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Platform: GameBoy Advance

Developer: Vicarious Visions

Publisher: Universal Interact.

Genre: Platformer

ETA: January 7, 2002

Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced

Here’s what the “fact” sheet says, just so we all have the same information:

- More than 30 action-packed levels throughout 7 unique environments

 

- Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced features new takes on classic Crash environments, as well as sending our hero to all-new areas like Persia and Egypt

 

- 10 more levels than Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure

 

- Gamers with 2 copies of N-Tranced can link their GBA systems and take on a friend in two types of multiplayer gameplay

 

- Race – 2 players race against one another on a game level to see who can get the fastest time.  - Each player races on their own screen against a ghost image of their opponent.

 

- Atlas Sphere – Crash and the crew are on a roll in the 3 unique, fully 3D Atlas Sphere modes:  -  - King of the Hill, Domination and Bumper Cars

 

- Gamers who own both Crash GBA titles can unlock characters for multiplayer use in N-Tranced. Based on how much of the 1^st game has been completed, specific characters will be unlocked.  This feature requires linking 2 GBA systems, each with a copy of one of the games.

 

- N-Tranced moves away from the traditional “hub” level progression system found in previous Crash games with an all-new map system that allows the player more freedom of choice in the path they take through the game.  Beyond choosing the order in which they play through levels, gamers must also complete levels to unlock and move on to deeper levels in the game.  This addresses the complaint that the original felt “too linear”.

 

- Crash has some new techniques to get around his world this time around – he climbs ropes, rides zip lines, blasts off on rockets and more.  This gives a fresh spin on classic gameplay.

In addition, Crash has 2 new special moves in his arsenal – the Rocket Jump and Super Slide.

 

- 3 New Crates:

Freeze – Breaking this crate temporarily freezes all of crashes enemies on the screen

Copter – Busting this crate open lets Crash strap into the heli-pack for crazy copter action

Magic Carpet – When Crash hits this crate he will hop on the magic carpet and take to the skies genie-style

 

- Whereas in Huge Adventure only Crash was playable, N-Tranced has gamers take control of Coco and Crunch, in their very own levels.

If anything, with such an extensive list of improvements and new features, Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced looks to increase play time many times over the original, while firmly incorporating the original through the GBA link.  And although it has some new gameplay elements, they don’t look to be earth shattering – a total reworking of platform jumping games – but more of a logical evolution of Crash’s GBA adventures.

What I like to hear though, is the multiplayer connectivity and extras available when playing with a friend.  As developers become more familiar with the GBA technology and develop more ideas centered around connectivity we’ll probably see more of this.  Vicarious Visions is really making a name for themselves with their GBA games – they translated the Tony Hawk series to the GBA – so look for the connectivity to be further engrained.

Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced ships February 7, 2002.

- Omni

(December 13, 2002)