The Lost City

Good, you've beaten the mad Ripper Roo, but can you beat The Lost City? - Level description

The Lost City is a level in Crash Bandicoot. It includes enemies such as bats and lizards that jump around, as well as moving walls that push the player into the water. It serves as a prelude to the later stage, Sunset Vista. Clearing this level will reward the player with the green gem.

Enemies
The only enemies in this level are "leaping lizards" and bats. The bats, like in similar levels, move in groups from one hanging bat to another. The only way to prevent the bats from returning is to spin away the two "bookend" bats. Spinning consecutive bats will earn the player extra Wumpa Fruit, even, if enough are hit, an extra life.

The "leaping lizards" hop from spot to spot, overall consisting of three separate areas to land on. These lizards can only be defeated by being jumped on when they are landing or readying for another leap. If spun they will knock Crash back.

Bonus level
When the three Brio icons are collected in the level, Crash is magically transported to a mine, deep below the surface, where they encounter a Brio Bonus Level, a very challenging bonus level. This bonus level focuses on the player's ability to keep their cool when working under the pressure of a TNT countdown. Overall, if the player is good with handling TNT's, the bonus level can be very simple and easily manageable.

Environment/layout
The Lost City seems to be in a humid, swampy area of the island, hence the stones being covered and moss and the attraction of reptilian/amphibious life. The ruins may not even be abandoned at all, due to the fire still being lit and the continuous operation of the traps and obstacles throughout the level, which gives an eerie feel to the level, along with the haunting music accompanying the creepiness of the level.

Trivia

 * Several real world locations are referred to as "lost cities" as well, perhaps most notably the famous Lost City of Atlantis, said to have sunk into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune". Due to this undersea association, contemporary fantasy portrayals of Atlantis sometimes involve mermaids or "reverse mermaids", also tying into Cortex's well-known animal-crossing schemes surprisingly well.
 * This is the first level to feature a coloured gem.
 * This level is considered the kick-starter to the harder levels of the game.