History NightmareFuel / CrashBandicoot1996

*** The song that accompanies the stage has a Pre-Console mix [[note]](these are the versions of the song before they were compressed to fit inside the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation PS1]])[[/note]] uploaded by Josh Mancell himself on his [=SoundCloud=] and the developers actually toned down its creepiness ''a lot'' for the song we've got in-game. We really mean a lot since... well, [[https://youtu.be/-I6x7yyA3Mw listen for yourself]].

* The dark ruins levels, "Temple Ruins" and "Jaws of Darkness"; [[https://youtu.be/jqtLvuVPpTs specifically its music]]. It starts very little to ascend and tells you of the dangers inside; bats, underground snakes, rising fires, etc.
* The outdoor sunset ruins levels, Lost Ruins and Sunset Vista. Mothersbaugh and Mancell do it again with [[https://youtu.be/t2oMwSRdk50 those howls and growls in the music]]. Even with the music aside, the bats from the dark ruins are there too but there are some jumping lizards that try to anticipate your movements to kill Crash.

* [[BlackoutBasement Lights Out]] is a great example of a level where NothingIsScarier. It's eerily quiet, completely dark save for Aku Aku masks that light the way for you, and the obstacles are simple enough at first. Then you start having to dodge scythes swinging back and forth. If you get hit or take too long, you'll find yourself alone in the dark surrounded by bottomless pits.

* The two BlackoutBasement levels are seemingly taken straight out of a medieval dungeon (with loads of guillotines and stuff), on top of, well, being dark. Not to mention that as Aku Aku is your source of light, getting hit means that you're left [[TitleDrop fumbling in the dark]]. And then there are the rats, with their [[RedEyesTakeWarning beady red eyes]] glowing in the dark as they scurry your way.

** "Generator Room" definitely qualifies. The level is extremely dark, with black smoke billowing up from below and [[BigBrotherIsWatching Cortex staring at you through various monitors scattered around the area]] (as seen in the page image), accompanied by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9csiJ-3GS0 this music]]. There's a reason why this level type was only used once in the whole game.

** Just like with Generator Room, it too has a Pre-Console mix uploaded on Josh Mancell's [=SoundCloud=] account. [[https://youtu.be/Wh11jfoSPjo It definitely has a far darker vibe than the version that's in the game.]]

* The first boulder chase level might induce this, especially if you had no idea beforehand over what to do.
* [[BigBad Dr. Neo Cortex]]'s theme is the darkest one in the Naughty Dog trilogy, and possibly the entire series. [[https://youtu.be/lcF3OFr2K8E Just listening to it]] shows you Cortex's intentions of pure evil and world domination as well as to get rid of that meddling Bandicoot once and for all.
* The "Generator Room" level is particularly Nightmare Fuel-laden. Imagine an enormous, black space with exhaust pipes pumping what appeared to be black gas into the room, metallic platforms hanging over what appeared to be an infinite, dark void, and video screens brandishing a dead-eyed version of [[BigBad Doctor Neo Cortex's]] face throughout the area. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9csiJ-3GS0&feature=related The incredibly eerie and offsetting music does not help at all]].
** The screens seem to say [[ParanoiaFuel "I can]] [[BigBrotherIsWatching see you"]]. And they are ''screens.'' [[FridgeHorror Does]] [[ShoutOut that]] [[Literature/NineteenEightyFour sound familiar?]]
* Ripper Roo, out of all of Cortex's mutated animals you face, by implication of the fact that the crazy mutant Kangroo is in a '''Straitjacket''', is considered far too crazy by [[MadScientist Cortex]] of all people to be unrestrained.

** In addition, Stormy Ascent is an [[UpToEleven even harder]] version of Slippery Climb; so much in fact [[DummiedOut it didn't even get used in the original game]]!

** The screens seem to say [[ParanoiaFuel "I can]] [[BigBrotherIsWatching see you"]]. And they are ''screens.'' [[FridgeHorror Does]] [[ShoutOut that]] [[Literature/NineteenEightyFour sound familiar?]]

* The misty bridge levels, "Road To Nowhere" and "The High Road", induce a lot of NothingIsScarier. You can't see anything, the bridges' logs are either breakable or slippery and there's ''INVINCIBLE'' hogs running around and disappearing into the mist that can kill you with a single touch.

* The two BlackoutBasement levels are seemingly taken straight out of a medieval dungeon (with loads of guillotines and stuff), on top of, well, [[CaptainObvious being dark]]. Not to mention that as Aku Aku is your source of light, getting hit means that you're left [[TitleDrop fumbling in the dark]]. And then there are the rats, with their [[RedEyesTakeWarning beady red eyes]] glowing in the dark as they scurry your way.

* The two BlackoutBasement levels are seemingly taken straight out of a medieval dungeon (with loads of guillotines and stuff), on top of, well, [[CaptainObvious being dark]]. Not to mention that as Aku Aku is your source of light, getting hit means that you're left [[TitleDrop fumbling in the dark]].

* [[BigBad Dr. Neo Cortex]]'s theme is the darkest one in the Naughty Dog trilogy, and possibly the entire series. [[https://youtu.be/lcF3OFr2K8E Just listening to it]] shows you Cortex's intentions of pure evil and world domination as well as to get rid of that meddling Bandicoot once and for all.

* The music composed by Music/MarkMothersbaugh and Josh Mancell have some very, very creepy pieces, that lend certain levels a perfect NightmareFuel atmosphere.

* The misty bridge levels induce a lot of NothingIsScarier. You can't see anything, the bridges' logs are either breakable or slippery and there's ''INVINCIBLE'' hogs running around and disappearing into the mist that can kill you with a single touch.

* Slippery Climb. Aside from its ThatOneLevel fame, it's a rainy dark castle with spikes that have mysterious prisoners trying to catch you with their claws and have glowing eyes. Whatever those prisoners are, they don't seem to feel anything when you ''"cut"'' their claws. The music does no good too.

* The dark ruins levels. Music again. It starts very little to ascend and tells you of the dangers inside. Bats, underground snakes, rising fires.
* The outdoor sunset ruins. Mothersbaugh and Mancell do it again with those howls and growls. The bats from the dark ruins are there too but there are some jumping lizards that try to anticipate your movements to kill Crash.
* The Lab. With those yellow blobs that go straight into you and the Cortex scientists attempting to electrocute.
* The BlackoutBasement levels are taken straight out of a medieval dungeon (with loads of guillotines and stuff), on top of, well, being dark. Not to mention that as Aku Aku is your source of light, getting hit means that you're left [[TitleDrop fumbling in the dark]].
* The first boulder chase level might induce this, especially if you had no idea beforehand over what to do.

** The ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy'' remaster of the level reveals these prisoners to be [[HumanAllAlong creepy old men]]. This raises some questions. Cortex and Brio are definitely known for taking animals from the wild and mutating them into servants, but why exactly does Cortex have ''humans'' imprisoned inside his castle?

** "Generator Room" definitely qualifies. The level is extremely dark, with black smoke billowing up from below and [[BigBrotherIsWatching Cortex staring at you through various monitors scattered around the area]], accompanied by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9csiJ-3GS0 this music]]. There's a reason why this level type was only used once in the whole game.

** The Generator Room. The atmosphere, the music and Cortex playing BigBrotherIsWatchingYou.

** His goons. In Cortex Power, there are thinner goons that somehow emerge from... the ground? And they have no feet, they FLOAT. Then there are his larger goons from Toxic Waste with their EvilLaugh that throw you barrels with the same toxic waste. Some of said barrels even bounce and you catch it in a very unexpected way.

** The N. Sane Trilogy remaster of the level reveals these prisoners to be [[HumanAllAlong creepy old men]]. This raises some questions. Cortex and Brio are definitely known for taking animals from the wild and mutating them into servants, but why exactly does Cortex have ''humans'' imprisoned inside his castle?

* The outdoor sunset ruins. Mothersbaugh and Mancell do it again specially with those howls and a few growls. The bats from the dark ruins are there too but there are some jumping lizards that try to anticipate your movements and try to kill you.
* The Lab. With those yellow blobs that go straight into you.