Instead of reviewing these games, here is a boss ranking:
Every boss gets a score out of five:
16: Dr. Cortex
Game: Crash 2
Score: 0/5
The namesake boss of Crash 2 is an embarrassment; I'm not even comfortable calling it a boss. He never attacks you and there is no remote element of combat. The boss is tedious if you don’t know what to do, and pitiful easy if you do; It still blows my mind how bad this boss is.
15: Papu Papu
Game: Crash 1
Score: 1/5
Objectively just as bad as the previous fight, but at least he attacks you, and he has the excuse of being the first boss of the first game. Still a terrible note to start on.
14: Ripper Roo
Game: Crash 1
Score: 1/5
Still no element of combat. A unique setup can’t make up for this boss feeling more like a level hazard; the timing on the TNT crates can be irritating as well. Fortunately, there is another boss further down the list that uses Ripper Roo’s setup much better.
13: Ripper Roo
Game: Crash 2
Score: 2/5
Really not a big fan of Ripper Roo boss fights. This one has more interesting attacks and slightly better aesthetics, but still just feels like a level hazard and is really boring on future playthroughs.
12: Komodo Bros
Game: Crash 2
Score: 2/5
This fight would rank much higher if not for one thing; the area is too big. It’s almost impossible to get hit by anything, and there is no challenge as a result. Great aesthetics can’t make up for that unfortunately.
11: Pinstripe Potoroo
Game: Crash 1
Score: 2/5
You could lob the first half of his health bar off all at once in the original ps1 game. This version is slightly harder, but still too easy and basic to be noteworthy.
10: Tiny Tiger
Game: Crash 2
Score: 3/5
The second-best boss in Crash 2 barely made the top ten; Crash 2’s bosses aren’t very good. Tiny is a fine encounter; it takes Ripper Roo’s mechanics and improves them by having the boss actively pursue you. Tiny is fun, but very basic. The best thing about him by far is the music, which is common for Crash 2.
9: Koala Kong
Game: Crash 1
Score: 3/5
The first good boss in the series. I could almost tie Kong with Tiny, but I put Kong slightly higher because he has more attacks and slightly more complex mechanics. Kong is basic fun, nothing more, nothing less.
8: Dr. Cortex
Game: Crash 1
Score: 3/5
Dr. Cortex fights run the gambit in terms of quality. This one provides a worthy challenge and an appropriately epic setting for the game’s conclusion. I have no idea how the next Cortex fight was such a downgrade, but maybe the one after that will be way better.
7: N. Tropy
Game: Crash 3
Score: 3/5
The weakest fight in Crash 3 is in the upper half of the list; five of the top seven bosses in the trilogy are just Crash 3; That should tell you something about Crash 3’s boss quality compared to the previous two games.
Tropy is a solid fight. He has challenging attacks to dodge and the fight itself has good aesthetics. I’d be happy to rank it higher, but the rest of Crash 3’s bosses are just too good: Which reminds me…
6: N. Gin
Game: Crash 3
Score: 4/5
This fight is objectively the longest and most varied in the trilogy. Unfortunately, it also stands out as one of the very few that was notably better in the ps1 version: This fight is much easier, and you feel much less impact from damaging the parts of the robot. Still a great fight, but a bit of a downgrade.
5: N. Brio
Game: Crash 1
Score: 4/5
My favorite Crash character is also my favorite fight from Crash 1. Honestly, this fight is so varied and clever that it’s hard to believe it’s from the first game. The actual gameplay of this fight is nothing special, but the setting, mechanics, and the boss character are among the best in the trilogy.
4: Tiny Tiger
Game: Crash 3
Score: 4/5
Best first boss in the trilogy without question. Twinsanity and Crash 4 may have had better first bosses later on, but this one set a new standard with an excellent area, varied attacks, and being the first boss to give you an upgrade after defeating him. Tiny provides a challenge early on that doesn’t feel overwhelming given your place in the game. I have no idea how they’ll top this.
3: Dingodile
Game: Crash 3
Score: 5/5
They topped it. Wildly creative area and boss character, unique mechanics, and the best boss theme in the trilogy. The fact that you earn the double-jump from this fight, which can be used to cheese this fight on a second encounter, is just icing on the cake. This is probably one of the best bosses I’ve ever seen in a platforming game.
2: N. Gin
Game: Crash 2
Score: 5/5
The saving grace of Crash 2’s boss roster. N Gin has so many attacks, a great boss theme, a cool voice, a good design, and a fair challenge. His attacks will even vary depending on if he has one or two shoulders left. That attention to detail is admirable. Crash 2 would be right alongside Spyro 1 as a posterchild of good games with bad bosses if not for this encounter.
1: Neo Cortex
Game: Crash 3
Score: 5/5
Have you all figured out by now I really like Crash 3 bosses? Especially those with excellent music, varied attacks, memorable areas, and a climactic sense of scale? This fight has it all: an epic 2-v-2 encounter with two foes built-up throughout your entire journey, and one where you must win without taking damage due to Aku-Aku’s pre-occupation fighting his brother. Much like Spyro 2’s final boss, the added hurdle of winning with no damage adds a lot to the encounter and helps forgive the lack of difficulty. You can argue that N. Gin or Dingodile have the better gameplay, but I think Dr. Cortex’s Crash 3 fight is the complete package.
I reviewed each ps1 game individually and these game are just those with streamlined controls, better graphics, some dated elements of progression removed, and optional time trials across all three games. This trilogy is great, and you don't need me to tell you that.
Every boss gets a score out of five:
16: Dr. Cortex
Game: Crash 2
Score: 0/5
The namesake boss of Crash 2 is an embarrassment; I'm not even comfortable calling it a boss. He never attacks you and there is no remote element of combat. The boss is tedious if you don’t know what to do, and pitiful easy if you do; It still blows my mind how bad this boss is.
15: Papu Papu
Game: Crash 1
Score: 1/5
Objectively just as bad as the previous fight, but at least he attacks you, and he has the excuse of being the first boss of the first game. Still a terrible note to start on.
14: Ripper Roo
Game: Crash 1
Score: 1/5
Still no element of combat. A unique setup can’t make up for this boss feeling more like a level hazard; the timing on the TNT crates can be irritating as well. Fortunately, there is another boss further down the list that uses Ripper Roo’s setup much better.
13: Ripper Roo
Game: Crash 2
Score: 2/5
Really not a big fan of Ripper Roo boss fights. This one has more interesting attacks and slightly better aesthetics, but still just feels like a level hazard and is really boring on future playthroughs.
12: Komodo Bros
Game: Crash 2
Score: 2/5
This fight would rank much higher if not for one thing; the area is too big. It’s almost impossible to get hit by anything, and there is no challenge as a result. Great aesthetics can’t make up for that unfortunately.
11: Pinstripe Potoroo
Game: Crash 1
Score: 2/5
You could lob the first half of his health bar off all at once in the original ps1 game. This version is slightly harder, but still too easy and basic to be noteworthy.
10: Tiny Tiger
Game: Crash 2
Score: 3/5
The second-best boss in Crash 2 barely made the top ten; Crash 2’s bosses aren’t very good. Tiny is a fine encounter; it takes Ripper Roo’s mechanics and improves them by having the boss actively pursue you. Tiny is fun, but very basic. The best thing about him by far is the music, which is common for Crash 2.
9: Koala Kong
Game: Crash 1
Score: 3/5
The first good boss in the series. I could almost tie Kong with Tiny, but I put Kong slightly higher because he has more attacks and slightly more complex mechanics. Kong is basic fun, nothing more, nothing less.
8: Dr. Cortex
Game: Crash 1
Score: 3/5
Dr. Cortex fights run the gambit in terms of quality. This one provides a worthy challenge and an appropriately epic setting for the game’s conclusion. I have no idea how the next Cortex fight was such a downgrade, but maybe the one after that will be way better.
7: N. Tropy
Game: Crash 3
Score: 3/5
The weakest fight in Crash 3 is in the upper half of the list; five of the top seven bosses in the trilogy are just Crash 3; That should tell you something about Crash 3’s boss quality compared to the previous two games.
Tropy is a solid fight. He has challenging attacks to dodge and the fight itself has good aesthetics. I’d be happy to rank it higher, but the rest of Crash 3’s bosses are just too good: Which reminds me…
6: N. Gin
Game: Crash 3
Score: 4/5
This fight is objectively the longest and most varied in the trilogy. Unfortunately, it also stands out as one of the very few that was notably better in the ps1 version: This fight is much easier, and you feel much less impact from damaging the parts of the robot. Still a great fight, but a bit of a downgrade.
5: N. Brio
Game: Crash 1
Score: 4/5
My favorite Crash character is also my favorite fight from Crash 1. Honestly, this fight is so varied and clever that it’s hard to believe it’s from the first game. The actual gameplay of this fight is nothing special, but the setting, mechanics, and the boss character are among the best in the trilogy.
4: Tiny Tiger
Game: Crash 3
Score: 4/5
Best first boss in the trilogy without question. Twinsanity and Crash 4 may have had better first bosses later on, but this one set a new standard with an excellent area, varied attacks, and being the first boss to give you an upgrade after defeating him. Tiny provides a challenge early on that doesn’t feel overwhelming given your place in the game. I have no idea how they’ll top this.
3: Dingodile
Game: Crash 3
Score: 5/5
They topped it. Wildly creative area and boss character, unique mechanics, and the best boss theme in the trilogy. The fact that you earn the double-jump from this fight, which can be used to cheese this fight on a second encounter, is just icing on the cake. This is probably one of the best bosses I’ve ever seen in a platforming game.
2: N. Gin
Game: Crash 2
Score: 5/5
The saving grace of Crash 2’s boss roster. N Gin has so many attacks, a great boss theme, a cool voice, a good design, and a fair challenge. His attacks will even vary depending on if he has one or two shoulders left. That attention to detail is admirable. Crash 2 would be right alongside Spyro 1 as a posterchild of good games with bad bosses if not for this encounter.
1: Neo Cortex
Game: Crash 3
Score: 5/5
Have you all figured out by now I really like Crash 3 bosses? Especially those with excellent music, varied attacks, memorable areas, and a climactic sense of scale? This fight has it all: an epic 2-v-2 encounter with two foes built-up throughout your entire journey, and one where you must win without taking damage due to Aku-Aku’s pre-occupation fighting his brother. Much like Spyro 2’s final boss, the added hurdle of winning with no damage adds a lot to the encounter and helps forgive the lack of difficulty. You can argue that N. Gin or Dingodile have the better gameplay, but I think Dr. Cortex’s Crash 3 fight is the complete package.
I reviewed each ps1 game individually and these game are just those with streamlined controls, better graphics, some dated elements of progression removed, and optional time trials across all three games. This trilogy is great, and you don't need me to tell you that.