Crash Bandicootcemented himself as aPlayStation Mascoton the PS1, with three phenomenal 3D platformers that somehow managed to keep the quality bar exorbitantly high.
The games are fine on PS2, but the absence of Naughty Dog at the helm is painfully noticeable. Fortunately,Crash Bandicoot 4marked aremarkable comebackwith a healthy dose of deceptively difficult platforming.
TheCrashgames are recognizable thanks to the colorful cast, but the games wouldn’t be iconic withouttop-tier levels.
With this in mind, here are some of the absolute best in the series, and if these don’t make you want to play either the originals or theN-Sane Trilogy, nothing will. The trilogy is evenavailable on Game Passso you have no excuse!
While this is a ranked list,Crash Bandicoothas enough incredible stages to make these choices subjective as there aren’t many bad stages in these fantastic games.
10Slippery Climb
The Ass Kicker
Slippery Climb is a legendary stage in the originalCrash Bandicoot, as it’sone of the toughest in the game, maybe second to Sunset Vista or High Road.
The big difference is the unique theme. You’re outside a creepy castle, traversing the walls in the thunder and rain while trying to avoid falling to your doom.Death is pretty punishingin Slippery Climb, as it feels like there’s a lot of space between checkpoints.
The jumps get particularly nasty toward the end of the level, andgood luck trying to snag the Relicplaying at speed. I also adore the lore with this one. Stormy Ascent, a level with the same theme, was reportedly deemedtoo challengingto include in the original release.
Fortunately, Vicarious Visions fixed that in theN-Sane Trilogy!
9Toxic Waste
It’s OK To Bob Your Head
Toxic Waste is anunforgiving gauntletof narrow walkways where one false move will see you crushed by rolling or bouncing barrels.
I love Toxic Waste for a few reasons, but we must discuss the soundtrack.It’s an absolute banger, notably heavier than most music in the game. TheN-Sane Trilogyrendition is also incredible anddoes the original justice.
The actual level is pretty unique as you must push forward even though barrels are constantly rolling or jumping toward you. It makes for somevery tense jumpswhere you can’t rest as there’s toxic sludge on either side of the walkway.
8Ruination
The Aztec Refined
Aztec theming has a special place inCrash Bandicoot. It’s featured all over the first two islands of the original, although some of the stages are a little lacking.
Crash Bandicoot 2has different locales butreturns to the Aztecswith Ruination. The stage feels like an improvement in every aspect.The layout is creative, and the nighttime makes the fiery hazards even more intimidating.
The enemy pool is memorable, too, featuring dangerousfrilled lizards and bush babiesthat are cute and creepy in equal measure. Combine the standout presentation with a superb bouncy soundtrack, and you have one of the best levels inCrash 2.
7Orient Express
Running Levels Perfected
The original trilogy ofCrash Bandicootgames all have their own flavor ofauto-runner levelswhere you ride a creature you cannot stop.
Thehog levels inCrash 1are great, and the polar bear levels are fantastic in the sequel, but Orient Express feels like a showcase of everything the team learned from previous games.
Youplay as Cocoin Orient Express as she rides an adorable baby tiger across the Great Wall of China. It sounds ridiculous, and it is, but the level is intense, especially if you’re chasing the coveted Time Trial Relic.
It’s busy, but deaths feel fair, asthe Tiger is nimble and responsive. The locale looks gorgeous, even on the original, with multiple routes if you can time your jumps.
6Heavy Machinery
Feel The Burn
Manyfans speak highly of Heavy Machineryin the originalCrash Bandicootand with good reason.
Heavy Machinery is set in a factory and is played almost entirely from a 2D perspective.
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Hazards, like scorching hot pipes and conveyor belts, are introduced at a decent rate with plenty of creative ways to spice up the stage.
The stage is also quite large, withfloating platforms taking you deeper into the factoryto face new challenges. Every part of Crash’s kit is tested, from precision jumping to timing, and there’s even anN.Brio Bonus Stageif you really want to test your mettle.
5Unbearable
The Perfect Combination
NoCrash Bandicootlist would be complete without one of thequintessential chase levels, where you run toward the screen and rely on those twitchy reflexes.
Crash is chased by a boulder in most of these stages, but Unbearable replaces that rolling ball of death with agiant, angry polar bear!The bear is so much cooler than the boulder, and hunting the Relic on this stage is a blast.
Better yet, you ride the precious polar cub for the final leg of the stage in anepic race of big versus small. It’s an unforgettable stage inCrash Bandicoot 2and easily the best in the third warp room.
The Modern Choice
Crash Bandicoot 4hadGoliath shoes to fillcoming off the heels of the originals andN-Sane Trilogy. It also had to bebetter than the PS2 games.
Fortunately, Toys for Bob wasup to the challengewithIt’s About Time. While I prefer the level designs of the older games, I can’t overlook the creativity of some of the newer stages.
Off Beat is aperfect example of that inventiveness, set against a beautiful city/carnival backdrop with trumpet-wielding ghosts and unicyclers juggling fish! The level makes the list for several reasons. Many features in the stage aretimed to the music, which is a nice way to addrhythm gamemechanics without feeling forced.
The stage is well-designed and easilyone of the prettiestCrash Bandicootlevelsin the entire series. It’s also fiendishly difficult if you want to break every box.
3The Eel Deal
Worse Than Drowning
The Eel Deal throws Crash into aclaustrophobic maze of pipeswhere unkillable electric eels turn every pool of water into a deathtrap.
‘Maze’ might be a little dramatic, but the level does split in several places, andyou must backtrackif you’re going for the Gem. Toward the end of the stage, the typical gameplay changes, too. There’s a section where Crash musthang off the railingsand avoid invincible metal sentinels that ominously stare as you swing past.
I may rate the Sewer levels a little highly as they havemy favorite soundtrack in the game, but it’s a stage I can play over and over again, and I appreciate the variance in playstyle.
2Future Tense
Let Vicarious Visions Cook
TheN-Sane Trilogyis full offaithfully remastered levelswhere you can tell that a passionate dev team didn’t want to spoil what made the originals so beloved. That said,the team has excellent level designers, and Future Tense proves it.
Future Tense is theonly original stagein the Trilogy, with the same setting as Gone Tomorrow in Crash Bandicoot Warped, just in the daytime. The stage is longer and more challenging than most, but it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Crash’s entire kit is required to beat the stage, and somesecrets are creatively hidden. I especially enjoy the use of mirrors, which we’ve seen in the Ice levels inCrash 2, but it works great here. The only downside is that I would happily open my wallet to see more stages like this.
1Dino Might!
No Animal Is Safe From Bandicoot Rides
The prehistoric swamps are a great local inCrash Bandicoot 3, even if theweird spinning fish enemiesseem slightly out of place.
Dino Might! Offers adelightful combinationof everything that makesCrash Bandicoot 3: Warpedso memorable. There’s 3D platforming with welcome 2D scrolling sections. Better yet, there’sa chase sequencewhere you face off against a Triceratops.
My favorite feature of Dino Might! is the baby dinosaur, which you may ride through the level. Unlike most rideable creatures in the series, you cantake your time, and it’s unaffected by obstacles like long grass, which slows you down if you’re on foot.
It’s not the hardest stage, butit has a bit of everythingand is a blast if you’re going for the Platinum Relic.
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