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Activision and Radical Entertainment attempt to revitalize the Crash franchise with Mind Over Mutant.
The game—Activision’s first shot at the series after their merger with VU Games—isn’t without faults but does manage to provide enjoyable platforming gameplay.
In Mind over Mutant, Crash will have to figure out why the residents of Wumpa Island are suddenly turning into Cortex-led enemies. The game reintroduces Dr. Neo Cortex as well as Dr. Nitrus Brio as the evil guys behind the plan. It’s up to Crash, of course, to put an end to their sinister ways. Radical Entertainment did a fairly good job with the storyline. There are many humorous moments (including some genuinely laugh-out-loud ones).
Compared to the classic Crash titles, Mind over Mutant dumps the strictly linear levels for large open worlds where the actual storyline takes place. As with most platforms, the story is told in a linear order so you’ll have to accomplish a particular task before the next one begins. Of course, Crash’s trademark moves are what allow the bandicoot to accomplish these tasks. You can kick, jump, and pull off Crash’s trademark spin with ease. The game responds very well to slight movements on all consoles. On the Wii, there are some motion movements (like shaking the controller to spin) that work just as well.
One of the biggest changes In Mind over Mutant is that you can play as a number of other characters (including mutants) along the way. You can actually switch between these characters very easily since you can have multiple available at any time. The various mutants have different strengths and weaknesses, making some better suited for one level or another. It’s a bit surprising but playing as the mutants (and not just Crash) was actually more fun than playing as the bandicoot despite the title of the name. The Xbox 360, Wii, and PS2 versions all feature a coop mode, which is fairly fun. The Xbox 360 and Wii versions feature Coco as the second playable character in coop.
Radical Entertainment was able to make the visual experience similar on the Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 2. The levels are quite open and large on all consoles, with plenty of variety and detail to boot. The Xbox 360 version obviously looks the best thanks to better particle and lighting effects, as well as sharper textures. The Wii version also features sharper textures than the PS2 version, though the difference is less pronounced when comparing the Wii and PS2 versions.
In terms of sound, the game’s sound effects come across well. You’ll hear Crash take down enemies, spin around, and break crates with ease. The soundtrack is cheerful and certainly fitting for the game. The voice work, though, is surprisingly well done.
Crash: Mind Over Mutant is a surprisingly well put-together platforming title. The game isn’t particularly difficult, which coupled with the soundtrack and general humor seems to show that the game was designed for a younger audience. It isn’t Ratchet and Clank but it’s an enjoyable platformer on its own merits, especially if the game is for a younger player. -- Jake Wilson, PGNx Media
---- Oct 31, 2008
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