Doctor Neo Cortex

During the development of Crash Bandicoot, Naughty Dog founders Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin conceived the idea of Cortex while eating near Universal Interactive Studios. Gavin came up with the idea of an "evil genius villain with a big head" who was "all about his attitude and his minions". Rubin, having become fond of the animated television series Pinky and the Brain, imagined a more malevolent version of the Brain with minions resembling the weasel characters in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. After Gavin put on a voice depicting the attitude in mind for the character, he and Rubin instantly came up with the name "Doctor Neo Cortex". Gavin and Rubin described Cortex to character designer Charles Zembillas as "[having] a huge head but a tiny body, he’s a mad scientist, and he dresses a bit like a Nazi from The Jetsons". Jason Rubin owns the original sketches of Cortex by Zembillas.[5]

Crash Bandicoot co-artist Joe Pearson wrote a full backstory for Cortex as part of the game's production bible.[6] The backstory details Cortex's birth to a large family of circus performers, the abuse he suffered from being made part of the family act (which culminated in a large "N", standing for "nerd", being tattooed onto his forehead), the murder of his family in a fireworks explosion, and a period of vagrancy and fugitivity with his henchman and high school classmate Nitrus Brio.[7]

Cortex was kept stationary in many of his early appearances because his game model was unable to walk properly due to the short length of his legs.[5] Artist Nicholas Kole adjusted Cortex's proportions for his appearance in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, though according to Kole, Cortex's more "debonair" build resulted in his animations turning out "too handsome". In response, the game's artists created an expression sheet to preserve Cortex's comedic characterization.[8]

Cortex is voiced by Brendan O'Brien in the first Crash Bandicoot game,[9] and by Clancy Brown from Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back up to Crash Nitro Kart.[10][11][12][13][14] Brown eventually left the series due to his dissatisfaction with the video game industry's financial compensation for voice actors.[15] For Crash Twinsanity, Lex Lang was called in for an audition to replace Brown,[16] and was given an explanation that Vivendi Universal Games considered Brown's performance to be "too mean".[17] After voice director Chris Borders described Doctor Cortex to Lang and had him listen to signature samples of Brown's performance,[16] he encouraged Lang to play Cortex as more flamboyant and self-absorbed.[17] Lang eventually created a depiction of Cortex that was "master evil with a bit of a childish feminine side that leaks out in his tirades" that had everyone laughing at the lines and the character.[16] Monty Python's Flying Circus was an additional influence on Lang's delivery as Cortex.[18] Lang voiced Cortex from Twinsanity onward.[19][20][21] In a flashback to Cortex's childhood in Crash Twinsanity, he is voiced by Debi Derryberry,[19] while Corey Burton voiced Cortex when he is momentarily turned into an infant in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.[21]

Cortex's most distinguishing physical traits are his large head, yellow skin,[5][22] pointed goatee and the N tattooed onto his forehead.[23][24] Cortex is near-bald with the exception of a few areas on his head; Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin jokingly explained that Cortex only uses Rogaine on those select areas.[25] Cortex stands 1.6 meters (5'3") and weighs 59 kilograms (130 pounds).[26]

Cortex's basic characterization was conceived by Gavin and Rubin as "A villain, all full of himself, unable to conceive of ever doing anything the simple way, but constantly (in his eyes) betrayed by the incompetence of his henchmen".[5] Cortex is depicted as a mad scientist who is ruthlessly and obsessively motivated to dominate the world by the desire to exact vengeance upon a humanity that spurned and humiliated him.[27][7] He possesses an outrageously high intelligence quotient, which he believes makes him the logical choice to control the world, and he is frequently frustrated by the inferior mentality and failures of his underlings. In awareness of his diminutive build, Cortex avoids physical combat and rationalizes his cowardice by claiming that such engagement is beneath him. Cortex is exceptionally skilled in the fields of engineering and mechanics, which allows him to create a wide variety of devices and machines. Although he is prone to wild mood swings, his single-minded determination keeps him functional. He is highly self-confident and views himself as perfect, which convinces him not to subject himself to the Evolvo-Ray. Cortex is a lifelong loner whose sole friend has been his assistant and childhood associate Doctor Nitrus Brio, whom he treats with contemptuous affection. As a result of his traumatic childhood experiences, Cortex flies into an hysterical rage at imagery of clowns, laugh tracks, seltzer bottles and bananas.[7] Crash Twinsanity artist Daniel Tonkin observed that Cortex is "massively egotistical" and has "a real insecurity complex",[28] while voice actor Lex Lang summarized Cortex's character as a "maniacal narcissist".[17]

Cortex has been featured in a series of Crash Bandicoot action figures produced by Resaurus. For Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, Resaurus produced a "Dr. Neo Cortex" figure bundled with a laser gun, a Wumpa Fruit and a Crystal as seen in the game.[48] A vinyl figure by Funko and a rubber duck by Numskull Designs have also been made in Cortex's image.[49][50] On July 28, 2020, First 4 Figures unveiled a 21-inch resin collectible figure of Cortex, with an estimated Q3 2021 release date. The figure depicts a scene from the boss fight against him in Crash Bandicoot: Warped, in which Cortex wields a ray gun and a timed mine. The figure will be released in both a standard and exclusive edition; the exclusive version features a light-up hoverboard, mine and smoke trail.[51][52]

Cortex has ranked within a number of lists of best video game villains. Robert Workman of GameDaily ranked Cortex number twenty-three on his list of the "Top 25 Evil Masterminds of All Time", stating "His twisted Wario-like hair, his pointy goatee and that big N stamped in the middle of his forehead makes him look like pure evil."[23] Chris Buffa, also of GameDaily, ranked Cortex at number twenty-one in his "Top 25 Craziest Villains" list.[24] In the Guinness World Records' 2013 Gamer's Edition, Cortex was ranked 42nd on its list of 50 greatest video game villains.[53] GamesRadar ranked Cortex 98th in their 2013 list of the best villains in video game history.[54]

Voice actors Clancy Brown and Lex Lang have both received positive critical attention for their performances as Cortex.

Clancy Brown's vocal performances as Cortex have received positive notice from reviewers. Major Mike of GamePro and Mark Cooke of Game Revolution both praised Brown's performance in Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, with Cooke describing Brown as "hilarious" and "satirical".[55][56] In his review of Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, Ben Kosmina of Nintendo World Report singled out Brown's voice-acting as "great", and recalled Cortex's line "...and a woman with nice, big... bags of ice for my head" being a highlight in Crash Bandicoot: Warped.[57] Chris Carter of Destructoid, in his review of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, stated his preference of Brown's performance in the original trilogy over Lex Lang's performance in the remastered version.[58]

Cortex's portrayal and Lang's vocal performance in Crash Twinsanity were also praised. James B. Pringle of IGN noted that the game "shows a side of the evil doctor that we haven't seen before" and, while describing the game's dialogue as "solid," said that "Cortex is the one you want to keep listening to."[59] Brent Soboleski of TeamXbox believed that Cortex was "probably the best and most entertaining character of the game since players get a completely different look at his personality this time through," and felt that he was "very funny and his sarcasm and evil attitude are a perfect match for his personality."[60] Ryan Davis of GameSpot analyzed "Cortex's constant creeping and sniveling" as "a great showcase of the kinds of neuroses that might cause one to gain an interest in evil science," and added that "the strained grandeur of Cortex's speech" was the most "accomplished" voice work in the game.[61] Nick Valentino of GameZone felt that "the biggest laughs, believe it or not, come from Doctor Neo Cortex who comes off as nutty in the best possible way. He’s filled with witty observations and often pokes fun of his past encounters with Crash." He later remarked that "the twisted Doctor is one hilarious bloke and his dialogue just makes him all the more likeable."[62] Andrew Reiner of Game Informer admitted that "turning Cortex into a cross-dressing lunatic brought about a few chuckles".[63]

• Doctor Neo Cortex at Crash Mania