Brutal Gamer

Crash: Mind over Mutant (Xbox 360) Review

By Ascension - November 21, 2008 - 00:54 UTC

Crash: Mind over Mutant is (probably) the eleventy-hundred and fourth (Well… fifteenth) installment in the Crash Bandicoot series, and the latest game staring the games hero known as “Crash” to reach the market. The game is currently available for pretty much every console (including the DS and PSP) apart from the PS3 and was many people’s (myself included) first love for the ‘ole Playstation One.
On with the review!

Crash:MoM (Mind over Mutant) is an adventure/action game in which the player controls the series protagonist, Crash Bandicoot. The games main objective is to find out, and eradicate the threat towards Crash’s home Wumpa Island…and as usual save the world from the latest threat, the “NV” A device based on REAL LIFE things such as mobile phones, Blackberry’s and anything else that seems to have the power to overtake someone’s modern day life…

Wait wait where was I? Oh yeah, as usual you must save the world from the games main antagonist Dr Neo Cortex who has teamed up with ex partner Dr Brio. Now anyone from the first game may remember him, anyone who doesn’t will be reminded throughout the game who he is…and what he made…and why he deserves the credit…..etc.

Graphically this game is nothing short of….vibrant. Now though, many games now are credited towards how well they manage something called “Photo-realism” Which is basically how much the game resembles a photograph of something in real life. However, Crash isn’t going to be trying to get in as a “Photographically” good game and its cell-shaded style remains true to the series heart, making it one of the warmest looking games available, especially when it’s on the shelves surrounded by the dark and depressing games of today such as Fallout, Dead Space, Gears of War an’ ‘ting. I have to say I thought the graphics really were a credit to this particular style, and kept a smile on my face even during the rainiest of days.

On an added note, the cut scenes in this game are all played though different “Styles” which players of any age will recognize. These scenes include the animations of public favorites such as South Park, hand puppets or even Dragon Ball and really bring something original to the game, not to mention that ALL of them made my smile that little bit bigger, and even the odd giggle slipped out.

Now onto the gameplay, the gameplay itself is fairly basic, with the whole of the combat simplified into a light-powered attack and a heavy-powered attack, with a block, dodge and “break” which effectively breaks through an enemy’s block. The game also uses a leveling system; in which when Crash defeats enemies or destroys objects some magical…stuff known as “Mojo” is released, and when Crash collects enough Mojo his abilities are enhanced. Also, if you are riding a Titan, and collect enough Mojo, the Titans abilities are the ones that are upgraded. Titans are also a key part of combat within the game, and use a similar move set to Crash. The Titans however, also have the ability to use special attacks, which are unique depending upon the Titan currently being ridden, or “Jacked”

Lastly, moving through the world of Crash is fairly simple, with movement controlled with left stick, jumping with the A button, and the occasional “digging” sequence involved, in which Crash digs underground for a short time to access new areas, and search for some items. Titans are also occasionally implemented into the movement around the game world, with their different abilities making new areas accessible, and items easier to reach.

The sound in Crash:MoM is very reasonable for a game of this type, with voice acting done commendably well for the characters, and the sound effects for the different Titans all unique which is a bonus. Also moving through different environments you notice new music, different ambient noises and some amusing lines screamed from the various enemies in the world you travel through. All in all, there is nothing remarkable about the sound in Crash, but the work which has been put in really is a credit to the developers.

The lasting appeal to Crash:MoM is not in its storyline, which is somewhere around a mere 30% of the games completion, but rather the various different side quests and mini games available to play. These mini games include many tasks such as defeating 10 waves of enemies of increasing difficulty and a time limit, surviving 10 waves of harder foes for a set time, and various different time trials scattered into the game, many with their own specific objective. Multiplayer is also available (depending on console), but only after defeating one of the bosses in the game (Don’t worry! She’s near the beginning) and this will bring one friend into the world with you. With all the abilities you have (again, depending on your console) and is a pretty fun feature all around.

Now finally, a few issues need to be addressed. As do a few other points I’d like to make and in general voice my own personal opinion. Crash has always been a favourite of mine, it was the second character I really found myself loving in a game, (Sonic first, obviously) and is the kind of game I always think back too. But there are a few bugs, most notably and irritating is being check-pointed over a hole, dying every time you appear. Which if you forgot, or just didn’t save, (Auto-save isn’t available either, which really should be) then you’ll need to turn off the console. Also there is a LOT of backtracking, and with no guide as to where you should be heading it’s easy to get confused and forget where you’re supposed to be going.
All in all then this a good “pick up and play” game, but would be difficult for the younger gamers out there, and boss difficulty is…inconsistent.

The verdict? Well worth a rent, or a cheap buy, and downright perfect for keeping little jimmy happy.

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