Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (Kurasshu Bandikū 2: Korutekkusu no Gyakushū!, lit. "Crash Bandicoot 2: Counter-attack of Cortex!") is a platform game and the sequel to Crash Bandicoot. It was developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation and released in the United States of America on the Halloween of 1997.
Taking place in and around the fictional N. Sanity Island, Crash Bandicoot 2 follows the anthropomorphic bandicoot Crash. Crash is abducted by the series villain Doctor Neo Cortex, who has apparently turned over a new leaf and is now willing to save the world. Crash is then thrust into several parts of N. Sanity Island in order to gather Crystals and allow Cortex to contain the power of the upcoming planetary alignment and keep the planet from being destroyed. He is joined by Coco, who is suspicious of Cortex's true intentions, and partially by Doctor Nitrus Brio, who tries to convince Crash to gather Gems instead of Crystals. 15th Anniversary Edition of Crash Bandicoot II: Cortex Strikes Back was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.