Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, has today announced and confirmed some new details on the next installment in the Crash Bandicoot series.

Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant will be released in the Autumn on Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS and PSP and for the first time will feature a free-roaming environment.

Crash Bandicoot will also have a host of new moves and a co-op mode which will feature Crash’ sister CoCo.

In Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant, a rejuvenated Neo Cortex is taking over the world one brain at a time! Cortex and N. Brio devise a new kind of evil – a text-messaging, do-anything device which controls both mutant and bandicoot minds. Armed with his quick-wits and lightening agility, Crash must free his friends, the titans and save the day!

Key features in Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant include: • Mutant in your Pocket! - Not only does Crash gain the ability to control his enemies when he jacks them – now he can store his favourite monsters in his pocket, upgrade them and utilise their powers when they are most advantageous

• “Free-Romping” World Design - Wumpa Island becomes a “free-romping” environment, allowing players to travel and explore through intersecting worlds, with different gameplay options available depending on what creature you've brought along for the ride

• Girl Power! - Your co-op partner is Crash’s sister, Coco, playable for the first time in the cooperative mode. Not only does Coco make the game that much more inviting for girls to pick up and play, she also brings with her a new tactile “treasure hunt” ability

• New Abilities- Roll and Counter Combat System - Crash will have a fun, agile dodge move and “counter” move which will inflict extra damage on his enemies
Digging - Crash can now dig underground as real-life bandicoots really do; this will allow for Crash to unlock bonus items
Climbing - Crash can climb vertical surfaces and jump side-to-side to connected areas and dodge hazards