Lab Assistants are Dr. Neo Cortex's henchmen that Crash Bandicoot encounters throughout the Crash Bandicoot series. They often appear disguised in different outfits and costumes that usually correspond with the theme of a level. They also have their own methods of attacking Crash depending on their disguise.
Later in Crash Bandicoot: Warped, a secret room in the central hub displays how the lab assistants are mass-produced and sent into different time periods. This shows that the Lab Assistants are actually robots created by Cortex to serve as henchmen, as was confirmed on the official Naughty Dog website.[2]
Appearances[]
Crash Bandicoot[]
Tawna being held captive by Cortex's Lab Assistants in Crash Bandicoot
The Lab Assistants were seen in the original Crash Bandicoot, where they are seen taking Tawna hostage. They served as henchmen for Dr. Cortex during the game. The Lab Assistants are found later on certain levels in the third island. They use different types of chemicals and electricity to attack Crash in these levels.
Crash Bandicoot features the least variety of Lab Assistants in the series, with them making an appearance only in the third island of the game. Aside from the Lab Assistants that hold Tawna captive in the introduction, only two forms of Lab Assistants appear in the game.
- Beaker-Throwing Lab Assistants - In the level Slippery Climb and The Lab there will be various Lab Assistants that toss chemical beakers in Crash's direction. Crash can avoid the beakers by standing clear of the path of the beakers landing spot. Crash can defeat this Lab Assistant by simply spinning him away when he is not tossing a beaker.
- Electric Lab Assistants - These Lab Assistants appear in the last level of the game, The Lab. They will usually stand near the edge of the path, create an electrical barrier in front of Crash and walk towards him when he's in range. If Crash touches the electricity, he will get shocked and either lose his Aku Aku mask or even lose a life as a result of the electricity. Every few seconds the Lab Assistants will lower their electric barrier. This gives Crash a chance to spin them back towards the edge, where they can only be defeated by being knocked off of a ledge.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back[]
The Lab Assistants return in Cortex Strikes Back as henchmen for Cortex once again. The Lab Assistants in this game are more specialized than they were in the original game, performing different jobs throughout the game including working in sewers and in space.
Roles[]
The Lab Assistants make more frequent appearances in this game, and take on more specialized roles than the previous Crash Bandicoot game.
- Lifter Lab Assistants - In the Polar levels of Cortex Strikes Back, Crash will encounter a pair of Lab Assistants lifting and dropping heavy metal crates. Crash must judge when the Lab Assistants will lift or drop the crates because he must either jump over the crates or run under them depending on the position of the crates. These Lab Assistants cannot be defeated.
- Lumberjack Lab Assistants - These types of Lab Assistants appear in Diggin' It and Bee-Having. They are dressed as lumberjacks and carry a big sledge hammer. Their form of attack is trying to pound Crash with their large sledge hammers. They are more dangerous when Crash is hiding in the soil, because their sledge hammers have the ability to harm Crash regardless of whether or not he is hiding under the ground. When Crash is underneath the soil and gets hit by the sledgehammer, a gravestone will come out of the ground.
- Welder Lab Assistants - In the sewer levels of this game, these Lab Assistants can be found working on the ceiling. They are carrying welders and will quickly aim them towards Crash, pausing every few seconds to reload the welder. The flames from the welders are unavoidable and Crash must wait for these assistants to pause and reload, during which he has the opportunity to spin them away.
- Jetpack Electric Lab Assistants - In Rock It and Pack Attack, these Lab Assistants will create electric barriers that will electrocute Crash if he flies into one of them, similar to the electric Lab Assistants from the first game. They can be defeated when their electric current is down by spinning them into the fire that is blocking the path.
- Safari Lab Assistants - These Lab Assistants only appear in the secret areas of Un-Bearable and Bee-Having. They will fire bullets towards the left side of the screen in a linear path. Crash can avoid these bullets by predicting their path of travel.
- Pusher Lab Assistants - These Lab Assistants are found in Piston It Away. They carry a large door-type object and shove it towards Crash when he gets near them. Crash can spin them towards an abyss, where they will fall down and scream loudly in a high pitched voice, as they do in The Lab in the original Crash Bandicoot. Their grunts are recycled from the Lifter Lab Assistants.
- Other Lab Assistants - In the boss fight against Tiny Tiger they can be seen going down a pipe to the left of Crash. They only serve as background enemies and pose no threat. A regular Lab Assistant also appears in the intro cutscene for the game.
Crash Bandicoot: Warped[]
The Lab Assistants return in Warped as Cortex's henchmen yet again. The Lab Assistants play even a larger role than the past games, and now coincide with themes of each level. It is revealed in Warped that the Lab Assistants are drones mass-produced by one of Cortex's machines, and are warped all over the world using the Time Twister. The player can visit this room once they earn at least five Time Relics.
Roles[]
The Lab Assistants play even a larger role in Crash Bandicoot: Warped, where they appear in almost every level in the game. Their role in each level usually fits the theme of each level as well.
- Wizard Lab Assistants - These Lab Assistants appear in the Medieval-themed levels, and attack Crash by sending magic spells towards his direction. Crash can avoid these magic spells by running in different directions around them. If a magic spell does hit Crash, he will turn into a frog.
- Knight Lab Assistants - In the Medieval-themed levels, Crash will come across Lab Assistants trying to pull a sword out of the ground. Every few seconds the Lab Assistants will manage to pull the sword out and swing it around in a circle. If struck, Crash will be split in two as his lower half will walk away, leaving his upper half floating and concerned. He can spin the knights away when they are trying to pull the swords out.
- Giant Lab Assistants - Just as the name implies. They are only found in one level in the game; the last medieval level, Double Header. However, in the Japanese version they have one head instead of the usual two. They like to swing their giant clubs at Crash. They are also the largest version of the Lab Assistants. Crash can defeat them by jumping on their heads, although they don't actually die unless hit by Crash during mask invincibility, but rather just fall on their backs, whose stomach can be used by Crash to jump higher. Getting hit by their clubs causes Crash to get smacked onto the camera.
- Frog Prince Lab Assistants - When Crash is attacked by a frog with no Aku Aku mask, the frogs will kiss him and reveal themselves to be Lab Assistants disguised as princes.
- Oriental Lab Assistants - Only appears in Coco's riding tiger levels. There are several variants of these. One type likes to sit in the middle of the track and lift bricks. (weight lifting or working on the Great Wall of China?) Another runs around and carries buckets on their back, another wields a staff for defense and another opens a trap door for Coco, allowing Coco to boost up over a castle wall.
- Scimitar Lab Assistants - There are a few types in the Arabic-themed levels. The first type walks away from Crash holding a scimitar, then comes slashing at him after turning around. The next one stands in the same place and throws blades at Crash.
- Genie Lab Assistants - Also appearing in Arabic-themed levels, the genie Lab Assistants hover using their carpet and will encase Crash inside a magic jar if he touches them.
- Wave Lab Assistants - Appearing in the prehistoric levels, these Lab Assistants tend to hide in the swamp water, when Crash gets close enough they leap out and jumps on him pulling him under water, then they stand up revealing themselves.
- Lever Pulling Lab Assistants - They appear in the Egyptian levels, if Crash goes near them. They will pull a lever to make a giant rectangle fall onto and smash him.
- Flamethrower Lab Assistants - They also appear in the Egyptian levels, they balance their flamethrower side-to-side and if Crash goes near them. He'll burn with the flamethrower's fire.
- Pirate Lab Assistants - They only appear in the Levels with Coco riding her Jet Ski. They sit in crow's nests and swing an anchor around in the pool trying to knock out Coco. They will extend their anchor as Coco gets closer and cannot be defeated. Once they knock Coco off, they can be heard laughing.
- Sailor Lab Assistants - Also appearing in fifteenth century-themed levels, the Sailor Lab Assistants will sail around their boat in a specific path. If Coco hits them in the sides, both the boat and jetski will break, and the Lab Assistant will hit Coco with his oar. Coco can kill them by landing over their boats.
- Some lab assistants appear to be piloting the smaller planes in airplane levels.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled[]
In the base game, many lab assistants can be seen on quite a few tracks as background elements.
In the first post-Grand Prix content patch, however, a Lab Assistant was added as a playable racer, along with three legendary skins representing other varieties of Lab Assistant: Knight, Lumberjack and Prince. The Lab Assistant can be bought from the Pit Stop for 1500 Wumpa Coins.
Stats[]
Speed: 3/7
Accel: 4/7
Turn: 7/7
Difficulty: Beginner
Driving Style: Turn
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time[]
Lab Assistants return in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time still being Cortex's henchmen. In addition to the usual male Lab Assistants, female Lab Assistants are introduced for the first time.
Roles[]
- Drone Controlling Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants can be found in the 11th dimension controlling electric buzzer drones.
- Skiing Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants can be seen skiing during the Polar riding segment in Bears Repeating.
- Shredder Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants ride a rocket board in the hallways of Cortex Castle.
- Knight Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants wield swords and can be defeated by spinning into them with Akano.
- Grenadier Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants assist Cortex in his second boss battle. Crash or Coco has to spin into them in order to hurt Cortex.
Lab Assistants can also be seen in the background of Cortex Castle, operating big bubble pods. Two Lab Assistants can be seen accompanying Past Cortex in Seeing Double, trying to apprehend Present Cortex, but they are easily dispatched. In the 100% ending, the Lab Assistants renovated Cortex's blimp into a pop-up shop specializing in healing crystals after his defeat.
Other appearances[]
Lab Assistants appear as enemies as usual in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex. A Lab Assistant can also be seen dancing with Crash during the game's ending credits.
- Knight Lab Assistant - Blocking Crash's way dressed as a knight.
- Skier Lab Assistant - Running over Crash and Coco's way on skis.
- Wizard Lab Assistant - Dressing up as a wizard.
- Door Pushing Lab Assistant - Blocking Crash's way using a door.
- Vial Throwing Lab Assistant - Throwing potions at Crash.
- Radioactive Lab Assistant - Spewing toxic acid at Crash while dressed up in a Radioactive Suit.
- Scuba Lab Assistant - Shooting a harpoon gun at Crash underwater.
- Diving Lab Assistant - Blocking Crash's way in a diving suit.
- Ninja Lab Assistant - Dressing up as a ninja.
- Karting Ninja Lab Assistant - Driving a kart intending while dressed up as a Ninja to run over Coco.
- Gong Banging Lab Assistant - Banging gongs with beaters.
- Cyborg Lab Assistant - Shoots a green laser at Crash.
- Dancing Lab Assistant - Dancing with Crash in credits.
Lab Assistants have a lower number of roles in Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure, but they appear again as enemies nonetheless.
- Blowgun Lab Assistant - These lab assistants appear in the level Down The Hole (Level 14) and in the Red Gem path of the level Temple of Boom (Level 3) and shoot poisoned arrows from their blowgun at Crash.
- Welder Lab Assistant - These Lab assistants (already appeared in Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back) attack with their welder.
- Lab Assistant with nacelle - These Lab Assistants (Already appeared in Crash Bandicoot: Warped) will try to defeat Crash with their laser.
Lab Assistants have a few more roles in Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced than the previous game.
- Genie Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants flying in a magic carpet, appear in Arab levels (already appeared in Crash Bandicoot: Warped). There is a variant of this enemy that actually looks like a Genie and attacks by shooting magic balls.
- Mummy Lab Assistant - These Lab assistants (already appeared in Crash Bandicoot: Warped) exists in 3 types: the first is out of the sarcophagus, the second is inside the sarcophagus, the third is inside in sarcophagus barbed.
- Caveman Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants exists in 2 types: the first is throwing a lance, the second spits fire.
- Egyptian Lab Assistant - These lab assistants (Already appeared in Crash Bandicoot: Warped) pull a lever which a giant block, the second type is using the flamethrower.
- Arabic Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants (Already appeared in Crash Bandicoot: Warped) use a sword, making them only vulnerable when their back is turned.
- Arsonist Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants drop molotov cocktails under the window they peer out of.
Lab Assistants have a small cameo in Crash Nitro Kart, with three statues depicting their heads appearing in Tiny Temple.
The number of roles for Lab Assistants shrinks again in Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage.
- Flame Thrower Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants mainly reside in Fire Mountains. They carry around flamethrowers that shoot out a stream of fire, they usually walk back and forth or just stand in one spot
- Flying Lab Assistant - These Lab Assistants mainly reside in Tech Park. They wear Jet Packs and carry around a giant laser cannon to fire at Crash.
Lab Assistants play a role in various minigames in Crash Boom Bang!, appearing as the suspects in "Where's the Man?" and dealing cards at a casino in "Crash Shuffle".
Lab Assistants of course reprise their roles from the original trilogy in Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, with no significant changes.
In Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!, two different varieties of lab assistants appear as henchmen mini-bosses, those being the Beaker-Throwing Lab Assistant (referred to as simply "Lab Assistant") and the Electric Lab Assistant (referred to as "Electro Lab Assistant"). Mummy Lab Assistants also serve as enemies in Road to Ruin.
Other media[]
Lab Assistants are sometimes in Crash Bandicoot: Kattobi! Spin World, usually filling out crowd shots and appearing to be regular civilians.
A mysterious rockstar strongly resembling a Lab Assistant appears in the Catbat promotional comic, kindly offing Catbat food and inspiring their rock-and-roll style.
Characteristics[]
Physical description[]
The Lab Assistants often vary in appearance, wearing a variety of different outfits and disguises depending on the location they are found in. The Lab Assistants' default appearance, as seen in the original Crash Bandicoot, shows them as tall, lanky humanoids with pale skin, cropped brown hair on top of their flat heads, large round glasses which obscure their eyes, long pointed noses and a thin squared jaw. They wear white lab coats with matching white pants and brown shoes. Lab Assistants usually appear male, however female Lab Assistants can also be seen starting in It's About Time. The only major differences between male and female Lab Assistants are that females have longer hair which they wear in a pony tail and a more rounded head shape, with everything else being the same. Also in It's About Time, some Lab Assistants can be seen with darker skin tones and different hairstyles. Some Lab Assistant variations have parts of their outer skin peeled away, showing their robotic internal workings.
Personality[]
Lab Assistants are usually portrayed as mindless drones, obeying everything that Cortex tells them to do without question. Individual Lab Assistants do seem to have slight variation in their demeanor, however. For example, the playable Lab Assistant in Nitro-Fueled displaying nervous and timid mannerisms, hyperventilating with anxiety during races, and acting embarrassed and humble on the winner's podium. The Lab Assistants in On the Run!, meanwhile, show a more aggressive personality, frowning and shouting angrily as they attack the player character.
Additional information[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Voicing the Multiverse. Activision. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021 "Who did you voice in Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!?" "So far, I’ve had great fun recording the voices for [the] Venus Flytrap, Lab Assistants, the Mummies, and the Domino’s Pizza partnership character called the Noid."
- ↑ Crash Gallery - Character Sketches - Crash 3. Naughty Dog. Archived on August 7, 2004 "In the previous Crash games, we featured numerous iterations of Cortex's lab assistant, but never had the opportunity to explain their origin until Crash 3. ... These guys are not clones, they are cybernetic organisms...living flesh over metal endoskeletons."
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