Crash Bandicoot - N. Sane Trilogy - Unused DLC Level: Stormy Ascent (Gem)

Here it is, this unused level finally available to the public. What can I say about it? It's merciless. Easily the hardest level to get through without dying. This time we get some brand new content as well in form of a new Nitrus Brio bonus stage. This one was fun to figure out, and it's not hard when you know what to do.
This run wasn't perfect. I took damage on that thing at 2:35 and I generally found it hard to avoid. The worst part is 4:27, another place where I took damage a lot. I have no trouble admitting I needed many attempt to get through this. The gem from this level brings my percentage to 102, so does that mean I will get even more with the relics? We'll see what happens.
Watch the original version of the level here: • Crash Bandicoot - Unus...

[@zeroshadow2468]

This level wasn’t so bad. It only took me 137 lives and my sanity.

[@Wickedgarden375]

The other day I got to the very last part with the birds and couldn’t get on the platform. Annoyed me a little to get that far and get a game over 💀

[@Slimey_Dud]

It took me 999 lives and I still failed

[@jamesbartee6184]

If anyone who is man enough to beat this level in one try without dying, then you are a godlike SOB

[@Nahnbie2223]

Same, but my sanity never existed

[@TerriblyTrouble]

Oh my God I recently got this game a couple days ago so I'm a little late but I went from 99 lives to multiple game over somehow so yeah it's going to take a while

[@AnaRodriguez-pp7rb]

Good Luck! (You're Gonna Need It.) That hint killed me

[@lyonvensa]

Pretty suitable for a level that even the developers fears it

[@ZmanandTails]

Ana Rodriguez They probably thought it would be better to go down laughing then raging. If the Loading Screen hint didn't kill you, the level itself most definitely will.

[@XaneTenshi]

So I guess you didn't the the Gem then XD

[@MrZongalito]

Ana Rodriguez that was a muthafuckin ctr reference

[@jarekgunther]

No, it killed Crash. 😜

[@KarateGirl999]

Stormy Ascent is when Slippery Climb and Sunset Vista have a baby, and that baby grew up to be freaking ripped.

[@TorriadTwire]

KarateGirl hmmmmmmm then this and road to nowhere had a kid witch was high road

[@TorriadTwire]

Covid 19 yeah I messed up 😅

[@Jacksonrox13]

Have you seen the prototype version of Sunset Vista? It makes this level look like The Great Hall. Easily the most difficult level in the original trilogy.

[@DanDeyBananaJoe]

@@TorriadTwire I saw many people saying Road To Nowhere is a very difficult level and I don't know why.

[@TorriadTwire]

@@DanDeyBananaJoe on a og controller and being a 7year old man I was on that level for months

[@beinyourguard]

"Good luck! (you're gonna need it)" LMAO

[@normamohdnor7569]

beinyourguard The game definitely wasn't kidding about that!

[@romanbirov5006]

But all it takes is skill, after all )

[@lukamarjanov366]

true

[@magalicortes2085]

beinyourguard x x

[@AmorXcatalunya7]

@@romanbirov5006 skill and tryies xD

[@PrismaticAngel]

This level is basically Slippery Climb with the length of Sunset Vista. Oh, and those stupid rotating platforms.

[@RibJegres]

Nah it's actually not that long, it feels only long because people die alot.

[@darkseidgaming5995]

Imperial Yama it's 6 minutes bruh

[@expendableround6186]

PrismaticAngel Is that Ledah as your profile pic? Cool!

[@jihoon4242]

Slippery Climb is actually pretty easy once you get used to it. Stormy Ascent is brutal. Although yeah, I'd agree it isn't quite as long as Sunset Vista - close, but not quite.

[@XxSpyroKetchumxX]

namida Stormy Ascent isn't impossible after you get used. (Except for the very end) when you get used to calculate your jumps It's a very difficult, but not Unfair, level. It's just annoying to die at the very end of the level and having to do the whole level again

[@ReventonSpeed]

This level turns boys into men.

[@thebowz6525]

Dante Purgé Don't I know it. When I finished this level, Chuck Norris bowed to me.

[@adammusleh5992]

This turns the most virgin of men into chads

[@MrDarksword123]

Dante Purge aint that the truth, this level is so ridiculous

[@muratege1378]

😂😂

[@leemiller8102]

fuck you this level is complete trash this level turns people into no lifers i beat this level awalago and the ending to that is just fucking ridiculous

[@jamesporter571]

I wonder what Naughty Dog thinks of this level finally seeing the light of day

[@RhinoLean]

Taylor Kurosaki (old member of the original team of Crash Bandicoot in Naughty Dog, and creator of Stormy Ascent) said something about this with Dan Tanguay (director of N. Sane Trilogy of Vicarious vision): *Taylor:* _Stormy Ascent was one of the last levels that I finished during production, and when we got ready to deliver our Gold Master to Sony for manufacturing, the decision was made to leave it out. It was playable, but too difficult, and we ran out of time to make it easier. It remained on the disk, as it was less risky to leave it there than to try to delete it. It was basically hidden, but it was there._ *Dan:* _However, the fans found it, using Gameshark._ *Taylor:* _I think it's great when fans find hidden things in games, this was no exception. I was glad that it somehow found the light, and I think it is an impressive level. In 2017, games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne are all the rage. People like games that are difficult! We were so far ahead of the curve of difficult! Now Stormy Ascent is alive as part of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, developed by Vicarious Visions. Go for it and enjoy it!_

[@IAmInfinitus208]

Especially the OG team during Andy and Jason's years.

[@smartass643]

@@IAmInfinitus208they would be smiling

[@3DylanStar]

7 Years Later and you uploaded the re-mastered version of this stage.

[@Superturbo93blanka]

3DylanStar - TF2 Indeed he did. Maybe he should made a comparison video between the original and the remaster version...

[@potticle8536]

So Mari lmao this youtuber made The original stormy ascent level of Crash 1 in 2010 Crash didn't came out in 2010

[@UltimateXenoZ]

I think you mean 21 years later

[@thefreeburningspirit]

he meant the year GarlandTheGreat uploaded his PS1 playthrough of this level. pretty sure that didn't happen 21 years ago

[@GrimHeaperThe]

4:32 You panicked a bit right?

[@AngelOfMusic1195]

YES LMAO I literally went "Pheeww" As if it were me going through that horrific moment lol

[@declanhampson1098]

Just proves that certain parts of this level rely on luck 😂😢

[@LilacDownDeep]

That is SUCH a delightfully clever Brio stage!

[@boneheaded8919]

LET THE STORMY ASCENT PLATINUM RELIC RACE BEGIN!

[@terminusest9179]

END MY SUFFERING

[@brandonsoto7225]

Zan Garunite Getting a headache just thinking about it.

[@TheGlasgowGamer]

I'm crying already... though I still think The Lab's platinum is harder based on time alone. But the level design in Stormy Ascent is so challenging for time trials that the platinum may only be a bit easier!

[@crashvalentine96]

oh boy

[@jihoon4242]

Stormy Ascent was far, FAR harder than The Lab for me - although I'd still rank The Lab very high on the list of hardest platinum relics. But Stormy Ascent is the hardest from Crash 1 IMO, and the second-hardest in the trilogy (behind Hog Ride from Crash 3, and that's only due to the shitty - and glitchy, even - controls when pulling a wheelie).

[@rdu239]

The sound effects of the character's shoes landing on surface is satisfying to hear in the Nsane Trilogy, small details awesome results

[@thebowz6525]

When I talk about this, people ask, "Is this the hardest level?" Hmm, let's see, we have incredibly fast platforms with some complex moving patterns, stupidly hard jumps and bouncing off of vultures, hard-to-dodge enemies and obstacles, and not to mention getting all of the crates. I started this level with 90 lives, and when I beat it, I had only 15 lives left. So.......HELL YEAH, THIS IS THE HARDEST LEVEL!!!!!!!!!

[@RyanNeoHedgehogOfficial]

YOU LOST 75 LIVES???

[@declinerrexlete197]

Imagine at the end you have no lives and you accidentally fall before the portal

[@nerdnoob2.037]

It happened to me ...

[@HowUtterlySpiffing]

Me too. Not an accessible game at all. Don’t think I can do it. 😫

[@DouglasQuaid999]

pffft this was so easy, it only took me.... several hours and 60 lives lost

[@jihoon4242]

It took me about 40 minutes to solve this level (and get the gem) for the first time. Over half of that was on the bonus round - half of which was simply figuring it out, nevermind actually executing it. Brilliant level! :D

[@grathlar]

Took me an hour and about 70 lives lost just on this one level

[@theoreticalphysics3644]

Took me four hours up till 1am

[@Kareem_Ahmed17]

it took me 1 or 2 hours and 70 lives lost......... and 34 curse words......... and 2 times almost breaking my controller

[@t1luso609]

@@grathlar ye the final stage of this level is cursing.

[@sml2k186]

That hint tho

[@jmdefault]

This level is pure undestilled evil and the addition of the new Brio stage makes it even more so

[@jezmitsingh5632]

After more than 20 years , we finally get to a legit Stormy Ascent! Man that actually feels really good 😂👍🏼 goodjob VV.

[@Megumi_Bandicoot]

Am I the only one who thinks those vultures look freaking badass.

[@LittleBigPlanetian]

Good Luck! (You're Gonna Need it)

[@hanjiii6146]

Yup

[@supersonicjayden3758]

*Aku Aku*

[@jakabrobert96]

Funnily enough, the spike at 2:35 is really easy to avoid if you just stay on the stairs when it retracts and slide down without moving.

[@YamiKisara_]

I was down to my last 20 lives when I got to the final checkpoint, your video just saved me from having to re-do this hell all over again!

[@Smartacus98]

I started this level with 58 lives and finished it with 4. I was so close to game over that I almost cried when I finished it and got the gem.

[@basedbattledroid3507]

I actually found it easier to comprehend than Slippery Climb.

[@MusicBoyVGM]

The alternative title: Pain

[@BigKlingy]

Wow, that new Bonus looks evil. Shows hope that VV can make new content in the spirit of the originals, but man it's crazy.

[@CarbyGuuGuu]

BigKlingy I already had faith in them, since they worked on the GBA Crash games and Nitro Kart.

[@BigKlingy]

The GBA games were great, as was Nitro Kart. Those were probably my favourite non-Naughty Dog games in the series, though Twinsanity was also good.

[@ThePharphis]

Yo the N Tranced game (2?) was reallllly good imo, especially for time trials.

[@CarbyGuuGuu]

BigKlingy It kinda saddens me that Traveller's Tales can no longer make another Crash game because they're now under WB's ownership, forever making LEGO games. But it's still good to know that Vicarious Visions is helming the series once again, so they got TT's back.

[@LilacDownDeep]

I'm really curious to know what sort of Crash game they could make if they get greenlit for one.

[@D2RCR]

Holy shit that bonus is brutal.

[@joltagegyronicthehedgehog4911]

Brio bonus what it look like

[@nickclashbcommander40]

You made this previously once unused and incredibly difficult level look like a cakewalk!

[@notacouchpotato4372]

Whoever designed the bonus level deserves a raise.

[@laciellight464]

a good thing they added a beat on the soundtrack of this level. it used to be a bit creepy back in the ps1 version.

[@ThePharphis]

I prefer the creepy one

[@pitergriffin01]

the creepier the better: you have a castle and a rainstorm

[@RibJegres]

Yep i wish there would be a Option to use classic soundtrack.

[@TerrorOfTalos]

yeah major improvement over the original song

[@Gamerdude854]

Laciel Light I likes the creepiness of the original though, it fits the brutal difficulty of the level

[@Gamer1288]

I would have laughed if it said "Good Job! Now do it again as Coco."

[@eastsiderage5532]

This level was developed in hell.

[@iluvatar003]

Just the idea of going DOWN in this level scares the shit out of me.

[@MrSkokula]

I know no better Crash player than Garland

[@xUlquiHimex]

You made this hellhole of a level look so easy.

[@tessobaby]

they really added this level😑 let the season of rage and broken controllers begin

[@TheCoolNintendoGuy8593]

I can always rely on your channel when I need help in crash bandicoot

[@romansm3682]

completed this level, got a call from Chuck Norris, accepted!!!!

[@notacouchpotato4372]

I have yet to play this level, and I'm already having nightmares of falling to my death. This level looks so f***ing hard! And the Time Trial - I don't even wanna think about THAT.

[@PikaLarm21]

Aiming for the plat relic. Been 4 hours and I can't even finish the level flawlessly, haven't been this triggered since Native Fortress. HUGE EDIT INCOMING: To Garland and all who attempt a Plat Relic on this one. First hint, may the Gods of Olympus be with you. Second hint, your main objective in the run is to make Crash/Coco ALWAYS be as far from the walls as possible; if you are too close the wall most of the countless spikes in the level will kill you because their spikes are also near the wall. Third hint, the time is actually quite merciful for up to 2/3 mistakes, with 3 I recommend rushing it. Got 3:09:09 within almost 12 consecutive hours, the stuggle is finally over, hope this can help.

[@xxthatoneboi6961]

TheLarm native fortress was so anoying

[@deale-]

Fucking aye

[@chadmarkovitch5]

Native fortress and generator room took me the longest

[@pozsgaiadrienn8683]

@@deale- deale LP

[@ahmedgahdani9367]

Native fortress is easy compared to road to nowhere the high road Slippery climb and sunset vista and generator room

[@faash41]

It's a fact that the game designer of the original 1996 crash bandicoot died in this level 68 times that's why it was removed.

[@jackchojnacki3818]

"VICTORY ACHIEVED"

[@notacouchpotato4372]

Finally got the guts to finish this level. Technically, I had to replay this level twice because I apparently missed a box, but got the gem, am at 80% complete, and got that shiny silver bling I had been to afraid to get out of fear of losing all 99 lives and getting that Game Over screen. To be honest, I lost less lives than I thought; once you study the layout of the platforms and hazards, and time the jumps correctly, it gets easier and easier. Also, that hint on the loading screen lol.

[@thegamingreaper0288]

I recently earned the gold relic on this level a few days ago, one of the hardest things I've ever done!!!!!

[@G3h0v4ny]

Stormy Ascent = A pain in da ass Stormy Ascent with Gem = Hell Stormy Ascent with Relic = U Mad bro? Stormy Ascent with Platinum Relic = I dont have an word for this.

[@TheGundamDude8045]

You did it again garland! well done!

[@WxB2001]

Watching this level: Hey, it's not too hard Playing the level: Had 90 lives and finished with 46

[@vampyresgraveyard3307]

First go Had 99 lives down to 75 or 73 and finish the level and got the gem I've finished stormy ascent 3 or 4 times and about the same lives leftover.

[@Gamer1288]

I wish that they gave the Spyro Trilogy the same love that they did this game. I remember reading somewhere that Spyro 2 was supposed to have 4 Home-worlds with Talismans for all of them. I wonder why they don't finish incomplete games when they are remade? Ocarina of Time was supposed to be longer with more temples as an example. Avalar was supposed to have 4 large Homeworlds yet we only ended up with two complete ones and one half-finished one making it the shortest game in the Trilogy.

[@acewitchhunter222]

My hands were literally sweating while playing this level

[@arandomcommenter3792]

Good luck! (You're gonna need it.)

[@x7upsuperstar]

So much for "Unused" they showed you!

[@stalkerzhs1864]

Native Fortress, Dark Souls edition?

[@Lyserg1260]

Stormy Ascent, remastered edition

[@realxtraki11er]

Fuck that level couldn't pass it as a kid and gave me so many game over i'm afraid to admit that because i feel it was too easy to the majority of players. Please tell me i'm not alone

[@JohnDoe-mr6mq]

Ye these levels were really hard. Just becouse of lack of available time to prepare for a move, you have no other option but remember every little part of this level by mechanical memory of your hands

[@extenebrislux]

seriously...Native Fortress is the worst. way harder relic than Slippery Climb.

[@Heydad956]

I ain't sweat so god damn much watching somebody else play something in a long ass time

[@notacouchpotato4372]

At least there are more checkpoints than Slippery Climb. But for good reason.

[@secretscarlet8249]

*massive applause* that was great!

[@loolya3]

hey garland its nice to see you back and I hope your in good health and I hope you enjoyed your time with the dlc I know I did despite how frustrating it is xd

[@JoaNinetyThree]

Hope VV would add Flowing Waters next with their own twist to it, since it seems to have most of its design done. Or... maybe a whole new levels.

[@CrashFan95]

Man, I can't wait to see the battle for the Relic!

[@ChikoWhat]

4:31 ???? did you even land on the platform?

[@josephgill1725]

I'm bad at platform games and this level was an absolute nightmare for me. I managed to beat it after spending more than 2 hours on it. I'm never playing this level again!

[@mateusgomes742]

Eu tava com dúvidas se esse cara era o melhor, mas agora eu tenho certeza que realmente o cara é o melhor mesmo jogador do Crash, passar essa fase considerada a mais difícil de todos Crash Bandicoot sem morrer nenhuma vez e ainda pegou o Cristal das Caixas, humilhou muitos KZbinrs BRs que morreram umas 20 vezes ou mais 👏👏👏

[@bsm6776]

Just completed this level and I never want to play it again. Pure agony

[@TheStrahl]

that was super impressive.

[@reneaguileracabrera]

When I was 8 years old I remember that we usually played so many games on birthday parties, one of those games was Crash Bandicoot. We usually played until one of us got 0 lifes and give the controller to the next one. When it was my turn, my friends always said: "The turn of René? get ready the next one, you will play soon". As you can imagine, I always lost my lifes soon. Now, with 24 years, I...I suck still u,u My 17 years old little brother play better than me and he always makes fun of me when I play.

[@LiamK2292]

I'm glad they've put this level it into the trilogy but it's so unforgiving. Trying to get the relic is worse, the quick in/out platforms gets me every time. I liked the challenging aspect of the Brio stage, wasn't that bad when I knew what to do.

[@LawyerGamerLounge]

This level made me grow a beard.

[@Fatelipe]

This remastered version has a lot of light, I prefer the original version is more scary.

[@richarddiasribeiro429]

Great job!!!

[@nialldempsey7742]

At least the red gem was on Slippery Climb, otherwise I'd be like, "Fuck it" XD

[@RichyMaths]

Stormy Ascent is indeed one of the hardest Crash stages of all time. I struggled to complete and get the gem. My advice to anyone attempting to complete this level (at least for the first time) is to make sure you're very well stocked up on lives.

[@CountWario]

If this was a coloured gem level I would actually cry,I can't even get a single relic on this nightmare.

[@Raikkox36]

Took me 70 lives of Crash and my own sanity to complete this freaking level.

[@calvin3464]

This level is harder than Slippery Climb.

[@maulanasubono5553]

calvin3464 of course it is, thats why it never make it in OG crash because its very difficult.

[@crashfan9997]

No shit.

[@CountWario]

Haha, you're actually comparing this to a level where you have to break every box without dying once,that level is slippery climb. The king of rage quit.

[@keybladewar22]

Wow I had some trouble with this level and I played the original version stormy ascent but this one takes the cake. Best tip beside good luck your going to need it is to have 99 lives save up that what the hint thing should have said have 99 lives your gonna need it because this level will drain your lives faster than the high road did.

[@hectorjvargas8884]

KingdomHearts Master lol I had 99 lives didn't made it watching this.... I was Like few feet away to pass this level -_-

[@keybladewar22]

Hector Vargas Wow that had to sucked ?

[@lejdcool1]

The high was unreal beating this level.

[@leystan5533]

1:12 sunset vista reference?

[@doaflip7]

how many attempts approximately (if you remember)?

[@jameskarlovsky2163]

When did this level I had 84 lives, but when I finished the level I had 10.

[@MegamanNG]

I died so many times that it made me had to predict and determine the best outcome. God fucking damn I hate this level.

[@jamesbartee6184]

MegamanNG If you think this level is worse, High Road takes the cake for causing so many broken controllers and game overs

[@jamesbartee6184]

This level is literally just like Mario maker all over again

[@mushihimesamas]

Oh wow, that's pretty shocking that they added the cut stage from the ps 1 version, that's amazing. Why can't more devs do this.

[@railfanallen]

This is gonna be fun and frustrating to play.

[@craigpaterson526]

You deserve that name

[@RhinoLean]

And to think that this _was going to be the final level in the original Crash..._

[@zankiohex]

Dear God I did it, just under 4 minutes for me. I dont even care how bad the time is, just wanted a gold relic at least for the 100% completion. That took me ages.

[@jamesmoyner7499]

I can not do the jump from the metal jump box to the tnt how do you do the long jump?

[@dolphin0856]

Good luck on dragon ascent

[@VanillaVictini]

After reading the description - yes, if you get all of the Platinum Relics, you get an additional 3%, including Stormy Ascent's Platinum Relic and Gem.

[@xzane502]

I went for the platinum relic... It only took me 4 hours straight to finish it...

[@sasir2013]

This is insane

[@jamesbartee6184]

This level is like Mario maker on steroids

[@wozthescott2804]

I remember it taking me like 4 hours to beat this level😂😂

[@arikatheprincessofhearts2043]

I have a question. Are you still going to collect relics for Crash 1 and Crash 2?

[@Gamer1288]

This level is available as soon as you start playing the first game in the Switch Version. Just exit N. Sanity Beach as soon as you start the game and enter the teleporter behind you to end up in Stormy Ascent.

[@winstonnoisepeoplethegamer189]

I,m sure the best gamer!

[@aserg88]

Спасибо большое за видео! Очень помогло. Наконец-то осилил. Потратил где-то 40 жизней 😂😅

[@p8gamer278]

"good luck(you're gonna need it=) )

[@riefow_6455]

I will remember this level my entire life, beacuse i broke my controller while playing it (This is a joke ok)

[@greatsageclok-roo9013]

Oh, that hint is just EVIL!

[@AwesomeLol-xz8zr]

Wow such skill

[@augustbornone]

Just played and finish Stormy Ascent a couple of seconds ago, HOLY MOTHER OF GOD it was a pain!!!! I had about 99 lives before starting Stormy Ascents, and it tooked me 26 TRYS to finale beat this level!!! I think the developers that band this in the original Crash game had a good reason to band this level, Crash (from what I heard) was a hard game, but it wasn't Dark Souls hard and it felt far in some places, THIS ONE on the other hand is the Dark Souls difficulty beyond, with so many tight platforming and cheap enemy placements, this on should be considers as the hardest level in the entire game, and one of the hardest levels in the entire Crash Bandicoot trilogy! With that being said however, i still enjoy Crash Bandicoot, and Stormy Ascents (while cheap) does show you mercy, and the level does give you checkpoints so I will admen, it can be fair. I haven't got the pheasants to Platinum this level (yet).