"Game Over” is a message used in video games when the player has run out of lives. After a Game Over, the player is given the option to either restart the game from the beginning of the level (checkpoints not counted) with the standard number of lives, 4, or to quit to the title screen. In the Crash Bandicoot series, the Game Over screen differs from game to game.
Crash Bandicoot[]
The words "GAME OVER" appear similar to how the word "CRASH" does in the start menu. A ticking noise is heard followed by the sound of an explosion (these sound effects are absent in the Japanese version) and the words pop towards the screen and then fall back (as if an explosion happened behind them). Crash is then seen running from the left to the right side of the screen with Cortex chasing him (the same animation from the first cutscene where Crash escapes).
Selecting Yes on the Continue? prompt will make the player return to the last save point with a total of 4 lives. Selecting No returns to the title screen.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back[]
Cortex's head appears and says "Game Over" before laughing evilly.
Selecting Yes will make Cortex say, "Play again, Crash" and disappear. Crash then returns to the warp room with 4 lives. Selecting No will make Cortex say, "I guess you didn't have what it takes, Crash" and disappear. The player is then returned to the title screen.
Crash Bandicoot: Warped[]
Uka Uka appears with Cortex's head hidden behind him. It is similar to their Time Twister message except the vortex is dark orange instead of blue. Uka Uka says, "GAME OVER!".
Selecting Yes will make Uka Uka say "When will you ever learn? You miserable bandicoots!" and both Uka Uka and Cortex disappear. Crash returns to the game with 4 lives. Selecting No will make Uka Uka move out of the way revealing Cortex's head, Cortex then says "Goodbye for now". They both disappear and the player is returned to the title screen.
Crash Bash[]
The announcer says, "YOU FAIL!" (or "TIME UP!" when time runs out on the Gem and Crystal challenges), after which the word "FAIL" will appear on the screen while the options to replay the arena or return to the warp room appear shortly afterwards.
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex[]
Cortex appears in the room from the opening cutscene. He says, "Giving up?" and subtly nods his head as to convince the player to do so.
Continue = Cortex exclaims "Get ready to face my wrath, Crash Bandicoot!" and laughs manically or "Curse you, bandicoot!" The player is then returned to the warp room with 4 lives.
Quit = Cortex says one of the following lines.
- "Ha ha, at last the world is ours!"
- "Quitting so soon? And on such an easy level. ...Oh well. Ta ta."
- "Oh dear. The lazy reluctant hero gives up. Go figure."
- "Well then, it's game over.",
- "The world is finally ours! *laughs maniacally*"
The player is then returned to the title screen.
Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure and Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced[]
Uka Uka appears on the screen behind a red background with the options to continue or not appearing as well, somewhat similar to Crash Bandicoot: Warped. Unlike in Warped, however, Uka Uka is completely silent. As Cortex's hair can be seen sticking out from behind Uka Uka, this Game Over screen is the only place in N-Tranced that Cortex appears outside of the multiplayer mode.
Yes = The player is returned to the level select screen.
No = The player is returned to the title screen.
Notably, this is one of the few games where Crash is given five lives instead of four. This gives him an extra chance to continue the level.
Crash Twinsanity[]
Twinsanity has a different Game Over screen for each playable character. Crash's shows him laying down on his back, arms spread, looking distraught. Cortex's shows him beaten up on the floor with his ray gun just out of reach. Nina's shows her tied up with her own cyborg arms. Crash and Cortex's shows Cortex with a broken arm, glaring at Crash who's laying face down with his feet in the air. Mecha-Bandicoot's shows it laying down on its belly.
Originally when the player lost all of their lives, there was going to be dialogue where the Evil Twins would taunt them at the Game Over screen. This was scrapped, most likely due to it not making sense if the player got a game over before the twins were introduced.
The 'Continue' and 'Quit Game' options are exactly what the player would expect them to be.
Crash of the Titans[]
PS2 and Wii[]
The overall look is similar to when an episode is finished. The words "Game Over" appear surrounded by swirly patterns and Crash's shoe print. The two options do the same as other games, they are just worded differently.
GBA[]
The background turns like the slot screen while the words in yellow that say "GAME OVER" appear.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy[]
The game over screen is similar to Warped's game over screen, sans the black background and Uka Uka appearing from the bottom of the screen. The option to retry the level or not will then appear. A few seconds after the options appear, Uka Uka will chuckle evilly. In Crash Bandicoot and Cortex Strikes Back, Uka Uka is supposed to appear darkened due to not appearing in those games, but the game may glitch and remove the shading.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time[]
If the game is played in Retro Mode, the game over screen is written "Game Over" with a black and psychedelic background. Modern Mode has no game over screen as the life system is removed, making it impossible to get a game over.
Appearances[]
- Crash Bandicoot
- Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
- Crash Bandicoot: Warped
- Crash Bash
- Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
- Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure
- Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced
- Crash Twinsanity
- Crash of the Titans
- Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
Gallery[]
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy | ||
DLC Content | Crash Bandicoot: Stormy Ascent Crash Bandicoot: Warped: Future Tense |