Crash: Mind Over Mutant

Mind over Mutant is a satirical running, jumping, and hitting game. As you move through Wumpa Island on varied missions that are all about the evils of too much consumerism, Crash talks to residents who have a '!' over their heads to garner gameplay information and move the story ahead. You have two attacks, one more powerful than the other as you block, dodge, and whack enemies, and collect what's inside crates to (most often) increase your health. You'll find lots of fun powerups and when enemies are defeated, you collect Mojo, which strengthens your resolve against some very huge and dominant bosses, called Titans.

There's a good deal to like about the game, including the parody of comic books and the television show South Park. The voice acting is full of personality, and is on par with what you would hear in, say, a Pixar movie. And taking over those Titans is a ton of fun. But the camera is too static for nook and cranny exploring in a game that's just not that different enough to warrant complete glee on the parts of gamers. Because you can't look around, you'll inevitably miss surprises that are tucked away. Also, the game can display some noticeable jerkiness and slowing when a few characters are onscreen. Nor is there online play, just two player coop. Finally, you should be able to save the game a bit more frequently than you're allowed to do.