Crash Bandicoot: Warped (1998)

The last PlayStation Crash title is the third entry of the iconic platformer trilogy, and it's widely regarded as the best of the original series, myself included. It refines the tight level design, responsive controls, and quirky humor that made Crash famous, while introducing new time-travel-themed worlds, vehicle levels, and power-ups that add variety to the gameplay. The visuals were top-notch for the era, with colorful environments and expressive animations. While some vehicle sections can feel clunky, even for the standards at the time, overall, Warped is a polished, creative, and highly entertaining platformer that remains a PlayStation classic.

Similar to the previous PlayStation Crash titles, I 100%'ed this one too, and it feels a little more special than the previous titles simply because there are more things to do, collect, more challenges, the sole gameplay variety is enough. Not to mention the high difficulty on some of the levels, especially when it comes to the secret ones that are unlocked after you perform the regular 100%, time trials included. All those secret levels are forever in my memories as one of the hardest platforming levels in all gaming history, or maybe I was just bad at them when I played this game, we'll never know, this is a must play for the PlayStation platform, a must 100%, not just a must play.

What makes this entry standout above its predecessors is the introduction of relic-based time trials, which added a whole new layer of replayability. The sprint mechanic fundamentally changed how levels were approached, rewarding precision, memorization, and near-flawless execution. It transformed familiar stages into high-stakes speed runs, pushing you to consider going through this harsh optional content. Combined with the boss encounters and the satisfying progression of unlocking new abilities like the double jump and super spin, it constantly feels like it’s building toward something bigger and more rewarding.

Looking back, it also stands as a technical showcase for the original PlayStation, squeezing impressive scale and smooth performance out of the hardware. This game represents the developer’s peak work with the character before moving on to new projects, at least for the standards of the time, which had a lot of console mascots to fight againts. Even decades later, this title remains a benchmark for 3D platformers of its era, challenging without being unfair, inventive without losing focus, and endlessly replayable for completionists.

As solid as Cortex Strike Back was, This game follows in the same path with a different flavor while adding more spices to the old dish. (sorry for the food pun)

This game is a small upgrade over the past installment with it's different unique Idea thrown into it. and as wacky as a Crash game can be, this isn't a 100% Platforming game.

This game can be consisted of being 60% of what the last game had (which is Platforming), and the rest are new ideas like motor racing, battle ship, underwater "terrible" levels. The game is trying to lean into multiple genres which can be fun, but If you are pure Platfomer enjoyer; you won't like this game.

Power-ups are a great concept in Platformers and it's done very well in here, but it doesn't add too much to the game! and you can't use them in most of the levels since you have about 60% of the game's levels that consists of true platforming while the others are Gimmicks.

I'm not trying to "bash" this game, and trust me it's not even close to be bad game. It's a great game not perfect, but it's really sad to see that I didn't enjoy this game as Crash 2, while in my childhood I always hated 2 and preferred 3.

It's sad to see the table turn. Still worth playing!

I likely played this game more than any other. I have to replay it to confirm these ratings. (I now have replayed it, for sure an Ultimate for me). See my full playthrough here (tho some cutouts made parts disappear :( )

Look: 10/10 Absolutely love the graphics from this era. I especially love the World Select screen. I believe I remember the backgrounds and horizons enthralling me, so I gave this a 10 for now. Replay may bring this to a 9. (On replay, I absolutely love looking into the horizons of the world select screen and many of the levels especially when being transported to a Bonus part of the level so you could see past-the-edges; the colors of the jetskiing levels are amazing; I am still not perfectly sure about this being a 10, it really could be a 9, but as for PS1 era 3D platformer graphics... this is the top)

Sound: 9/10 Memorable style. Few insanely stand out feels, but consistent and enjoyable throughout the game. Don't HAVE to mute it at almost any point. (On replay, confirmed I had the sound on the whole time, grooving and bopping, but there aren't any truly sentimental pieces to push this to a 10)

Play: 9/10 Great controls. Once you get the hang of them, you can even take on the DEVELOPERS' times; I love that you can reach for the stars even beyond the relics and other collectibles. Plus, as anyone knows, I love collectibles in games, especially platform games. (On replay, yep, the collectibles, the addictive nature, even the frustrating levels, make this so addictive and truly fun. Only because I don't absolutely love the swimming, jetskiing, and plane controls does this miss the 10 star)

Feel: 10/10 Such a joy to play through over and over again, never gets dull. Certain levels are blah, and certain settings are frustrating, especially the blimp levels (which I always get through, but never enjoy), the flying levels, some of the swimming levels, etc. But other levels/settings more than make up for them, like the Coco racing ones soooo fun. Plus, like I mentioned, once you get Run and other such abilities, trying to beat the fastest times and developers' time is such a joy. I love the mechanics of this era, being able to run along the side walls, etc. I would just explore Jak & Daxter's unnavigable terrain for the heck of it, and if this game didn't have a timer on the levels, I'm sure I would've done the same (well, indeed, I did it pointlessly in the world select area.). To earn a 10 on this, though, I have to love every single level and invariably play through to the end of the game every time I pick it up.(On replay, plus I have changed this part of the rating from Joy to Feel, this all seems more relevant to Play--that some of the levels have gameplay styles I don't absolutely love--so this really deserves to be the 10, since I almost always push through even the frustrating gameplay styles and get hooked to the game and always feel proud once I manage even the annoying plane levels' relics, while Play should be brought down to 9 instead)

Attachment: 10/10 One of those games you never forget, and occasionally want to return to. Indeed, on replay, I was fully back into it. It has such a replayability, and extendability (?) to play--e.g., I could even go back to get all the Platinum relics now. They have the perfect balance of collectibles, replay-for-better-endings, and just straightup pick-up-and-play possibilities. Brilliant. On this replay, I even sorta grew to love the motorcycle racing levels, since I got the turbo controls down a bit better :-p I'll never as good at this game as I was when young tho ha. Beating Developers times and whatnot

Completion: On most recent playthrough, 105% (all Gold Relics, Gems and Crystals) Playtime: 12.5 Hours (I was able to more accurately judge this, thanks to streaming almost all of it!)