This isn't the first Crash game to feature Spyro in some way. Crash 3, CTR, and Crash Bash had hidden demos of Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2 and Spyro: Year of the Dragon, respectively. Additionally, the Game Boy Advance version of Crash Nitro Kart featured him as an unlockable playable character.
N. Ballism from Multiplayer mode is identical to the mini-game in Crash Bash of the same name, with a spinning cog in N. Gin's place.
The name of Blink, one of the Spyro characters, is misspelled as Blinky.
References
Bat to the Future is a reference to the movie Back to the Future.
Polar Express is named after the children's book.
Tanks 'R Us is a reference to the toy company Toys 'R Us.
