N. Sanity Beach

N. Sanity Beach is the first level of Crash Bandicoot and the first level of the series as a result. The level reprises its role in the game's remaster, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.

N. Sanity Beach was one of the two playable levels in the PlayStation Experience 2016 demo of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, along with Heavy Machinery.

Level design
The level starts with a cutscene of Crash Bandicoot waking up on a beach. The level is cut into two parts; the first part designed like a beach, and the second part designed like a jungle path. This level is unique in that regard as it is the only level in the game to feature two different music tracks. This level also introduces the first of few forks in the game. If the player wishes to break all the boxes and earn a Gem, the player will have to backtrack.

Gem
There are 49 crates in this level (48 in the NSTC-J version), and no gem paths.

Tips and strategies

 * There are three Aku Aku crates in this level. With the three Aku Aku power ups, it is possible to run straight to the crate bridge and cross it before the power up wears off. The power up will cause all of the crates to break as Crash runs across them, avoiding the difficult task of breaking them one by one. If Crash stops running on the bridge with the power up active, he will fall as the crates beneath him break.
 * This is also a great strategy for completing the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Time Trial in the level because the right path is much shorter than the left one, and since players do not have to worry about collecting all the boxes they can do it with out the triple Aku Aku. However, if players do not have the triple Aku Aku power up it will be much more difficult to get the crucial time crates needed to get an even better time. But triple Aku Aku or not players will still get a much better time by going on the right path then they would on the left.
 * Crash should move a little bit up each time he breaks a box on the bridge.

Password
This corresponds to the save file with only the gem on N. Sanity Beach and no other progress in the game (1%).

Appearances in other games

 * The beach itself is also featured in Crash Team Racing as the very first hub world visited in the game's Adventure Mode, where the player is immediately dropped after selecting their character. It houses the tracks Crash Cove, Roo's Tubes, Mystery Caves and Sewer Speedway. The champion racer of them is none other than Ripper Roo. The entrance to Ripper Roo's challenge is on the other side of where the racing podium is. The beach also has the crystal challenge, Skull Rock.


 * It appears in the "non-100% ending" of Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, as Crash and Coco lie on the shore (along with a crab) and wonder whatever became of Cortex, with the Cortex Vortex coming into view as the end credits appear.


 * In Crash Twinsanity, the beach is where the game starts at on N. Sanity Island.

Aku Aku Hints in the Japanese Version

 * わしはアクアク、このしまを まもっておる まじゅつし じゃ. コルテックスのたくらみで、しまはひどいことになっておる. タウナもつかまっておるぞ. さあ たすけをいそぐんじゃ. (I am Aku Aku, the magician who protects this island. Awful things are happening in this island, due to Cortex's schemes. Tawna is also captured. Hurry to rescue her.)
 * わしがついてるときは、いちどてきからみをまもってやるぞ. ２まい あつめるとキラキラひかって とてもかっこいいぞ. わしを３まいあつめると、しんぴのパワーがばくはつじゃっ (When I'm with you, I can defend you once from enemies. If you collect two of me, I become shiningly bright and look cool. If you collect three of me, my mystical power will burst out!)
 * きばこや てきは ジャンプしてこわすことが できるのを しっておるかの. ジャンプしてみると いいこともあるぞよ. いつもスピンばかりでは めがまわるしの. (Did you know that you can jump on crates and enemies to destroy them? Sometimes jumping on them might benefit you. Plus, if you spin too much, you will get dizzy too.)
 * Note that players don't get the hint if Crash gains invincibility from the mask, like every other hint in the game.

Trivia

 * In the prototype version of the game, crates are more abundant (72 total) and are less intrusive in the path (meaning most will be hiding in the sides).
 * In the same prototype, it is impossible to run across the box bridge while invincible. Crash is unable to run fast enough in this version and as a result, he will fall into the pit.
 * In the E3 version, the woods section had a much bluer hue.
 * The level's name is a pun on the word "insanity."
 * In the original game, the top of Cortex's Castle can be seen at the very start of the level to the right, just above the wrecked ship.
 * This is the only level in the original trilogy where the music changes on the main path.
 * The Japanese version begins the level with an Aku Aku mask already in the player's possession. As a result, the level's first Aku Aku crate was removed, making this version contain one crate fewer than others.
 * This level contains an entirely pointless Iron Crate in the climbing section, with even the manual comically states that it should be ignored.
 * At the start of the level, Crash awakens on the beach shore. If the player is playing as Coco in the N. Sane Trilogy version however, she instead will be sitting on the shore before getting up and pulling her laptop out of her overalls, beginning the level.

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