Regardless of whether players see the relic challenges as one of the best parts of the Crash Bandicoot games or as just a quick add-on to increase replayability, there is no denying that the platinum relics in Crash Bandicoot are some of the toughest challenges that AAA platforming games have to offer. From The Lab to Hot Coco to the N. Sane Trilogy exclusive Stormy Ascent, players have had to endure some excruciatingly difficult platinum challenges.
However, the N. Sane Trilogy does offer gamers some simpler challenges, with a handful of easy platinum relics sporadically placed throughout the games, ensuring that players can take a break from some of the more rage-inducing stages.
10 Road To Ruin
With sporadic flames to avoid and multiple enemies blocking narrow pathways, Road to Ruin can be a tricky level to navigate. It earns its spot on this list, however, for its length. Indicative of its platinum target time of just 0:39.04, the level can be learned quickly allowing even casual gamers to pick up the stage's platinum relic.
9 Eggipus Rex
The difficulty with Eggipus Rex isn't the level itself, it's getting there. To reach the hidden stage, players not only have to unlock the yellow gem path but also allow themselves to be carried away by a Pterodactyl. These Pterodactyl are enemies in the game who usually damage the player if they touch them, making jumping into one counterintuitive.
Once players arrive at the stage though, they'll see that it's nothing more than a glorified bonus level. Furthermore, the player will have Baby T on their side, allowing them to take a hit of damage.
8 Rings Of Power
Developers Naughty Dog had a dilemma when making Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. They needed to find ways to innovate the third installment of the trilogy. To respond to both the drop in sales from Crash Bandicoot to Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and to the reviewers who criticized the second game for being too similar to the first.
Naughty Dog achieved this through the addition of underwater and vehicle levels in Warped. Along with the motorbike and submersible stages, Crash also took to the skies in flying levels. Although these stages usually saw Crash shooting down other planes, the secret warp room level, Rings Of Power, put the plane in a race. The plane's tight controls, along with the lack of time crates, make Rings Of Power an easy level to platinum.
7 Lights Out
On paper, Lights Out sounds like it should be the easiest stage to platinum in the game. As the name suggests, the player must avoid the stage going dark, as it subsequently makes avoiding enemies and holes near impossible. The level, therefore, has Aku Aku crates which will light Crash's way. Players must act fast though, as the masks will only illuminate the path for a limited time. Meaning that Crash has to get to the other crates quickly, making it ideal to speed run.
The level isn't higher on the list though for two reasons. Firstly, Lights Out is one of the final stages of the first game, meaning it's no walk in the park. With difficult jumps across moving platforms littering the player's way. Secondly, to stand a chance at getting the platinum relic players must unlock the yellow gem path. The unlockable path will take players straight to a separate exit, cutting down on their time significantly. However, many players won't realize this and will persist with trying to cut down on their time without the shortcut, making Light Out far more difficult to platinum than it needs to be.
6 Boulders
One of Crash Bandicoot's most iconic levels, Indiana Jones inspired Boulders appears just four levels into the first game. As would be expected from such an early stage, Boulders won't pose too much of a challenge for experienced players. Furthermore, Boulders is similar to the previous entry Lights Out in the sense that the level is designed to be completed quickly. With players having to charge through the level to avoid being squashed by the chasing boulder.
5 Hog Wild
From the series' first boulder stage to its first animal riding stage. As the name suggests, Hog Wild sees Crash hopping onto the back of a Hog that he will ride through a native village with spikes and shield-wielding natives trying to block the path. Indicative of being another early stage in the game though, Hog Wild won't pose players too much of a threat. With many gamers getting their hands on a shiny platinum relic after just a few attempts.
4 Sewer Or Later
Similarly to Road To Ruin, Sewer Or Later's lack of difficulty comes through its short length. Alongside a target time of just 0:34.00, Sewer Or Later generously gives the player three Aku Aku crates in relatively quick succession. This limited period of invisibility will protect players through the vast majority of the level's enemies, taking them near to the end of the stage with two Aku Aku mask's still intact.
3 Hang Eight
With leaping fish, Bandicoot eating plants, and whirlpools all out to kill players, Hang Eight may sound like one of the trilogies more difficult stages. However, the third stage in the second game Cortex Strikes Back is suitably straightforward. With Crash's jet board conveniently having a boost function. Many players will be able to smash Hang Eight's generous platinum target time of 0:56.24.
2 Toxic Waste
Although not quite the easiest, Toxic Waste is the most straightforward level in this list. Toxic Waste consists of a straight path to the exit, with nothing more than a few holes and barrels complicating the player's path. Furthermore, time crates are conveniently placed just to the side of Crash's path, making freezing the clock a breeze.
1 Toad Village
It is little surprise that the first level of the easiest Crash Bandicoot game in the N. Sane Trilogy tops this list. Much like N. Sanity Beach and Turtle Woods before it, Toad Village is essentially the game's tutorial. With wide spaces to maneuver in making avoiding enemies a simple task.
Unlike N.Sanity Beach and Turtle Woods though, Toad Village doesn't compensate for the lack of difficulty with a frustratingly short platinum target time. With a target time of 0:44.03, Toad Village is not just the easiest platinum relic in Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, but in the entire N. Sane Trilogy.