Reviewed by: Funkadelic
Rated: 
Posted on: December 13, 2000
In a perfect world, every PlayStation owner would have a Multi Tap and three friends. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world. Thus, the PlayStation-owning population is separated into two camps: those who own a Multi Tap, and those who do not. Which brings us to Crash Bash, the latest Sony PlayStation game starring everyone's favorite orange marsupial, Crash Bandicoot. Crash Bash, developed by Eurocom, is an enjoyable party game featuring several mini-games that let up to four players participate simultaneously. To attract the single-player crowd, the game also has an Adventure mode that revolves around a decent story line.
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| Coco, Crash's sister, proving she can play with the boys. |
Crash Bash offers three main modes of play: Adventure, Tournament, and Battle. Adventure mode, the meatiest mode of the game, is for one or two players only. This mode fuses story sequences and level objectives with a basic mini-game formula. Choosing from eight available characters (four good, four bad), players must align themselves with the forces of good or evil. Besides Crash and his sister, Coco, several of the game's franchise characters are playable, including the evil Dr. Neo Cortex and Dr. N. Brio. Like the platform games in the series, the Adventure mode features boss stages, in which you will face a few adversaries from past games. Naturally, this mode also forces players to earn crystals, gems, and relics, all of which have become staples of the Crash games. Although the Adventure mode offers two separate story lines, not to mention plenty of wacky challenges along the way, the mini-games become old fast, regardless of whether or not you play with another person.
Regarding the mini-games, Crash Bash has six basic mini-games that range from tank battles to all-out brawls using crates and TNT boxes. As you make your way through the Adventure mode, you will discover slight variations in each mini-game, which add further challenge. To complete a mini-game and earn a trophy, you must successfully win three rounds. Thankfully, most of the mini-games feature simple control schemes and useful power-ups to ease things. In fact, several of them use only two or three buttons, so even very young players can enjoy the game. Crash Bash supports both digital and analog control, allowing gamers to use whichever control method feels best — although digital control is definitely preferred in some cases.
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| This falling weight is just one of the deadly hazards you need to watch out for in this mini-game. |
The AI can be challenging (and cheap) at times, but there are instances when you can let your computerized opponents kill one another while you sit back and watch. Other times, though, it seems like your character is marked for death, as the computer will occasionally gang up on you. In addition, each character has his or her own strengths, weaknesses, and special abilities, so some characters are better suited for certain mini-games than others. Unlimited lives and continues, however, bring balance to the many frustrating losses you are sure to face at the hands of the computer. Overall, while squaring off against the computer provides some short-lived fun, the enjoyment quickly wears thin because the simple mini-games are repetitive and not that fun to play alone.
Fortunately, the real fun in Crash Bash lies within its two multi-player modes, Tournament and Battle, which let up to four players engage in some crazy, competitive battles. The same mini-games, arenas, and character from the Adventure mode are available in both of these modes, although you need to unlock some arenas and mini-games in the Adventure mode first. Nevertheless, the Tournament mode (a four-stage competition) and Battle mode (intense free-for-all battles and team-play matches) provide some lively entertainment that the whole family can enjoy. You can also play these two modes alone, but they are not nearly as enjoyable.
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| This be the Pogo mini-game. |
Graphically, Crash Bash's colorful graphics and stylish presentation are quite impressive. While not much of a leap from previous Crash games, its visuals do showcase great lighting effects, solid polygon models, and good animation. Some backdrops are rather bland, however, and do not compare favorably with previous games in the series. Still, considering that a different developer handled this one, I appreciated seeing the series' unique look left intact.
Audio-wise, the same jungle beats from previous Crash games are here, with a few extra synthesizer riffs thrown in for good measure. The music, while catchy, is nothing that you will be humming after you are finished playing. Voice-overs and sound effects are also quite good and on par with those in previous games. Still, a few characters make some annoying sounds, and the mini-game announcer announces the winner of each game with a Mortal Kombat-like voice, which seems a little out of place.
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| The game has some great explosions and lighting effects. |
Overall, Crash Bash is a must-have party game for anyone who owns a Multi Tap accessory, especially since the PlayStation does not have many action-based games that allow four players to play simultaneously. On the other hand, those who are looking for an enjoyable single-player experience will be disappointed, as it provides little lasting enjoyment as a one-player game. However, if you are a Crash fan, or are looking for some mindless entertainment, Crash Bash will make a terrific rental.
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