Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced Critic Reviews

With its simple plot (crashing crates and colleccting food and gems while fighting), kooky characters, and cool moves, N-Tranced is hours of frustrating fun.

Simply put, great graphics, sounds, control, gameplay, and variety in levels all make for a great game playing experience.

Blows any other recent incarnation out of the water.

The sequel's biggest unique element is its pretty darn fun Atlasphere challenges, inspired by the PS2/GameCube/Xbox "Wrath of Cortex" levels and powered by Vicarious Visions' "Tony Hawk" GBA engine.

The game's only problem is that the game can be a bit too easy at times.

Where the game sells the most are the mini-games like chase and atlasphere – they are really unique and exciting to play.

Offers some solid platforming excitement, but there are better games on the shelf.

The single-player game covers more than 30 levels with new nonlinear level progression.

This Bandicoot's got plenty of gas left in his belly. Sometimes it smells, other times, it's fresh as a daisy.

The mini-game stages can be disappointing (the hamster-ball sections have completely unrealistic physics), but overall Crash is not a bad little platformer at all. Unoriginal but not bad.

An amusing romp through the bizarre Crash Bandicoot universe. It's not the best game of its kind, but it's certainly worth a visit.

Crash's latest romp is fun, but does not reinvent the wheel.

A solid effort all around.

The graphics and sound both capture the action well, and the character animation is particularly strong.

N-Tranced will not hypnotize players with its ambitious design or extensive new features, but the quality of presentation and fast-paced arcade-style action make it easy to recommend.

Forgettable but playable. With few faults, fans of the first who want more of the same should check it out. Otherwise, with so many great platformers to choose from on the GBA, I suggest N-Tranced only to the kids who have never experienced the joys of Crash on the bigger screen.

Younger gamers won't be disappointed.

Given its high price tag and scant innovation Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced is unlikely to win over any new converts by playing it so safe and so young.

Should be a fun diversion for fans of the genre, though it pales in comparison to the best handheld platformers on the market.

The short of it is -- you've played it before. N-d of story.