Crash of the Titans

Vivendi Games

Industry	Video game publishing
Fate	Merged with Activision
Products	Crash of the Titans (published)

Crash of the Titans is a platform game released in 2007, developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and Xbox 360 platforms. Notably, it is the first title in the Crash Bandicoot series not to receive a Japanese release and represents Vivendi's final publication before merging with Activision. Separate adaptations for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance were created by Amaze Entertainment. This game is the fourteenth overall in the franchise and the sixth mainline installment.

The storyline centers on "Mojo," a resource extracted by the antagonist Doctor Neo Cortex and his niece Nina to engineer a mutant army known as "Titans." The hero, Crash Bandicoot, employs a unique "jacking" ability to commandeer and defeat these Titans while gathering Mojo. Additionally, Crash embarks on a mission to save his sister, Coco Bandicoot, who has been abducted to facilitate the construction of a doomsday device that supports Cortex and Nina’s ambitions for global domination.

Crash of the Titans garnered mixed critical reception. Reviewers commended the innovative jacking mechanic, visual presentation, voice performances, and humor, but expressed dissatisfaction with the combat system and fixed camera angles. The game also received three nominations for industry awards.

Gameplay

In Crash of the Titans, players experience a beat-em-up style game infused with platforming elements, controlling Crash Bandicoot as he strives to rescue his sister, Coco, and defend Wumpa Island from a massive robotic foe. Early in the game, players must save the sentient mask Aku Aku, who provides guidance, protection, and assists in navigation. Each level—referred to as an "episode"—involves battling enemy groups or completing various challenges.

Players start with four lives, each accompanied by a health bar that diminishes when Crash takes damage or falls into pits. Health can be replenished by collecting Wumpa Fruit. Losing all health results in losing a life; however, extra lives can be earned by accumulating 25,000 Mojo units or finding rare Golden Wumpa Fruit. Should all lives be lost, players must restart the current episode.

Within episodes are portals leading to mini-game arenas featuring timed objectives such as gathering Mojo, piloting Titans, or defeating foes. Players receive bronze, silver, or gold voodoo doll rankings based on performance in tasks like eliminating minions, destroying robotic toilets, or chaining hits consecutively. Securing gold medals unlocks concept artwork for each episode.

Combat

Departing from previous entries where Crash’s attacks consisted mainly of spinning or jumping moves, Crash of the Titans introduces light and heavy attacks alongside defensive options like blocking and dodging as well as breaking enemy guards. Vanquishing enemies releases Mojo that players collect to unlock upgrades or new abilities such as the Norris Roundhouse or Triple Dragon maneuvers. Classic spin attacks labeled "Old Skool," including their aerial versions, become available through progression.

While smaller enemies are defeated with straightforward combos, larger foes—referred to as "Titans"—require sustained assault to fill a star meter indicating their stunned state. Once stunned, Crash can "jack" these Titans—mounting and taking control over them—with access to moves similar to Crash’s own arsenal plus certain projectile attacks. Controlled Titans feature a purple Titan Meter that fills during combat; when full, it enables a powerful special attack that consumes the meter.

Co-operative play

A second participant can join at any moment as "Carbon Crash," a variant of Crash characterized by white fur. This character initially appears inside the primary player's backpack and can enter or exit it freely, except while airborne or climbing walls. Cooperative gameplay facilitates quicker Mojo collection and makes defeating adversaries easier. There are two distinct modes: in "Leapfrog Mode," control alternates between players after each action performed by the lead player, whereas "Piggyback Mode" allows both players to carry backpacks and hide inside each other's during critical situations such as crossing gaps.

Plot

While Crash assists Coco with a device designed to recycle butter, Doctor Neo Cortex kidnaps Aku Aku and Coco, simultaneously freezing Crunch. After rescuing Aku Aku, Crash discovers that Cortex and Uka Uka are siphoning Mojo to construct the Doominator, a robot intended to annihilate Wumpa Island and dominate the world. Cortex attempts to defeat Crash using his Yuktopus cyborg but fails and retreats.

At Cortex’s stronghold, Uka Uka replaces him with his niece, Nina Cortex, who brainwashes Coco to support the Doominator’s assembly. To find Coco, Crash and Aku Aku defeat Tiny Tiger, Doctor N. Gin, and Uka Uka. Inside the Doominator, Crash overcomes Nina’s Arachnina cyborg, liberates Coco, and disables the robot moments before it collapses near their home. Cortex commends Nina’s treachery and vows even greater malevolence. The Bandicoots celebrate their triumph.

Development

Crash of the Titans was created by Radical Entertainment and published by Vivendi Games under Sierra Entertainment. The development commenced immediately following Crash Tag Team Racing, with the same team responsible for that game and The Simpsons: Hit & Run. Lead designer Joe McGinn sought to revive the challenge of the original trilogy while emphasizing action gameplay, introducing the jacking mechanic to broaden Crash’s combat repertoire, described as "Street Fighter lite." This system strikes a balance between ease of access for newcomers and complexity for experienced players. Designer Josh Mitchell mentioned that traditional puzzles were reduced due to the focus on combat but included challenges based on Titan abilities. The Wii version incorporates motion controls designed for precision and comfort, featuring projectile Titans that utilize the Wii Remote's pointing function. The Xbox 360 edition includes over 40 achievements tailored to various playing styles. The PlayStation 2 release marked the team’s fourth project on that console.

Art director Yousuf Mapara encountered difficulties in harmonizing visuals across three different platforms, prioritizing classical art elements such as lighting composition and color theory over hardware limitations. The Xbox 360’s superior hardware allowed for enhancements like depth of field and soft shadow effects, extending development by two months to improve visuals. Producer Kirsten Forbes explained that character redesigns aimed to unify the cast into a contemporary "punk" aesthetic distinct from conventional cartoon designs.

The game contains approximately 7,000 lines of dialogue intended to minimize repetition while injecting humor through enemy interactions. Writer Chris Mitchell emphasized that comedic depth was achieved by highlighting character imperfections. Many voice actors from Crash Tag Team Racing reprised their roles, including Jess Harnell (Crash), Lex Lang (Cortex), Debi Derryberry (Coco), Nolan North (N. Gin), Amy Gross (Nina), Chris Williams (Crunch and Tiny), Greg Eagles (Aku Aku), John DiMaggio (Uka Uka), and Tom Kenny (various enemies). Composer Marc Baril created a 32-track soundtrack that was released on the iTunes Music Store in December 2007.

Marketing and release

Throughout the development phase, Vivendi Games collaborated with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, appointing Crash Bandicoot as the emblem for the Society's "School and Youth" initiatives. The character was prominently featured on their website and promotional materials. A Hummer vehicle adorned with game-themed graphics, along with a playable Wii console, was displayed at the Annual Balloon Fiesta held in Bristol, UK.

The title was showcased in a pre-alpha condition in April 2007 and made an appearance at E3 2007. Its official release took place on October 2, 2007, in North America for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and Wii; followed by Europe on October 12; and Australia between October 18 (Xbox 360 and PS2) and October 25 (Wii). The PlayStation Portable edition was launched in Australia on November 22. A special "Monster Edition" for PlayStation 2, exclusive to Europe, offered additional features such as behind-the-scenes videos, tattoos, gameplay hints, cheat codes, and trailers in multiple languages.

Reception

Crash of the Titans garnered "mixed or average" critiques according to Metacritic. Reviewers acknowledged the innovative jacking combat system but often criticized the gameplay for becoming monotonous due to a scarcity of puzzles and limited exploration. The combat mechanics were frequently described as unbalanced with erratic enemy AI behavior. Brian Rowe from GameRevolution and Ryan Davis of GameSpot characterized the platforming elements as straightforward and lacking challenge; Davis further remarked that the game lacked a distinctive identity, implying that Crash could be swapped with other cartoon-style protagonists without altering the experience. The cooperative mode was largely deemed fun, although some critics found multiplayer components confusing or inadequately executed. Mike Thomsen of Nintendo World Report noted occasional input lag with the Wii motion controls, suggesting imperfect calibration of the Wii Remote. The camera system’s restricted adjustability often exposed players to unseen threats.

The visual design received commendations. Thomsen admired the "quirky and intricate" art style, comparing it to a Tim Burton-inspired tropical fantasy featuring exaggerated perspectives across twenty stages. Davis preferred the Xbox 360 edition for its enhanced textures, lighting effects, and particle details, while observing that Wii and PS2 versions were visually similar but that the Wii offered superior particle effects on high-definition displays. Periera and Michael Knutson from GameZone praised the crisp character models and animations yet found the environments somewhat uninspired; Periera valued the focal points within levels. Dakota Grabowski highlighted well-rendered environmental textures and lighting but expressed disappointment over character redesigns. Matt Keller complimented detailed character models, vibrant color schemes, and expansive level layouts. Rowe appreciated the colorful settings despite their linear progression. The Xbox 360 version’s overuse of motion blur drew negative remarks.

Audio elements received varied opinions; voice performances and comedic writing were generally well-received. Thomsen emphasized the "eccentric Danny Elfman-style" soundtrack, exaggerated voice acting, polished scriptwriting, and diverse enemy dialogue. Davis and Grabowski praised the voice cast for their humor and effectiveness. Periera found minion chatter amusing though somewhat outdated. Rowe acknowledged the script’s wit but criticized Greg Eagles’ interpretation of Aku Aku as a weak imitation of a familiar character. Knutson and Keller dismissed the musical score as unremarkable and expressed irritation with certain character voices; however, Keller recognized merit in the vocalizations of smaller creatures reminiscent of Jerry Lewis.

Sales and Recognitions

In the Australian market, Crash of the Titans achieved the position of the second top-selling game during its initial week, surpassed only by Halo 3. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the PlayStation 2 edition entered the sales rankings at number 32 and accumulated £3.35 million in revenue by the conclusion of 2007.

The title earned a nomination in the first-ever video game writing awards hosted by the Writers Guild of America, contending with games such as The Witcher and World in Conflict, although the award was ultimately claimed by Dead Head Fred. Furthermore, Crash of the Titans was considered for "Best Sound Design" and "Best Character" categories at the Second Annual Elan Awards but was bested by Skate and Commander Shepard from Mass Effect, respectively.

External links

• Official website (archived via the Internet Archive)