maybe one of the literal best "simple platformers" to ever exist. it has minimal mechanics (jump, spin, and movement) and pushes them to their limit. the level design here fascinates me and tells an implicit story in the journey from primitive to the advanced. even something as simple as being able to see the other islands in the backgrounds of level skylines impressed me as a child and still does to this day. i have just the utmost amount of respect for naughty dog as a studio for making something this focused and developed. this was a clear idea when 3D platformers were still unclear. i respect it just as much as i actually enjoy playing it, and it's always a special reward when i can say that about a game.

i know everyone likes to dogpile this game because "getting the gems is too hard" or "it needed a double jump" or whatever but i genuinely just think there's a lack of patience and willingness to meet the game on its own terms that comes from that camp. crash bandicoot has a rhythm to its obstacles and it's often best to be slow and methodical than quick and risky. i think you're being genuinely unfair to the game when you aren't willing to put the time and effort into learning it. it's fine if it doesn't click with you, but just say that, not that it's "objectively bad" or whatever. i feel like an old man saying this, but not every game was meant to be disposable and play the same.

btw, the bridge levels fuck, you guys just suck at them. but "lights out" and "fumbling in the dark"? absolutely assgarbage.