Crash Twinsanity E3 2004 Preshow Updated Impressions

Though much of what VU Games and developer Traveller's Tales will be showing of their latest addition to the Crash Bandicoot franchise, Crash Twinsanity, has been seen in our previous coverage, we recently took the opportunity to spend a little more time with the game before E3, exploring more of the game's unique mechanics and bizarre comedy.

In Crash Twinsanity, you are in control of not only everyone's favorite irreverent Bandicoot, Crash, but also his archnemesis, Dr. Cortex. This unlikely pairing is the direct result of a pair of evil twins invading their world and stealing all of its fruit. Much of the game's inherent comedy comes from these two seemingly unteamable characters trying to work together with each other. Though you will actually only be controlling Crash himself, Dr. Cortex is essentially attached to Crash throughout the entire game, and as such, you can use him as a weapon and as a method of solving puzzles. Throw him across a ravine to get to a hard-to-reach switch, or use him like a sledgehammer to whale on nearby foes. At times, you'll also be able to use the two in a rolling ball mechanic that Traveller's Tales refers to as "rollerbrawl" and slide your way through a long downhill slope, and all the while, Crash and Cortex will be engaged in a goofy brawl, the likes of which would make Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner proud. Finally, you'll also be able to ride Cortex like a snowboard down certain level courses using a mechanic the developers call the "humiliskate." Crash Twinsanity will also feature another playable character: Cortex's 10-year-old niece, Nina Cortex. Though none of Nina's levels were shown in the demo, she was described to us as a 10-year-old goth girl, complete with jet-black hair and huge bionic arms for crushing foes--this should be interesting to say the least.

Crash Twinsanity will take the series away from the "on a rail" style of gameplay fans have become accustomed to, in exchange for full, free-roaming 3D environments. The entire gameworld will be entirely streamed, meaning no real load times to speak of. Crash Twinsanity will feature 16 distinct missions set throughout this wacky world, as well as four additional bonus missions. The game's environments will be appropriately zany, with a bevy of random, bizarre gags strewn throughout. For example, in one area, we came across a fountain that spouted fish--not fish that happened to be in the water, just fish. Little gags like this are just the icing on the cake according to Traveller's Tales, as their aim is to try to make Crash Twinsanity the funniest platformer ever. To help aid in this pursuit, they have even gone so far as to acquire the writing services of former Ren & Stimpy head writer Jordan Reichek.

Currently, Crash Twinsanity is targeted for release this September on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. We'll have more on the game soon.