The Pits

The Pits is the fourth level in Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back. A jungle level similar to Turtle Woods, this level introduces a second new type of turtle, armed with a dangerous buzzsaw on its back. It is the first level in the game to feature a split path. The Crystal is on the left path, but in order to break all the crates and get the Gem, the player is required to explore both paths; in this case, it is still recommended to take the left path first, as it contains a ! Crate that makes crates appear on the right path.

Trivia

 * This level's name is a reference to the idiomatic phrase "the pits", meaning something miserable and/or unpleasant, possibly a reference to the awkwardness of having to traverse both forks of the split path in this terrible level. It could also refer to the pits of heck, in reference to the ghastly demon rats that populate various holes in this level.