Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced

Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced is a side-scrolling platform game in which the player controls Crash Bandicoot , who must rescue his brainwashed friends from Doctor Nefarious Tropy and N. Trance . Crash navigates through the game's levels by running, jumping, spinning (a tornado-like attack used to defeat enemies and break crates), sliding (to pass under obstacles or attack), and body slamming (to break open tough crates). These moves are available from the start, with a tutorial level to teach them.

Within each level, the player guides Crash to collect Wumpa Fruit (100 for an extra life ), smash crates (for items, power-ups, or lives), and reach the Crystal at the level's end to progress. Breaking all crates in a level grants the player a clear Gem, while Gem Shards of different colors are hidden within certain levels; collecting all shards of the same color unlocks a special level. Relics can be won by re-entering a level where the Crystal has already been retrieved. To obtain a Relic, the player must initiate the Time Trial mode and race through a level in the pre-designated time displayed before entering a level.

To begin a Time Trial run, the player must enter a level and touch the floating stopwatch near the beginning of the level to activate the timer; if the stopwatch is not touched, the level can be played regularly. The player must then race through the level as quickly as possible. Scattered throughout the level are yellow crates with the numbers 1, 2 or 3 on them. When these crates are broken, the timer is frozen for the number of seconds designated by the box.

Sapphire, Gold and Platinum Relics can be won depending on the player's final time. As the player progresses, Crash unlocks upgraded moves by defeating bosses, including a super-high leap for accessing elevated areas, a longer spin with temporary floating ability, a faster extended slide to smash multiple crates or cover distance, and a speed boost for faster ground movement. These enhancements allow access to previously inaccessible areas. Some crates provide temporary abilities, such as the Copter Crate, which grants a helicopter pack for hovering around levels, and the Magic Carpet Crate, which enables brief horizontal-scrolling shooter sequences.

Other crates include hazardous explosive TNT and Nitro Crates, Aku Aku Crates that provide protection from enemies, and Checkpoint Crates from which Crash can respawn after losing a life. While the majority of the game's levels involve side-scrolling platforming, other types of levels are interspersed throughout. Some levels feature a quasi-3D presentation and involve Crash wakeboarding to escape a shark or Coco Bandicoot flying through space to escape a solar flare . Other levels involve Crunch Bandicoot rolling through isometric environments inside a metallic sphere named an Atlas Sphere, smashing crates and avoiding hazards and pitfalls.

The levels are selected from a nonlinear overhead map, with branching paths unlocking as Crystals are collected. Many levels include hidden platforms that lead to bonus stages. Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced features two multiplayer modes accessible via two cartridges and a Game Link Cable . In the "Atlas Sphere" mode, which is further divided into "King of the Hill" and "Domination" challenges, two players roll Atlas Spheres to push each other into hazards or off ledges.

In the "Level Race" mode, two players race through single-player levels against a ghost of their opponent, aiming for the fastest time. Linking with Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure unlocks additional characters and levels for multiplayer.