Often in each level, bringing in 2 aku-aku masks will alleviate much of the difficulty of each level. While grabbing 2 from the Sanity Beach level can be a cakewalk, you can also map in and out to the beginning of the Jungle Rollers, Upstream, Lost City or Road to Nowhere levels twice to get them.
Finally, familiarize yourself with each level so it's easier to expect what comes next.
Order: 3/26 gem
I found the best way to get the clear gem for this introductory level was to grab the invincibility, get the almost-hidden box, and carefully get to "!" and jump the box bridge just as time is running out. Then the last chore is to get the remaining boxes on the other path (beware of a turtle) and get any boxes outstanding before the fork in the road, then go to end. This is a good level to come back to to grab 2 aku-aku's and to practice the box-bridge jump later used in Cortex Power.
Order: 7/26 gem
To get around the rollers, pass through when they're on opposite ends. The Green gem is like an elevator here.
Order: 23/26 gem
Bring in 2 aku-aku's to more quickly get through the first 2 floors up to the yellow gem. Even though the bouncing block on the first floor will not kill you with invincibility, it could throw you off. Also, don't try to go through the spiked logs as it will throw you off. The foe I had much difficulty with is the one with the shield (is that a woman or a bitch?). The best way to get by her is to jump on top (not sexually) and bounce on her like the turtles, then spin her away. At the top, take the background route to get a hidden box, then come back for the up-arrow box on normal route. It took me quite awhile to get this gem.
Order: 1/26 gem
It's a time trial against the boulder, run as straight a line as possible, jump over small gates and run around crosses as they'll slow you down. spin boxes while running. This one's scary.
Order: 10/26 gem
First get the aku-aku box in front of you. Jump on leaves as they approach and hop towards plants when they're snapping quickly. Carefully get to a gold gem path from slippery log to get hidden box behind.
Order: 13/26 gem
Similar strategy as in Jungle Rollers but more intensive. Short hop to blue gem path and short hop back seems the most difficult here. Also, an N.Brio icon is hidden above one jump box and another is in a far-corner box surrounded by TNT boxes.
Note: This is one of the three N.Brio bonus round that I have completed so far. While there's no game saves nor keys to be acquired, coming back to these rounds ensures more lives to be gained. At the end, N.Brio mixes his green & red potion, then blows up and disappears. First icon is above a bouncy box after destroying a crate, second icon is in the left-rear of 9 boxes, third icon is right near the finish.
The first run is the toughest as you have 5 TNT boxes in an "M" shape pattern when there's a steel crate over the 3rd and 5th boxes making it deceiving to get to. Jump to and detonate all 5 boxes with a concentration on just keep going forward, then jump to a steel floor and from there on this gets easy. Get the 3 1-up boxes, jump up to another steel floor and in the first in a series of 3 where there's a steel box above a normal box then a TNT box, jump and spin the normal box which will detonate the TNT box below, then go backwards onto the prior steel floor out of harm's way. Safely go past these steel boxes, then take a leap-of-faith jump to the middle of a trio of 1-up boxes, then another leap-of-faith jump to the end where N.Brio appears and then blows up, then exit out.
Order: 2/26 gem
Only use left, right, and jump keys for this level. There are 2 checkpoints in this level. Memorize the path.
Order: 20/26 gem
Apply similar strategy as Great Gate. Bring in 2 aku-aku's to quickly get through 1st floor. Bounce on top of turtles (especially to get an aku-aku) and the ones with the shield. When getting to the 3rd floor, bounce on the turtle to break a box, jump onto ledge and get one hidden box behind (I think). Continue down background path bypassing a difficult section (funniest part of the game, especially with the one with the shield that spins in circles) until you reach another ledge above the flamable spot. With the Red gem, you can climb up and walk on the clouds to get the remaining boxes. Also, where there's 3 flammable spots, hop onto platform from the middle for a breather and get whatever is in the background. The rest is a jump to the top and don't forget to get the last boxes above.
Order: 4/26 gem
Similar to Upstream. At the "!" get it, go backwards towards slippery log and jump to side to detonate TNT and jump on adjacent up-arrow back to log and proceed forward. On last run, wait until plant snaps, leaf approaches and hopping fish is out of the way to continue.
Order: 6/26 gem
For starters, map in and out of this level at least 2 times to grab 2 aku-aku masks. Once obtained, hop and spin around steel girder at beginning to get both boxes then hop/spin back. Grab invincibility to get rid of some bats and goons but caution with the moving blocks and pits below. In the 4th cubby hole, there's a hidden "!" box above an unmarked box. This activates a box below an N.Brio icon. Spin first hanging bat, then 2nd hangin bat while they're flying and they turn into wumpa fruits, otherwise, avoid them when possible. Jump the goons when on ground (especially to get boxes above) or spin them in air. Go past multiple blocks when they're all together coming back into wall. On balance bridges, make quick jumps and you can rest if in the middle.
Note: This is one of the three N.Brio bonus round that I have completed so far. While there's no game saves nor keys to be acquired, coming back to these rounds ensures more lives to be gained. At the end, N.Brio mixes his green & red potion, then blows up and disappears.
In the first run from a steel platform, jump onto a TNT box and high-jump and spin the top box ahead then high-jump forward. Do this again a few times but accurately and quickly then full-jump to a set of steel boxes with some 1-ups just in time for the TNT's to blow up. In the next run, full-jump and spin some of the mid-air boxes and keep jumping forward up the next TNT stairway. Take a leap-of-faith jump to the middle of a trio of 1-up boxes, then another leap-of-faith jump to the end where N.Brio appears and then blows up, then exit out.
Order: 5/26 gem
In this spooky level, avoid the arrows as they're predictable and spin the snakes when approaching them, but don't fall off.When you see a mango dangling off to the left side of a platform, run towards it as solid blocks will appear underneath until you rach a platform with a series of boxes. When jumping on moving platforms, use the wumpa fruits as your guide.
Order: 21/26 gem
Again, there's an aku-aku box at the beginning which is a convenient level to map in and out at least 2 times for some of the more difficult advanced levels. On the bridge, use the white steps to rest on but don't stay too long on the brown or icy steps. Use Crash's shadow as a guide. To get by charging broncos, jump over them to safe ground and proceed forward at least once. Use the turtles to jump on. The toughest parts are in the red gem path. On the first gem path in one of the box activations, there's a hidden "!" box in the middle of a suspended set of boxes reachable by a stairway set of boxes. On the second path at the end, it will be a series of long high jumps to invisible steps to get 2 more boxes and then a trek back to the finish. Whew!!!
Order:16/26 gem
One big misconception: you don't acquire the key by defeating this level, however, the key only gets acquired by completing the Cortex bonus round in Sunset Vista and it is on the map when it appears that you can go in another direction to the secret Whole Hog level.
Once again, this is a time trial against being crushed by a boulder and including 2 checkpoints to the end. While there's no boxes while being chased, there's little margin of error here. On the pink gem path, it's all black and white. Beware of high boxes, pits and plants. You can spin the plants and it will take care of some of the high boxes in the background.
Order: 25/26 gem
This level is similar to Hog Wild only there's 1 checkpoint this time. Once again, you the left, right, & jump key only. There are a few more intimidating jumps which shouldn't present much of a problem.
Order: 26/26 gem
It is because my system "froze" that I was unable to get the gem for this level until I got a replacement CD. The same goes with acquiring the key for Whole Hog.
This level took me a while to master the jumps. To get through the first floor more quickly, come in with 2 aku-aku's and with invincibility, whoosh past the bats, fire, and goons but don't fall or get in the way of moving blocks. To get across alternating ledges, jump to the 2nd then quickly jump 3 ledges forward, then jump up above. Don't worry, there's no box in that cubbyhole. On the upward ascendance, positioning and timing of jumps is a must. On the balance bridges, a jump to the middle to rest and then proceed. Observe the pattern of blocks and ledges and proceed after all are together when the block moves in and jump over each successive one in beats. Once again, the flying bats turn into fruits when both hanging bats are spun. Once again, the trickiest part of this level is luring the goon at the top floor to get the "!" box above. Don't forget to get the boxes behind which includes the first Cortex icon and then an aku-aku mask but be careful with the invincibility as it can get you past bats and fire but stop when you get to the quadriple blocks. From here, use the boxes as a stairway to get the 2nd Cortex icon then jump to clearance. At this triple-block over ledges, it's quicker to jump forward than to run as timing is the essence. With next aku-aku and invincibility, caution is necessary when getting boxes on platform as it's easy to fall off here. Study the next set of patterns and it should not pose much of a problem. Spin the boxes under steel box in background but don't go under. Last Cortex icon is in background with the revolving platforms. Jump back on when one is coming back up towards the side. By now, the last ascension should be a cakewalk. On the final run, spin the goon in mid-air, get the boxes in the background, then jump to exit out. Whew!!!
Order:2/2 key
It is because my system "froze" that I was unable to get the key from this level until I got a replacement CD.
In the first run onto TNT's bounce once and spin box atop, then high-jump atop and proceed forward. After at least one breakable box, on next TNT run, you may need to jump-spin 2-3 boxes atop, then high-jump atop and leap towards Cortex. Get up close until you hear the click sound indicating receiving the key, then exit out.
Order: 8/26 gem
Come in with 2 aku-aku's to get through first area more quickly. Don't forget the hidden path between 2 flying spiked objects. Timing with the steam and jumping over red pipes on moving platforms presents little challenge.
Note: I have not yet successfully completed this round as of this time. If I ever do, I'll update this here.
Here's what I've only been able to do so far: There's an inconsistant pattern of jumps to get to the first "!" box which activates another set of boxes going backwards in a stairway-like fashion to yet another "!" box. I have only gotten as far as 3 boxes before I fell into oblivion.
Order: 22/26 gem
Come in with 2 aku-aku's to first fly through (don't fall) the right wing wire section. When invincibility runs out, save the 2nd aku-aku for after taking out the machine-gunist in the far right chamber, then activate the "!" and detonate the TNT boxes. Make sure they're all gone before you leave. Get invincibility and take care of all foes in the middle. Pass a checkpoint, take a platform only when it starts approaching. When you get to a land robot which breaks one box ahead, turn around. From the unstable platform which stays up long enough, jump back to moving platform only when it's approaching from the bottom. To get past double spike bots, pass when the furthest one starts going away. On the blue gem path for invincibility, take it to before the box bridge and stop as there are alternate TNT's which would blow up the bridge. With a few more force fields and boxes, here comes the final challenge: a box bridge about 8 long. The best way to get all boxes is to get every 3 coming back and forth, then with Crash's shadow, get the remainers going towards the finish. Get the last 4 unmark and you're all done.
Order: 9/26 gem
What an eerie level this is as you got Cortex on TV all over, unstable platforms, relatively deceiving jumps, and elaborate backgrounds which seem like part of the route. Don't let that distract you. Proceed when spiked bots and cameras are out of the way. On the final run, jump over Red pipes and it's over before you know it. Of all the Tawna Bonus Rounds, this one seems to be the most difficult of them all.
Order: 12/26 gem
2 aku-aku masks are a must. Just as you enter, step back to let the barrels fall in front of you, then jump the next barrel and take out the thug. Don't forget the boxes there. The next few rounds of barrel jumps are straight-forward as you jump over the barrels. When you get to the bouncing barrels, there's a consistency on where they land. Proceed when they're directly overhead to get to your next place of safety. In the sections with the bouncing barrels: on the elevated ramp, keep Crash no further than the 2nd tile from the bottom, then the 5th tile from the top. Also, the cans go above when Crash is next to the boxes and above "island" tiles.
Order: 11/26 gem
From the beginning, you have to go towards the screen with a series of long jumps to get 4 boxes before proceeding forward. This is much like Road to Nowhere only there's more turtles to bounce on. Use Crash's shadow as a guide. Once again, the charging broncos present a challenge and there's a hidden box above where you approach a TNT box. The final challenge is getting up the final iceboard over a small pit, and then it's over.
Order:18/26 gem
This level took me quite some time to adapt to, so I understand the frustration you may have. Use the background and sounds as your guide and don't let the lightning distract you. Jump on prisoner hands, jump on birds as they ascend, jump into cubby holes as you're ascending on rotating blocks and back onto them when they're below or approaching from the side. Charge the dynamite thrower when just cleared.
Note: This is one of the three N.Brio bonus round that I have completed so far. While there's no game saves nor keys to be acquired, coming back to these rounds ensures more lives to be gained. At the end, N.Brio mixes his green & red potion, then blows up and disappears. I strongly recommend coming in with some aku-aku's first. When getting the 3rd N.Brio icon, jump on top box to get an aku-aku mask.
From the beginning, jump to the white-up box, detonate the TNT above, and timely spin before getting to the bottom to stop your jumping. After TNT blows up, high-jump to a trio of TNT boxes, get that 1-up box above, then jump to another white-up box, detonate the TNT above, and timely spin before getting to the bottom to stop your jumping. After TNT blows up, super-high-jump to some TNT boxes near the top of the screen, then jump backwards below to the white-up box until these TNT's blow up. Then high-jump to the steel boxes, then drop down to an "!" box. Take a few careful jumps on top of some more boxes, then on the last white-up box, detonate the TNT box above, and timely spin before getting to the bottom to stop your jumping. Once TNT blows up, perform a super-long-jump to the finish where N.Brio appears and then blows up, then exit out.
Order: 15/26 gem
I believe either this level or "Fumbling in the Dark" was shown in the movie "Baby Geniuses" recently. Aku-Aku's in this level let's you see temporary, so keep moving along. Jump towards moving block only when they start approaching you. If you have the yellow gem, this level is completable half-way.
Order: 24/26 gem
Again, this is much like the Lights Out level but more intense. In the beginning, go towards the screen and hop-spin towards the sides as there's about 6 hidden boxes. Use whatever's comfortable to get to them as this is one of the trickiest parts of this level. There are spiders in this level also as it's best to jump and not to spin any of your foes as they'll break aku-aku boxes ahead unexpectedly. In the area with the double blades, hop from when the first blade approaches to the other ledge just in time for the other to pass through. On the final run, you have 3 spiders and an unstable platform before it's over. Whew!!!
Order: 17/26 gem
Apply similar strategy as in Temple of Ruins. Use the suspended spiders to jump across. In the Blue Gem path, always look above white boxes after detonating TNT as there's hidden 1-up boxes above, and don't try to rush when obtaining invincibility, except to clear one platform completely occupied by boxes. When coming across a snake where there's a TNT along with a box containing a Cortex icon, approach the snake on the right so it misses the boxes. When coming across dangling fruit towards the left, hop/jump in that direction and the unstable platforms will appear.
Order:1/2 key
Carefully take the breakable box stairway until reaching TNT, then pause. With 1 second to explode, jump to the 3 boxes ahead, then leap backwards in time to land on the activated steel boxes. On the next stairway climb, jump to 2nd breakable box to TNT, pause, then a long jump backwards over the first box. Once more boxes are activated, hop to first box, then to the sole steel box. A few more careful box hops and you're at the end with Cortex. Once again, wait until you hear the click sound indicating receiving the key, then exit out.
Order:19/26 gem
This is very similar to Heavy Machinery. With the Green Gem, use that route to stock up with 25 free lives. Avoid the hot spots when on moving platforms. On the multiple box-bridge section, get the upper boxes first going back and forth, then get the lower boxes on the final way back. Jump on every other steam-blowers and pause on two blue pipes from moving platform in the final run.
Run around in circular motion to avoid attacks, and jump on green blobs when idle. When N.Brio turns into a monster, use the fallen rocks to jump/spin attack him.
Order:14/26 gem
This level is much easier when bringing in 2 aku-aku's as I can't seem to master the combination electricity/"Electric-hands Ted" and the combination electricity/yellow blob in the final run. The door box should be hit first before the floor box and do so when it's electricuting. Jump (don't spin) boxes where there's a hidden TNT behind. Jump or avoid the yellow blob, don't spin it. Charge, then spin, to a checkpoint as there's a guy throwing dynamite. Use the sides for safety whenever possible. On the final run to warp, hop onto first TNT box, hesitate, then jump from last TNT box to finish.
This one's a sweet surprise once you get all the gems.
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