In Crash Bandicoot, save files can be encoded into a password. These passwords are shown at the completion of a Tawna bonus round, a Cortex bonus round after collecting a key, at the end of a level when collecting a gem, or when declining to continue from the Game Over screen. This provides a way for players to return to a certain save point in the game without having a memory card.
The password scheme utilizes 4 different characters: 
, 
, 
, and 
. The password input menu is available on the title screen of the game. The NTSC-J version of the game does not have password display screens, but the password input menu is still accessible through the title screen using a specific button sequence: 
, , 
, , 
, 
, , , , and . Passwords are not available in Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
There are two types of passwords: regular passwords and super passwords. Regular passwords are 8 characters in length and save level and key progress. Super passwords are 24 characters long, always begin with (bringing the number of relevant characters down to 22) and save level, gem and key progress.
100% Password[]
Trivia[]
- The passwords are encoded using an algorithm and allow normally impossible game progress to be achieved, such as having the gem from Whole Hog without the key from Sunset Vista. There are and possible button combinations for passwords and super passwords respectively. Of these, regular passwords and super passwords are correct.
- Road to Nowhere and The High Road erroneously have opposite names in the password screen. However, this is never seen during normal gameplay, as it's impossible for the game to display a password for either level.
