Naughty Dog’s Crash Bandicoot is one of the most important 3D platformers ever made. Originally releasing in September 1996, Crash Bandicoot would accomplish two important feats for the PlayStation. Not only would Crash Bandicoot give Sony its official PlayStation mascot, but it also would end up being one of the few 3D platformers that could hold its own against Nintendo’s groundbreaking Super Mario 64. While Crash Bandicoot is not full-3D in the same way that Super Mario 64 is, its excellent visuals and presentation, as well as its brilliantly designed levels and platforming challenges, would quickly make the game one of the first “must-have” titles for the PlayStation.
Crash would also be the first game to truly introduce developer Naughty Dog to the masses, paving the way for the studio’s close working relationship with Sony and games like Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. The success of Crash also cements it as one of the greatest first-party PlayStation titles, selling just over 6 million units and earning its spot as one of the best-selling games on both the platform and of the 5th generation.
Crash Bandicoot Premise
©Crash Bandicoot gameplay screenshot – Original
In Crash Bandicoot, players take on the role of the titular marsupial as he makes his way across an archipelago just off the coast of Tasmania. Crash has the ability to spin and jump, and can use both of these moves to defeat enemies and complete platforming challenges. Each of the 32 different levels in Crash Bandicoot takes place from both a vertically and horizontally-scrolling perspective and utilizes 3D models for characters and environments. In addition to the more standard levels, there are special “pinnacle” levels that involve Crash scaling great heights, jumping back and forth between the background and foreground of these levels to clear obstacles.
Like most other platformers, Crash has a “currency” that he collects throughout each level in the form of Wumpa Fruit. After collecting 100 Wumpa Fruit, Crash gains a 1-Up, with a total capacity of 99 lives. Scattered throughout each level are a certain number of boxes, which Crash must destroy all of in order to earn a “perfect clear”. Earning “perfect clear” scores on certain levels awards Crash with special colored gems that open up secret or alternate pathways in levels, including ones that lead to massive caches of lives and other power-ups. Crash will lose a life if he falls into a pit or takes damage from an enemy, but there are helpful Aku Aku masks that Crash can collect to allow him to take a hit without losing a life. Collecting three Aku Aku masks grants Crash with a brief period of invincibility.
Crash Bandicoot Main Characters
©Crash Bandicoot gameplay screenshot – Original
At the center of Crash Bandicoot is the titular hero, a genetically enhanced bandicoot striking out against his creator to rescue his girlfriend. The story of the Crash Bandicoot games would eventually branch out beyond the classic “damsel in distress” framing that was popular among platformer games, but the first entry is comparably light on story elements when stacking it up against the rest of the franchise. Still, Crash’s larger-than-life personality and expressiveness do most of the heavy lifting here, helping to cement the hero as one of the great video game mascots alongside Mario and Sonic. Main characters in Crash Bandicoot include:
- Crash Bandicoot: A bandicoot who gets kidnapped and experimented on by a mad scientist, Crash gains near-superhuman abilities and then escapes the confines of his creator’s lab along with his girlfriend, Tawna. When the mad scientist who creates Crash kidnaps his girlfriend Tawna, Crash sets off across a vast archipelago to rescue her and stop Dr. Cortex.
- Dr. Neo Cortex: The mad scientist responsible for creating both Crash Bandicoot and his girlfriend Tawna, Dr. Neo Cortex is the primary villain of Crash Bandicoot. He has several genetically modified soldiers in his army to try and help capture Crash.
- Tawna: Tawna is Crash’s girlfriend and the traditional “damsel in distress” of Crash Bandicoot. After she and Crash escape Dr. Cortex’s lab, Cortex is able to find and kidnap Tawna as a means to bring Crash back under his control.
Games in the Crash Bandicoot Series
The original Crash Bandicoot would end up being one of the few 3D platformers to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Super Mario 64. As such, Crash would quickly become the official mascot of the PlayStation, making sequels a guarantee. After three games on the PS1 and a kart racing spin-off, Crash would continue appearing in entries on both 6th and 7th-generation hardware, but it would be more than a decade before players would get a proper 4th mainline Crash Bandicoot game. Games in the Crash Bandicoot series include:
- Crash Bandicoot (PlayStation, 1996)
- Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (PlayStation, 1997)
- Crash Bandicoot: Warped (PlayStation, 1998)
- Crash Team Racing (PlayStation, 1999)
- Crash Bash (PlayStation, 2000)
- Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (PlayStation 2, 2001)
- Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (Game Boy Advance, 2002)
- Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced (Game Boy Advance, 2003)
- Crash Nitro Kart (Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PS2, Xbox, 2003)
- Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto’s Rampage (Game Boy Advance, 2004)
- Crash Twinsanity (PlayStation 2, Xbox, 2004)
- Crash Tag Team Racing (GameCube, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox, 2005)
- Crash Boom Bang! (Nintendo DS, 2006)
- Crash of the Titans (PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360, 2007)
- Crash: Mind Over Mutant (PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360, 2008)
- Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, 2017)
- Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled (PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, 2019)
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, 2020)
- Crash Team Rumble (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, 2023)
Crash Bandicoot Cheats & Secrets
Like other platformer games of the era, Crash Bandicoot has plenty of passwords for players to utilize and several secrets. Additionally, there are plenty of Game Shark codes available for those with a PlayStation and a Game Shark device (or an emulator).
Level Passwords
| Effect | Password |
|---|---|
| 2% Complete | Circle, Square, Circle, Square, Circle, Circle, Triangle, Square |
| Circle, X, Square, Triangle, Circle, Square, Square, Triangle | |
| Square, Square, X, Square, Square, Triangle, X, Triangle | |
| 13% Complete | X, Square, X, Circle, X, Square, Triangle, X |
| 18% Complete | Square, Square, Triangle, X, Circle, Circle, X, Triangle |
| 19% Complete | Triangle, Triangle, X, Triangle, Circle, Circle, Square, X, Square, X, Circle, Square, Circle, Square, X, Triangle, Square, X, X, Square, X, X, Triangle, Square |
| 22% Complete | Circle, Square, Square, Circle, Circle, X, X, X |
| 27% Complete | X, Circle, X, Circle, Circle, X, Square, Circle |
| 31 % Complete | Square, X, Triangle, Triangle, X, Square, X, Triangle |
| 36% Complete | X, Circle, Circle, Circle, X, Square, X, Square |
| Square, Square, X, Triangle, X, Square, Circle, X | |
| 52% Complete | Triangle, Triangle, Circle, X, X, Square, Square, Circle, Square, Triangle, Triangle, X, X, Circle, Circle, Square, Circle, Square, Triangle, Square, X, X, X, Circle |
| 56% Complete | Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, X, Square, Square, Square, Triangle, Triangle, X, X, Triangle, Square, Circle, Triangle, Square, Circle, X, Circle, Circle, Triangle, X |
| 57% Complete | Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Square, Square, Square, Square, Circle, Square, Triangle, Triangle, X, X, Triangle, Triangle, X, Circle, Square, Square, X, Square, Triangle, X, Circle |
| 63% Complete | Triangle, Triangle, X, X, X, X, Triangle, Square, Square, X, X, X, Circle, Square, Triangle, Triangle, X, Circle, X, Circle, Triangle, Triangle |
| 68% Complete | Triangle, Triangle, X, X, Square, Circle, Square, Triangle, Triangle, X, X, X, Circle, X, Square, Square, Triangle, Triangle, Circle, Circle, Square, X, Circle |
Super Password
Enter the following sequence at the password screen for access to all 32 levels, all gems, and both keys. After entering the first line, two more lines will appear:
Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, Triangle, X, Square, Triangle, Triangle Triangle, Triangle, Square, X, Triangle, Circle, Triangle, Triangle Triangle, Circle, Square, Triangle, X, X, X, X
Note: When entering longer passwords, press Triangle to type in a super password. Otherwise, you will not have room.
Debug Menu
At the Naughty Dog logo, hold Up + X until the title screen appears. Hold Left and press Square, Circle, Square, Start. While playing the game, pause and press Down, X(26), Down. If you enter the code correctly, you will hear the sound of a snort and the game will resume. Press Select to display the debug menu.
Replay Boss Battles
While going to another warp room, hold Triangle to replay boss battles.
Crash Bandicoot Secrets
“Fumbling in the Dark” Bonus Level
Get the key from the Cortex Bonus Round in Jaws Of Darkness to unlock the “Fumbling In The Dark” bonus level.
“Whole Hog” Bonus Level
Get the key from the Cortex Bonus Round in Sunset Vista to unlock the “Whole Hog” bonus level.
Alternate Ending
Jump across the Great Hall after obtaining all the gems to view Crash Bandicoot‘s alternate ending.
Colored Gems
Get a “Perfect” rating on the indicated level to unlock a special colored gem. To get a “Perfect” rating, successfully complete a level with all crates smashed and no lives lost. Levels not listed below give you normal clear gems.
| Level | Gem |
|---|---|
| “Toxic Waste” | Blue |
| “The Lost City” | Green |
| “Generator Room” | Orange |
| “Lights Out” | Purple |
| “Slipper Climb” | Red |
| “The Lab” | Yellow |
Infinite Lives
First, unlock the Green gem by destroying all boxes without dying in “The Lost City” level. Note that you can still earn the gem if you die in the two bonus levels within “The Lost City”. After obtaining the Green gem, go to the “Castle Machinery” level. It is on Island 3, at the end of the game. Jump on the Green gem platform at the start of the level to get 29 lives. Pause the game, select “Quit”, then reload the auto-save to make all 29 lives respawn. Repeat the process of starting the level and obtaining 29 lives as many times as necessary. This is the quickest way to get 99 lives but also requires completing a significant portion of Crash Bandicoot.
To farm lives early in the game, go to “The Lost City” level, near the start of Island 2. You can find bats spawning infinitely. Stand in their spawn and press X + Square to kill them repeatedly. They respawn after a few seconds and always drop fruit. Every 100 pieces of fruit give one life. You earn roughly 10 lives every 6 minutes. It is a slower method but a good way to get lives early in the game.
Using the auto-save reload makes the lives respawn within all levels. Use this trick to farm lives in the first level. Keep collecting the lives and fruit within any level, quit, and then reload the auto-save.
Easy Masks
Repeat the first level (“N. Sanity Beach”) to find masks easily.
Easily Clear “Road to Nowhere” and “The High Road”
The two bridge levels in Crash Bandicoot involve some of the game’s trickiest platforming challenges. To make these levels easier, get comfortable with maneuvering Crash to jump on the rope flanking either side of the bridge. By jumping on the rope and continuing to jump forward once on top of it, Crash can easily clear these levels without having to worry about precise jumping or avoiding enemies. Once Crash is on the rope, players must continue jumping forward (not walking) to keep him from falling off.
Easily Defeat Papu Papu
When the level starts, Papu Papu will be sleeping. Crash should have two Aku Aku masks. Papu Papu will begin the battle by spinning his club. When this happens, jump over to his seat to dodge it. He will then bring the club up to hit you. Dodge this attack and then use the window of opportunity to jump on his head. Repeat this process twice to defeat Papu Papu.
Crash Bandicoot Game Shark Codes
Players with a PlayStation and a Game Shark device for the console can utilize any of the following cheats. Alternatively, players experiencing Crash Bandicoot on an emulator with cheat functionality can enter any of the following codes into the emulator’s “Cheat” menu.
General Cheats
| Cheat | Code |
|---|---|
| Level Select | 30061948 0040 |
| Reset to 99 Lives at Map | 800618EC 6300 |
| Reset to 2nd Mask at Map | 800618F0 0200 |
Infinite Lives Cheats
| Cheat | Code |
|---|---|
| Infinite Lives at “N. Sanity Beach” Stage | 8009E538 6300 |
| Infinite Lives atv”Jungle Rollers” Stage | 8009E59C 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “The Great Gate” Stage | 8009E750 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Boulders” Stage | 8009E584 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Upstream” Stage | 8009E5DC 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Papu Papu” Stage | 8009E0D0 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Rolling Stones” Stage | 8009E610 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Hog Wild” Stage | 8009E64C 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Native Fortress” Stage | 8009E7D0 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Up The Creek” Stage | 8009E6A0 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Ripp Roo” Stage | 8009E0E0 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “The Lost City” Stage | 8009E6A4 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Temple Ruins” Stage | 8009E64C 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Road To Nowhere” Stage | 8009E620 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Boulder Dash ” Stage | 8009E808 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Sunset Vista” Stage | 8009E818 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Koala Kong” Stage | 8009E198 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Heavy Machinery” Stage | 8009E828 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Cortex Power” Stage | 8009E77C 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Generator Room” Stage | 8009E54C 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Toxic Waste” Stage | 8009E4CC 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Pinstripe” Stage | 8009E190 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “The High Road” Stage | 8009E5C0 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Slippery Climb” Stage | 8009E5F0 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Lights Out” Stage | 8009E508 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Fumbling In The Dark” Stage | 8009E5AC 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Jaws Of Darkness” Stage | 8009E778 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Castle Machinery” Stage | 8009E88C 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Nitrus Brio” Stage | 8009E1A0 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “The Lab” Stage | 8009E52C 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “The Great Hall” Stage | 8009E368 6300 |
| Infinite Lives at “Dr. Neo Cortex” Stage | 8009E0F8 6300 |
Infinite Masks Cheats
| Cheat | Code |
|---|---|
| Infinite Witch Doctors Mask (On Pickup) “N. Sanity Beach” Stage | 80092898 0200 |
| Infinite Witch Doctors Mask (On Pickup) “Jungle Rollers” Stage | 80092AB0 0200 |
| Infinite Witch Doctors Mask (On Pickup) “The Great Gate” Stage | 80092AB0 0200 |
99 Wumpa Fruit Cheats
| Cheat | Code |
|---|---|
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “N. Sanity Beach” Stage | 8009E534 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Jungle Rollers” Stage | 8009E598 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “The Great Gate” Stage | 8009E750 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Boulders” Stage | 8009E584 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Upstream” Stage | 8009E5DC 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Papu Papu” Stage | 8009E0CC 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Rolling Stones” Stage | 8009E60C 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Hog Wild” Stage | 8009E648 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Native Fortress” Stage | 8009E7CC 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Up The Creek” Stage | 8009E69C 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Ripp Roo” Stage | 8009E0DC 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “The Lost City” Stage | 8009E6A0 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Temple Ruins” Stage | 8009E648 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Road To Nowhere” Stage | 8009E61C 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Boulder Dash ” Stage | 8009E804 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Sunset Vista” Stage | 8009E814 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Koala Kong” Stage | 8009E194 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Heavy Machinery” Stage | 8009E824 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Cortex Power” Stage | 8009E778 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Generator Room” Stage | 8009E548 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Toxic Waste” Stage | 8009E4C8 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Pinstripe” Stage | 8009E18C 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “The High Road” Stage | 8009E5BC 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Slippery Climb” Stage | 8009E5EC 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Lights Out” Stage | 8009E504 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Fumbling In The Dark” Stage | 8009E5A8 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Jaws Of Darkness” Stage | 8009E774 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Castle Machinery” Stage | 8009E888 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Nitrus Brio” Stage | 8009E19C 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “The Lab” Stage | 8009E528 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “The Great Hall” Stage | 8009E364 6300 |
| 99 Wumpa Fruit at “Dr. Neo Cortex” Stage | 8009E0F4 6300 |
Crash Bandicoot Cheat FAQs
Is there a cheat to get more lives in Crash Bandicoot?
There are a few different ways to easily farm lives in Crash Bandicoot. The easiest way, by far, is to use one of the Game Shark cheats that gives Crash either infinite or 99 lives. Alternatively, players can farm the bats in “The Lost City” level to quickly get 100 Wumpa Fruit. It’s time-consuming to earn 99 lives this way, but it’s worthwhile just to stockpile lives before the mid-game.
How to super jump in Crash Bandicoot?
While there’s not a “super jump” in the same sense as other platformer titles, there is a helpful trick players can use known as the “Slide Jump”. To execute this move, press Circle to have Crash spin and then press X to jump just as he’s coming out of the spin move. This move is especially helpful for crossing large gaps.
Can you jump higher in Crash Bandicoot?
There are crates in Crash Bandicoot that players can use to help Crash gain more height in his jumps. To get even more height on these crates, simply hold X as Crash jumps until he reaches the apex of its height. You don’t need to time pressing X, as just holding the button will help Crash leap higher.
How long to beat Crash Bandicoot?
Most playthroughs of Crash Bandicoot will take about 6-7 hours on average. Of course, this time varies depending on player skill and needing to repeat levels. For those hoping to 100% the game, collecting all Gems, Keys, and perfect clearing all levels, they can expect to spend roughly 13-15 hours.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©CheatCC/Matt Karoglou.