Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced

 Game Boy Advance
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
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  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    With its simple plot (crashing crates and colleccting food and gems while fighting), kooky characters, and cool moves, N-Tranced is hours of frustrating fun. [28 Feb 2003, p.87]
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  2. Gamezilla!
    90
    Simply put, great graphics, sounds, control, gameplay, and variety in levels all make for a great game playing experience.
  3. Nintendojo
    88
    Blows any other recent incarnation out of the water.
  5. IGN
    85
    The sequel's biggest unique element is its pretty darn fun Atlasphere challenges, inspired by the PS2/GameCube/Xbox "Wrath of Cortex" levels and powered by Vicarious Visions' "Tony Hawk" GBA engine.
  6. GameZone
    83
    The game's only problem is that the game can be a bit too easy at times.
  7. Nintendo Power
    80
    The single-player game covers more than 30 levels with new nonlinear level progression. [Feb 2003, p.159]
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  8. Nintendophiles
    80
    Where the game sells the most are the mini-games like chase and atlasphere – they are really unique and exciting to play.
  9. Pocket Games
    80
    Offers some solid platforming excitement, but there are better games on the shelf. [Spring 2003, p.30]
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  10. GamePro
    80
    The mini-game stages can be disappointing (the hamster-ball sections have completely unrealistic physics), but overall Crash is not a bad little platformer at all. Unoriginal but not bad.
  11. Play Magazine
    80
    This Bandicoot's got plenty of gas left in his belly. Sometimes it smells, other times, it's fresh as a daisy. [Jan 2003, p.87]
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  12. GameSpy
    78
    An amusing romp through the bizarre Crash Bandicoot universe. It's not the best game of its kind, but it's certainly worth a visit.
  13. Game Informer
    75
    Crash's latest romp is fun, but does not reinvent the wheel. [Jan 2003, p.121]
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  14. GameSpot
    73
    A solid effort all around.
  15. Yahoo!
    70
    The graphics and sound both capture the action well, and the character animation is particularly strong.
  16. All Game Guide
    70
    N-Tranced will not hypnotize players with its ambitious design or extensive new features, but the quality of presentation and fast-paced arcade-style action make it easy to recommend.
  17. netjak
    65
    Forgettable but playable. With few faults, fans of the first who want more of the same should check it out. Otherwise, with so many great platformers to choose from on the GBA, I suggest N-Tranced only to the kids who have never experienced the joys of Crash on the bigger screen.
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  18. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    65
    Younger gamers won't be disappointed. [Mar 2003, p.134]
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  19. Eurogamer
    60
    Given its high price tag and scant innovation Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced is unlikely to win over any new converts by playing it so safe and so young.
  20. G4 TV
    60
    Should be a fun diversion for fans of the genre, though it pales in comparison to the best handheld platformers on the market.
  21. GMR Magazine
    50
    The short of it is -- you've played it before. N-d of story. [Mar 2003, p.72]
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  22. Gamestyle
    40
    Repeated playthoughs are marginally less frustrating as you already know what's coming, but hardly counter for the sloppiness of level design.

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2003
25
#25 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2003
14
#14 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2003

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 92 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 92
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 92
  3. Negative: 7 out of 92
  1. MrTacoBob
    Jul 7, 2017
    8
    I like the platforming. I was surprised how good they did on a GBA! I wouldn't say its as good as a regular crash game but its certainly aI like the platforming. I was surprised how good they did on a GBA! I wouldn't say its as good as a regular crash game but its certainly a phenomenal game.… Full Review »
  2. Harry210
    Jan 19, 2011
    8
    Vicarious Visions 2nd Handheld Crash Bandicoot game, Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced does what their previous Crash game, Crash Bandicoot XS did:Vicarious Visions 2nd Handheld Crash Bandicoot game, Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced does what their previous Crash game, Crash Bandicoot XS did: Take the game play from previous Crash games and emulate it onto a less powerful console. Thankfully, this game does that pretty well. The story takes place right after where Crash XS finished off. N. Tropy has created a new adversary called N. Trance and uses him to hypnotise the Bandicoots Crunch, Coco and "Crash". It's actually one of few games that Cortex isn't the main antagonist and doesn't even make an appearance in this game, nor does his cronies. The game play is similar to the last game: side-scrolling platform stages are present with a few different "vehicle sections" such as the Atlasphere levels, the skiing levels and Coco's space levels which do mix up the game play a bit. As with the last game, the graphics are great with detailed character models in the way that Crash, N. Tropy, Crunch and other characters are represented perfectly, the level backgrounds and the levels themselves. The Atlasphere levels - where you roll a metal ball with Crunch or Crash inside it through a 2.5D arena avoiding Nitro crates and other hazards - and the Ski levels - where you play as Crash with the camera facing towards you while you try to avoid being eaten by a shark and jumping on ramps and avoiding Nitro crates - present you with some great 2.5D effects and some new game play design integrated into a handheld Crash Bandicoot game. The themes (or environments) of the levels in N-Tranced, like Crash XS, borrow from past Crash games. Most of the environments are taken from Crash Bandicoot 3 and the Ball sphere levels are ripped right out of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex. The backgrounds of the side scrolling levels display great detail and are appropriate according to the theme of the level. The background design is simple but they get the job done and I'd say they are less repetitive than those found in Crash XS. The sound is well executed and remixes some VGM's found in earlier Crash games and Vicarious Visions has even composed some original music for the bosses. The catchy bonus round music is still there and the music used for some of the cut scenes sounds awesome! The enemy and obstacle design will be extremely familiar to any Crash veterans. The retracting spikes (from Crash 3's Egyptian levels), deadly Scorpions (from Crash 3's Arabian levels) and more familiar enemies/obstacles make an appearance in this game. The powers that Crash obtains by defeating a boss make a return but now there are two new powers that Crash can gain. There's the Rocket Jump and Super Slide which in turn can be used to access areas in levels that could not have been accessed without these powers. The game play is traditional Crash Bandicoot side-scrolling action and I actually found this game a little more challenge than its predecessor, Crash XS. The relic time trials are still here where you race through a level as fast as you can to earn a Sapphire, Gold or Platinum relic and the gems that you can earn by smashing every box in the level. The coloured gems (Green, Red and Yellow) are obtained by finding 4 of the same coloured gem shards scattered across the levels. There are 3 new crates that Crash can smash alongside the other familiar ones like the TNT crate and the question mark crate. There's the freeze crate which freezes enemies in place for a few seconds, a helicopter crate which allows Crash to fly with a heli-pack on his pack, through the molten caves in the Prehistoric levels and a carpet crate that allows Crash to fly on a carpet (not freely though) and hit enemies with a projectile in the Arabian levels (kind of like a side-scrolling shooter).The Atlasphere levels are great to play although Coco's space levels, despite being a bit entertaining, feel empty (probably because the levels are set in space). The water ski levels are a little bit annoying because Crash is skiing towards the camera, you have little time to react to what's coming up. If you want to aim for Platinum on those Atlasphere levels, prepare to have sore thumbs. At least the boss battles are a delight to fight, more original than Crash XS and challenging to fight. Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced is a good end to the Game Boy Advance Crash Bandicoot story arc (the other 2 Crash GBA games are spin-off titles). This game doesn't reinvent the Crash series but it does stick to what Crash Bandicoot should be like: Colourful, entertaining platform games.… Full Review »
  3. Neo010390
    Jan 18, 2011
    7
    If you enjoyed Crash Bandicoot XS, then you may get a kick out of the sequel but its unoriginal gameplay, similar plotline and same charactersIf you enjoyed Crash Bandicoot XS, then you may get a kick out of the sequel but its unoriginal gameplay, similar plotline and same characters will put you in a rollercoaster of mixed emotions. Crash 2: N-Tranced starts straight after the events of XS, where you stopped Cortex and brought the Earth back to its original size. Fed up of Cortex's failed attempts, Uka Uka entrusts Doctor Nefarious Tropy (master of time) in aid to try and bring world domination. N. Tropy looks into the future and attempts to lure Crash, Coco and Crunch into the vortex and turn them into their side, since they are always defeating them in every battle. Coco and Crunch are lured into the vortex, with Crash almost along with them but is pulled out by Aku Aku, however because Crash's body was halfway in the vortex it creates this sort of fake Crash but Uka Uka and N. Tropy don't seem to notice. With all three Bandicoots captures, N. Tropy uses his new creation N. Trance (master of hypnotism) and hypnotises them. Now it's up to you to try and rescue them and stop Uka Uka, N. Tropy and N. Trance. Gameplay is still the same as before - You are in a roaming hub which consists of over 40 levels but only the first few are selectable, the others will become available when you have collected enough crystals. There are also gems and relics to collect too. Gems can be found by destroying all the crates or searching in hidden areas, and relics are awarded by completing a level in the fastest time possible. Most of the levels still have the same side scrolling 2d effect, but there is some free roaming this time round i.e. the atlaspheres levels. Others require to ride a wakeboard, zooming in space and (my personal favourite) rolling in an atlaspheres. As well as that you can ride a magic carpet and use a copter, so it's not all just running left to right from one point to another. You gain new powers each time you defeat a boss and there are some brand new ones too like the rocket jump. These powers are very helpful and will help you get through the game much easier, as well as accessing those hidden areas you couldn't get to before. Coco and Crunch become playable characters too, however you don't actually use them for running around and spinning through enemies and crates like Crash does. The graphics haven't really improved that much. The colour textures and pixels are pretty much the same and there isn't much variation at all, but as this is a GBA title, it is acceptable. The bosses are more challenging this time round, especially the last 2 which I will not spoil. Overall Crash 2: N Tranced has stepped up from its predecessor and the gameplay is more enjoyable, but it is still the same as before. The first Crash game for the PS1 was a great taste into the world of next gen plat forming and its sequels were even better, however that was years ago and games are changing all the time. So if the next Crash game is the same as before, then I fear the Crash series is in jeopardy.… Full Review »
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