How Crash Bandicoot Hacked The Original Playstation | War Stories | Ars Technica

Caption notes

Andy Gavin recalls how Crash Bandicoot paired cartoon expression with the PlayStation’s constraints. The team measured graphics modes, used the math coprocessor, compressed baked vertex animation and streamed level pages from CD. The design problem was equally specific: a third dimension let players walk around obstacles that had been unavoidable in 2D. Chases, fixed forward movement, narrow paths and optional crates restored a deliberate relationship between challenge and choice.