History VideoGame / CrashBandicootTheWrathOfCortex

The sixth installment in the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' series and the fourth platformer title. ''Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex'' was also the first title in the series to leap to a sixth-generation console. Being solely published by [[Creator/VivendiUniversalGames Universal Interactive Studios]] after parting ways with Creator/{{Sony|InteractiveEntertainment}}, Creator/TravellersTales' Knutsford division developed it and was originally released on the Platform/PlayStation2 (in association with Creator/{{Konami}}, which published all versions of the game in Japan) and later ported to the Platform/{{Xbox}} and Platform/NintendoGameCube, the former being ported by Eurocom.

The sixth installment in the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' series and the fourth platformer title. ''Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex'' was also the first title in the series to leap to a sixth-generation console. Being solely published by [[Creator/VivendiUniversalGames Universal Interactive Studios]] after parting ways with Creator/{{Sony|InteractiveEntertainment}}, Creator/TravellersTales' Knutsford division developed it and was originally released on the Platform/PlayStation2 (in association with Creator/{{Konami}}, which published all versions of the game in Japan) and later ported to the Platform/{{Xbox}} and Platform/NintendoGameCube, the former being ported by Creator/{{Eurocom}}.

The sixth installment in the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' series and the fourth platformer title. ''Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex'' was also the first title in the series to leap to a sixth-generation console. Creator/TravellersTales' Knutsford division developed it and was originally released on the Platform/PlayStation2 and later ported to the Platform/{{Xbox}} and Platform/NintendoGameCube.

The sixth installment in the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' series and the fourth platformer title. ''Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex'' was also the first title in the series to make a leap to a sixth generation console. It was developed by Creator/TravellersTales' Knutsford division and originally released on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 and later ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} and UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube.

Within their secret lair in deep space, Dr. Cortex and his cronies are sour over their previous defeats by Crash Bandicoot. [[BigBad Uka Uka]] is giving them an intense chewing out, they still haven't conquered the world, and [[CardCarryingVillain their current evil productivity]] is pathetic. During their conversation over how to eliminate their nemesis, N. Gin mindlessly mentions Dr. Cortex's super secret project, Crunch Bandicoot, a super mutant with unbelievable strength. However, he requires a completing element. Uka Uka immediately devises upon releasing The Elementals, a destructive band of element controlling elder masks that had previously been imprisoned by Aku Aku, that can be used to power Crunch as well as bring chaos and destruction to the entire planet. Once again it is up to Crash and his sister Coco to save the day.

** In ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot3Warped'', Cortex, Tropy, and Uka Uka were trapped in a time warp, with the scientists turned into babies. How they escaped and returned to their proper ages is not revealed.

* UnwinnableByDesign: A very merciful example: detonating the Nitro crate at the normal end of "Tsunami" destroys the path to get to the colored gem, so you can't get both gems on the same playthrough. The game adds a checkpoint right before the normal exit portal so if you find yourself stuck you can just jump in the water and try again.

** N. Gin and N. Trophy disappear from the plot after the opening cutscene.

* ActorAllusion: In his introductory cutscene, Rok-Ko calls Crash a "Fuzzhead", a modified version of [[Film/BackToTheFuture Biff Tannen's]] signature "Butthead" insult.

* TheManyDeathsOfYou: As usual, the developers take great fun in imagining any possible amusing manner Crash can lose a life, ranging from being torched to ashes, turned into a bat or being frozen in a block of ice. Coco gets in on it too, though not nearly to the same extent.

* TheManyDeathsOfYou: As usual, the developers take great fun in imagining any possible amusing manner Crash can lose a life, ranging from being torched to ashes, turned into a bat or freezing into a mini iceburg. Coco gets in on it too, though not nearly to the same extent.

'''Dr. Cortex:''' Riiight! The Elementals, that's it! If released, their destructive energy could create enough power to bring my secret weapon to life! We'd have a weapon capable of crushing mountains; demolishing entire cities!\\

[[quoteright:256:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crash-bandicoot-the-wrath-of-cortex_6877.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:256:''[[TagLine Crash Bandicoot is back...to crush Cortex for good!]]'']]

!!''The Wrath of Cortex'' provides examples of:

* UnwinnableByDesign: A very Merciful example: detonating the Nitro crate at the normal end of "Tsunami" destroys the path to get to the end of the gem path. You're playing as Coco, who can't jump as far as the gaps allow. If you detonate the Nitro and attempt the gem path, you'll have to die to go to the checkpoint right before the path or potentially restart if you hit the Nitro detonator before the checkpoint.

** In "Tsunami", the level's ''last box'' is a checkpoint. It is impossible to die on the path between the checkpoint and the exit portal. And said portal is literally on the other side of the screen. This setup is because the blue gem platform in front of the checkpoint is the hardest in the game - and you have to play as Coco.[[spoiler:...with the possibility you could activate the Nitro detonator at the end of the level before stepping on the blue gem and completely destroy the path, making it impossible.]]

** Uka Uka's VillainDecay really sets in during this game. Rather than being the menacing force of evil he was in ''Warped'' and ''Crash Bash'', he comes across as a petty, loud-mouthed jerk who [[OrcusOnHisThrone contributes next to nothing to Cortex's schemes]] after releasing the Elementals. Even when he finally loses his patience with Cortex and attacks him, he fails to hurt him in any real capacity. He recovers from this decay somewhat in ''Crash of the Titans'', only to go through it again in ''Mind Over Mutant''.

* HumanSacrifice: [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Early footage of the game]] depict a more story-centric level in which Coco is captured by gorilla tribesmen and placed in a cage ready to be thrown into a volcano that Py-Ro has set off.

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: The developpers sure had fun with the levels’ names. "Wizards and Lizards", "Droid Void", "Solar Bowler", "Jungle Rumble", "Farenheit Frenzy"… The pattern helps to make them more memorable.