After putting themselves on the map with the original Crash Bandicoot, Naughty Dog sought to quickly profit from the game's high sales and the popularity of its titular character by developing a sequel in the space of a year. This is a common marketing strategy for successful game series (as it is for films) and can often lead to developers releasing rushed cash cows that fail to innovate or build on their predecessors. Crash 2 did not feel like a rushed cash cow in any shape or form, as it built and improved on the original Crash in every conceivable way - the fluidity and moveset of the titular character were overhauled for the better, whilst levels were linked by the then-innovative warp room feature, which allowed for quick gameplay access and saving. The levels were an interesting mix, whilst secrets contained within them expanded on the games admittedly short lifespan. Infinitely replayable, Crash's second outing is criticised by some as overly simplistic, but this is part of the wide-ranging appeal that led to it becoming the top-selling Western game in the Playstation's home of Japan - anybody can pick up a controller, learn the mechanics in a matter of minutes and drop in and out of the game at will, progressing at their own speed and losing themselves in a colourful fantasy world as a result. Nintendo purists will always stand up for Super Mario 64, but Crash 2 is definitely up there with it as one of the all-time greats in the traditional platforming genre, which is, sadly, all but dead nowadays.
