Crash and Burn

Crash and Burn (あつあつ かざんとう lit. Hot Hot Volcano Island in Japanese) is the twenty-first level and is the first level of the fifth warp room in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex. This level is set on an island with an erupting volcano. The level's death route contains a red gem that unlocks the red gem path in Banzai Bonsai.

Trivia

 * The level is similar to Crashes to Ashes.
 * This is the first level that was in development. Its design traces back all the way to the concept pitch made by Mark Cerny's team.
 * The prototype version of the level was longer with a differing route, and had a more story influenced progression. Early storyboards and footage show Coco entering the level, only to get captured and held prisoner by gorilla tribesmen. Crash would then have to progress to the top of the volcano and face the tribe leader before Coco was sacrificed. Elements of the original pathway, as well as data for the tribe leader miniboss can still be found in the final game.
 * The cave route has a face engraved into the wall which heavily resembles the gorilla tribe leader miniboss from the prototype.
 * It's possible to see the Death Route entrance from the bridge when Crash enters the cave. Upon inspection, it is possible to see that there is a hole for the Death Route platform.
 * A sinking ship was originally going to appear in the background of this stage, but was ultimately removed. However, the flames from the ship can still be seen through an Action Replay code.
 * This is the only level in the game that contains an Aku Aku crate in the bonus round. It is also the first such level in the series where it is possible to acquire invincibility in the bonus stage, although Aku Aku crates are also found in bonus rounds of various levels in the Game Boy Advance games.
 * Elements of this level were used as influence for the volcano island levels of Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced.
 * Although Py-Ro has been defeated in the third Warp Room's boss fight, he still causes the volcano eruption in this level.
 * Near the end of the level, the flaming rocks spat by the volcano do no damage when touched. The volcano does damage only if Crash stands directly on it.
 * In the Hidden Palace prototype leak of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, this was the first level.