Jaws of Darkness

''So you disliked Temple Ruins? You'll hate Jaws of Darkness! There are more death traps and vicious snakes - to avoid them, move carefully. Don't forget to find Cortex's challenge stage with a KEY for reward!'' - Level description

Jaws Of Darkness is the twenty-sixth level (including boss fights) and is the ninth level of the third island in Crash Bandicoot. The level takes place under Cortex Castle and is a major death-trap for trespassers trying to enter. It is the second and last ancient temple type of level. It is also the second and last stage in the game with a Cortex bonus round and key, which unlocks the secret level Fumbling in the Dark. The blue gem from Toxic Waste is required to clear this stage with its hidden clear gem.

Types of crates

 * Aku Aku Crate
 * Arrow Crate - wooden
 * Basic Crate
 * Bounce Crate
 * Checkpoint Crate
 * Crash Crate
 * ! Crate (only found in Cortex bonus round)
 * Iron Crate (only found in the blue gem path, the Tawna bonus round, and the Cortex bonus round)
 * Outline Crate (only found in Cortex bonus round)
 * ? Crate
 * TNT Crate

Stage parameters

 * Aku Aku Crates: 4 (3 hidden)


 * TNT Crates: 3 (1 hidden)


 * Other Crates: 59 (34 hidden)
 * Tawna Bonus Round Crates: 20
 * Brio Bonus Round Crates: None.
 * Cortex Bonus Round Crates: 24

Trivia

 * Due to the placement of boxes, it is impossible to break all of the boxes in either the Tawna or Cortex bonus rounds of this level without falling into a pit.  This isn't a problem since Crash doesn't have to break all of the boxes in bonus rounds in this game to get gems.  However, it is interesting as these are the only two bonus rounds in the game where breaking all of the boxes is impossible, and both such bonus rounds are in the same level.
 * In the prototype, there is no blue gem. The path that requires the blue gem is not there.  This is because gems were not present in the prototype.
 * This level has the most hidden boxes in the game.