How Crash Bandicoot Started: The Origins of PlayStation’s First Mascot

🎮 Introduction

Before Mario and Sonic ever appeared on a Sony console, PlayStation lacked a recognizable mascot. That changed in 1996 with the release of Crash Bandicoot, a colorful and challenging platformer that helped define the original PlayStation era.

Crash Bandicoot didn’t just become a hit game — it became PlayStation’s identity.

🧠 Naughty Dog’s Big Idea

Crash Bandicoot was created by Naughty Dog, a small but ambitious studio founded by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin.

Their goal was simple but risky:

• Create a mascot platformer for PlayStation

• Compete directly with Mario and Sonic

• Push 3D hardware further than ever before

At the time, making a smooth 3D platformer was extremely difficult.

🐾 Why a Bandicoot?

The team wanted an animal mascot that:

• Had never been used before

• Felt wild and expressive

• Matched the Australian jungle setting

They chose a bandicoot, a little-known Australian marsupial. Internally, the character was first called “Willie the Wombat” before becoming Crash Bandicoot.

Crash’s personality was designed to be:

• Loud

• Goofy

• Unpredictable

• Slightly rebellious

Perfect for the PlayStation brand.

🎨 Character & World Design

Crash Bandicoot featured:

• Linear “behind-the-back” camera angles

• Jungle, ruins, and lab environments

• Tight platforming precision

• Cartoon-style animation

This design choice solved early 3D camera problems and gave Crash a unique identity among platformers.

🧪 The Story: Cortex vs Crash

The game’s story revolves around:

• Dr. Neo Cortex, a mad scientist

• His failed experiment: Crash

• A battle to stop animal mutation

While simple, the story gave players a clear motivation and iconic villain.

🚀 Release & Immediate Success (1996)

Crash Bandicoot launched in 1996 exclusively on PlayStation.

Why it succeeded:

• Showed off PlayStation’s 3D power

• Challenging but fair gameplay

• Strong marketing by Sony

• Memorable character design

Crash quickly became the unofficial mascot of PlayStation.

🎮 Best Crash Bandicoot Games of All Time

(Included by default in all future blogs)

1. Crash Bandicoot (1996)

2. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

3. Crash Bandicoot: Warped

4. Crash Team Racing

5. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

The PS1 trilogy is considered one of the best platformer series ever made.

🧾 Crash Bandicoot & PlayStation Identity

Sony heavily marketed Crash as:

• The face of PlayStation

• A challenger to Mario and Sonic

• A symbol of “cooler” gaming

Crash even appeared in aggressive PlayStation ads targeting Nintendo.

💰 Collector Value Snapshot (2025)

Early print and Japanese versions are highly collectible.

💎 Why Crash Bandicoot Still Matters

• Helped PlayStation succeed globally

• Defined early 3D platforming

• Became a gaming icon

• Successfully revived for modern players

Crash Bandicoot is not just a game — it’s PlayStation history.