What is the hub machine called in Crash Bandicoot: Warped?

The hub machine in Crash Bandicoot: Warped is called the Time-Twisting Machine.

It is the central hub of Naughty Dog’s 1998 PlayStation platformer, giving Crash and Coco access to portals leading to levels set across different eras. Doctor Nefarious Tropy invents the machine so Cortex’s forces can collect powerful crystals from their original locations in time.

The machine is divided into five chambers. Each chamber initially presents five level portals, with a boss portal appearing after those levels are completed. Defeating the boss unlocks the next chamber, creating the game’s progression structure.

A common mix-up is calling the hub a “Warp Room.” Warp Rooms are important hubs in earlier Crash games, especially Crash Bandicoot 2, but Warped uses the more story-specific Time-Twisting Machine. The machine eventually falls into disarray after N. Tropy is defeated and implodes after the final confrontation.