Crash Bandicoot has recently returned to a well-deserved spot in the limelight, with popularity approaching levels the franchise hasn't received in about two decades. This is thanks to a potent mix of nostalgia and the recent release of three fantastic Crash games by Vicarious Visions and Toys For Bob.
It's not as though there haven't been any previous attempts to bring back the vacant marsupial - it's just, well, they weren't great (who gave him tattoos?). No, Crash has had more titles that one could shake a stick at and, stuffed into this array of games of varying quality is a heap of cut content.
10 Crash Bandicoot 4's Cut Costumes
The most recent game in the Crash series, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time has been received incredibly positively by old and new fans alike. One of the neat little upgrades to the series is the ability to change Crash and Coco's outfits at will and unlock more as the game progresses. With over 15 different costumes each, there's usually a favorite for everyone.
However, there may have originally been plans to have even more skins available. Stored with other skin data exists files that refer to so-far-unseen costumes such as 'CrashMummy', 'CocoCowgirl' and 'DingoHorror' - this especially is interesting as it is currently impossible to change the skins of Dingodile, Cortex, or Tawna. Maybe this means DLC?
9 Stormy Ascent
It'd be a little silly not to bring up Stormy Ascent when talking about cut content in Crash. Stormy Ascent is perhaps the most notable piece of unused media within the series - originally an unplayable level in Crash Bandicoot on PS1, removed for being too difficult.
Thankfully, modders were able to render the game playable again so the public could experience just how difficult this level is. And that was all we had for the longest time - until Vicarious Visions decided to remake it and include it as DLC for the N. Sane Trilogy. It is as glorious as it is unforgiving. Good luck!
8 Ripper Roo Finds His Voice
Ripper Roo. Great Crash boss or greatest Crash boss? (it's the latter) Ripper Roo first appeared in Crash Bandicoot on PS1 as a boss battle with sweet music and a lot of TNT. This theme of Ripper Roo + great music + explosives carried on through Crash 2, Crash Team Racing and even Crash Bash.
He's a pretty unforgettable guy, and he achieves it without speaking a word. Instead of any recognizable language, Ripper Roo talks with high-pitched laughter. Crash Team Racing goes as far as to provide subtitles for him, though this wasn't always the case. In the files of the game lies a recording of him speaking in actual words. While the VA doesn't do a bad job, it's certainly uncanny hearing the explosive kangaroo talk.
7 Evil Coco
Twinsanity is a pretty divisive game. Some absolutely adore it, whereas some see it as an unfinished bug-fest. Whatever your opinion, it's hard to deny that it had a lot of new ideas for the series and took a lot of risks. Some of them definitely paid off - for example, Spiralmouth did a fantastic job with the entirely acapella soundtrack - though the developer's desire to pack so much into the game meant that a lot of the content was cut due to time constraints. The whole article could be taken up with Twinsanity, really.
One idea cut from the game was Evil Coco - the existence of which we only know about from one deleted scene and a piece of concept art. The lack of Evil Coco content hasn't stopped fans from creating waves of fan art of her, though, and some believe that the Dark Coco costume in Crash: Nitro-Fueled is a reference to her, too.
6 Hidden Models In The N.Sane Trilogy
The N. Sane Trilogy is a fantastic love letter to the original three Crash games, and fans have received it very well - it currently boasts a very active speedrunning and modding scene. It is those modders that have allowed us to peer into what unused content lies within the game.
Youtuber and fantastic modder ARD managed to render several unused characters semi-playable, including the Skylanders Crash, complete with an uncomfortable grin. The other three characters seem to be closer in design to Skylanders than Crash Bandicoot, but as nothing has been heard from the devs on this matter, it is unknown what the purpose of these guys was.
5 Ripper Roo, Again
Hello old friend, nice to see you again - this time in an arguably much worse game. Crash: Mind Over Mutant is a sequel to Crash of The Titans in both of which Crash does what he always does - take control of mutants and use them to battle with. Wait, what?
Both games were panned by critics for being repetitive, glitchy, and dull - perhaps if the developers had more time it would have been received better, as the game's code makes reference to five unused levels and Ripper Roo being included as an NPC.
4 The Scootch
Another game with didn't do excellently in the reviews is Crash Tag Team Racing. CTTR is the third racing game in the series and offers some new ideas that may or may not have been borrowed from a certain plumber, such as clashing with other racers to create a car operated by two players.
Like Twinsanity, there is heaps of content that didn't make it into the final game, such as unused cutscenes, levels, and a cut ability dubbed the 'scootch' in which drivers could boost sideways into other players to cause damage.
3 Cut Levels In Wrath Of Cortex
Imagine being the fourth Crash game and then someone comes along two decades later, kicks you out of the way, and steals your name. Doesn't this guy deserve a break? Well, that's up for debate. Crash: The Wrath of Cortex is perhaps one of the least popular Crash games (though not without its fans).
Whilst Crash: TWOC has been criticized for difficult controls, floaty jumps, bad level design, and unappealing graphics, it did manage to get one thing right in removing what would have been yet another biplane level (left). Unfortunately, we did also miss out on a level where Crash could explore an airship on foot (right).
2 It's About Time Ripper Roo Gets A Break
For the third time, we see Ripper Roo, and for the second time, Crash 4. According to the Crash 4 art book, Ripper Roo was going to appear as a boss at the end of the Run It Bayou level.
In addition to this, concept art of the guy was also produced (right) and a track that would've played during his fight is still in the game files as a catchy remix of his Crash 1 theme. Thankfully, he does make a small cameo in the Off Beat level, running around in a circle - because what else would he be doing?
1 The Cartoon That Never Was
To think, if this made it to the final game, fans may have pushed for a full series. That, or never touched the Crash franchise again.
During the development of the first Crash game, Universal Animation produced a Saturday morning cartoon parody intended to be used as a cutscene. Sony wasn't too pleased about the idea, so it wasn't included. It can however be viewed on the Youtube channel of the producer of Crash 1, David Siller. Seems as though Crash doesn't have much luck with animation.