Crash Boom Bang! is a Crash Bandicoot game published by Sierra and developed by Dimps. It is the first Crash Bandicoot game on the Nintendo DS and the second Crash Bandicoot party game, succeeding Crash Bash.
It would later get a Japan-only sequel in 2007 for mobile phones, Chokkan♪ Crash Bandicoot. Outside of Japan, another mobile adaptation known as Crash Bandicoot Party Games was released.
Story[]
The game's story centers on a multimillionaire named the Viscount who uses the characters of the series to unearth a powerful object dubbed the "Super Big Power Crystal". The characters must beat their way through mini-games and challenges in order to eventually find the "Super Big Power Crystal" and whoever finds it wins $100,000,000.
The race starts in Port Town, with the winners traveling in a boat to a large desert. Legend has it that four stone tablets are buried somewhere in the desert, and the contestants are sent out to dig for them and bring them to the Viscount. According to the stone tablets, the actual location of the Crystal is hidden somewhere on the ancient map. Before he can investigate the matter further, Doctor Neo Cortex swoops in and snatches the map. As the two struggle for the map, they tear the map to shreds.
Cortex sends his loyal Lab Assistants to find the pieces of the map scattered throughout the Big City and bring them to him. Now that the contestants know about the map, the Viscount decides to reveal his true intentions: the Super Big Power Crystal can grant a single wish who whoever obtains it, and the Viscount is willing to give a large sum of money to those who help him find it. Finding the Power Crystal is impossible without the Final Key, so the Viscount boards his plane to travel to the North Atlantic Ocean in search for the Final Key. But the plane is full, and only a select number of the contestants are able to board. Propelled to the skies by an explosive volcano, the contestants are able to board the Viscount's plane.
On the Viscount's ship, the Viscount tells the group the story of an explorer who found the Final Key, but was unable to find the Power Crystal. That explorer was the Viscount's grandfather. As the explorer sailed back to his homeland to recollect his thoughts, his ship crashed into an iceberg and sank, taking the Viscount's grandfather to a watery grave. The Viscount tells them to dive to the sunken ship and retrieve the Final Key, much to their shock, considering the near-freezing temperatures. Despite this, the group is able to find the Final Key before freezing to death. With all the pieces of the puzzle at hand, the Viscount victoriously enters the Tower, where the Super Big Power Crystal awaits its owner. Just as the Viscount is about to make his wish, Crash steps forward and makes his wish of a large pile of Wumpa Fruit, much to the Viscount's grief.
Gameplay[]
Crash Boom Bang!'s stages resemble board games, as each play area is split into a number of squares. The game takes place among four players, with the computer assigned to spare players. All players simultaneously roll dice. The number each player rolls is the number of squares they move forward. Depending on the type of square that the player lands on, Wumpa Fruit (which is used as points during the race) can be won or lost, an item can be obtained, a special event might be triggered, or a mini-game might commence. If a player lands on a fork in the road, the player will have to select the desired direction with either the stylus or the control pad.
In the Adventure Mode, the characters compete in a race for the Super Big Power Crystal. This race is made up of six stages, each containing smaller sub-maps. The host of the race, the Viscount, sets a task for each stage. This task must be completed before the player can continue to another map. The player with the most points is the winner of the stage. The overall winner of all the stages is the winner of the Viscount's race. In the Festival Mode, the gameplay is fundamentally the same as in the Adventure Mode, with the exception of the ability to select stages to play freely. In the My Room mode, the player's character has his or her own private room in which the player can play minigames that have been collected in Adventure Mode, view a collection of items obtained in Adventure Mode, or create a Motion Panel, a unique in-game communication tool can allow customized messages to be sent mid-game to help friends or distract other players' gameplay. The decorations in My Room are different for each character.
Crash Boom Bang! features forty mini-games that can be played alone or remotely against friends. Balance, timing, and intelligence are required to win these mini-games. Players not taking part in a mini-game can bet Wumpa Fruit on the winner. Betting players can assist or obstruct players in the mini-game by using the Motion Panel. If a player has a Sale Flyer item in their inventory, they can access an shop from the Bet screen and buy new items or sell existing ones from their inventory.
Characters[]
Character | Description | Unlock Condition |
---|---|---|
Coco |
Crash's younger sister and one smart girl. | Unlocked by default |
Crash |
A bit of a bumbling hero, Crash is always saving the world. | |
Pura |
Pura is an energetic tiger cub and a good friend of Coco's. | |
Pinstripe |
Pinstripe is a cool-looking guy, but also extremely dangerous. | |
Crunch |
He was originally created by Cortex. He's one tough and powerful dude. | Complete the Port Town map in Adventure Mode. |
Cortex |
An evil mad scientist, Cortex is Crash's archenemy. | Complete the Desert map in Adventure Mode. |
Fake Crash |
A Crash look-alike with crazy eyebrows. | Complete the Big City map in Adventure Mode. |
Tawna |
Tawna, the blonde bombshell, is crazy about Pinstripe. | Complete the Volcano map in Adventure Mode. |
Non-playable[]
Cameos[]
Stages[]
No. | Icon | Name | In-game Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Port Town | This stage is in a town with a harbor. Head for the big ship. | |
2 | Desert | This stage is in a large, hot desert. Look for the key items. | |
3 | Big City | A city stage filled with skyscrapers. Look for the 4 map pieces. | |
4 | Volcano | In this stage, there is a volcano with lava flowing out of it. | |
5 | Deep Sea | This stage is at the bottom of the sea. Can you find the key items? | |
6 | Tower | This stage is a dark, eerie tower. Go to the very top floor. |
Minigames[]
A selection of all unlocked minigames is available at the bookshelf in the player character's room. Minigames can be unlocked by playing them in Adventure Mode (but not Festival Mode). Every stage, apart from the Tower, ends with a Viscount battle minigame which can only be played when the stage's respective goal is fulfilled. All remaining minigames are encountered randomly.
Page | Minigame | unlockable in |
---|---|---|
1/10 | Battle Ball | Port Town, Big City |
Crash Shuffle | Big City | |
Crash Canoe | Deep Sea | |
Bandicoot Tracing | ||
2/10 | Crash Puzzle | Tower |
Crash Hurdles | Deep Sea | |
Hammer Battle | Port Town (Viscount battle) | |
Nice Catch! | Desert | |
3/10 | Crash Bowling | Tower |
Where's the Man? | Big City | |
Crash Smart Ball | Desert | |
Crash Target | Deep Sea (Viscount battle) | |
4/10 | 3D Maze | Volcano |
Hovercraft | Tower | |
Find the Differences | Port Town | |
Carry the Goods | Desert | |
5/10 | Atlasphere Rolling | |
Quarter Mile Race | Big City | |
Hammer Throws | Volcano | |
Free Throws | Tower | |
6/10 | Crash Goal! | Volcano |
Pizza Shop | Volcano, Tower | |
Fluffy Feathers | Desert | |
Happy Birthday | Tower | |
7/10 | Full Swing | Port Town |
Crash Squash | Tower | |
Crash Tight Rope | Volcano | |
Crash Pocket! | Deep Sea | |
8/10 | Crash Pinball | Desert (Viscount battle) |
Crash Putter Golf | Big City | |
Wumpa Fruit Battle | Deep Sea | |
Flying Battle | Volcano (Viscount battle) | |
9/10 | Crash on the Ice | Deep Sea |
Crash Balloon | Port Town | |
Skydiving | Volcano | |
Pit Panic | Desert | |
10/10 | Silhouette Quiz | Big City |
Robot Battle | Big City (Viscount battle) | |
Crash Pony Race | Port Town | |
Crash Shooting |
Items[]
Items can be obtained either by Item tiles on on a game board or via buying them through the shop. It is accessible whenever the player is on the Bet screen while having a Sale Flyer item present in their inventory. Every stage has its own shop from which the player can choose to buy the same items when visiting. Items can either have a specific effect to force certain dice rolls and manipulate player's points on positions on the board, or they can be clothing to visually customize your character.
Effect Items[]
Item | Description |
---|---|
Aku Aku's Feathers |
This charm seems to bring happiness. Good things are going to happen for a while. Use on yourself or another player. |
Aku Aku's Notepad |
You've got a good feeling about this. Great things are going to happen for a while. Use on yourself or another player. |
Balance |
Will their point total go up or down? Make everyone's points average out. Affects everyone. |
Balance Toy |
Here's your chance to settle the score! Make everyone's points average out. Affects everyone. |
Ball and Chain |
These things are so heavy it takes a lot effort (sic) just to move forward 1 square. Use on yourself or another player. |
Bell |
Call someone over to where you are. Use on another player. What if you use it on yourself? |
Big Sneakers |
These shoes are so loose it's hard to walk. You get tired after moving just 1 square. Use on yourself or another player. |
Breakup Note |
If there's someone you don't want to be with, send them to another map. Use on another player. What if you use it on yourself? |
Crazy Compass |
Make everybody swap positions, including yourself. Affects everyone. |
Dog Nose |
Find just about anything by sense of smell, including key items. |
Eye Mask |
You can't see anything! You don't know where you are. Use on another player. |
Folding Fan |
Switch things up! Change everybody's location. Affects everyone. |
Fortune Cookie |
A fun cookie with a fortune inside. If you're lucky, you could get points! If you miss, you'll give away points to everyone! Use on yourself or another player. |
Gardening Set |
Flips over 1 square. Use on square. |
Giant Domino |
What could be on the other side? Use this to flip over almost every square. Use on square. |
Instant Stool |
A scaffold that allows you to avoid a movement square! But it only works once! Use on yourself or another player. |
Invitation Card |
You've been invited somewhere else! Move to another map. Use on yourself or another player. |
Iron Wumpa Fruit Barrel |
Protects points from Minus Squares for a little while. Use on yourself or another player. |
Iron Wumpa Fruit Basket |
For a little while you won't lose any points even if you land on a Minus Square! Use on yourself or another player. |
Kooky Krossroads |
You don't know where anyone is! Switches the players' locations around. Affects everyone. |
Lottery Ticket |
This is your chance to score big points! Hit the jackpot and you could be in first place! Use on yourself or another player. |
Magnifying Glass |
Gain masterful powers of deduction and guess where the key items are! |
Miniscooter |
This'll tire your feet out. You'll only be able to move forward 3 squares. Use on yourself or another player. |
Missing Person's Flyer |
Locate someone and have them come to where you are. Use on another player. What if you use it on yourself? |
Movers |
Someone moves to a different map! Use on another player. What if you use it on yourself? |
Multitrip Ticket |
You can go somewhere else! Lets you move to a different map. Use on yourself or another player. |
Mysterious Feathers |
A mysterious feather that allows you to avoid movement squares! It disappears after you use it. Use on yourself or another player. |
Pitch-dark Glasses |
It's so dark that you can't tell where anyone is! Use on another player. |
Platinum Wumpa Fruit Barrel |
Protects points from Minus Squares for a short time. Use on yourself or another player. |
Platinum Wumpa Fruit Basket |
Protects points for a short time. Use on yourself or another player. |
Power Crystal |
This gem contains awesome powers that protect those who use it. Use for the person you're rooting for in a mini-game. |
Roulette |
If you win, you'll get a ton of points! Maybe you'll go straight to first place. Use on yourself or another player. |
Sale Flyer |
You can use this to go shopping! Use it on the Bet screen. Has an effect just by holding it. It disappears once used. |
Scooter |
This thing's fast! 6 square forward just like that! Use on yourself or another player. |
Security Card |
Lets you move to a different map. Use on yourself or another player. |
Shoe Springs |
Shoes that allow you to avoid a movement square! But it only works once! Use on yourself or another player. |
Skateboard |
This thing's so easy to ride. 6 squares forward, no sweat! Use on yourself or another player. |
Smarty Parrot |
This parrot is a real know-it-all! It can tell you where all the key items are. |
Spatula |
What could be on the other side? Use this to flip over a square and find out. Use on square. |
Sticky Shoes |
These shoes are so sticky you can only move forward 1 square. Use on yourself or another player. |
Superexpress |
Make a fast dash forward. Roll two dice at once! Use on yourself or another player. |
Taxi Ticket |
Get where you want to go in style. Go ahead and roll two dice! Use on yourself or another player. |
Teleporter |
Get where you want to go in an instant! Roll two dice! Use on yourself or another player. |
Tornado |
A strong wind sends one player flying! Use on another player. What if you use it on yourself? |
Travel Pass |
For those times when you feel like a change of scenery. Lets you move to a different map. Use on yourself or another player. |
Tricycle |
No matter how much you pedal, you'll barely make it forward 3 squares. Use on yourself or another player. |
Uka Uka's Bones |
This charm seems to bring unhappiness. Bad things are going to happen for a while. Use on yourself or another player. |
Uka Uka's Picture |
You've got a bad feeling about this. Unpleasant things are going to happen for a while. Use on yourself or another player. |
Vice Versa Reversi |
Use this to flip over almost every single square. Use on square. |
Whistle |
Blow the whistle and someone will come to you. Use on another player. What if you use it on yourself? |
Wumpa Fruit Barrel |
This barrel of Wumpa Fruit protects points from Minus Squares. Use on yourself or another player. |
Wumpa Fruit Basket |
Even if you land on a Minus Square, you won't lose any points! Use on yourself or another player. |
Cosmetic Items[]
Item | Description |
---|---|
Camouflage Shorts |
A pair of camouflage-style pants. Use to change your clothes. |
Coco's Baby Tee |
Coco's favorite T Shirt. Use to change your clothes. |
Coco's Jeans |
Coco's favorite jeans. Use to change your clothes. |
Cortex Jacket |
These are Cortex's clothes. Kind of weird, huh? Use to change your clothes. |
Cortex Tights |
Cortex's favorite tights fit perfectly. Use to change your clothes. |
Crash's jeans |
Crash's favorite jeans. Use to change your clothes. |
Crunch's Camouflage Pants |
Crunch's favorite Camouflage Pants. Use to change your clothes. |
Cute Shirt |
A cute, pink t-shirt. Use to change your clothes. |
Fancy Jacket |
A refined and stylish jacket. Use to change your clothes. |
Fancy Pants |
A pair of stylish black pants. Use to change your clothes. |
Flower Skirt |
A beautiful, white flower skirt. Use to change your clothes. |
Hawaiian Shirt |
A classic blue Hawaiian shirt. Use to change your clothes. |
Navy Blue Skirt |
A cute pleated skirt. Use to change your clothes. |
Pinstripe Jacket |
A flashy red coat that's sure to draw some compliments. Use to change your clothes. |
Pinstripe Pants |
Flashy red pants that are sure to draw some compliments. Use to change your clothes. |
Pura's Shorts |
Pura's favorite Tiger Pants. Use to change your clothes. |
Radical Shirt |
A cool blue T-Shirt. Use to change your clothes. |
Striped Shorts |
A pair of yellow striped shorts. Use to change your clothes. |
Tawna's Shorts |
Tawna's favorite Shorts. Use to change your clothes. |
Tight Leather Pants |
A cool pair of leather pants. Use to change your clothes. |
Reception[]
Reviews for Crash Boom Bang! have been mostly negative, with review aggregator Metacritic rating the game a 37 out of 100 based on fourteen reviews. Craig Harris of IGN gave the game a 2.0 out of 10, criticizing the confusing design of the boards, a lack of a tutorial, and the minigames. However, Harris did praise the game for having a decent amount of multiplayer content.
Frank Provo of GameSpot gave the game a 4.3 out of 10, praising the game for including fan favorites and some minigames, but criticized the game for being "cosmetic", several minigames being "dull and uninspired", and having a bare-bones presentation.
Anthony Dickens of Nintendo Life gave the game a 3.6 out of 10, positively remarking about the music and menus, but heavily criticized the repetition of the minigames, and echoed similar statements about the boards.
Eurogamer's Lesley Smith gave the game a 3 out of 10, heavily criticizing the minigames, controls, and graphics.
Review aggregator Metacritic gave the game a 37 out of 100, indicating "Generally unfavorable reviews".
Sales[]
Crash Boom Bang! rarely has any sales. It is the worst selling Crash game ever with only 90,000 copies sold. In Australia, however, Crash Boom Bang! became the seventh best-selling game on the week of June 4 to June 10, 2007.
Gallery[]
Names in other languages[]
Language | Name |
---|---|
Japanese | クラッシュ・バンディクー フェスティバル Kurasshu bandikū fesutibaru |
This game was developed in Japanese and was officially localized into English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Voice cast[]
Voice acting was recorded by Japanese actors; these voice clips were reused for all language versions and not re-dubbed.
Trivia[]
- As developed by Dimps, Crash Boom Bang! was one of the only two Crash Bandicoot game that was made entirely in Japan.
- The only other game to be developed in Japan is Crash: Mind Over Mutant for the Nintendo DS, which was developed by TOSE.
- Sometimes Pinstripe will look like he's going to launch a Kamehameha, an attack used by several characters from the manga and anime Dragon Ball. It's worth pointing out that Dimps already had several Dragon Ball games under their name at the time.
- Like Crash Tag Team Racing, Crash Boom Bang! uses a different Crash model in its Japanese version.
- The American and European box art shows Crash, Coco and Cortex in their Twinsanity designs and Crunch in his Tag Team Racing design, but in the actual game the characters have their Japanese designs.
- The Japanese box art shows Coco wearing a light pink sleeveless midriff top, which she wears when the player removes her top.
- This game marks the first time Tawna is playable.
- The Viscount is called Viscount Devil in Japan, and he was still referred to by that name in Western press releases. The "Devil" part of his name refers to his species, the Tasmanian Devil, but it ended up being omitted from the game outside Japan to avoid religious associations.
- The Viscount's grandfather's story about his ship colliding with an iceberg and sinking, along with Coco's line "Sounds like a movie", is a reference to the infamous passenger liner Titanic, and most likely James Cameron's iconic film of the same name.
- The ghostly girl in the Tower board is a reference to the 2002 supernatural psychological horror movie The Ring. She looks exactly like the character Samara Morgan.