Crash Bandicoot - Nendoroid
Crash Bandicoot is a series of 3D platforming games that began in 1996 with the release of Crash Bandicoot on the PlayStation. The colorful art, challenging platforming, fun music, and charming characters quickly spawned several sequel games and spin-offs ranging from cart racers to party games. Due to the popularity of the series, plenty of merchandise based on Crash Bandicoot and his friends was created for fans to purchase. While this includes things like plushies and apparel, figures are one of the more popular forms of merchandise that fans like to collect. Among the many brands that produce figures, Good Smile Company is a particularly well-received company, with their Nendoroid line being especially popular due to their range of characters and affordability. When it comes to Crash Bandicoot, there is only one Nendoroid currently available as of 2021: the "Nendoroid Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time Crash Bandicoot".
Nendoroid Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time Crash Bandicoot
This Nendoroid is based on his modern redesign from Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, which was released in 2020. It features Crash with his bright orange fur, big, bushy eyebrows, brown gloves, blue shorts, and red shoes. As a humanoid bandicoot, Crash has a physique that makes for a figure unlike most other Nendoroids, like the lack of a defined neck and floating eyebrows. That said, this Nendoroid is still very posable and comes with plenty of accessories as well. Some examples include interchangeable arms, legs, and other parts, face plates to change Crash's expression, and tongue parts to allow for even wackier poses. This Nendoroid even recreates Crash's guide and friend, Aku Aku, as his own separate piece.
Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Sculptor: toytec D.T.C
Specifications: Painted, non-scale, articulated ABS and PVC figure set
Height (Approx.): 120 mm | 4.7"
Set Contents:
・Back head part
・2 face plates
・2 interchangeable tongue parts
・3 interchangeable eye parts
・Body
・2 right shoulder parts
・2 right arm parts
・2 right hand parts
・2 left shoulder parts
・2left arm parts
・2 left hand parts
・Right leg part
・Left leg part
・Aku Aku
・Stand
About Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot is a franchise that follows the titular protagonist, Crash Bandicoot, and his efforts to foil the evil plans of Dr. Neo Cortex.
About Crash Bandicoot: Story
The character Crash Bandicoot was originally a regular bandicoot that was captured by the evil Dr. Neo Cortex and Dr. Nitrous Brio. After his capture, he was forcefully evolved with the pair's Evolvo-Ray, giving him the intelligence to escape the lab safely. Unfortunately, Crash's girlfriend, Tawna, was still in their hands and must rescue her before the scientists can brainwash her. Along his way, Crash meets Aku Aku, a tiki mask that is inhabited by the spirit of a witch doctor. This kind character helps Crash make his way back to Cortex Castle. Most games in the main Crash Bandicoot series follow a similar story where Crash attempts to put a stop to the evil plans of an evil scientist, usually Dr. Cortex.
About Crash Bandicoot: Characters
Crash Bandicoot features a wide range of colorful characters, with the most obvious being its titular protagonist. As previously mentioned, Crash is the result of an experiment that turned an average bandicoot into a humanoid creature with a rather wacky and cartoonish personality. Although he is mute, his animated body language shows off his goofiness and playful nature. On the other hand, Dr. Neo Cortex is the main antagonist of many Crash Bandicoot games. Dr. Cortex is an evil scientist who strives to take over the world with the inventions that he and Dr. Nitrous Brio created together. Throughout his adventures, Crash also comes across other characters like Ripper Roo, Pinstripe Potoroo, and Koala Kong, who were all previous experiments of Dr. Cortex.
Crash Bandicoot Series Development
Although the series first got its start in 1996 with the PlayStation, it has grown into a franchise with four main games on top of a series of racing spin-offs and more. While Naughty Dog was the developer for the original Crash Bandicoot games, the series has since traded developers several times.
Crash Bandicoot Series Development: Production
Production for the original Crash Bandicoot game began in 1994 and can be largely attributed to two people: Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin. The two were largely inspired by other platforming game series like Donkey Kong Country, Sonic, and Mario and set out to create a 3D platformer of their own. During development, the designers of the game believed that its levels had too many empty spaces and puzzles that were too easy. This led to the creation of breakable crates that were used to fill in these spots and create more difficult platforming puzzles. Around this time, the name of the game's protagonist, "Crash Bandicoot" was finalized. The first Crash Bandicoot was originally released on the PlayStation on September 9, 1996, and was met with considerable commercial success, resulting in a sequel getting greenlit shortly after.
Crash Bandicoot Series Development: Reception
Shortly after the release of the original Crash Bandicoot, a sequel game titled Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back began development and was released the following year. This sequel was met with similar success, resulting in even more games being developed. Some examples include Crash Team Racing, the first racing spin-off game for the Crash Bandicoot series. This spin-off series currently has several entries, with the most recent being Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, which was released on June 21, 2019. Today, the Crash Bandicoot series has sold over 40 million copies overall, with at least 6.8 million of these sales coming from the original game. The first three main Crash Bandicoot games would also be remade as the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, which was also met with critical and commercial success.
Links
Nendoroid Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot Label
Nendoroid Label
Good Smile Company Label