Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (PS1)
There are two common ways to spin a sequel for anything, including video games: refining the core identity to play into its strengths, or flipping the entire concept on its head in order to steer clear of the weaknesses. Both sides have their drawbacks, of course. An “improved” version of a successful game isn’t likely to garner as much of a reception as its predecessor initially did, resulting in a steady decline in sales that may result in a knee-jerk reaction from a publisher wanting all the lines to keep going up. On the other hand, there is a serious risk of losing the appeal that made your game good enough to get a follow-up green lit, either because your new ideas weren’t received very well or that aforementioned identity just ends up lost in translation. Or you could be Devil May Cry 2 and fuck literally everything up possible, but thankfully I decided to go play Crash 2 instead.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is probably going to stand as the golden example of the “refine” side of that sequel coin. Crash Bandicoot was a smash hit for PlayStation? Cool, now refine his control scheme, add a new MacGuffin because we can’t use the girlfriend anymore, and fix checkpoints saving box progress. And now we have what is probably one of the strongest 3D platformers possibly forever.
I don’t know what else I could add here. I was able to talk about some technical bullshit with GTA San Andreas because I was far more familiar with that game, but I can only say “Yup, certified classic #retro” so many times before it becomes apparent that this post is not meeting the 500 word minimum. Crash 2 is simply phenomenal work, taking what worked and what didn’t from the original game and then sending you off to outer space in the finale like any good sequel would do. Even fully completing it is at an appropriate level of dick-smashing. They oughta throw this one in the school textbooks.
Boy, are my arms tired!