5 Video Games That Tried To Copy Crash Bandicoot

The Quest to Dethrone a Marsupial Icon

During the mid-to-late 1990s, the video game industry experienced a massive seismic shift. As hardware capabilities leaped into the third dimension, every major publisher scrambled to create their own definitive 3D mascot. Naughty Dog struck gold with a chaotic, spinning orange marsupial on the original PlayStation, establishing a distinct style of linear, momentum-driven platforming.

Naturally, success breeds imitation. As the platforming genre expanded rapidly, various studios attempted to replicate the winning formula. Some focused on the character-driven charm, while others mimicked the specific perspective and track-based navigation that defined the original adventures. Let us examine five distinct titles that tried to capture that very same lightning in a bottle.

1. Bubsy 3D

Few titles capture the awkward growing pains of early 3D platforming quite like Bubsy 3D. Originally a 2D mascot on previous generation hardware, the feline protagonist made a disastrous leap into the third dimension. The developers attempted to create a fully 3D environment that mirrored the energetic pacing of popular mascot platformers of the era.

Unfortunately, the transition resulted in notoriously slippery controls, sluggish camera angles, and deeply divisive voice acting. While it adopted the general ambition of exploring open environments while collecting items, it ultimately became a cautionary tale of how difficult it was to transition classic 2D mascot mechanics into fully realized 3D spaces.

2. Croc: Legend of the Gobbos

Perhaps one of the most direct spiritual contemporaries to the orange marsupial, Croc featured an adorable, round-bellied protagonist on a quest to rescue captive creatures from an evil villain. The game utilized a similar behind-the-character perspective and focused heavily on exploration, platforming precision, and collecting shiny objects scattered across vibrant worlds.

Interestingly, the initial concept for Croc was actually pitched to Naughty Dog as a potential 3D project before they pursued their own marsupial concept. When that pitch was rejected, the developer forged ahead independently, resulting in a charming, albeit sometimes frustratingly controlled, platformer that resonated with players looking for family-friendly 3D adventures on the PlayStation and Sega Saturn.

3. Jersey Devil

Blending urban legend with cartoon aesthetics, Jersey Devil cast players as a mutant superhero based on folklore, tasked with stopping a mad scientist. The game featured distinct linear stage designs where players maneuvered through detailed environments, smashed crates, and collected unique tokens.

The visual style and pacing leaned heavily into the action-platformer template popularized by mid-90s hits. Despite offering atmospheric levels and a unique aesthetic, the title struggled to stand out in a crowded marketplace overflowing with ambitious mascot games vying for consumer attention.

4. Kao the Kangaroo

Developed as a distinct European entry into the mascot platformer craze, Kao featured a boxing-glove-wearing marsupial navigating various vibrant, hazard-filled stages. The gameplay loop heavily emphasized combat mechanics alongside traditional jumping puzzles, checkpoint racing, and vehicle sections.

While it arrived slightly later in the lifecycle of the original PlayStation generation, it embraced the classic tropes of collecting items, battling quirky enemies, and progressing through distinct themed worlds. The franchise managed to carve out a dedicated niche, eventually seeing modern revivals that appealed to nostalgia for classic platforming tropes.

5. Scaler

Arriving a bit later in the 128-bit console era, Scaler attempted a slightly different spin on the formula by starring a wisecracking chameleon who could transform into various creatures. Despite the unique shifting mechanic, the core level design and fast-paced movement through vibrant, twisting environments drew strong comparisons to the linear platformers of the previous decade.

Players bounced through colorful landscapes, collected specialized currency, and tackled enemies with a mixture of melee attacks and projectile moves. While it brought unique ideas to the table, it arrived at a time when the broader gaming landscape was shifting toward gritty shooters and sprawling open-world adventures.

The Legacy of Mascot Platformers

Looking back at these attempts reveals just how difficult it was to truly master the balance of camera control, level design, and character momentum in early 3D gaming. While some of these titles found cult followings, others faded into obscurity. Ultimately, they all played a part in defining an unforgettable era of gaming history where experimentation ruled the day.