Super Bandicoot Crash Adventures a beat-em-up game with platforming aspects in which the player controls Bandicoot, whose main objective Bandicoote is to rescue his sister, Coco, and save his home, the Wumpa Island, from being destroyed by the main antagonist's gigantic robot. The player's first goal is to rescue the sentient mask Aku Aku, who gives the player basic instructions, shields Bandicoot from enemy attacks, and transforms into a skateboard to help Bandicoot traverse slippery terrain. From there, each level asks players to complete fights against large groups of enemies or simply progress through the episode
Bandicoot starts the game with four lives. The length of each of Bandicoot's lives is tied to his health meter, which decreases whenever Bandicoot is damaged from enemy attacks or falls down a bottomless pit. The player can replenish Bandicoot's health meter by instructing Bandicoot to eat Wumpa Fruit. Each time the health meter is fully depleted, Bandicoot loses a life. However, the player can win an additional life for Bandicoot by collecting 25,000 units of the magical substance Mojo or by collecting a rare type of Golden Wumpa Fruit. After the last life is lost, the player can continue playing by restarting the current episode.
Each episode contains a portal leading to a simple mini-game arena, where the player must accomplish a task in a set time. Generally the task involves collecting a specified quantity of Mojo, using an enemy animal's attacks to snipe targets, or simply defeating a select number of enemies. At the end of each episode, the player earns a rank of a bronze, silver, or gold voodoo doll; the rank can be improved by defeating a set number of minions, destroying three robotic toilets or inflicting a minimum number of consecutive hits in combat. All three tasks must be accomplished in an episode if a gold voodoo doll is to be obtained for that episode. Hidden voodoo dolls unlock concept art packages for each episode.
Combat
Whereas the previous games featured Bandicoot spinning into or jumping on an enemy to attack, Super Bandicoot Crash Adventures him more options for attack. Early in the game, Bandicoot has a light-powered attack and a heavy-powered attack and can also block, dodge or break an enemy's block. When he defeats an enemy or destroys an object, a magical substance known as Mojo is released. When Bandicoot collects enough Mojo, he will earn either an ability upgrade or a new move, such as the Norris Roundhouse or the Triple Dragon. His classic spin attack, named "Old Skool", is an unlockable move, along with an aerial variant that allows Bandicoot to float over chasms