I never played the original but I remember renting Croc 2 and getting confused/dying a lot (lol n00b), but it was still fun, even if I didn't get very far. And I still remember one particular level/music track somehow...
Looking back, it was very similar to B-K, wasn't it? I kind of wish I could play it again, as well as the first one. And that Croc 1 music reminds me of Creepy Castle from DK64 in a way.
I remember seeing Croc games at Gamestops and stuff. Always wanted to try them, but I had to get something that my sister wanted too. So I went with Crash Bandicoot and grew up with that game instead.