Crash: Mind Over Mutant
Posted June 9, 2009
If I was to start tossing out words, certain images or characters would leap into your brain. For instance, if someone spoke the word Nintendo, chances are that you would think of Mario, that iconic plumber known by practically everyone. Similarly, other consoles and developers have their own iconic characters such as Sonic representing Sega and Master Chief from Halo as an identifier for Microsoft's XBox system.
I've never been quite clear what character was meant to represent Sony and their PlayStation console. At one time, it seemed that Crash Bandicoot was set to take that title. But recently, it appears as though Ratchet & Clank are filling that role, leaving poor Crash as the runner-up.
Crash Bandicoot has had a number of releases on the PS One and PS2 as well as the XBox console. Mind over Mutant is the most recent release, making its way on to multiple consoles and handheld gaming systems. Relying on its established presence under the platformer umbrella, Mind over Mutant really does not add anything new to the mix. Instead, it relies on its fairly solid platforming roots and offers the gamer a humorous view into some current, social topics. And sometimes, that is a welcome comfort.
Gameplay:
Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant will seem familiar to those who have played the previous release, Crash of the Titans. Much of the same gameplay elements are the same and have not gone through a radical change. Mind over Mutant continues from the events in Crash of the Titans. The Titans, now free, have spread themselves over Wumpa Island and formed their own societies. However, Dr. Neo Cortex is not content to ever leave things well enough alone and once again plots to control the Bandicoots and their world. Joined by Dr. Nitrus Brio, they create a device known as the NV that controls the mind of the wearer by means of bad mojo. Once again, it is up to Crash to put a stop to these plans and keep everyone safe.
Controls should feel quite familiar during the game, even if you have not played a Crash game on the Xbox system. The movements are fairly similar to other games in the series past. Crash has the ability to move around and jump from location to location. In addition, the spin move is retained allowing crash to destroy crates looking for items to collect. Where things are a little different is Crash's ability to jack, or take control of, various mutants inhabiting the world. This ability adds in a bit of strategy and complexity in trying to make the best use of a given mutant for a particular situation. As you progress through the game, the various mutants you can control gain new powers that allow you to defeat enemies easier or progress past obstacles. The ability to store multiple mutants and select one for a given enemy or situation is a nice added bonus.
Working your way through the various areas in the world and completing missions will allow you to collect Mojo from defeated enemies and sometimes in crates you smash. Crash can enhance his intake of Mojo by successfully stringing together various attacks on his enemies while avoiding being hit. Continuing to increase your multiplier will increase the amount of Mojo you earn. This, in turn, allows you to upgrade your abilities and have stronger attacks. While that sounds fairly simple, there is a lot of area to explore to complete the missions handed out in the game. And you will become familiar with various spots in the game all too well with the number of repetitive type missions that have you traveling and backtracking over the same terrain multiple times. However, this is a situation known all too well to most gamers and not just specific to Mind over Mutant.
For the most part, the controls handle well and Crash responds to your movements. Every once in a while, you might find yourself having to redo a portion because the camera decided to change angles while you were making a jump over a wide gap and causes Crash to plummet to his death. Again, I think most platformer games have had to deal with this issue in one form or another. It certainly is not something unique to Mind over Mutant, nor is it a glaringly large negative. It simply is something that I have gotten used to in my experiences with platform titles.
One of the nice features is that once you progress past a certain spot in the game, you can bring in a friend for some co-op fun. The downfall of this, however, is that both players must be on the same console. Not an issue for families that have children. Rare is it that a parent can sit down and play a game with a child without worrying about foul language or gory images on the screen. But, if you don't have a family or local friend that you can meet up with, this addition will sadly not add anything to your experience. What would have been nice is the inclusion of co-op over live. Still, it is nice that any manner of co-op was introduced.
Graphics:
Not particularly known for stunning visuals or immersive landscapes, Crash Bandicoot games have always had a more comforting feeling with the shaded characters and backgrounds displayed. That is not to say that Mind over Mutant is lacking or muddled looking. On the contrary, the backgrounds of the various areas are well represented and look quite lush for a cartoony character romp ass you guide Crash from one spot to another. The characters on the screen are distinguishable and react to the controls you issue to them. The one interesting part of the game was the method in which the various cut scenes were delivered. Drawing from various animation styles, the cut scenes serve to bridge the story elements and provide some humor as you watch them unfold. Drawing on such sources as South Park, Dragonball and other forms of animation, you will find each cut scene different from the last.
Audio:
Offering a large number of lines of dialogue, Mind over Mutant does not fall into the trappings of other games that repeat the same line every few minutes. The voice acting has a depth to it and the different characters are brought to life by a different person. The voices work well with the chosen character for each voice. The dialogue is well written and the voice actors deliver their lines with conviction and impart their own quirks to each character on the screen. The humor comes across well and really adds to the experience.
Achievements:
As you play through the game, achievements will come at you for progressing past certain spots in the game or for completing a task such as collecting all of a certain item in the game. There is a wide selection of achievements to unlock and add to your gamerscore. Sometimes it seems as games only hand them out for completing a portion of the game and then ultimately beating the game to completion. This is not the case with Mind over Mutant. Sure, those few achievements are in the list, but you will also want to make sure that you spend time searching for the various voodoo dolls scattered in the different areas. Finding all of them in a particular area will get you a shiny new achievement. Other achievements come from defeating a set number of a particular enemy or upgrading your abilities. There are also a number of co-op achievements that allow you to include a friend in the fun and mayhem you'll encounter throughout the game.
Conclusion:
Whether you are new to the name Crash Bandicoot, or you are a seasoned veteran, you will find something likeable about Mind over Mutant. The game plays similar to previous titles but does offer some improved controls and the ability to upgrade your powers by collecting the mojo that is hidden around the various areas. The novelty of jacking, as the game calls it, soon wears off as you are forced to become a different character to pass various spots. Even still, the game is fun and is a worthy endeavor for platformer fans to undertake. Combined with witty social commentaries told in various animation styles, you have an experience that offers an enjoyable gaming sprinkled with bits of humor. The game does have its faults, and they can cause bouts of frustration. However, its style, gameplay and humor tip favor and keep it out of a pile of shame. Definitely worth at least a rental for the more casual fan, or possibly a purchase if you are a big Crash Bandicoot fan.
I've never been quite clear what character was meant to represent Sony and their PlayStation console. At one time, it seemed that Crash Bandicoot was set to take that title. But recently, it appears as though Ratchet & Clank are filling that role, leaving poor Crash as the runner-up.
Crash Bandicoot has had a number of releases on the PS One and PS2 as well as the XBox console. Mind over Mutant is the most recent release, making its way on to multiple consoles and handheld gaming systems. Relying on its established presence under the platformer umbrella, Mind over Mutant really does not add anything new to the mix. Instead, it relies on its fairly solid platforming roots and offers the gamer a humorous view into some current, social topics. And sometimes, that is a welcome comfort.
Gameplay:
Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant will seem familiar to those who have played the previous release, Crash of the Titans. Much of the same gameplay elements are the same and have not gone through a radical change. Mind over Mutant continues from the events in Crash of the Titans. The Titans, now free, have spread themselves over Wumpa Island and formed their own societies. However, Dr. Neo Cortex is not content to ever leave things well enough alone and once again plots to control the Bandicoots and their world. Joined by Dr. Nitrus Brio, they create a device known as the NV that controls the mind of the wearer by means of bad mojo. Once again, it is up to Crash to put a stop to these plans and keep everyone safe.
Controls should feel quite familiar during the game, even if you have not played a Crash game on the Xbox system. The movements are fairly similar to other games in the series past. Crash has the ability to move around and jump from location to location. In addition, the spin move is retained allowing crash to destroy crates looking for items to collect. Where things are a little different is Crash's ability to jack, or take control of, various mutants inhabiting the world. This ability adds in a bit of strategy and complexity in trying to make the best use of a given mutant for a particular situation. As you progress through the game, the various mutants you can control gain new powers that allow you to defeat enemies easier or progress past obstacles. The ability to store multiple mutants and select one for a given enemy or situation is a nice added bonus.
Working your way through the various areas in the world and completing missions will allow you to collect Mojo from defeated enemies and sometimes in crates you smash. Crash can enhance his intake of Mojo by successfully stringing together various attacks on his enemies while avoiding being hit. Continuing to increase your multiplier will increase the amount of Mojo you earn. This, in turn, allows you to upgrade your abilities and have stronger attacks. While that sounds fairly simple, there is a lot of area to explore to complete the missions handed out in the game. And you will become familiar with various spots in the game all too well with the number of repetitive type missions that have you traveling and backtracking over the same terrain multiple times. However, this is a situation known all too well to most gamers and not just specific to Mind over Mutant.
For the most part, the controls handle well and Crash responds to your movements. Every once in a while, you might find yourself having to redo a portion because the camera decided to change angles while you were making a jump over a wide gap and causes Crash to plummet to his death. Again, I think most platformer games have had to deal with this issue in one form or another. It certainly is not something unique to Mind over Mutant, nor is it a glaringly large negative. It simply is something that I have gotten used to in my experiences with platform titles.
One of the nice features is that once you progress past a certain spot in the game, you can bring in a friend for some co-op fun. The downfall of this, however, is that both players must be on the same console. Not an issue for families that have children. Rare is it that a parent can sit down and play a game with a child without worrying about foul language or gory images on the screen. But, if you don't have a family or local friend that you can meet up with, this addition will sadly not add anything to your experience. What would have been nice is the inclusion of co-op over live. Still, it is nice that any manner of co-op was introduced.
Graphics:
Not particularly known for stunning visuals or immersive landscapes, Crash Bandicoot games have always had a more comforting feeling with the shaded characters and backgrounds displayed. That is not to say that Mind over Mutant is lacking or muddled looking. On the contrary, the backgrounds of the various areas are well represented and look quite lush for a cartoony character romp ass you guide Crash from one spot to another. The characters on the screen are distinguishable and react to the controls you issue to them. The one interesting part of the game was the method in which the various cut scenes were delivered. Drawing from various animation styles, the cut scenes serve to bridge the story elements and provide some humor as you watch them unfold. Drawing on such sources as South Park, Dragonball and other forms of animation, you will find each cut scene different from the last.
Audio:
Offering a large number of lines of dialogue, Mind over Mutant does not fall into the trappings of other games that repeat the same line every few minutes. The voice acting has a depth to it and the different characters are brought to life by a different person. The voices work well with the chosen character for each voice. The dialogue is well written and the voice actors deliver their lines with conviction and impart their own quirks to each character on the screen. The humor comes across well and really adds to the experience.
Achievements:
As you play through the game, achievements will come at you for progressing past certain spots in the game or for completing a task such as collecting all of a certain item in the game. There is a wide selection of achievements to unlock and add to your gamerscore. Sometimes it seems as games only hand them out for completing a portion of the game and then ultimately beating the game to completion. This is not the case with Mind over Mutant. Sure, those few achievements are in the list, but you will also want to make sure that you spend time searching for the various voodoo dolls scattered in the different areas. Finding all of them in a particular area will get you a shiny new achievement. Other achievements come from defeating a set number of a particular enemy or upgrading your abilities. There are also a number of co-op achievements that allow you to include a friend in the fun and mayhem you'll encounter throughout the game.
Conclusion:
Whether you are new to the name Crash Bandicoot, or you are a seasoned veteran, you will find something likeable about Mind over Mutant. The game plays similar to previous titles but does offer some improved controls and the ability to upgrade your powers by collecting the mojo that is hidden around the various areas. The novelty of jacking, as the game calls it, soon wears off as you are forced to become a different character to pass various spots. Even still, the game is fun and is a worthy endeavor for platformer fans to undertake. Combined with witty social commentaries told in various animation styles, you have an experience that offers an enjoyable gaming sprinkled with bits of humor. The game does have its faults, and they can cause bouts of frustration. However, its style, gameplay and humor tip favor and keep it out of a pile of shame. Definitely worth at least a rental for the more casual fan, or possibly a purchase if you are a big Crash Bandicoot fan.