Editing Crash Bandicoot

|first_appearance = ''[[Crash Bandicoot (game)|Crash Bandicoot]]'' (1996)

*[[Jess Harnell]] (2005–2019)

*[[Scott Whyte]] (2020—present)

{{about|the main character of the Crash Bandicoot games|the eponymous franchise|[[Crash Bandicoot (franchise)]]|the first game|[[Crash Bandicoot (game)]]}}

==Characteristics==

Naughty Dog once referenced the development of Crash as a character both 'goofy yet heroic', and being able to portray it well. Originally however, he took the role of a silent protagonist and thus expressed little of his personality or opinions (a trait developer Jason Rubin later claimed to regret).

 

Crash's personality is hard to pinpoint, sometimes varying from game to game. Overall, he has a rather wacky, cartoonish personality, and his signature spin attack is comparable to the {{wp|Tasmanian Devil (Looney Tunes)|Tasmanian Devil}} from ''Looney Tunes''. Crash's demented behavior was exaggerated in ''Crash Tag Team Racing'', in which he took pleasure in torturing innocent animals, Park Drones, and even himself. Despite this, Crash is usually kind-hearted and laid back, rarely showing true sorrow or anger (though he detests evil, such as Cortex). Crash still lacks a sense of awareness.

 

Crash's most common ability is his tornado spin, upon which he twirls insanely to hit a nearby opponent. The power of this attack varies in different games, to the point he can spin constantly or even float on air when using it, however these advancements generally come as power ups in most games often gained by defeating a boss character. He can also spin objects, living or not, to gain a better hit radius. Like other platformers, he can also jump on opponents as well as slide and body slam. Some of these also gain power ups depending upon the game. A large amount of special abilities can be obtained in various titles.

====Early history====

Prior to the events of the game series, Crash Bandicoot was evolved by [[Doctor Neo Cortex]] using the [[Evolvo Ray]] in July 19th.<ref>'''Neo Cortex's words''': "''Wee-ooh wee-ooh! Uh-oh! It looks like that's the BIRTHDAY ALARM! Happy Birthday, Subject!''" - ''Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time''</ref> Before being placed on [[Cortex Vortex]], Crash was the '''Bandicoot Subject Trial Number One''' tested by Cortex and [[Doctor Nitrus Brio]] in January 1st, 1996. Before he was just called Subject, but was named Crash (short for '''Crashworth Cortex the First''') in September 9th, 1996.<ref>'''Neo Cortex's words''': "''I got you a little gratuation present, Subjet. A name: Crashworth Cortex the First! Um, "Crash" for short.''" - ''Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time''</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRPF-Hh-JXE Flashback Tapes]</ref>

In ''[[Crash Bandicoot (game)|Crash Bandicoot]]'', Crash started out as an ordinary bandicoot. He would eventually become a test subject of [[Doctor Neo Cortex]]'s animal mutation experiments. With [[Doctor Nitrus Brio]]'s [[Evolvo Ray]] device, Cortex altered Crash's genetic structure and brain capacity, turning him into an anthropomorphic marsupial. Crash was then subject to the untested [[Cortex Vortex]], which would supposedly make him Cortex's willing servant and general of the [[Cortex Commandos]]. The Cortex Vortex was unsuccessful at changing Crash's mind, so Crash was dismissed as a reject. As Cortex attempts to capture Crash, the latter defenestrates himself from [[Castle Cortex]] and falls into the ocean.

Later, Crash washes up on the shore of [[N. Sanity Island]]. There he learns that a female bandicoot, [[Tawna Bandicoot|Tawna]], is about to be subjected Cortex's experiments as well. Crash goes on a journey through three islands making up the [[Wumpa Islands]] archipelago. Crash fights four bosses along the way including [[Papu Papu]], [[Ripper Roo]], [[Koala Kong]], and [[Pinstripe Potoroo]].

Upon reaching the tallest room of Castle Cortex, Crash proceeds to burn it down and escape on [[Cortex's airship]] with Tawna. The final battle suddenly begins when Cortex confronts Crash while riding a [[Cortex's Hoverboard|hoverboard]]. The battle ends when Crash knocks one of Cortex's plasma balls into his hoverboard, which malfunctions and self-destructs and causes Cortex to plummet far below. Crash and Tawna reunite, and are seen riding Cortex's airship into the sunset. If Crash has obtained every [[gem]], an alternate ending is shown where Crash uses the gems as platforms to get to a balcony where Tawna is waiting. The both of them take off on the bird into the night.  

In ''[[Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back]]'', set after the events of the first game, Crash and his sister Coco are relaxing on the beach. Coco asks Crash fetch her a new battery for her laptop. Along the way, Crash is kidnapped and warped into Cortex's Warp Room. Here, Cortex contacts Crash through a hologram, revealing that Cortex survived the fall from the first game's ending, and claims to have changed his ways. Cortex tells Crash that he was kidnapped to gather the crystals, which Cortex could use to stop a deadly force caused by a planetary alignment. Crash agrees to collect crystals on behalf of Cortex.

 

After collecting a few Crystals, Crash is contacted by a hologram of Doctor Nitrus Brio, who tells him to collect the [[Clear Gem]]s instead of the crystals so that he can use them to destroy Cortex's space station. N. Brio sends minions along Crash's way to stop him from obtaining the Crystals. Coco also manages to hack into the Warp Room where she expresses suspicion with Cortex's intentions. There are five crystals on each floor of the Warp Room, and collecting them allows Crash to fight a boss before continuing to the next floor. The first boss whom Crash faces is Ripper Roo, who returns from the first game. The second and third bosses are the [[Komodo Brothers]] and [[Tiny Tiger]] respectively. The fourth boss is Cortex's right-hand man, [[N. Gin]]. Crash refuses to give the crystals to N. Gin, so he tries to forcefully take them from him. Crash manages to defeat N. Gin and continues in the last floor of his journey.

 

Once Crash has collected all 25 Crystals, Coco reveals to him that Cortex's true plan is to use the crystals to enslave the world using the [[Cortex Vortex]]. In the final battle, Crash chases Cortex through an asteroid field. After enough hits, Cortex's jetpack malfunctions, leaving him stranded in the depths of outer space. This is followed by the first ending, where Crash returns home and goes to nap on the beach. Meanwhile, Coco ponders what happened to Cortex and is concerned of how the Cortex Vortex is still in space.

 

In the true ending, once Crash has collected all 42 Clear Gems, N. Brio uses them to power his laser device. N. Brio gives Crash the honor of activating the laser, which destroys the Cortex Vortex.  

In ''[[Crash Bandicoot: Warped]]'', Crash lives in a hut on N. Sanity Island with Coco, Aku Aku, and [[Polar]]. The game starts out with them relaxing until a sinister laugh echoes through the air of Earth. Aku Aku tells Crash and Coco that his twin brother, [[Uka Uka]], has been freed from his jungle prison and is plotting world domination with Dr. Cortex and [[Doctor Nefarious Tropy|N. Tropy]]. The group learns that Cortex plans to use the [[Time Twister]] to retrieve the crystals from their original location in time. Crash, Aku Aku, and Coco decide to use the Time Twister to try and gather the crystals before Cortex can obtain them.

During his adventure, Crash warps through various time periods and settings to collect Crystals. Cortex sends some of his minions to try and stop Crash. Like in ''Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back'', Crash must gather five crystals in each hub area before he can face its boss. Sometimes when Crash enters a portal, a boss briefly talks to him. Whenever Crash defeats a boss, he gains a new [[Super Power]]. The first boss is Tiny Tiger, and the reward for defeating him is the [[Super Charged Body Slam]]. The second boss is [[Dingodile]], and defeating him earns Crash the [[Double Jump]] power-up. The third boss is N. Tropy, and the reward for defeating him is the [[Death Tornado Spin]]. The fourth boss is [[N. Gin]], who is fought by Coco, although she can defeat N. Gin to earn the [[Fruit Bazooka]] for Crash.

 

Once Crash has obtained 25 crystals, he can fight both Dr. Cortex and Uka Uka, who collectively serve as the final boss. After defeating them a first time, Crash earns the [[Crash Dash]] ability. When Crash has obtained all 42 gems, he can fight them a second and final time. Once Crash defeats Cortex and Uka Uka again, the Time Twister machine implodes on itself, and Crash, Coco, and Aku Aku manage to safely escape. Back at Crash's house, the group relaxes once more. Aku Aku expresses how lucky they were to have escaped from the Time Twister's implosion and that Cortex or Uka Uka will not bother them for a long time.

In ''[[Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex]]'', which takes place years after the events of ''Crash Bandicoot: Warped'', Crash is first seen in the intro waterskiing. Natural disasters suddenly begin to occur, and Crash learns from Aku Aku that Uka Uka has freed the [[Elementals]], a group of four evil masks with the power to fire, water, wind, and earth respectively. With the aid of Coco's [[Warp Room|Virtual Reality Hub System]], Crash and Coco travel the world in search of crystals so they may put the Elementals back into their hibernation state. Cortex has created a powerful bandicoot named [[Crunch Bandicoot]], who threatens to destroy Crash and conquer the world with help from the Elementals. There are several boss battles in which Crash has to fight Crunch, and in the first four boss battles, Crunch uses the power of one of the Elementals.

Once Crash has put every Elemental back into hibernation, Crunch's elemental powers has reached maximum capacity. At Cortex's space station, Crash battles Crunch a fifth and final time, and manages to defeat Crunch and free him from Cortex's control. Uka Uka accidentally causes the space station to self-destruct, but the Bandicoots manage to escape on Coco's spaceship.

Back at Crash's house, Crunch thanks Crash and the others for saving him. They then ponder if they have seen the last of Uka Uka and Cortex.

Crash has changed a lot in this game. He has gotten tattoos, rough fur and has learned some basic combat. He can learn more by collecting [[Mojo]]. He also can hijack monsters by stunning them, jumping on their back, and using Aku Aku to take control of their minds and force them to do his bidding. He can also babble as a more efficient and more lovable form of communication and smiles almost as much as in ''Crash Twinsanity''. It is also here were he speaks his first real English word, "Pancakes", to which he has picked up a liking to.

====''Crash Team Racing'' / ''Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled''====

In ''[[Crash Team Racing]]'' and its remake, ''[[Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled]]'', Crash is one of the participants in [[Nitros Oxide]]'s competition, "Survival of the Fastest," the final results of which would determine whether Earth will be turned into a parking lot, with its inhabitants enslaved. Crash must race many of his friends and foes in several worlds to obtain a [[Boss Key]], allowing him to race that world's boss before progressing to the next one. The final boss is Nitros Oxide, and upon losing to Crash, Nitros Oxide temporarily leaves Earth. Once Crash has obtained every [[Time Relic]], Nitros Oxide returns for a second and final race. After losing again, Nitros Oxide leaves and promises to Crash and the others that he will never interfere with Earth again. In the epilogue, Crash sold his life story, titled "The Color Orange", to a major film studio, which the game says is to be released by the Christmas season.

 

 

In ''Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled'', an infant version of Crash known as [[Baby Crash]] was added as a playable character as part of the [[Back N. Time Grand Prix]].

In the intro for ''[[Crash Nitro Kart]]'', Crash is relaxing when his entire house is abducted. The Bandicoot family exit the house and finds themselves on another planet. Cortex and his henchmen have also been abducted. A giant holographic display appears and explains that he is [[Emperor Velo XXVII]], ruler of his planet. He has heard word about their racing skills, and that they must race to entertain his people. If they do not race, he will destroy the Earth. Both Team Bandicoot and Team Cortex accept, and race on a number of tracks, eventually defeating Velo, who then sends them home.

 

Crash is a member of Team Bandicoot alongside Coco, Crunch, and Fake Crash. He has average top speed, above-average acceleration, and below-average turning. He shares his stats with Doctor Neo Cortex.

In ''[[Crash Tag Team Racing]]'', Crash and the others agree to recover the Power Gems of [[Von Clutch's MotorWorld]] and find whoever stole them. In the game, Crash has received a very different personality, as he can speak gibberish and appears to take a sadistic pleasure in the pain and suffering of [[chicken]]s and the [[Park Drone]]s.

===Spin-off games===

In ''[[Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure]]'', an alternative sequel to ''The Wrath of Cortex'', Neo Cortex designs a Planetary Minimizer in another attempt to conquer the world, which he shrinks to the size of a grapefruit. Crash is sent by Aku Aku to gather Crystals, which Coco can use to build a device which will reverse the effects of Cortex's machine. In the ending, Crash tricks Cortex into destroying the Planetary Minimizer, then brings the crystals to Coco, who uses them to return the world to normal size.

 

 

 

==Other appearances==

==Love interests==

In the first ''Crash'' game, Crash had a crush on [[Tawna Bandicoot]]. However, according to an early build of the official website, in a matter of months after he rescues her from Cortex, Tawna leaves him a note, informing him that she has dumped him for [[Pinstripe Potoroo]].

[[Fake Crash]] is a deformed duplicate of the bandicoot.

Since his debut, Crash has had a grand total of six voice actors: Brendan O'Brien in the Naughty Dog games, [[Steven Blum]] in ''[[Crash Nitro Kart]]'', [[Jess Harnell]] in ''[[Crash Tag Team Racing]]'' until ''[[Crash Bandicoo: On the Run!]]'', [[Scott Whyte]] since [[Crash Bandicoot 4: Its About Time]], [[Kappei Yamaguchi]] in the Japanese dub of the games, and [[Makoto Ishii]] in ''[[Crash Boom Bang!]]''. With a few exceptions, Crash himself does not talk in his early games for the [[PlayStation]]. This is in fact common with video games as to allow the audience to play through the perspective of the character, (noticeably, [[Coco Bandicoot]] was mute in ''[[Crash Bandicoot: Warped]]''). When he does, he speaks in a somewhat high pitched garble, though some of his comments are very obvious. Although it is proven in ''Crash Tag Team Racing'' that Crash speaks (albeit by jibbering), his speaking lines are usually short and rare interjections rather than actual conversations. An early CGI commercial for ''Crash Bandicoot 2'' does in fact show Crash speaking fluent English. Interestingly he is given a completely different voice, as well as an Australian accent.