Cortex Island

Cortex Island (also known as the Iron Island) is the third island in the Wumpa Archipelago that previously served as Neo Cortex's primary base in the Crash Bandicoot series.

Geography
Formerly known as Iron Island, Cortex Island is a mountainous region heavily affected by Cortex's activities. Its most notable feature is Cortex Castle, a tall, foreboding tower which serves as Cortex's base of operations. Closer to the shore are the factory and generator that power it. The power plant spills sewage into the surrounding ocean. Cortex Island is also home to ancient temple ruins, one of which was where Uka Uka was imprisoned.

History
According to the Crash Bandicoot production bible, the island was once inhabited by an ancient tribe known as the Lemurians. Much later, it served as a shelter for Cortex and N. Brio, who were wanted by various international law organizations. The construction of the power plant and the unregulated sewers beneath it changed the island's environment radically, causing it to be polluted with toxic waste. The castle was constructed via unknown means by Cortex and Brio, using the ruins of an ancient palace as a foundation when attempts to demolish it failed.

During the events of the first game, Cortex Island is the last island Crash travels to. It is patrolled by robots and mutants. After escaping from the castle, he returns to defeat Cortex and his thugs, sabotage the facilities and save Tawna Bandicoot.

In Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, the levels of the third and fourth Warp Rooms take place on this island. Both N. Sanity and Wumpa Island can be seen in the distance from the secret sixth warp room, implying that the warp rooms themselves are located here. Promotional art depicts the island power plant as completely abandoned and decayed since Crash's last visit.

In Crash Bandicoot: Warped, a piece of the destroyed Cortex Vortex space station falls towards the island, destroying Uka Uka's temple prison.

In Crash Nitro Kart, a part of the castle was abducted from the island and transported to Emperor Velo's planet.

The island serves its original purpose from the first three games in the N. Sane Trilogy.

The final world of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time takes place on Cortex Island in 1996. It is also where the Flashback Tapes are set.

Locations

 * Cortex Power Factory
 * Cortex Castle
 * Uka Uka's Temple

Crash Bandicoot

 * Heavy Machinery
 * Cortex Power
 * Generator Room
 * Toxic Waste
 * Pinstripe Potoroo (boss)
 * The High Road
 * Slippery Climb
 * Lights Out
 * Fumbling in the Dark
 * Jaws of Darkness
 * Castle Machinery
 * Dr. Nitrus Brio (boss)
 * The Lab
 * Dr. Neo Cortex (boss) (background)
 * Stormy Ascent (cut level)

Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

 * Plant Food
 * Sewer or Later
 * Bear Down
 * Road to Ruin
 * Un-Bearable
 * Hangin' Out
 * Diggin' It
 * Cold Hard Crash
 * Ruination
 * Bee-Having

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

 * Nitro Processing
 * Toxic Tunnels
 * Cortex Castle
 * Seeing Double (timeline level)
 * The Past Unmasked

Appearances

 * Crash Bandicoot
 * Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
 * Crash Nitro Kart
 * Crash Twinsanity (concept art only)
 * Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
 * Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

Trivia

 * Cortex Island was originally named North Sanity Island in the pitch documents of Crash Bandicoot.
 * There were plans for Cortex Island to be played on in Crash Twinsanity and most likely the power factory and castle as well, but it was scrapped during development, being limited to purple gem concept art.