History NightmareFuel / CrashBandicoot2CortexStrikesBack

* The bee levels. Not only the persistent [[ScaryStingingSwarm swarm of bees]] that you can evade by getting underground. The Lab Assistants with [[DropTheHammer giant hammers]], the two-faced living idols that block your path (they have one angry and one [[SlasherSmile smiling]] face), the grenade-spitting plants, and a ''massive'' overabundance of [[HairTriggerExplosive Nitro Crates]]. And this all happens in levels that have possibly [[SoundtrackDissonance the happiest-sounding music in the entire game]].

* Near the end of the credits of the 100% ending, you'll suddenly hear what sounds like Cortex's EvilLaugh. Of course, with the [[VideoGame/CrashBandicoot3Warped next game]] and the small case of TalkingToHimself, the player realizes that's not Cortex's laugh. That's Uka Uka's laugh.

* Dr. Cortex is arguably at his most villainous portrayal in this game; he displays little to no comedic qualities, something which the more recent games in the franchise puts more emphasis on. He is downright serious whenever he is on-screen, and his [[EvilLaugh evil laughter]] is very frequent and oftentimes [[SurpriseCreepy unsettling]], especially in the holo-conversation he has with Crash after he has found all of the crystals.

* The ruin levels. It's the night and you can barely see anything from beyond. There are big blue gorillas with black lipsticks [[EvilSoundsDeep muttering something]] while they throw tree trunks and frilled lizards that [[UncannyValley sound like a man]] [[HellIsThatNoise panting]]. The first monkey idols in the first ruins level are not as hostile as the other flamethrowing idols but they rather stare at Crash, tracking his movement.

* Dr. Cortex is arguably at his most villainous portrayal in this game; he displays little to no comedic qualities, something which the more recent games in the franchise puts more emphasis on. He is downright serious whenever he is on-screen, and his [[EviLaugh evil laughter]] is very frequent and oftentimes [[SurpriseCreepy unsettling]], especially in the holo-conversation he has with Crash after he has found all of the crystals.
* The GameOver screen. It's just Cortex's head behind a weird background, with him saying "Game Over." before letting loose with an EvilLaugh. If you choose "No" afterwards, Cortex delivers the following line with an unsettling tone:

* The bee levels. Not only the persistent [[BeeAfraid swarm of bees]] that you can evade by getting underground. The Lab Assistants with [[DropTheHammer giant hammers]], the two-faced living idols that block your path (they have one angry and one [[SlasherSmile smiling]] face), the grenade-spitting plants, and a ''massive'' overabundance of [[HairTriggerExplosive Nitro Crates]]. And this all happens in levels that have possibly [[SoundtrackDissonance the happiest-sounding music in the entire game]].

* The final battle with Cortex, who Coco has now frantically revealed to be making a grab for the crystals to power his new world-enslaving Cortex Vortex. It consists of Crash chasing the mad scientist through a space ring path filled with meteors and space mines that block your way and our hero has to hit him before he crosses a portal to safety (with the crystals in hand as the ''N Sane Trilogy'' reveals). If Cortex crosses he will triumphantly laugh (and not his usual cartoony laugh, a downright sinister foreboding one) and Crash will lose a life. Yes, if Cortex crosses a simple space portal, you lose. It's shuddering.

* The bee levels. Not only the persistent [[BeeAfraid swarm of bees]] that you can evade by getting underground. The Lab Assistants with [[DropTheHammer giant hammers]], the two-faced living idols that block your path (they have one angry and one [[SlasherSmile smiling]] face), the grenade-spitting plants, and a ''massive'' overabundance of [[HairTriggerExplosive Nitro Crates]]. And this all happens in levels that have possibly [[MoodWhiplash the happiest-sounding music in the entire game]].

[[caption-width-right:320:If something chases you... Run.]]

* Near the end of the credits of the 100% ending, you'll suddenly hear what sounds like Cortex's EvilLaugh. Of course, with the [[VideoGame/CrashBandicoot3Warped next game]] and the small case of TalkingToHimself, the player realizes that's not Cortex's laugh. [[spoiler: That's Uka Uka's laugh]].

* Near the end of the credits of the 100% ending, you'll suddenly hear what sounds like Cortex's EvilLaugh. Of course, with the [[VideoGame/CrashBandicootWarped next game]] and the small case of TalkingToHimself, the player realizes that's not Cortex's laugh. [[spoiler: That's Uka Uka's laugh]].

* The final battle with Cortex, who Coco has now frantically revealed to be making a grab for the crystals to power his new world-enslaving Cortex Vortex. It consists of Crash chasing the mad scientist through a space ring path filled with meteors and space mines that block your way and our hero has to hit him before he crosses a portal to safety (with the crystals in hand as the ''N Sane Trilogy'' reveals). If Cortex crosses he will triumphantly laugh (and not his usual cartoony laugh, a downright sinister foreboding one) and Crash will lose a life. Yes, if Cortex crosses a simple space portal, you lose. It's shuddering.

* Tiny is at his most fearsome here. Not only is he lacking [[NightmareRetardant his usual dopey persona]] and HulkSpeak, he is much more resilient and completely invincible to Crash's attacks and is introduced with him tearing ''straight'' through a reinforced steel door as if it was made of plywood. His boss fight is him leaping at you claws bared and your only method is to jump and evade like crazy.

* Tiny is at his most fearsome here. Not only is he lacking [[NightmareRetardant his usual dopey persona]] and HulkSpeak, he is much more resilient and completely invincible to Crash's attacks. His boss fight is him leaping at you claws bared and your only method is to jump and evade like crazy.

* The bee levels. Not only the persistent [[BeeAfraid swarm of bees]] that you can evade by getting underground. The Cortex mooks with [[DropTheHammer giant hammers]], the two-faced living idols that block your path (they have one angry one [[SlasherSmile smiling]] face), and a massive overabundance of Nitro Crates. And this all happens in levels that have possibly [[MoodWhiplash the happiest-sounding music in the entire game]].

* The bee levels. Not only the persistent [[BeeAfraid swarm of bees]] that you can evade by getting underground. The Cortex mooks with [[DropTheHammer giant hammers]], the two-faced living idols that block your path (they have one angry one [[SlasherSmile smiling]] face), and a massive overabundance of Nitro Crates. And this all happens in levels that has possibly [[MoodWhiplash the happiest-sounding music in the entire game]].

* The bee levels. Not only the persistent [[BeeAfraid swarm of bees]] that you can evade by getting underground. The Cortex mooks with [[DropTheHammer giant hammers]], the two-faced living idols that block your path (they have one angry one [[SlasherSmile smiling]] face), and a massive overabundance of Nitro Crates.

* The bee levels. Not only the persistent [[BeeAfraid swarm of bees]] that you can evade by getting underground. The Cortex mooks with [[DropTheHammer giant hammers]], the living idols that block your path come with two faces (one angry and the other [[SlasherSmile smiling]]), and a massive overabundance of Nitro Crates.

* The bee levels. Not only the persistent [[BeeAfraid swarm of bees]] that you can evade by getting underground. The Cortex mooks with [[DropTheHammer giant hammers]] and the living idols that block your path come with two faces, one is angry and the other is [[SlasherSmile smiling]].

* The final battle with Cortex, who Coco has now frantically revealed to be making a grab for the crystals to power his new world-enslaving Cortex Vortex. It consists of Crash chasing the mad scientist through a space ring path filled with meteors and space mines that block your way and our hero has to hit him before he crosses a portal to safety (supposedly with the crystals in hand). If Cortex crosses he will triumphantly laugh (and not his usual cartoony laugh, a downright sinister foreboding one) and Crash will lose a life. Yes, if Cortex crosses a simple space portal, you lose. It's shuddering.

* The Un-Bearable level. BearsAreBadNews indeed. An enormous polar bear with BlackEyesOfEvil is chasing Crash and he must run for his life. If he gets him, the bear will shove up his face full screen, triumphantly growling and nodding.
* The ruin levels. It's the night and you can barely see anything. And there are big blue gorillas with black lipsticks [[EvilSoundsDeep muttering something]] while they throw tree trunks to you. Although the large monkey idols that track your movement are a bit more unsettling.

* The final battle with Cortex, who Coco has now frantically revealed to be making a grab for the crystals to power his new world-enslaving Cortex Vortex. It consists of Crash chasing the mad scientist through a space ring path filled with meteors and space mines that block your way and our hero has to hit him before he crosses a portal to safety (supposedly with the crystals in hand). If Cortex crosses he will triumphantly laugh (and not his usual cartoony laugh, a downright sinister foreboding one) and Crash will lose a life. Yes, if Cortex crosses a simple space portal, you lose. It's shuddering.

* Again, the BlackoutBasement levels. It's a bit less scary than the first game, but still, the fact that you're in a deep jungle at night can still send one shivers.