Crash Bandicoot is one of the most iconic video game characters associated with PlayStation history. The orange bandicoot's adventures to defeat the nefarious Doctor Neo Cortex and his plans for world domination are known by many. Originally released for the PlayStation in 1996 by Naughty Dog, and a PlayStation exclusive until 2000, numerous Crash Bandicoot games have been made across multiple platforms. Most of the games are typical platformers, with the player guiding Crash through levels defeating monsters, collecting gems and crystals, with the ultimate goal of defeating Doctor Cortex and his minions. Crash is assisted through his journeys by a sentient wooden mask with colorful feathers named Aku Aku, the spirit of a witch doctor that serves as protection and also as a guide in later games. The series as a whole produced over $160 million in total sales, and it is one of the top selling video game franchises. Crash Bandicoot is also one of the few Western video game series to be a commercial success in Japan. In June of 2017, a re-mastered compilation of the first three Crash Bandicoot games (Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped), was released for the PS4, showing that the series still has massive fan appeal.