Crash Bandicoot’s Character Designs, Ranked

by

Crash Bandicoot's Character Designs, Ranked

Highlights

  • Crash Bandicoot has undergone multiple design changes over the years, with some updates receiving mixed feedback from the fans.
  • The original Crash Bandicoot look paved the way for the character’s evolution with innovative 3D graphics and animation.
  • The N. Sane Trilogy remakes offer a faithful recreation of Crash’s best look, capturing his iconic design with a few modern tweaks.

As a gamer who’s grown up with Crash Bandicoot, I’ve seen him evolve from a pixelated platformer icon to a high-definition marvel. Each iteration of his design has been a testament to the times, capturing the essence of the era while maintaining that quintessential Crash charm.

Crash Bandicoot has remained an iconic character for over two decades due to several factors, starting from his explosive debut on the PlayStation in 1996. Developed with maximum expressiveness, vibrancy, and quirkiness in mind, Crash stood out against the backdrops of N. Sanity Island. His elastic design, inspired by stretch-and-squash frames used in cartoons, brought an unprecedented level of liveliness to the world of video games.

For numerous individuals, Crash Bandicoot is often seen as a nostalgic ’90s series, yet over the years, the design of our orange marsupial has evolved subtly in an effort to keep pace with changing times. Some changes were praised, while others elicited disapproval. Join us on a journey through time and witness the transformation (not orchestrated by Doctor Neo Cortex) of this Bandicoot character as he progressed across different generations.

7 Crash of the Titans / Mind Over Mutant

From Perturbed Punk To Edgy Scenester

  • Platform(s): PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360
  • Released: 2007-10-04
  • Developer(s): Radical Entertainment
  • Genre: Beat ‘Em Up

Despite Crash Bandicoot: Crash of the Titans and Crash Mind Over Mutant having their supporters, many in the community found these versions of Crash to be criticized widely. The most contentious modification made in these games was replacing Crash’s fingerless gloves with hand and wrist tribal tattoos, which seems questionable given that tattoos are painted over fur rather than skin. Some might argue that this version of Bandicoot represents him at his most eccentric, as he sports floating eyebrows, exaggerated, plastic eyes, and a somewhat detached, blank expression.

Apart from the tribal tattoos, which were fading as a relic of the early 2000s, Crash sported denim shorts that seemed to come straight from Hot Topic, along with a studded belt. His hair, once spiky and often adorned with a mohawk, was now slicked back. The soft, fluffy fur on his belly, like other aspects of his redesign, became jagged and edgy instead of smooth and simple. Crash transitioned from a cartoon bandicoot known for his chaotic corridor rampages with gritted teeth to a DreamWorks mascot attempting to be quirky and unpredictable. Not exactly his most appealing appearance.

6 CTR – Crash Team Racing / Crash Bash

A Slight Downgrade From The Classic Era Look

  • Platform(s): PlayStation
  • Released: 1999-10-19
  • Developer(s): Naughty Dog
  • Genre: Racing

In the shift to Crash Team Racing (CTR), the Bandicoot’s appearance was perfected, but at the cost of some detail. This could be due to players typically focusing on Crash from behind or the busy open road ahead in CTR, as opposed to previous games where they often faced him directly. However, this doesn’t apply to Crash Bash, a game that used the same model, as characters ran around and competed in various mini-game stages. It’s possible that some rendering resources were saved for the other playable characters in Crash Bash.

In the reboot, Crash appears much like his original trilogy version, though he seems more compact and lower in resolution. Instead of running around with a tense or focused expression, this new Crash exudes a carefree, cheerful, and welcoming demeanor, often seen with an open-mouthed grin. This change could be due to the absence of collecting countless crystals and gemstones from perilous levels for once. It’s acceptable, but it feels slightly different.

5 Crash Boom Bang!

A Sleeker And More Minimalist Take On The Bandicoot

  • Platform(s): Nintendo DS
  • Released: 2006-10-10
  • Developer(s): Dimps
  • Platformer, Party Game

Video game characters often undergo a makeover when they are introduced to various countries and cultures. For instance, sharp-eyed fans may observe that the cover art of several Crash Bandicoot games depicts a black-eyed Crash with Pac-Man-like eyes, size alterations, and a welcoming grin. The game Crash Boom Bang was produced by the Japanese studio Dimps, which explains why the character model and characteristics were fine-tuned for Japanese audiences; in contrast, the Western version presents a more recognizable texture.

In a departure from its predecessors, the portrayal of Crash Boom Bang in this version is noticeably different. The most striking changes include an elongated triangular shape, an oversized head and ears, smoother details, and a fixed grin (in the Western version). Unlike the rough, pixelated appearance of its PlayStation 1 counterpart, this Nintendo DS version features a more streamlined and polished design. Even his signature blue pants, fur, and gloves appear to be tightly applied and painted on.

4 The Original (Crash Bandicoot) Style

An Innovative Miracle, But Still Not At His Best

  • Platform(s): PlayStation
  • Released: 1996-10-19
  • Developer(s): Naughty Dog
  • Genre: Platformer

There’s something to be said about the first attempt rarely being the best try. That being said, Naughty Dog’s work with Crash Bandicoot in 1996 was revolutionary in terms of 3D graphics and animation. While many early 3D characters tended to have rigid expressions and movements, Naughty Dog made it a priority to give Crash a stretchy, dynamic look and feel while moving. And they pulled it off with highly innovative rendering and animation technology, including borrowing squash and stretch techniques from animation. This carries over even in stills, mid-expression.

In his initial appearance, Crash appears somewhat raw and simplistic compared to his later appearances, showing signs of potential brilliance but needing more development. The emotions he expresses are a blend of anger, worry, and fear, but his cool, analytical, and curious traits have yet to fully emerge. His hair, rather than being styled like a mohawk, is more accurately described as messy, and his model appears leaner than in later versions; however, the overall design holds promise for greatness.

3 The Twinsanity Try

Padding Out The Look & A Missed Opportunity

  • Platform(s): PlayStation 2, Xbox
  • Released: 2004-09-28
  • Developer(s): Traveller’s Tales
  • Genre: Open-World, Platformer

In the game Twinsanity, there was an attempt to blend the gameplay style with an innovative take on the Crash/Cortex dynamic within an open world setting. However, while it largely followed the traditional design of Crash Bandicoot, it enhanced his appearance and added some appealing new features. As time went on, the cartoony visuals that had been effective on the PlayStation were gradually being replaced by more advanced graphics, which was partly due to increasing audience expectations and marketing hype surrounding technology. Unfortunately, this transition would ultimately prove detrimental to the series and its iconic character.

The cartoony North American box art of Twinsanity still holds a certain appeal with fans, and an entirely toonifiedCrash game, which worked for Zelda‘s Wind Waker a year earlier, might have been a better step in the right direction. However, Twinsanity‘s in-game models still struck a nice balance. Crash’s model took on crisper proportions while maintaining cohesive focal points (without distracting add-ons or accessories). Crash gains stylish new Converse kickers and metal shinpads, which are presumably helpful for all the spin-kicking and belly-flopping.

2 N. Sane Trilogy Remakes / It’s About Time

A Crowd-Pleasing And Faithful Recreation Of Crash’s Best Look

  • Platform(s): PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
  • Released: 2017-06-30
  • Developer(s): Vicarious Visions
  • Genre: Platformer

It’s clear that the team at Vicarious Visions aimed to rekindle the enchantment of the Crash Bandicoot series with their work on the N. Sane Trilogy. The environment, sound, ambiance, and character design are nearly a direct, ultra-HD upgrade. Crash is intricately modeled to be detailed yet not overly realistic to the point of distraction. In this remake trilogy, Crash’s appearance draws inspiration from his best versions throughout history while also incorporating some unique personality traits for added charm.

As perfectly crafted as the emulation is (even down to swapping out the jeans for something that resembles running shorts), some indescribable charm is lost with this safe incarnation without the slight jank of the PlayStation engine. The high-fidelity render leaves nothing to the imagination; as every strand of fur is visible and inspectable, it seems more odd than not that Crash’s rampages through rainforests and swamps would leave him spotless rather than caked in mud and gunk. However, that is a very minor criticism of an excellent execution of the character.

1 The Cortex Strikes Back / Warped / Wrath Of Cortex Era

Still The Apex Aesthetic For The Marsupial Mascot

  • Platform(s): PlayStation
  • Released: 1997-11-06
  • Developer(s): Naughty Dog
  • Genre: Platformer

As a child of the 90’s, I vividly remember the excitement that surrounded the release of Crash Bandicoot for the original PlayStation. This game single-handedly boosted Sony’s sales and etched the image of this marsupial hero into the minds of gamers everywhere. Growing up, I spent countless hours trying to master the challenging levels and perfect my moves as Crash. The rough edges of the original have been refined over time in games like Cortex Strikes Back, Warped, and The Wrath of Cortex, making each playthrough a delightful experience that never fails to bring a smile to my face. To this day, I still find joy in watching Crash jump pits, shred boxes, and shoot wumpa fruit from a bazooka at robot scientists. He will always be a legend in the world of gaming for me.

Despite being developed by Traveller’s Tales on the PlayStation 2 following a change in rights, Crash Bandicoot maintains a consistent appearance. His blue pants, which straddle the line between running shorts and jeans, remain unchanged until The Wrath of Cortex. In this game, his hair is styled into a natural mohawk, his eyebrows suggest a hint of playful cunning, and Naughty Dog’s masterful shading techniques give him the distinctive crisp yet radiant look associated with the PS1. This charm cannot be replicated or exceeded by high-definition graphics.

Read More

2024-08-15 07:35