"This level is really fun" - Satan

You don't actually have to leave that one crab alive. If you do a sliding jump and do a spin attack RIGHT as you start going up, it accelerates the jump and gives you enough height to clear the zapper.

This level is hell. Worse than Cold Hard Crash.

Imagine doing all this and finding out you missed 1 box

trying to 100 percent 3 games like this would of been easy if it wasn't for this level and Cold Hard Crash. I swear, getting that exclamation box at the end without falling after going through those nitro boxes is fucked up.

Ive failed this level almost as many times as I've failed at life

Now imagine this on the original in the 90's... no guides... no internet. I used to lose my fucking mind.

just do slide + jump + spin. it makes you go higher than a slide jump

I don't remember it being this hard when I was a kid

The funny thing is, the backtracking in Piston It Away isn't nearly as annoying in the original version of the game as the N. Sane Trilogy version, but Cold Hard Crash is a nightmare in both versions.

I recommend leaving the Bonus until the return journey; it acts as a checkpoint if you mess up the Death Route path before reaching a checkpoint there, and also allows you to keep your Aku Aku mask rather than wasting it early if you die in the Bonus.

Something I found useful was dying immediately after getting onto the deathless warp pad. Doing this allowed me to retry tough areas multiple times without worrying about losing the deathless warp pad.

Once you take the death route it is always available if you die afterward. Even if you don't die on it. If you have enough spare lives and aren't confident enough that you can make it back without dying, it takes a lot of pressure off.

An alternative method if you're having trouble doing it all in one life is to make it up to the death route, step on the elevator up to it, and then immediately jump into the bottomless pits once you're inside the death route. It takes you back to the last checkpoint on the main route (not at all far back), but because you made it in, the death route elevator stays. From there, as you go along the main path as shown here, you're more free to die without consequence. It's all pretty much exactly the same as in the video, just a tiny added step that makes it much easier, in my experience, at least.

4:11 this canon kills me everytime...

I just did it, like you corrected in the comments you can die in the bonus area. Go get the boxes to the left BEFORE doing the bonus area, and after the bonus area you don't need that crab to jump back up. A slide spin jump can just do it. Thanks for the video, it really helped.

Brb buying new controller.

4:21 _This is the timestamp you're looking for..._

Thank you for this by far the easiest crash to get 100% and my favorite of all the crash games.

I used to jump around the blue turret at 4:25 in original version. This one actually forces the player to either jump on the enemy or to spin jump.

It's a horrible level but there's a few ways to make it easier, first time you get to death platform just use it and then suicide, death platform will never disappear again, on the way back from the last box to the death route you don't need to do that deadly jump on the turtle, slide jump spin quick gets you over it and back.

I swear that jump at 4:12 is impossible to do without getting hit on the ps1 version

4:25 you really don't need the crab to come back. There is a trick to just move higher and farther. If you slide,jump then immediately after you press jump spin, then crash or Coco will jump a little higher and stay in the air for longer

This was the bane of my existence right here. It still is, even all these years later. New remastering, same frustration.

Here's a tip.Dont hit the continue box near the death route until you get all the boxes near the shield guys.Also the last box is near the nitro boxes (it will be a continue one) so don't bother with that one robot crab at the end.So the last bit of advice is: you can't die until you get all the boxes up until the contine bod near the nitro carts and you make the jump near that crab you are supposed to save,then you can hit the continue box near the death route.That way if you die the death route won't disappear.

I know this is an old video but I have a tip for those who are struggling. If you skip the bonus level and save it for when you need to backtrack back to the death route, it makes this much easier. You have less of a distance to run after completing the bonus level since it gives you a checkpoint when you finish it. Dying in the bonus level and death route doesn't remove the death route pad either. You could do that or save the checkpoint right before the death route, either works.

Fun fact: when you make it to the death route, jump on and die once you get to the new area. It will save your death route so when you come back at the check point can continue the level to get boxes and double back. Prevents having to do it in one life.

It doesn't have to be all in one life. I gave up on that feat and tried a different approach; skip the checkpoint box right before the death route and when you get back from the rest of the level, Open it before you take the route. It automatically saves your progress and allows you to take the route again if you die.

Hardest levels in the trilogy 1-stormy ascent 2-cold hard crash[with boxes] 3-Future tense

The idea that crash pulled out 2 gems out of his ass is questionable lol

You got INCREDIBLY lucky at 2:33

I did this whole thing and right after it I realised I didn’t collect the crystal 😃

You don't have to do it all in one life. Just get to the skull platform go up and die, it'll return you to the og part of the level. now while you complete the rest of the level you can die and the platform will still be there when you get back. I would also suggest leaving the bonus stage for the way back as it'll serve as a great check point if you do die. Thanks for the video. I couldn't figure out how to use that crab to get up. Cheers!

The only level in this game that came close to the first games difficulty. (PS1 ver) more of this was definitely needed

1:18 that was BALLSY. if I hesitate even once, I retreat. 😂 Kudos!

There is no way of finishing the skull path without Aku Aku then is there. The slide takes you onto the pressure pad which releases a shot instantly leaving no time to jump.

for interested. when going back to the skull, you don't have to jump on that robot. you can slide, jump and turn at the right moment and you can easily jump over

Dude i have to seriously thank you for the video man, seriously helped me out with surviving the laser trap on the way back after getting that last box and u showed me how to beat that bonus stage :,) and seriously gotta thank the comment section man they really came thru with other helpful advice, especially fiasco117, everyone here have a wonderful day, cause i sure am now that im done with this stage lol

I’ve never wanted to murder something in my life until now holy shit.

"Yo WTF, this thing is too easy" -Hidataka Miyazaki -

Actually you just have to get to the death route without losing. When you get there lose before you hit the checkpoint, then no matter how many times you lose at the rest of th level, the death route remains open

"You have to do this in one life, it's quite difficult!" Me who just went through the hell of a relic speedrun : 😎

This level is hell on earth! It took me weeks of pure agony to get this gem. I think I'll have PTSD next time I see a piston

If you slide jump spin slide jump and hit the spin button right after you slide jump and you will get the extra air you need to reach the platform without the crab its a useful trick to use in a few other spots in the game to get to higher spots still a really good video i helped me learn this nice trick

Fun fact, "Piston it Away" is a reference ti the saying, "Pissing it Away" meaning wasting something, and a lot of it, referring to the difficulty of the level, meaning you'd be pissing away (hence, piston it away) tons of lives due to the large amount of lives you'll lose on the various hazards of the level, and the pistons and machinery in the level.

Thanks, your videos are great, and extremely helpful you almost make this game look easy

I've figured out you do NOT have to keep the crab alive at 2:03 You can just barely jump on the gun if you slidejump and spin while you're in the air

Why is your camera wider

Here’s a little tip I found that worked, if you skip the checkpoint box before the death pad, then successfully get all the way to the end, and then back to the death pad after collecting all the boxes. Go to that checkpoint, then if you die on the death pad level (which I did so many times) you’ll go back to that checkpoint and not all the way the other end.

Starting a level for the First time like "okay looks easy" playing for the 50° time "I hate this shit"

I should confirm something right now, you don’t need that crab period. You can slide spin jump on to get to the top of the platform. While moving, pressing Press O, Square, and X (assuming you’re playing on PS1, 2, 3 or 4) at the exact same time to perform a Slide-Spin-Jump. A Slide-Spin-Jump allows Crash and Coco to jump higher in the air than they would from a slide jump or a rugular jump. Yes this does work on N. Sane Trilogy and it does work in the original.

When drop jumping onto that floor bot to clear the shrink ray right before returning to the Death Run platform. You dont HAVE to jump on the bot. Instead, hug the pipe the shrink ray sits on to the left, then quickly Slide Jump then Spin. The spin after the jump will get you over the shrink ray and its a lot safer.

Was trying to use the gamespressure guide on this one. Then at the end half of the page was in Polish and they didn't even explain how to get the nitro destroying box. Thanks for the vid!

It's weird. The first time I played this level and Spaced Out, I thought Spaced Out was way harder, but going for the gems Spaced Out became super easy and this became unbearable.

Thanks for this guide, was very helpful ^^

The skull route has a rule: You need to die over me or you will not have access if you die outside...

I would recommend skipping the bonus stage and doing it on the way back instead. That way you have a checkpoint in case you die on the first half of the Death Route. That shrink ray section with the walker robot can be really frustrating.

I'm currently playing through the Switch version. I've also beaten the PS1 version many times over the years. I won't ever again complain about some the levels in this trilogy being hard after experiencing a playthrough of Crash 4 recently. The levels in that are so much more brutally hard when it comes to trying to collect everything.

If you use the death platform then die before going the regular route for the boxes even if you die it will stay

The nightmares have returned of this level

This level really pissed me off always leaving the level if I die before the death route, This is so much harder than the original game

Just gonna leave a tip for those who struggles on the way back to the death platform. Sometimes you get a crab that allows jumping in the wrong direction. Just do slide, jump + spin and you'll get over the last hurdle.

So i have to backtrack and finish the level through the death route

For those who can't get the slide, jump, spin, make sure you hold the direction button down - makes the spin go further!

My game must be bugged because every time I jump on the crab I cannot reach the next platform. And the slide + jump + spin trick doesn't work. I'm fucking fed up

I don't know if u knew but you actually don't need that last crab right before u go back to the skull platform....you can slidejump and spin at the last moment while pressing left ( obviously) and you should be able to make it onto the platform.....it works every time! Thank you for this video though it helped me. I had forgotten how to do it.

Is it bad that I laugh at the bloodcurdling screams of the scientists? They sound so genuinely horrified in this otherwise cartoony adventure

Tip: take the death route first, after you're there just jump off a random place and die, then go on with the level.. you'll be able to die as many times as you want and the platform will remain there

I just found out that if you die in the death route. it will actually stay there for the entire level, so if you made it to the death route but died in the level then you’re good

4:25 - this is the most frustraing moment if you screw it up - right before the death route. If you fail, then it's all for nothing and you have to do it right from the start.

Hard but cold hard crash was a little harder I think. Finally got this level done for the 100% completion. Just takes practice. I think the bridge level on crash one is still harder than either of these two levels! The bonus area is easy once you practice. You don’t need to do what he does. Just jump over the 3 high nitro in the middle using the slide jump+spin to jump higher over them. Works the same way on the crab thing on your way back to the death route so that you don’t need it to jump. I had trouble at the very end after the last checkpoint where you have to jump and slide the enemy and you get hit with shrink ray. You can spin the balls away so jump then slide and spin to do it without getting hit. In the video he gets hit there so he doesn’t show you that bit.

Thanks buddy for the video. Really helped

I have one more useful tip: Get all the boxes first before you enter the bonus stage for a checkpoint; and don't worry even if you die outside the danger portal won't disappear. If you make a mistake in the octupus jump you can just repeat.

the crab jump is what i was so confused on lol

Thank you for the great video!

You can still make it up the area of 4:23 without the crab. You just need to do the spin jump exploit.

A slide + spin jump gives Crash/Coco a tremendous boost in elevation and arc while airborne. You don't need to spare the electrical squid/crab when backtracking to the death route. This technique also works in the OG Crash 2.

Also a note if you accidentally kill the crab on the way back you can also jump and slam up over the shrink ray if timed correctly

I did it god fckng damn it!!!! Like this shit for my accomplishment! Haha god that was hard!!!

This level seems so simple yet so difficult! xO

Thank you DJs...

Don't need that crab alive. Just jump toward the screen and do a "U" around that thing. It works.

Instead of jumping on the robo-bug you can also press slide-jump-spin to get over the wall. This only works, if your on the ground (where the enemy was) and pressed up against the wall. It's also probably a glitch, but I'm pretty sure it was in the original as well so it still counts.

Am I the only one who didn't have as much frustration in this level? I accidentally killed that crab you need to get back but I always use the slide jump spin to get up to high places. So I didn't know that this was the crab that i had to keep alive and when I finished it I was like "Wait where's the part where I keep that crab alive?"

You don't need the crab, judt slide jump spin and you'll get up there.

Helped to go to the last checkpoint shown in this video and then back to the death route. If you die during backtracking, the death route stays open for you to backtrack to. Also the checkpoint in the death route is so useful. Died a lot in this level but if you make it without dying to any checkpoint after the death route you get some breathing space

Thanks this was the last.gem i needed

For anyone who finds this too much of a fuck around, this advice from the wiki may help: In the N. Sane Trilogy, an easer way to obtain the crate gem is as follows: Make it to the death route breaking all the crates on the way there, then take the death route platorm-immediately die in the death route. This will cause the platform to remain usable for the duration of the level-and the player will respawn at the Checkpoint Crate near the platform. The player can then continue along the normal path to the end of the level and then double back to the death route. For a checkpoint on the way back, save the Bonus Round for the return trip.

Hardest part about this level for me was the damn nitro boxes. Seemed like everytime i jumped they popped up to kill me fuck those things.

4:20 my nightmare in this level 😫😫😫😫😫

Thanks for the helpful vid. I managed to beat it! You do NOT need that final robo crab to make that jump, this level would be solely dependent on it to do it. I accidentally killed it trying but thought of a plan to beat it. If you jump and spin you will whirl up into the air and reach the upper level! I also managed to get through the turret with the four shot platforms without loosing an Aku mask. It can be done. I JUST did it.

there are a number of tactical plays you can do in this level to make life easier for you -don't activate the checkpoint right before the Death Zone just yet, instead activate it once you have only the death zone left to do. you also might want to leave the Aku Aku box for when you attempt the death zone, but that depends on you, -activate the Death Zone, then die to ensure it stays active, you have to replay a bit of the level, but thats worth it

Another tip: you can make the jump back to death platform WITHOUT the enemy there. You need to do a slide jump, spin jump. It’s precision timing, but I PROMISE it works. I do it as a last resort if my initial jump off the enemy is mistimed.

I'm speedrunning 100%. This one and Cold Hard Crash are the real bosses. I adore the design in this game, but I don't know what they were thinking with those two.

If you save that check point crate by the crystal when you go back it makes it a lot easier because if you die on the skull route it won't really matter as much.

guys you'd be surprised by how the crash dash of all things makes this level a bit easier

Any reason you didn't grab the crystal?

By "all in one life" you mean you can die once, right? I died one time on the skull path and still got the detonator/ gem. This shi t was rrrough.

Ya dont need to save any Crab. Slide or Crouch/Spin jump is the highest jump in the game. Great video.

U can spin attack a blue energy ball shot coming at u! Let it get as close as it can then spin attack it so it won’t hit u. Works best when deflecting one shot every 2 seconds so don’t use the spin attack on the blue energy balls close to the end of the main route where there’s 4 blue pads and a blue energy laser contraption to jump over. The spin attack on the blue energy ball on the death route will make the death route a breeze. Yes the comments I seen about dying immediately after a death route starts is a life saver 🛟 . No matter how many times u die after ur first death on the death route, the death route will always be available. The slide jump & spin is not impossible to use to get back to the death route after finishing the main route, but jumping on that crab at the right time is a hell of a lot easier! Slide + jump & spin may work best when while u do the slide u tilt the left analog stick to the left the entire time and the very end of your slide hold jump and spin. I fk wit the 🦀 tho saves time. Best to jump on the crab with a slide jump. Hit the crab a split second after he opens up in front of the “N.” Wats in the video about the bonus helped me out a ton.