crash bandicoot 2

Crash Bandicoot 2's gameplay is largely similar to that of the original, but introduced a lot of elements that became staples for later games. Instead of the map system from Crash Bandicoot, the game's flow is now managed via Warp Rooms, consisting of 5 levels each, which can be visited in any order.

Players make their way through a limited environment while breaking crates, each of which containing some kind of bonus. In the middle of each level (except some hidden levels) lies a Crystal. Collecting a crystal from all five rooms in a Warp Room opens up the boss battle, and defeating the boss unlocks the next Warp Room. Breaking all of a level's crates earns the player that level's clear gem. The player can collect additional clear and colored gems by finding and touching them. If a player collects all of the gems in the game, the secret ending is activated.

Crash has several moves: jump, spin attack, body slam, slide, duck, crawl, and an extra-high jump performed by sliding or ducking and then jumping. Previously, sliding and body slamming (which both include the O button) were not possible in the original, because both square and O activated the spin attack. Stepping on a question-mark platform/trap door takes Crash to a bonus level. If Crash can get to the end of this section, he can keep any Wumpa Fruit, Extra Lives he finds, as well as the number of Crates smashed. Falling out of these levels does not make Crash lose a life and he can reattempt the area, but he will lost any Aku Aku masks he has. Going to special locations, where something is somehow out of place, brings Crash to one of five secret levels.

If the player manages to reach a certain point in some levels without losing a single life, the player can hop onto a platform with a Skull and Crossbones logo on it. This takes Crash to another path in the level of the main path and contains boxes and other secrets one might notice not being found on the main path. Several levels with this have a special gem other than the one for breaking all the crates in a level.

A new item called the Nitro Crate is introduced, which explodes if Crash touches it. At the end of a level with many Nitro Crates is a green ! block that explodes all the Nitro Crates in the level, which is required to get a clear gem from that level. Also introduced in this game, on top of riding a polar bear, is the ability to ride a jetboard over water, and fly through low-gravity areas on a jetpack. On some levels, Crash can also dive under some surfaces to hide from stinging bees.