Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is a 1997 platform game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is a sequel to Crash Bandicoot (1996), and is part of the Crash Bandicoot series. Taking place on a fictional group of islands near Australia, Crash Bandicoot 2 follows the adventures of the anthropomorphic bandicoot named Crash. Crash is abducted by series villain Doctor Neo Cortex, who tricks him into thinking he wants to save the world. Crash is thrust into several parts of N. Sanity Island in order to gather crystals that will allow Cortex to contain the power of an upcoming planetary alignment and keep the planet from being destroyed. Crash's sister Coco and Cortex's former assistant Doctor Nitrus Brio try to warn him about Cortex, with the latter urging Crash to gather gems instead of crystals.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA, read 5 September 2026.
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- Released
- 1997
- Developer
- Naughty Dog
- Platforms
- 2 systems
- Critics
- Not scored
- Steam Deck
- Unknown
- Download
- Not stated
The record
| First released | 1 November 1997 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Naughty Dog |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Platforms | PlayStation Portable, PlayStation |
| Genres | Platformer |
Source. Catalogue facts from Wikidata Q569822, seeded 30 August 2026.
How long is Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back? How long to beat it
Total play time for Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is about 12.2 hours to do everything, and around 5.6 hours to reach the end of the main story. These are player-submitted times from HowLongToBeat, not our own, shown with the number of players behind each.
| How you play | Hours | Players logged |
|---|---|---|
| Just the main story: straight through the critical path | 5.6h | 339 |
| Main + the extras: story plus the side content most people do | 7.8h | 144 |
| Completionist: everything: 100% the game | 12.2h | 171 |
Source: HowLongToBeat community submissions, read 2026-10-19.
Where Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back sits on the grid
The grid places every game in the catalogue on measured axes rather than on an opinion. This is where Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back lands on each map it has the data for, with the share of the catalogue it beats on each axis.
- Year
- 55ahead of 10% of the catalogue
- Reach
- 52ahead of 90% of the catalogue
Percentiles are against the games that carry a reading on that axis, not the whole catalogue: counting a game with no figure as a zero would flatter everything that has one. How the grid works.
What readers say about Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Reviews written by people who have played it. These are separate from the GamingPickz Score and are never averaged into it: that score comes from thousands of Steam reviews with a sample-size correction, and a handful of unverified ratings would distort it rather than improve it.
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Where Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back appears
The ranked lists and finder pages Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back qualifies for, from its own genre and platform to what it takes to run.
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Part of the Crash Bandicoot series
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is one of 6 Crash Bandicoot games we track. See the whole series ranked by the GamingPickz Score, plotted on the grid, and listed in release order:
Common questions about Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
What platforms is Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back on?
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is available on PlayStation Portable, PlayStation. It first released in 1997.
Who made Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back?
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back was developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
How long does it take to beat Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back?
about 5.6 hours for the main story, 7.8 hours with the main extras, 12.2 hours to complete everything, from HowLongToBeat's player-submitted times. These are community medians, so your own run may be shorter or longer.