Definite improvement from Crash 1 but I don't think it's as huge of an improvement as most make it out to be. The added movement options like sliding (and conversely, slide jumping), far greater level variety, and more interesting level design is a definite improvement. The main goal is to collect a single crystal placed in each stage, however these crystals are often super obvious and right there in the open. I don't really understand what's the point of the crystals outside of story purposes, but I digress. Unfortunately, it's not all great. I think certain levels are overly frustrating, way more than Crash 1, and the backtracking issue the first game had is somehow even WORSE here if you want to get the box gems (you do it way more often). I was actually fairly surprised to find that the jetpack is only in 2 levels near the end (and one used at the final boss). With how much people complain about them, I expected them to be more plentiful but thankfully that doesn't seem to be the case. I mean they still aren't...good, but I'm glad they don't really overstay their welcome. Overall a good improvement on the first game but doesn't go much beyond that unfortunately.