Crash Bandicoot 4 proves that the success of the original games’ formula can be more than just a one-time occurrence in the modern era. With its easy-to-learn, difficult-to-master gameplay, beautiful art style, memorable sound, and a large amount of replay value, It’s About Time is definitely an essential platformer to pick up before the start of the next console generation.
Crash Bandicoot is a franchise that has endured leagues of success since its recent resurrection. With the first three games being remastered and re-released in June 2017 in one collection, subtitled N.Sane Trilogy, not only did the collection receive praise from fans and critics, but the game ended up selling millions of copies in the process.
***WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD***
Bandicoot fever swept through the gaming community after N.Sane, and with the success of Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled in June 2019, it became clear that Crash was still a beloved character in the new century. The goodwill towards Crash was so successful that new mainline entry, the first one in twelve years, was announced to be in development this year.
This game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, released on Oct. 2, allowing players to see if developer Toys for Bob could prove that the franchise’s gameplay formula can remain enjoyable in a new entry. Luckily, this game proves that it does; with its beautiful art style, brilliant sound design, and challenging yet rewarding gameplay, Crash Bandicoot 4 proves that one of gaming’s biggest icons still has tricks up his sleeves way after his prime.
The game picks up after the third main game in the series, Crash Bandicoot: Warped, with the evil Dr. Neo Cortex being trapped in the past with Dr. Nefarious Tropy and a talking mask named Uka Uka. Using Uka Uka’s magical powers to try and return to the present, the trio ends up ripping holes in space and time, with Cortex and N.Tropy hatching a plan to take over not just their universe, but every universe.
Crash and Coco soon find out about this plan when they meet Lani-Loli, one of the four Quantum Masks that hold power over time and space. With their presence signaling danger, Crash, Coco, and a handful of new allies must traverse through various dimensions in order to stop Cortex’s plan and save the multiverse.
Crash 4 has one of the best art styles I have seen in a video game this year. Everything has a vibrant color scheme to it that pops out at you without being overwhelming. All of the backgrounds have a rich amount of detail to each of them, with every setting making you want to stop and take in how much work when into designing each one.
Every character has a great design as well. Newcomers like the Quantum Masks differ from other characters in the Crash Bandicoot universe in regards to their looks, yet feel as if they were in the games’ world all along. As for the returning characters like Crash and Coco, they manage to look as if they were adapted to fit modern aesthetics while also paying respect to their original designs from the 1990s. The game feels like it is a perfect blend of old and new, creating a vision that I couldn’t help but adore.
The way everything looks in the game is complemented by great animation. Crash 4 is jam-packed with animation no matter where you look, and yet everything looks fluid and unique enough to not have anything blend together. At times, especially during the cutscenes, it feels less like you’re playing a game and more like you’re watching a triple-A animated film. To see how much effort went into making Crash’s multiverse vibrant was a moment to behold, and Toys for Bob deserves nothing but props for the end product we received.
The game maintains its zany vibes with its sound design. Most of the sound effects from the original games/the N.Sane Trilogy return for It’s About Time, making the world sound like the first three games it mainly took inspiration from. Furthermore, the music always manages to fit the tone of each level, making your feet tap to the beat as you try to navigate through tough platforming.
The game is also full of great voice acting in its cutscenes; if I had to pick favorites, Eden Riegel brings a more chipper tone to the game with her interpretation of Coco Bandicoot, and Ursula Taherian does a great job playing a self-confident but well-meaning person with her performance as an alternate version of Tawna Bandicoot.
Furthermore, the gameplay itself is an enjoyable yet challenging experience. The characters’ movements feel light and loose, but without being too difficult to control. Each move you make feels right as you traverse through the various levels with different designs, all meant to challenge you with unique scenarios that you typically won’t find in any other level.
In addition, for the playable characters outside of Crash and Coco, their movesets are simple enough to learn and feel right at home with the platforming featured within Crash 4. The game does get rather challenging as it progresses, which does fit the modus operandi of the first three Crash games. Due to this learning curve, the game may not be for everyone; for those who love a challenge though, the game is a difficult but ultimately rewarding experience.
Crash 4 also seems aware of how its players like variety, as the game features several additions that work to make players keep playing long after the main story. Each level has an N.Verted version of itself, where the level is not only mirrored, but some sort of zany effect is added. At one point you might be within a game where echolocation is the only way to get around, while at another you might be running through a faster level that looks and sounds like a 1920s black-and-white film.
Both the normal and N.Verted versions of each level have gems to collect based on different criteria, such as dying under a certain number of times, collecting a certain amount of Wumpa fruits, and smashing all crates in a level. Collecting enough of these gems will allow access to one of a large variety of costumes for either Crash or Coco, which allows for plenty of fun with experimenting with costumes. Combined with time trials for each level, it feels like you get the perfect Crash package on a much larger scale.
Crash Bandicoot 4 proves that the success of the original games’ formula can be more than just a one-time occurrence in the modern era. With its easy-to-learn, difficult-to-master gameplay, beautiful art style, memorable sound, and a large amount of replay value, It’s About Time is definitely an essential platformer to pick up before the start of the next console generation. Spinning into a new life, Crash 4 proves that the world of Crash and his friends can be just as memorable now as it was back in the 90s. No matter what comes next for the Bandicoot family, I am sure that we will see them spinning into a new adventure before we know it.
What did you think about Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time? Did you love it, or do you think it was a wrong move for the franchise? Let us know!
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