Crash Bandicoot Blast
Quick Information
- Released alongside the GameCuber version of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex in October 2002
- Game mode(s): Singleplayer, Multiplayer (2 players, turn based)
- Published by Universal Interactive Studios
- Developed by Vicarious Visions
Overview
The GameCube version of Univeral Interactive Studios' Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex has a hidden treat for Game Boy Advance owners. By connecting the Game Boy Advance to the GameCube via the GameCube GBA cable, players are enabled to download a unique mini-game to the handheld and take it with them to play. The mini-game is completely independent from the GameCube adventure.
The mini-game, Crash Blast, has been developed by Vicarious Visions, the same studio responsible for Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure and the (then) upcoming Crash Bandicoot 2 for the Game Boy Advance.
It can be downloaded at any time from the main menu of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, only requiring about 20 seconds of time to transfer the data. Once the game's been received by the GBA, the GBA system can be disconnected from the GameCube. Sleep mode is included so that players can keep the game in memory and conserve battery power...since the game will be wiped from the system memory if the power switch is turned off.
The mini-game, Crash Blast, has been developed by Vicarious Visions, the same studio responsible for Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure and the (then) upcoming Crash Bandicoot 2 for the Game Boy Advance.
It can be downloaded at any time from the main menu of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, only requiring about 20 seconds of time to transfer the data. Once the game's been received by the GBA, the GBA system can be disconnected from the GameCube. Sleep mode is included so that players can keep the game in memory and conserve battery power...since the game will be wiped from the system memory if the power switch is turned off.
Gameplay
Crash Blast is a simplistic carnival-style shooter that challenges players to, using Crash's iconic Wumpa-Bazooka introduced in Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, blast away at targets based upon enemies from Crash's adventures. "Cardboard" N. Cortex and Tiny figures will pop up, and players have to maneuver their crosshair and fire wumpa fruit at them before they get away.
Shooting random crates will replenish the gun's ammunition, and accidentally hitting a "good" target (like Coco, Crash's sister) will deduct points from the player's score.Crash Blast can also be linked-up with another system for two player challenges, with each player trying to score more points on the same target range. All you need to do is download the game into a second GBA system and you're good to go.
The gameplay is nothing earth-shattering by any means, but it's a welcome, original addition to a PS2 port for the GameCube. And it makes it one of the very few games of 2002 that takes advantage of the system link between the Game Boy Advance and GameCube.
The gameplay is nothing earth-shattering by any means, but it's a welcome, original addition to a PS2 port for the GameCube. And it makes it one of the very few games of 2002 that takes advantage of the system link between the Game Boy Advance and GameCube.