Crash Bandicoot 2 is the 5th best-selling PlayStation video-game and the top-selling game in the Crash Bandicoot series.
Crash's 3D model in this game was recycled for a number of sequels and spin-offs: Crash 3, Crash Team Racing, The Huge Adventure/XS, N-Tranced and Purple/Fusion.
The same model is composed of 532 triangles. It has over 9000 frames of animation in this game, thought to be more than any other game at the time.
When Crash is burned to a crisp, his 3D model is switched to Crash 1's (except when he's wearing the jet-pack). This was probably done to save development time. This also applies to Crash 3.
Tiny's provisory name, Taz Tiger, can be seen in the NTSC-U version if you pause during his boss fight.
The level "Hang Eight" is named after the term "hang ten" used in surfing. Since bandicoots only have 8 toes, the level is named "Hang Eight" instead.
One of Ripper Roo's books reads "CRASH".
When caught in a Nitro explosion, Crash turns into an angel and plays the didgeridoo, an Australian woodwind instrument.
Since the Japanese version has Aku Aku providing voiced hints, this game is technically his first speaking appearance.
Coincidentally, there is a street in Louisiana called N. Gin Street.
Crash hacker Hacc found out that the original name for the Warp Room was Monty Hall, which is still referenced in the game's code. This is a reference to the game show host Maurice "Monty Hall" Halperin.
There is a PlayStation game called Dragonseeds where you can train dragons and teach them to fight. By having certain save data on the second Memory Card, you can unlock special dragons in this game. Appropriately enough, having Crash 2 save data unlocks the dragon named AUSSIE.
Music
Each returning character's leitmotif was remixed from the original game.
References
Night Fight is a play on "Night Flight", which is the name for a number of songs, an album, a TV series and a movie.
"Road to Ruin" is probably a reference to the album with the same name by the Ramones.
