Crash Bandicoot 2 takes off where the original Crash Bandicoot left off. The storyline is really quite interesting: Neo Cortex (the bad guy that Crash defeated in the original game) miraculously survived and has stumbled upon a horrifying discovery concerning an impending disastrous solar flux that will destroy the earth. He needs magical crystals that have the power to contain this disaster, and he decides to call upon the one person who could defeat him to collect them for him -- Crash! So Neo Cortex has made an enormous turn-around, and is trying to redeem himself by saving the world that he once planned to dominate.
This is a 3D platform game, but the paths are predetermined, and only parts of it are fully 3D. But the truth is, there exist games that are fully 3D but they just aren't as fun as Crash 2. You probably won't care much that it isn't fully 3D, because you will be too busy having fun!
There are different levels called hubs, and on each hub there are 6 levels. Crash rides an elevator in the center of the platform to get to the next hub, and must beat a "boss" before allowed to move on. He must collect jewels on each level.
One of my favorite levels is one in which Crash actually gets to ride on a polar bear cub and is being chased by a huge rolling stone. This is a very exciting level that competitive kids will really enjoy. Another involves being chased by a huge, mean polar bear while dodging all sorts of pits and things, and sliding under electric fences as well ( you don't want to run right into these, trust me). Most other levels, however, do NOT involve being chased, so the faint-hearted among you can relax. Chase levels are so exciting, though, that even watching someone else play them can set your heart a-pounding.
Crash 2 has a whole repertoire of moves, some of which the original Crash didn't have, including body slams, crawling, and super-jumps.
This is certainly a game that most kids around 7 & up can enjoy tremendously. It has a lot of replay value, and content, and is -- quite simply -- fun.
