You should be fine without the information from the Level Specific Guide section, but it is there if you need help with a specific level.

If you’d like to switch to Crash 1 or 2, you can access my guides for them here:
Crash 1: https://steamoss.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1426839357
Crash 2: https://steamoss.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1427555230

VERY IMPORTANT!
In Crash 2 and 3, you can perform a slide spin jump by pressing the spin button and the jump button at the same time during a slide, which will make you jump even higher and further than a slide jump. This is extremely useful and the game never tells you about this ability. You can also perform a slide spin by pressing the spin button during a slide, as well as a high jump by pressing the jump button while crouching.

In Crash 3, you can link both the tornado spin and double jump that you get from the Boss fights with your slide spin jump at the same time to reach extraordinary heights and distances.

(Same info as my Crash 1 & 2 guides)
In all three games, you can jump and bounce higher by holding the jump button instead of tapping it. In some cases however, you might need to use a short jump to avoid overshooting small closely spaced platforms.

(Same info as my Crash 1 & 2 guides)
Make sure you get as many lives as you can by collecting wumpa fruit and completing bonus stages. Failing bonus stages does not take away lives and you can retry them as much as you want. Many people make the mistake of restarting a hard level with only 4 lives. Dying a lot gives you extra masks (which protect you from a hit) and spawns more checkpoints. You can use these to your advantage so that you don't have to replay the entire level again.

Save on a non-auto save file before entering levels. If you get a Game Over, you can reload your save file and reclaim all of the lives you lost.

If you’re running low on lives, you can respawn the lives found in any level by exiting them and reloading your auto-save file. This is great for farming lives.

DIFFERENT THAN CRASH 1 & 2
You can now play as Coco Bandicoot, Crash’s sister, in all three games. Unlike Crash 1 and 2, you can immediately play as her in Crash 3 by simply interacting with her near the computer monitor. While she has the same hitbox and abilities as Crash, she has her own unique animations. However, her animations do look faster than Crash’s, which may or may not affect your gameplay.

Crash 3 is the easiest game to complete. Once you have obtained 44 gems and 30 time trial relics (sapphire or above), refight the final boss to get the complete ending. The relics will also unlock secret levels with additional gems. However, you should go for them after defeating the final boss to obtain the ability to sprint. The sprint ability makes you move even faster than slide jumping, so that you don’t have to constantly slide jump the entire level. The two clear gems from the new level, Future Tense, and the final 47th gem that requires you to get all of the gold relics is not required for the complete ending.

Every level has a gem that is required for getting the true ending. The two clear gems from the new level, Future Tense, and the final 47th gem that requires you to get all of the gold relics is not needed for the complete ending. Once you have obtained 44 gems and 30 relics (sapphire or above), refight the final boss to get the complete ending.

Unlike Crash 1, some levels will have two gems in them. The first gem will require you to break all of the boxes, while the second will have a level specific requirement that will be told to you during that level’s loading screen. Some levels may require you to access a secret path by obtaining a colored gem, finding a secret entrance from another level, or entering an alternate entrance through the secret warp room to break all of the boxes.

(same info as my Crash 2 guide)
Some levels may have a Death Route with a gem at the end of it. To enter a Death Route, you must get to a skull platform without dying. Once you’ve entered a Death Route however, the skull platform will remain accessible even if you die. In addition, you will not lose the gem if you die after obtaining it. The game does not count dying before the first checkpoint or in a bonus stage as a death.

Some levels will have secret level exits that will take you to a secret level. The loading screens will not give you any hints on finding them.

In the level, Road Crash, drive into the alien sign that the bird crashes into to be transported to the secret level, Hot Coco.

In the level, Dino Might, go on the yellow gem path and get carried off by the second pterodactyl you come across during the first chase to be taken to the secret level, Eggipus Rex.

The final level is a new one that has been added to this remake called Future Tense, which can be accessed by going on the platform near the center of the Time Twister.

You can access the secret warp room by heading to the center of the Time Twister after obtaining five time trial relics (sapphire or above). The secret warp room contains secret levels and level entrances that have additional gems. Each level will require a certain number of relics to enter them. Press the second crouch button before entering a level to view the time you must get for the sapphire relic. To begin a time trial, return to a level that you’ve already completed and touch the stopwatch. If you mess up your time before completing the level, you can restart it via the pause menu. Dying during a time trial will not cost you any lives. However, you should not go for the relics until after defeating the final boss to obtain the ability to sprint. In the motorcycle levels, activate the time trial and wait a minute or two for the other racers to leave so that they won’t get in your way. You can also do this for the box gem.

Crash Bandicoot is a eastern barred bandicoot, a marsupial native to Australia, that was mutated by Neo Cortex, the evil scientist with the “N” on his forehead. The opening shows Cortex’s space station falling into a temple prison shortly after being destroyed by Crash in the second game. The playable blonde girl with the ponytail is Coco Bandicoot, Crash’s sister. Aku Aku, the talking mask with colorful feathers, is a spirit who was summoned by Crash in the first game and is now Crash and Coco’s guardian. Uka Uka, the angry mask, is Aku Aku’s evil brother and Cortex’s master who is now free from his temple prison. Coco is also playable in Crash 1 and 2 by using the Time Twister from this game to travel back in time to help Crash.

The level specific guide below details specific levels, and includes detailed information about how to complete difficult segments, efficient or easy ways to obtain specific gems and hidden boxes, advice for completing levels, and level specific secrets or obstacles. If you’ve already read everything above, you should be fine without reading this section, but it is here in case you want something that is more in depth or if you need help with a specific level.

Unlike Crash 1 where the gems only give you a non-canon ending, you must collect 44 gems and 30 relics in Crash 3 to get the complete ending. This game is the easiest out of all the games, so I strongly recommend that you go for it. Thus, this guide is written under the assumption that you’re going for the gems and sapphire relics.

This and all of the other on-foot levels can be played as both Crash or Coco. You can unlock and play as Coco now by simply interacting with her in front of the monitor.

You can obtain the box gem now by breaking all the boxes.

You will come across a spinning slot box that must be broken before it transforms into a metal box. Get on the circular ? platform to enter the bonus stage. Dying during a bonus stage does not cost any lives.

This is a underwater level that can only be played as Crash. You can obtain the box gem now.

Spinning will make you cover great distance at the cost of control. You can mash the jump button to swim faster, which is great for quickly but carefully getting through tight dangerous areas. Spin the sharks when they’re swimming towards you. Spin the puffer fish when they’re small. Spin the eels when they emerge from the holes. Touch the submersible to ride it and fire rockets with the spin button to destroy coral that is blocking boxes.
Press the crouch button on the submersible for a speed boost.

This is a on-rails level that can only be played as Coco. The tiger’s name is Pura. You can hold the crouch button to sprint. You may need to kill yourself a lot to get any boxes that you miss, so I’d recommend saving on a non-auto save file so that you can reload your save and reclaim your lost lives. I strongly recommend having more than 4 lives before entering, at least 15 lives should do it.

Fortunately, this is the best level to farm lives. Take it slow and grab the first life box. Afterwards, use the upcoming bounce ramp to launch yourself to find another life.
Grab the next two life boxes and then quit the level via the pause menu.
Reload your auto-save to respawn all of the lives. You can repeat this as much as you want.
Now we’ll go for the crystal and box gem. Go through the level slowly to get all the boxes. You can sprint through rolling barrels. Skip the first bounce ramp to get the lower boxes.
Use the next bounce ramp to get the upper boxes.
The last one is pretty tricky. You’ll need to tap the sprint button while jumping to get over the pit without touching the bounce ramp to get the lower boxes.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This one is pretty tough. Use a slide spin jump (press the jump and spin button while sliding) to get over the lava and break the floating Aku Aku box.
You can spin grass to get rid of it. In the bonus stage, bounce on the arrow box or use a slide spin jump to get the two boxes on top of the metal boxes.
At the end of the final chase, hit the green ! box to blow up all the Nitros and stand where the box gem will spawn, even if it means death. It is very easy to miss this gem, but you'll keep it even if you die.
You cannot access the Gem Route for the second clear gem without the red gem from the level, Deep Trouble.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This is a jetski level that can only be played as Coco. The arrow at the top of the screen will lead you to the level exit. Hold the jump button to accelerate.

Spin him when he gets stuck.

Afterwards, you will unlock the ability for Crash and Coco to perform a super charged stomp attack by holding the crouch button at the top of a jump. It can’t be used after a slide jump, but it can be used after a slide spin jump.

You can obtain the box gem now.

Use your stomp attack to destroy the reinforced boxes.
In the bonus stage, jump on the ? box that is in the pit while holding the jump button before hitting the floating ! box.

You can obtain the box gem now.

Hold the jump button on the bouncy carpets to bounce higher. In the bonus stage, use a slide spin jump to destroy the floating ? boxes.
On the bridge of metal boxes, wait for the slot box to switch to a TNT and jump on it so that the explosion will hit the metal ! box underneath it.
You cannot obtain the yellow gem until you access the secret entrance from the secret warp room.

This is a motorcycle level that can only be played as Crash. You must win the race to obtain the crystal, but watch out for the other racers who will knock you back. Hold the jump button to accelerate, and the spin button to slow down for sharp turns. At the start of the race, hold the accelerate button right as the traffic light turns green to get a speed boost.
You might want to let go of the accelerate button to drift on sharp turns or avoid going too fast. You can stop accelerating after a speed boost to cancel it.

After obtaining the crystal, head back in for the box gem and wait at the starting line for one or two minutes so that the other racers won’t get in your way.
Activate the time trial so that you can restart via the pause menu if you miss any boxes. Take it slow and don’t worry about winning the race.

You cannot obtain either of the gems until you obtain the purple gem from the level, High Time, to access the Gem Route that contains boxes.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This is another on-rails level that can only be played as Coco. You may need to kill yourself a lot to get any boxes that you miss, so I recommend saving on a non-auto save file so that you can reload your save to reclaim your lost lives if you get a Game Over. Do not attempt this with only 4 lives!

Take it slow and only sprint when you need it. Sprint through the rolling barrels to break them. Skip the first bounce ramp to get the lower boxes.
Use the next bounce ramp to get the upper boxes and jump at the edge to hit the two floating boxes.
Skip the final bounce ramp to get the lower boxes.
Near the end of the level, you will need to use a sprint jump to get over the gap in front of the crystal.

Trick him into blasting his crystal barrier to spin him.

Afterwards, you will unlock the ability for Crash and Coco to perform a double jump by tapping the jump button again at the top of a jump. It can be used after a slide spin jump to go even higher. However, you cannot use your stomp attack after a double jump.

You cannot obtain either of the gems until you obtain the yellow gem from the level, Hang ‘Em High, to access the Gem Route that contains boxes.

Use a slide jump to get over the lava pits. Break the egg and jump on Baby T to jump at great distances, go through grass, and break boxes by simply running into them. However, you cannot kill enemies on him so be careful. In the bonus stage, use you stomp attack next to the reinforced boxes over the pit to break them with the shockwave.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This is the final underwater level that can only be played as Crash. The gems and relic of this level are the hardest to obtain in the game, so I highly recommend saving on a non-auto save file so that you can reload your save to reclaim your lost lives if you get a Game Over. Do not attempt this with only 4 lives!

Mash the jump button to quickly but carefully swim past the fans. At one point you will come across a pile of wooden, metal, and TNT boxes.
Skip the next checkpoint and head towards the level exit with the help of the submersible.
Near the level exit, hit the metal ! box and backtrack to the checkpoint that you skipped earlier.
You can die a lot to obtain two Aku Akus if the fans are getting too annoying. Continue backtracking and touch the TNT in the pile of boxes to access a secret route containing the red gem and additional boxes for the box gem.
In the stack of wooden boxes, touch the TNT to blow it up.
Remember to kill the sharks when they swim towards you. Hit the green ! box to get the box gem as well as the red gem on your way out.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This level contains a Death Route, which means that you’ll need to get to it without dying. The game does not count dying before the first checkpoint or in a bonus stage as a death.

You can kill the monkeys instantly by sliding them. In the bonus stage, double jump after a slide spin jump to break the ? box floating over the bounce boxes.
Get on the skull platform to access the Death Route. The skull platform will remain accessible even if you die.
After obtaining the purple gem at the end of the Death Route, kill yourself so you can go for the box gem.

Enter the level, Road Crash, and drive into the alien sign that the bird crashes into to be transported to the secret level, Hot Coco.
You can obtain the box gem now, but there is no crystal.

This is another jetski level that can only be played as Coco. You can hold forward during a jump to dive in the water. Before attempting to get any boxes near Nitros, head to the far right of the volcano.
Skip any checkpoints and find a ring of tiny islands with a ramp and a ton of floating Nitro boxes at the center of them. Use the ramp to hit a floating green ! box to blow up all the Nitro boxes in the level.
In between the ramp you just used and the volcano, you will find a checkpoint.
In between this checkpoint and the volcano, you will find a deeply submerged box in front of a ramp with a floating wooden box and a ? box. Use the ramp while pushing forward to dive deep into the water and break the submerged box.
Afterwards, activate the nearby checkpoint to save your progress. There are only two checkpoints left so you should grab the trickier boxes before activating them first. Find and break the remaining boxes to obtain the box gem before exiting the level.

You must win the race to obtain the crystal.

This is another motorcycle level that can only be played as Crash. This is one of the hardest levels in the game. Use the spin button to slow down on those sharp turns.
When you finally obtain the crystal, head back in for the box gem and wait at the starting line for one or two minutes so that the other racers won’t get in your way. Activate the time trial so that you can restart via the pause menu if you miss any boxes.
Take it slow by only tapping the accelerate button from time to time.

You can obtain the box gem now.

Coco’s death animation by the two headed giants is the funniest in the entire trilogy. In the bonus stage, use a double jump after a slide spin jump to get over the stack of TNTs without destroying the wooden arrow box.
Past the metal ! box, use a double jump to get on the next arrow box.

Use the platforms he creates to get to him.

Afterwards, you will unlock the ability for Crash and Coco to perform a continuous tornado spin by quickly mashing the spin button. Using this after a double jump will allow you to glide over long gaps. You can also use this and a double jump after a slide spin jump to cover massive distance.

You can obtain the box gem now.

Backtrack at the start to find four hidden boxes.
Take the right path at the fork. There is nothing on the left path and you will miss boxes if you go down it. In the bonus stage, jump on the TNT that is at the top of the stairwell of boxes while holding the jump button to hit the floating ? box that is offscreen.
Use your stomp attack next to the reinforced box to break it.
You cannot access the Gem Route for the second clear gem without the blue gem from the level, Tomb Wader.

This is a airplane level that can only be played as Coco. You must shoot down all of the blimps to complete the level and you can obtain the box gem now. Hold the spin button to shoot and press the jump button to dodge and move faster. Shoot the + boxes to heal.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This is a jetski level that can only be played as Coco. About half way through the level you will enter an open area with three ramps, one of which is facing in the opposite direction. Beyond this is a very wide fork.
Take the right path and go around the pirate ship to break additional boxes.
Return to the fork and take the left path to complete the level.

You cannot obtain either of the gems unless you access the alternate entrance through the secret warp room that contains boxes.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This level contains a Death Route, which means that you’ll need to get to it without dying. The game does not count dying before the first checkpoint or in a bonus stage as a death.

In some areas, you can use the tornado spin to glide over the water. You can either bounce on shield men or kill them by sliding. In the bonus stage, jump on the floating ? boxes before activating the metal ! box. Use a tornado spin after a double jump to go back and activate the ! box.
Bounce on the floating boxes near the ! box and then use a tornado spin after a double jump and slide spin jump to return and break the floating staircase of boxes.
Use another tornado spin after a double jump and slide spin jump to get over the Nitro boxes and activate the TNT.
Once you’ve obtained the blue gem at the end of the Death Route, kill yourself so that you can go for the box gem.

Only Coco can fight this boss. Hold the spin button to shoot at the rockets and yellow targets on his robot.

Afterwards, you will unlock the ability for Crash and Coco to fire a bazooka in levels by holding the same button that you use to save in the warp room and using the crouch button to fire.

You cannot obtain either of the gems until you obtain the green gem from the level, Flaming Passion, to access the Gem Route that contains boxes. However, we’ll hold off on the gems until we unlock the sprint ability so that the backtracking won’t be as tedious.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This level contains a Death Route, which means that you’ll need to get to it without dying. The game does not count dying before the first checkpoint or in a bonus stage as a death.

Once you get the green gem and complete the Death Route, head left and activate the checkpoint.
Afterwards, backtrack and take the path to the right of the skull platform.
Continue backtracking past the carpets to find a ? box.
Break it and continue from where you left off to find the bonus stage to save your boxes. In the bonus stage, you can break the bridge of wooden arrow boxes by using your bazooka on the right of them. Before you exit the bonus stage, be sure to destroy the nitro boxes with the bazooka as well.

You must win the race to obtain the crystal.

This is a motorcycle level that can only be played as Crash. Use the spin button to slow down on those sharp turns.

When you obtain the crystal, head back in for the box gem and wait at the starting line for one or two minutes so that the other racers won’t get in your way. Activate the time trial so that you can restart via the pause menu if you miss any boxes.

You can obtain the box gem now.

Both Coco and Crash can play this airplane level. You must shoot both engines of the enemy airplanes to destroy them and complete the level.

Hold the spin button to shoot and press the jump button to dodge and move faster. Shoot the + boxes to heal.

You can obtain the box gem now.

This level is unique in that you need fireflies to light up the darkness. However, the fireflies will leave you after a short time, making the level dark and very hard to see the various pitfalls. In the bonus stage, use your bazooka and stomp attack to destroy some of the boxes before the firefly leaves you.

You cannot access the Gem Route for the second clear gem until after you’ve obtained all the other colored gems.

Spin Cortex into the hole when Uka Uka’s forcefield wears off.

Afterwards, you will unlock the ability to sprint in levels by running and holding down the same button that you use to switch characters in the warp room. You will then see the incomplete ending. We’ll now use the sprint ability to easily obtain the remaining gems and relics needed for the true ending.

After obtaining the red gem from the level, Deep Trouble, return here and enter the Gem Route for the second clear gem.

This is one of the harder ones, so I recommend saving on a non-auto save file so that you can reload your save to reclaim your lost lives if you get a Game Over. Do not attempt this with only 4 lives!

Only use your sprint from time to time during chases since it can make them harder. Use your tornado spin after a double jump to get over the lava pits.

After obtaining the purple gem from the level, High Time, return here and enter the Gem Route for the second clear gem and the box gem.

In the bonus stage, you will find a stack of boxes with a TNT in it and a bridge of floating metal boxes next to it. Clear them out and then use a double jump after a slide spin jump to get onto the floating metal boxes with a hidden life box.
After the bonus stage, skip the checkpoint at the fork and take the right path.
Continue until you break the two floating ? boxes near the next checkpoint.
Use a double jump after a slide jump to backtrack to the fork.
Activate the checlpoint that you skipped and take the left path this time to complete the Gem Route for the second clear gem and additional boxes.
After completing the Gem Route, backtrack a bit to smash a ? box. Return and progress forward towards the exit to obtain the box gem.

After obtaining the blue gem from the level, Tomb Wader, return here and enter the Gem Route for the second clear gem.

After obtaining the green gem from the level, Flaming Passion, return here and enter the Gem Route for the second clear gem and box gem.

Refrain from breaking the wooden arrow box as you will need it later. Use your bazooka to activate the two metal ! boxes.
After hitting the platform’s ! box, backtrack to find four newly spawned boxes.
Proceed to the side scrolling section and refrain from activating the TNT on the bridge of metal boxes.
Skip the bonus stage and complete the Gem Route to obtain the second clear gem.
The gem platform will take you back to the wooden arrow box that you skipped earlier with a newly spawned box.
Continue to the side scrolling section and blow up the TNT that you skipped on the bridge of metal boxes.
Enter the bonus stage to save your boxes. In the bonus stage, use you bazooka to blow up the Nitros and activate the metal ! box.

Use your sprint ability to obtain five time trial relics (sapphire or above) to access this level through the secret warp room.
You can obtain the box gem now, but there is no crystal.

This is a jetski level that can only be played as Coco. Take it slow and easy to avoid the bombs.

Using your spin attack will make you faster but also more difficult to control. Mash the jump button to swim quickly but carefully through tight dangerous areas.

The relic for Deep Trouble is the hardest one to get in the game.

For the Pura levels, hold the crouch button to sprint and break rolling barrels. Be careful on the ramps though, as sprinting too fast on them can make Pura splat against the wall.

In Midnight Run, you may need to take it slow at some parts to hit the time boxes.

For the jetski levels, you’ll generally need to rely on hitting as many time boxes as possible to obtain the relics.

The relic for Ski Crazed is one of the hardest to get. You will also need to get the relic from Hot Coco.

For the arabian levels, you must obtain three Aku Akus to climb on the gratings fast enough. You can instantly kill the monkeys by sliding them. You can also jump through vertical magic carpets.

The relic for High Time is extremely hard to get.

For the motorcycle levels, wait at the starting line for one or two minutes so that the other racers won’t get in your way. Remember that you can let go of the accelerate button to drift on sharp turns.

Once you’ve obtained 10 relics (sapphire or above), you can access this alternate entrance through the secret warp room for the yellow gem.

Once you’ve obtained the yellow gem from the secret entrance of the level, Hang ‘Em High, enter Dino Might and take the Gem Route.

During the triceratops chase, get taken by the left pterodactyl to be transported to this secret level.
You will obtain a clear gem upon completing this level, but there is no box gem or crystal. You should activate the time trial to get both the relic and the gem at once without worrying about losing lives.
Hop on Baby T before activating the time trial so that you can jump higher and further. Baby T can also bounce off the pterodactyls and jump over geysers.

Once you’ve obtained the yellow gem from the secret entrance of the level, Hang ‘Em High, enter Dino Might for the second clear gem and box gem.

Skip the Gem Route, Baby T, and all of the checkpoints for now and kill the enemies while breaking the other boxes along the way.
Once you’ve reached the side scrolling area, backtrack to the Gem Route.
You can use Baby T to help jump over the lava.
Backtrack beyond the gem platform to get the second checkpoint that you skipped to save your boxes.
Enter and complete the Gem Route to obtain the second clear gem and break additional boxes. Use a double jump after a slide spin jump over the pillar of metal boxes to be awarded some lives.
Exit the Gem Route and enter the bonus stage to save your boxes. At the end of the level during the chase, stand where the box gem will spawn, even if it means death. It is very easy to miss this gem, but you will keep it even if you die.

Once you’ve obtained 15 relics (sapphire or above), you can access this level in the secret warp room.
This level will award you a second clear gem for winning the race instead of a crystal.

This is a motorcycle level that can only be played as Crash. You can activate the time trial straight away to obtain the box gem, clear gem, and relic all in one go.
It is generally best to stick with the center of the road. The spaceships will rise from time to time, warning you of incoming police cars.
If you fail to obtain the box gem, you can return to this level and wait at the start line for a minute or two so that the other racers won’t get in your way.

Obtain three Aku Akus to stop the water level from rising.

Once you’ve obtained 20 relics (sapphire or above), you can access this alternate entrance through the secret warp room for the second clear gem and box gem.
After completing the secret entrance route, head right on the side scrolling section to activate a checkpoint to save your boxes.
Backtrack to the left and use the platform to go to the normal entrance to break additional boxes for the box gem.
Once you’ve grabbed all the boxes, return to where you left off and enter the easy to miss bonus stage that is near the cluster of TNTs to save your boxes.

Once you’ve obtained 25 relics (sapphire or above), you can access this level through the secret warp room.

Both Coco and Crash can play this airplane level. This one is unique in that you must win the race while going through the rings to be awarded a clear gem. There is also a box gem, but there is no crystal. Press the jump button as you go through the rings to get a speed boost.
You can use the crouch button to make sharp turns, but use it sparingly since it slows you down. Remember that you can use the spin button to shoot. You can activate the time trial straight away to restart via the pause menu if you miss a ring and so you can obtain the box gem, clear gem, and relic all in one go.
If you fail to obtain the box gem, you can return to this level so that you don’t have to worry about winning the race.

You will need all of the colored gems from the levels: Hang ‘Em High, Deep Trouble, High Time, Tomb Wader, and Flaming Passion. Enter and complete the Gem Route to obtain the final clear gem.

You can access this new level by hopping on the platform near the center of the Time Twister.
Getting the gems for this level is almost as hard as Stormy Ascent, one of the hardest levels in the entire trilogy. Lives are the last thing that you want to worry about, so I strongly recommend that you have 30 or more lives depending on your skill level. Orient Express is a great place to quickly farm these lives. Be sure to save on a non-auto save file so that you can reload your save and reclaim your lost lives if you get a Game Over. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITH ONLY 4 LIVES!

This level contains a box gem and a second clear gem for completing a Death Route that has boxes, but no crystal. Thus, you will be awarded nothing if you complete it without getting the gems. At the start of the level, backtrack to find a pile of boxes.
Use your bazooka and a tornado spin after a double jump and slide spin jump to get past most of the obstacles. After the first elevator, jump on it and use your bazooka to hit a floating metal ! box to the left. Get on the platform above the ! box to find additional boxes.
Continue to the right and skip the next checkpoint. Use the metal arrow box to enter a upper left path.
On the path, use your bazooka to get rid of the first TNT.
Make it to the Death Route without dying for the second clear gem and additional boxes. After completing the Death Route, return to the checkpoint that you skipped earlier and activate it to save your boxes.
Enter the bonus stage and kill yourself before entering the upper left path with hidden boxes.
Use a double jump after a slide spin jump to get to the secret upper left path.
After grabbing the boxes, return to the bonus stage and complete it. In the bonus stage, you must solve the puzzle and break all of the slot boxes before it's too late. Afterwards, continue to the exit and obtain the box gem.

This is it! Once you’ve obtained 44 gems and 30 relics (sapphire or above), enter this boss stage again to be greeted with new dialogue. Defeat Cortex and you will be awarded the complete ending.

Once you have obtained 30 gold or platinum relics, return to the Time Twister to be awarded a 47th gem. This gem is not required to get the complete ending and does not unlock anything else.
If you decide to shoot for this gem anyway, be sure that you obtain the gold or platinum relics for Eggipus Rex and Hot Coco (or Future Tense).

Congratulations! Even more so if you’ve completed all three games! You have completed the easiest game in the trilogy! You can access my guides for Crash 1 and 2 here:
Crash 1: https://steamoss.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1426839357
Crash 2: https://steamoss.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1427555230