss levels arranged in five time chambers, 6 levels in each, with a different background; levels 7 and 19 have secret entrances (levels 27 and 29) accessed by obtaining 10 and 20 relics respectively; levels 26, 28 and 30 are accessed by obtaining 5/15/25 relics; the last two are hidden and can only be accessed from levels 11 and 14. Each set of levels contains five levels that may be played in any order, and each level has a crystal. Upon collecting the crystals of one set of levels, Crash must defeat a boss to proceed to the next set. Gaining 3 in each area and entering a fourth level for the first time (or when entering the boss level for the first time), the boss will give a speech. When 5 relics are obtained (at least Sapphire standard), a platform appears in the middle, that takes Crash to an air-conditioned room, where the lab assistants are styled and warped - in other words, warp room 6, consisting of levels 26-30. Below are the themes surrounding each area:
Time Chamber 1 - Tiny Tiger - The Middle Ages - level 1
Time Chamber 2 - Dingodile - Saudi Arabia - level 7
Time Chamber 3 - Dr. N. Tropy - 17th Century China - level 10
Time Chamber 4 - Dr. N. Gin - Ancient Egypt - levels 16 and 20
Time Chamber 5 - Neo Cortex - Future - level 21
Time Chamber 6 - Uka Uka - Neodyne
Scores
*GameSpot: 8.9 out of 10
*IGN: 9.1 out of 10
*GamePro: 5 out of 5
*The Electric Playground: 8 out of 10
*All Game Guide: 4.5 out of 5
*Electronic Gaming Monthly: 9.1 out of 10
*PSM: 4.5 out of 5
*Official PlayStation Magazine: 5 out of 5
*Play UK: 90 out of 100
