Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back: Difference between revisions

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{{tropelist}}
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* [[100% Completion]]: This unlocks the true ending, which leads on to the next game. See [[Sequel Hook]] below.
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* [[1-Up]]: How the life system works.
* [[Absurdly Spacious Sewer]]: The Eel Deal, Sewer or Later and Hangin' Out levels are tunnels large enough to contain Crash, electric eels, robotic cleaners, mechanical mice, rolling barrels, tons and tons of TNT, Nitro crates et al., and flamethrowing men hanging from the roof, as well as spiked camera patrols, boiling pipes and overhangs. Fortunately, they're still pretty fun.
* [[Absurdly Spacious Sewer]]: The Eel Deal, Sewer or Later and Hangin' Out levels are tunnels large enough to contain Crash, electric eels, robotic cleaners, mechanical mice, rolling barrels, tons and tons of TNT, Nitro crates et al., and flamethrowing men hanging from the roof, as well as spiked camera patrols, boiling pipes and overhangs. Fortunately, they're still pretty fun.
* [[Advancing Wall of Doom]]: The snow boulders in Crash Dash and Crash Crush, and the mad polar bears in Un-Bearable.
* [[Advancing Wall of Doom]]: The snow boulders in Crash Dash and Crash Crush, and the mad polar bears in Un-Bearable.
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* [[Back Tracking]]: This often got in the way of the fun at times. Crash always has to backtrack whenever he comes across a fork in the path, such as the fork in The Pits, Sewer or Later and Diggin' It. Provided you were extremely careful, it could be done.
* [[Back Tracking]]: This often got in the way of the fun at times. Crash always has to backtrack whenever he comes across a fork in the path, such as the fork in The Pits, Sewer or Later and Diggin' It. Provided you were extremely careful, it could be done.
* [[Man-Eating Plant|Bandicoot Eating Plant]]: There are carnivorous plants in the river levels Hang Eight, Air Crash and Plant Food which can snap up Crash and swallow him whole.
* [[Man-Eating Plant|Bandicoot Eating Plant]]: There are carnivorous plants in the river levels Hang Eight, Air Crash and Plant Food which can snap up Crash and swallow him whole.
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* {{spoiler|[[Batman Gambit]]: Cortex tricks Crash into believing that he's a good guy and that he was forced to assist Nitrus Brio in "his" plot for world domination. He tricks Crash into gathering the crystals, all needed to power a ray that will turn the Earth's populace into his slaves, by convincing him that the crystals will be used to contain the energy of an upcoming solar flux}}.
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* [[Blackout Basement]]: There are three levels which function as this, two of which are secret levels that can only be reached in the special warp room. Fortunately, the levels are a big improvement over the last game's [[Blackout Basement]] levels.
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* {{spoiler|[[Batman Gambit]]: Cortex tricks Crash into believing that he's a good guy and that he was forced to assist Nitrus Brio in "his" plot for world domination. He tricks Crash into gathering the crystals, all needed to power a ray that will turn the Earth's populace into his slaves, by convincing him that the crystals will be used to contain the energy of an upcoming solar flux}}.
* [[Big Bad]]: {{spoiler|It's not Brio, whatever Cortex says}}.
* [[Big Bad]]: {{spoiler|It's not Brio, whatever Cortex says}}.
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* [[Blackout Basement]]: There are three levels which function as this, two of which are secret levels that can only be reached in the special warp room. Fortunately, the levels are a big improvement over the last game's [[Blackout Basement]] levels.
* [[Blatant Lies]]: Considering N. Brio's [[Heel Face Turn]] after two years have passed, he had some balls trying to tell Crash Bandicoot himself NOT to collect the crystals - when in reality it was pretty much impossible to beat the game ''and'' collect new gems without these.
* [[Blatant Lies]]: Considering N. Brio's [[Heel Face Turn]] after two years have passed, he had some balls trying to tell Crash Bandicoot himself NOT to collect the crystals - when in reality it was pretty much impossible to beat the game ''and'' collect new gems without these.
* [[Bonus Dungeon]]: Totally Fly and Totally Bear are very tough secret levels.
* [[Bonus Dungeon]]: Totally Fly and Totally Bear are very tough secret levels.
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* [[Check Point]]: If Crash opens a crate marked with a 'C', it becomes the new checkpoint in case he dies. This system was an improvement over the original, since now it remembers all the crates opened before that point.
* [[Check Point]]: If Crash opens a crate marked with a 'C', it becomes the new checkpoint in case he dies. This system was an improvement over the original, since now it remembers all the crates opened before that point.
* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: Those seemingly useless gems do have a purpose later in the game.
* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: Those seemingly useless gems do have a purpose later in the game.
* [[Child Prodigy]] / [[Teen Genius]]: Assuming she is either a child or a teenager at this point in the series, then Coco Bandicoot is an exemplary computer genius. She can hack into Cortex's secret computers, so either this says a lot about Coco's computing skills or Cortex has a really lousy system protection program.
* [[Child Prodigy]]/[[Teen Genius]]: Assuming she is either a child or a teenager at this point in the series, then Coco Bandicoot is an exemplary computer genius. She can hack into Cortex's secret computers, so either this says a lot about Coco's computing skills or Cortex has a really lousy system protection program.
* [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]]: Tawna is absent in this game. Tawna's disappearance is a pretty big [[Plot Hole]], since her fate was never mentioned in the epilogue of the last game. The designers lost interest in her and came up with a flimsy excuse for her absence (she dumped Crash for Pinstripe Potoroo).
* [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]]: Tawna is absent in this game. Tawna's disappearance is a pretty big [[Plot Hole]], since her fate was never mentioned in the epilogue of the last game. The designers lost interest in her and came up with a flimsy excuse for her absence (she dumped Crash for Pinstripe Potoroo).
* [[Collection Sidequest]]: At first, the gems appear to be this, since you don't need them to reach the final boss, but to complete the game, and to complete the story, all 42 gems need to be collected.
* [[Collection Sidequest]]: At first, the gems appear to be this, since you don't need them to reach the final boss, but to complete the game, and to complete the story, all 42 gems need to be collected.
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* [[Down the Drain]]: Mostly averted with the sewer levels, though they could be difficult on the Hidden and Skull Routes.
* [[Down the Drain]]: Mostly averted with the sewer levels, though they could be difficult on the Hidden and Skull Routes.
* [[The Dragon]]: Tiny Tiger is this to Brio. Dr. N. Gin replaces Brio as Cortex's supporter for the penultimate boss, where he tries to take Crash's crystals by force.
* [[The Dragon]]: Tiny Tiger is this to Brio. Dr. N. Gin replaces Brio as Cortex's supporter for the penultimate boss, where he tries to take Crash's crystals by force.
** {{spoiler|It is worth noting there is some ambiguity over Tiny's allegiance, only Cortex states him to be an ally of Brio, and the majority of what he told Crash throughout the game was [[Blatant Lies]], he fights Crash in a personalized lair in what seems to be Cortex's space station after all. This would at least give some logic as to why Tiny is suddenly converted to Cortex's most loyal minion in ''[[Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped]]''. This ties into the fact that [[Batman Gambit|Cortex has secretly been planning to take the crystals]] this whole time.}}
** {{spoiler|It is worth noting there is some ambiguity over Tiny's allegiance, only Cortex states him to be an ally of Brio, and the majority of what he told Crash throughout the game was [[Blatant Lies]], he fights Crash in a personalized lair in what seems to be Cortex's space station after all. This would at least give some logic as to why Tiny is suddenly converted to Cortex's most loyal minion in ''[[Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped]]''. This ties into the fact that [[Batman Gambit|Cortex has secretly been planning to take the crystals]] this whole time.}}
* [[Dumb Muscle]]: Tiny is powerful enough to rip through metal, and dumb enough to fall for Crash's trick three times.
* [[Dumb Muscle]]: Tiny is powerful enough to rip through metal, and dumb enough to fall for Crash's trick three times.
* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: Remember that penguin enemy from the ice levels? Well, right after another cameo in ''3'', he would get in to become a [[Ascended Extra|standalone character]], Penta the Penguin.
* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: Remember that penguin enemy from the ice levels? Well, right after another cameo in ''3'', he would get in to become a [[Ascended Extra|standalone character]], Penta the Penguin.
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** Crash 2 loves to toss those little hints at you. Here's another one for this particular kind of [[Fake Trap]]: Why are Nitro boxes randomly placed off to the side of the main path? Also in the Un-Bearable level after the bear crashes through the bridge - that "bottomless pit" isn't as bottomless as you may think.
** Crash 2 loves to toss those little hints at you. Here's another one for this particular kind of [[Fake Trap]]: Why are Nitro boxes randomly placed off to the side of the main path? Also in the Un-Bearable level after the bear crashes through the bridge - that "bottomless pit" isn't as bottomless as you may think.
* [[Five-Bad Band]]: Ripper Roo, the Komodo Brothers, Tiny Tiger, N.Gin, and the final boss. Played with, since they're not actually all on the same side.
* [[Five-Bad Band]]: Ripper Roo, the Komodo Brothers, Tiny Tiger, N.Gin, and the final boss. Played with, since they're not actually all on the same side.
** {{spoiler|Either way though, they are all allies of [[The Man Behind the Man|Uka Uka]] in later titles.}}
** {{spoiler|Either way though, they are all allies of [[The Man Behind the Man|Uka Uka]] in later titles.}}
* [[Fluffy the Terrible]]: Whoever gave Tiny his name had an ironic sense of humor.
* [[Fluffy the Terrible]]: Whoever gave Tiny his name had an ironic sense of humor.
* [[Frickin' Laser Beams]]: N.Gin's initial line of offense in the penultimate boss fight is to fire laser beams from his [[Humongous Mecha]]'s arms. Near the end of the fight, the stomach opens up to release a larger green laser blast that can melt metal in seconds. In the Rock It and Pack Attack levels, laser beams will occasionally fire across the pathway, connecting two pairs of receptors in a predictable pattern. {{spoiler|In the final cutscene, Brio has an [[Wave Motion Gun|enormous laser]] which, with the help of Crash, he uses to blast Cortex's space station}}.
* [[Frickin' Laser Beams]]: N.Gin's initial line of offense in the penultimate boss fight is to fire laser beams from his [[Humongous Mecha]]'s arms. Near the end of the fight, the stomach opens up to release a larger green laser blast that can melt metal in seconds. In the Rock It and Pack Attack levels, laser beams will occasionally fire across the pathway, connecting two pairs of receptors in a predictable pattern. {{spoiler|In the final cutscene, Brio has an [[Wave Motion Gun|enormous laser]] which, with the help of Crash, he uses to blast Cortex's space station}}.
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* [[Game Over Man]]: Cortex. This was later reused in the sequel. It is never quite explained why he is the [[Game Over Man]], though. {{color|white| Until you learn of his plans to conquer the world.}}
* [[Game Over Man]]: Cortex. This was later reused in the sequel. It is never quite explained why he is the [[Game Over Man]], though. {{color|white| Until you learn of his plans to conquer the world.}}
* [[Get Back Here Boss]]: The final boss.
* [[Get Back Here Boss]]: The final boss.
* {{spoiler|[[Good Is Dumb]]: Crash is [[Gullible Lemmings|gullible enough]] to be fooled by Cortex into collecting the crystals for him, though to be fair it's not like he can just walk home if he doesn't want to continue. Coco is the opposite.}}
* {{spoiler|[[Good Is Dumb]]: Crash is [[Gullible Lemmings|gullible enough]] to be fooled by Cortex into collecting the crystals for him, though to be fair it's not like he can just walk home if he doesn't want to continue. Coco is the opposite.}}
** {{spoiler|Also note he is seemingly suspicious enough to refuse handing the crystals to N Gin despite Cortex's orders.}}
** {{spoiler|Also note he is seemingly suspicious enough to refuse handing the crystals to N Gin despite Cortex's orders.}}
* {{spoiler|[[Good Is Not Dumb]]: Coco is a computer genius, first hacking into Cortex's holographic projector, and then accessing Cortex's computer files to expose his plans. Crash is the opposite.}}
* {{spoiler|[[Good Is Not Dumb]]: Coco is a computer genius, first hacking into Cortex's holographic projector, and then accessing Cortex's computer files to expose his plans. Crash is the opposite.}}
* [[Goofy Print Underwear]]: Several of Crash's death sequences reveal he wears pink polka-dot boxers.
* [[Goofy Print Underwear]]: Several of Crash's death sequences reveal he wears pink polka-dot boxers.
* [[The Goomba]]: Those armadillos in the Turtle Woods, The Pits and the introductory level are easy enough to beat.
* [[The Goomba]]: Those armadillos in the Turtle Woods, The Pits and the introductory level are easy enough to beat.
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* [[Hub Level]]: Crash can access five levels from each of these hubs, or Warp Rooms, and the platform in the centre of the room takes him up to the next boss fight. There is also a load/save screen in each one. This was the first game to introduce the Warp Room concept, which became a staple in the Naughty Dog series after that.
* [[Hub Level]]: Crash can access five levels from each of these hubs, or Warp Rooms, and the platform in the centre of the room takes him up to the next boss fight. There is also a load/save screen in each one. This was the first game to introduce the Warp Room concept, which became a staple in the Naughty Dog series after that.
* [[Humongous Mecha]]: N.Gin pilots one of these for the penultimate boss battle. It looks good, but see [[Rock Beats Laser]] below.
* [[Humongous Mecha]]: N.Gin pilots one of these for the penultimate boss battle. It looks good, but see [[Rock Beats Laser]] below.
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* {{spoiler|[[Idiot Hero]]: Crash is either the victim of circumstances or duped very easily.}}
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* [[100% Completion]]: This unlocks the true ending, which leads on to the next game. See [[Sequel Hook]] below.
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* {{spoiler|[[Idiot Hero]]: Crash is either the victim of circumstances or duped very easily.}}
* [[Idle Animation]]: Evident - leave Crash for a while and he reverts to his old Crash 1 animation. Now, leave him alone in one of the snowy levels.
* [[Idle Animation]]: Evident - leave Crash for a while and he reverts to his old Crash 1 animation. Now, leave him alone in one of the snowy levels.
* [[Indy Escape]]: Crash's response to the [[Advancing Wall of Doom]]. Since you are running into the camera, this makes what should be easy-to-dodge obstacles really tricky. Also an example of [[Fake Difficulty]].
* [[Indy Escape]]: Crash's response to the [[Advancing Wall of Doom]]. Since you are running into the camera, this makes what should be easy-to-dodge obstacles really tricky. Also an example of [[Fake Difficulty]].
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* [[Leitmotif]]: Cortex, N Brio and Coco all have distinct themes play during their projection cutscenes. Cortex and N Brio's themes (along with Ripper Roo's boss music) are remixed from their boss music from the original game, making it something of recurring Leitmotifs for the characters.
* [[Leitmotif]]: Cortex, N Brio and Coco all have distinct themes play during their projection cutscenes. Cortex and N Brio's themes (along with Ripper Roo's boss music) are remixed from their boss music from the original game, making it something of recurring Leitmotifs for the characters.
* [[Lost in Transmission]]: Type 1a example. Coco has some vitally important message to give to Crash, except that [[His Name Is--|each time she tries to warn him]], the holographic projection cuts out at a critical moment. It noticeably gets better as the game progresses, so by the time Crash has collected all the crystals [[Devil in Plain Sight|she can finally give him the full warning]]. {{spoiler|By then, of course, she is too late, and Crash has to chase down Cortex.}}
* [[Lost in Transmission]]: Type 1a example. Coco has some vitally important message to give to Crash, except that [[His Name Is--|each time she tries to warn him]], the holographic projection cuts out at a critical moment. It noticeably gets better as the game progresses, so by the time Crash has collected all the crystals [[Devil in Plain Sight|she can finally give him the full warning]]. {{spoiler|By then, of course, she is too late, and Crash has to chase down Cortex.}}
** {{spoiler|It is never made clear whether the boss battle was to stop Cortex from collecting the crystals or just Crash deciding to whoop his ass for tricking him.}}
** {{spoiler|It is never made clear whether the boss battle was to stop Cortex from collecting the crystals or just Crash deciding to whoop his ass for tricking him.}}
*** Probably the former, judging by {{spoiler|the evil laugh heard if Cortex flees.}}
*** Probably the former, judging by {{spoiler|the evil laugh heard if Cortex flees.}}
* [[The Lost Woods]]: Totally Fly, where your only sources of light are the fireflies whirling around.
* [[The Lost Woods]]: Totally Fly, where your only sources of light are the fireflies whirling around.
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* [[Mook Maker]]: The beehives in Diggin' It and Bee-Havin', which respawn a swarm every time Crash passes a certain point.
* [[Mook Maker]]: The beehives in Diggin' It and Bee-Havin', which respawn a swarm every time Crash passes a certain point.
* [[Morally-Ambiguous Doctorate]]: N.Gin is the replacement second-in-command. ''Dr'' N.Gin.
* [[Morally-Ambiguous Doctorate]]: N.Gin is the replacement second-in-command. ''Dr'' N.Gin.
* {{spoiler|[[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: Crash almost hands the crystals over to the [[Big Bad]] and dooms the planet, and following this near miss detonates Cortex's space station, inadvertently leading to a chain of events that are revealed in the following game to lead to the release of Uka Uka, the [[Big Bad]] of ''[[Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped]]''. Coco arguably plays [[The Hero]] role more straight in this title.}}
* {{spoiler|[[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: Crash almost hands the crystals over to the [[Big Bad]] and dooms the planet, and following this near miss detonates Cortex's space station, inadvertently leading to a chain of events that are revealed in the following game to lead to the release of Uka Uka, the [[Big Bad]] of ''[[Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped]]''. Coco arguably plays [[The Hero]] role more straight in this title.}}
* [[Non Lethal Bottomless Pits]]: See [[Fake Trap]] for a hint. Go on, go have a look.
* [[Non Lethal Bottomless Pits]]: See [[Fake Trap]] for a hint. Go on, go have a look.
* [[Noodle Incident]]: It's [[All There in the Manual]], otherwise you would never know what happened to N.Gin to make him a cyborg.
* [[Noodle Incident]]: It's [[All There in the Manual]], otherwise you would never know what happened to N.Gin to make him a cyborg.
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* [[Nostalgia Level]]: Ripper Roo's boss fight is very evocative of the same boss fight from the original game. It might even be the same level [[Remixed Level|after redecoration]].
* [[Nostalgia Level]]: Ripper Roo's boss fight is very evocative of the same boss fight from the original game. It might even be the same level [[Remixed Level|after redecoration]].
* [[One-Man Army|One Bandicoot Army]]: Seriously, think a moment about how many [[Mook|Mooks]] Crash beats up in this game.
* [[One-Man Army|One Bandicoot Army]]: Seriously, think a moment about how many [[Mook|Mooks]] Crash beats up in this game.
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* [[1-Up]]: How the life system works.
* [[Papa Wolf]]: Polar's dad chases you throughout the "Unbearable" level, and he's not too happy about Crash using his son as a vehicle.
* [[Papa Wolf]]: Polar's dad chases you throughout the "Unbearable" level, and he's not too happy about Crash using his son as a vehicle.
* [[Pipe Maze]]: The sewer levels sometimes have secret passageways and forks, which all taken together would barely pass as a maze.
* [[Pipe Maze]]: The sewer levels sometimes have secret passageways and forks, which all taken together would barely pass as a maze.
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