Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy: 15 Most Brutally Hard Levels

12. Piston It Away (Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back)

The fifth warp room in Cortex Strikes Back kicks off with a demoralising doozy, forcing the player to deal with pistons, electrified tentacle-robots and shrink rays, all with rather unforgiving checkpoints in-between.

As aggravating as this level is, at least it does allow you to spin those shield-wielding lab assistants off various edges and listen to their hilariously over-the-top screams. This provides some brief levity in an otherwise punishing level you won't soon wish to return to (if ever).

To that end, if you're insane (or rather, N. Sane) enough to try and get the gem for smashing every box, Piston It Away becomes controller-throwingly difficult. Don't even bother unless you're a glutton for punishment.