Sierra Spring Event: Crash Bandicoot - Mind Over Mutant
And then there was Crash Bandicoot, a game series that has done many things to our hearts in the past 12 years it has been in existence. It's been a long time since I have played a Crash Bandicoot game I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder, which must be why the preview of the game elicited a giggle and a smile from me on more than one occasion (though most of the giggling was due to what the developer was saying, more on that later). The latest game in the series is called Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant and is begin made by Radical Entertainment, the same developer that did the well received Crash Bandicoot: Clash of the Titans last year. The latter title for the series was the first to be released on the Wii and the Xbox 360, so for the most part the game looks like it's running on the same engine with a few tweaks to the graphics. The big difference, though, comes in the mutant control gameplay aspects added to the game.
In the previous title, Crash gained the ability to "jack enemies" and control them; however, in this latest title you can (and this is what made me giggle) "store monsters in your pocket" as well as then "whip it out at any time". Yes, I am a child and yes those are the actual quotes from the developer, although I think I may have received an elbow to my side from Fruit Brute when I started to laugh. Joking aside, this new twist in the gameplay allows you to store any mutants with special abilities to be used later in the game to solve later puzzles or reach hidden areas. During the preview we got to see Crash use an ice breathing mutant, Rolly-Polly mutant, and Ghostly time-slowing mutant to help him get past various obstacles in his way.
As seems to be the must-have feature with most of Sierra's line-up, Crash also has added cooperative play in the game through the addition of Crash's sister, Coco, as a playable character in the game. With Coco and Crash, two players can team up to solve the many puzzles in the game and use Coco's 'treasure hunt' ability to find secret items. This addition of Coco is also nice since it gives players of any gender the opportunity to play the game as either sex of bandicoot. With the new additions to gameplay and impressive line-up of available consoles (Wii, Xbox360, PSP, DS, and PS2), I expect to see plenty of people with monsters in Crash's pockets this fall when it is due for release.
CRASH FRANCHISE RETURNS THIS HOLIDAY IN SIERRA ENTERTAINMENT'S CRASH BANDICOOT: MIND OVER MUTANTCrash is Back with New Abilities and his Signature Bandicoot Hilarity;
Sidekick Coco Fully Playable for the First Time
LOS ANGELES (April 28, 2008) - Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, today announced the upcoming return of everyone's favorite marsupial hero, Crash Bandicoot, in Crash Bandicoot:® Mind over Mutant, the latest installment of the best-selling Crash Bandicoot® video game franchise. Developed by Radical Entertainment, a Sierra Entertainment studio, Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant is scheduled for release this fall on the Wii™ home video game system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™ and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system.In Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant, a rejuvenated Neo Cortex is taking over the world one brain at a time! Cortex and N. Brio devise a new kind of evil - a text-messaging, do-anything device which controls both mutant and bandicoot minds. Armed with his quick-wits and lightening agility, Crash must free his friends, the titans and save the day!
"The Crash Bandicoot franchise has built a wide audience of loyal fans, appealing to both male and female gamers of all ages," said Al Simone, senior vice president, Global Marketing for Sierra Entertainment. "The Crash series remains one of the most recognizable franchises in our industry and we're excited to make this year's family-friendly title appear at the top of every gamer's wish list this holiday."
Key features in Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant include:
• Mutant in your Pocket! - Not only does Crash gain the ability to control his enemies when he jacks them - now he can store his favorite monsters in his pocket, upgrade them and utilize their powers when they are most advantageous
• "Free-Romping" World Design - Wumpa Island becomes a "free-romping" environment, allowing players to travel and explore through intersecting worlds, with different gameplay options available depending on what creature you've brought along for the ride
• Girl Power! - Your co-op partner is Crash's sister, Coco, playable for the first time in the cooperative mode. Not only does Coco make the game that much more inviting for girls to pick up and play, she also brings with her a new tactile "treasure hunt" ability• New Abilities
o Roll and Counter Combat System - Crash will have a fun, agile dodge move and "counter" move which will inflict extra damage on his enemies
o Digging - Crash can now dig underground as real-life bandicoots really do; this will allow for Crash to unlock bonus items
o Climbing - Crash can climb vertical surfaces and jump side-to-side to connected areas and dodge hazardsCrash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant is being developed by Radical Entertainment and will be available this fall at retail stores worldwide on Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Xbox 360®, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system. For more information, please visit www.crashbandicoot.com.
About Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment (www.sierra.com), a division of Vivendi Games, creates and publishes innovative, high-quality interactive entertainment for personal computers, videogame systems and handheld gaming devices. Sierra features a strong portfolio of titles based on original IP and popular licenses from industry-leading content partners. Sierra has four integrated internal studios providing top-notch creative talents, development capabilities across multiple genres and a global perspective: High Moon Studios in San Diego, CA; Massive Entertainment in Malmo, Sweden; Radical Entertainment in Vancouver, B.C.; and Swordfish Studios in Birmingham and Manchester, England.
###"PlayStation", "PS" Family logo and "PSP" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo™ may be required (sold separately). Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
PixelPoet
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 29 April 2008
· Comments (1)
Other stuff like this: crash bandicoot, nintendo ds, playstation 2, psp, radical entertainment, sierra, swordfish studios, wii, xbox 360
Hee! He looks like he's having so much fun! :D