About this game
Released in November 1997, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is widely regarded as Naughty Dog's finest achievement in the original trilogy — refining every aspect of the first game's 3D platforming formula. Dr. Cortex, feigning reform, recruits Crash to collect Crystals across 25 levels spanning jungles, ruins, underwater environments, and space. The sequel introduced the slide, double-jump, and Wumpa Fruit bazooka, and became the highest-selling Western game title in Japan to that point, with over 800,000 copies sold domestically.
Key Features
25 levels with Crystals (main objective) and Gems (bonus completion) as separate collectibles; slide attack, double-jump, and super-body-slam adding to Crash's move set; 3D hub world via Warp Room replacing the linear world map; boss fights against five Cortex lieutenants; five secret levels accessed through alternate Gem routes.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Crash Bandicoot 2 arrived one year after the original demonstrated that a Western studio could build a 3D mascot platformer competitive with Mario 64. With additional development time, Naughty Dog addressed nearly every criticism of the first game — smoother camera, tighter level design, better signposting of secret paths — while pushing the PlayStation's visual ceiling further. The game's success in Japan was remarkable for a Western title in the late 1990s, when Japanese domestic software dominated the market.
Tricks & Tales
Crash Bandicoot 2 contains a notorious 'death animation' where Crash is squashed flat, which was altered for the Japanese version to make it less graphic. The game features a hidden level, 'Road to Ruin', accessible only by taking an alternate hidden route. The polar bear cub Polar, introduced in the snow levels, became one of the most popular character additions in the original trilogy. Naughty Dog was fully acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment during the development of Crash 2.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The PS1 enforces three distinct regions: NTSC-J (Japan), NTSC-U/C (North America), and PAL (Europe, Australia). Software and consoles are matched by region, and the boot ROM actively rejects discs from other regions on all production models after the earliest SCPH-1000 units. NTSC-J and NTSC-U/C consoles share the same 60Hz signal standard but their software regions are still separate—a Japanese console will not boot a North American disc without modification. PAL titles run at 50Hz and require a PAL console; running them on an NTSC system through composite video outputs only black and white due to the colorburst timing mismatch, though RGB connections can display color correctly.
Maintenance Tips
The PS1's optical drive is the system's most vulnerable component after thirty years. Dust accumulation on the laser lens causes read errors before the laser itself fails; cleaning with a cotton swab lightly dampened with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol restores performance in many cases. The sled rails that carry the lens assembly need periodic lubrication—original factory grease hardens with age and increases friction, leading to tracking failures. White lithium grease on the rails (not WD-40) is the correct approach. Disc condition matters as much as the hardware: deep radial scratches near the data area cannot be read regardless of laser health, so always inspect the playing surface before diagnosing the console.
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back copies regularly.
Will a Japanese PS1 play games from North America or Europe?
No. The PS1 is fully region-locked. A Japanese (NTSC-J) console will only boot Japanese software. North American (NTSC-U/C) and PAL discs are rejected at the hardware level. Region modding or a modchip is required to play software from other regions.
How do I know if a PS1 disc will actually load before I buy?
Deep scratches running radially from center to edge on the data side are the clearest sign of read failure. Light surface scratches can often be polished out, but gouges through the reflective layer are permanent. On a 30-year-old console, a disc that looks clean may still fail if the laser or its sled lubrication has deteriorated.
Does the PS1 come with a memory card for saving games?
No. The PlayStation memory card is a separate accessory and was never included with the console hardware. Without one, save data cannot be written. Most games require it for any progress to be preserved between sessions.
If you're curious what this one trades for these days —
See current listings on eBay →Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
Share your memory ↑