Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time Review
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time Review
Crash Bandicoot: Warped Is Better On PS1
After the successes of "N. Sane Trilogy" and "Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled", the time has come for our famed marsupial - a chance to step back into the spotlight with a new game. No more remakes, no more remasters. Fans have waited a long time for not just a true sequel, but an original title. The last game to have come out before the remakes was "Crash Nitro Kart 2", but we don't talk about the mobile games. *shudders* With the new "Crash 4" finally out, we must ask ourselves whether bringing the bandicoot back is worth it. And so, we had our own "Crash" superfan, Ty, try to answer that question. Welcome to MojoPlays, and this is Ty's review of "Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time"! In case you didn't finish "Crash Bandicoot: Warped", the third game in the series, our heroes used the Timetwister machine to banish Doctor Cortex, Uka Uka, and Dr. N. Tropy to the prehistoric ages. After being gone for quite some time, the doctors have somehow managed to survive the harsh world of dinosaurs and have used Uka Uka to create a dimensional rift. Now, Crash and Coco must retrieve the four Quantum Masks in order to restore the timelines. Upon starting the campaign, I was astonished at the visual fidelity on display. Given how many changes Crash and company have gone through with each new game, developer Toys for Bob has managed to come up with a unique aesthetic that makes the game look like a “Crash” game. Even back in the days of polygons, “Crash Bandicoot’s” animations were always expressive and brought personality to the levels. This piece of the bandicoot’s charm has been carried over and significantly amped up as levels are brimming with life. Just take a look at Off Beat, my favorite level in the whole game! Seeing enemies doing things in the background and marveling at sights like the volcano in the opening level told me one thing - Crash was in good hands. It’s clear that the development team holds a massive love for the franchise, and it doesn’t stop at just visuals. By the way, all the footage you're seeing was captured off of PS4 Pro. Throughout “Crash 4”, players will find a plethora of Easter eggs hearkening back to older titles and even “Spyro” and the “Skylanders” franchises! For example, I was able to find a handful just from the start of the game, and there’s plenty more to be found throughout. I won’t spoil any here, but they had me grinning like a mad man. I also want to commend the writing here. It can be pretty hard writing comedy in video games without making things feel obnoxious...especially in games that appeal to kids. There were several moments where the game genuinely made me laugh, the most notable being moments where villains would attempt to throw shade at Crash and Coco. If I had to compare the quality to any previous game, I’d say it’s on par with “Crash Twinsanity”, which featured plenty of slapstick, breaks in the fourth wall, and even a few cheeky innuendos. Of course, everything that’s been said is arguably subjective. How does the game play? Well, the controls are certainly not the same as other “Crash” games. Trust me - I’m coming hot off of “Cortex Strikes Back”, “Warped”, AND “Wrath of Cortex”! Crash and Coco feel much more floaty rather than awkward yo-yos like in previous titles. This, in turn, complements the game’s supposed sharp difficulty as it allows you a bit more time to correct your jumps at the last minute. It may take some time to get used to it, though, if you’re more familiar with past games and how they control. This leniency on precision allows the mask powers - “Crash 4’s” gimmick - to shine through. As you journey across dimensions, you’ll run into segments that see you phase objects in and out of existence, slow time, alter gravity, or turn into a lethal tornado a la Taz the Tasmanian Devil. These masks may pop up within the same level, too, sometimes while you’re in the middle of hazards that could insta-kill you. Yeah, it’s a load of bull sometimes, but it’s interesting to see how the game wants you to toy with the mechanics of each power. If you’re observant enough, you may even figure out how to reach a hidden area using the powers. While we’re on the subject of difficulty, it’s worth mentioning that “Crash 4” is equally as hard as, if not harder than, the first “Crash Bandicoot”. The first entry in the franchise featured obstacles that were incredibly difficult to navigate and may have felt cheap due to poor depth perception or awkward timing. “Crash 4”, on the other hand, feels slightly more fair thanks to the controls, but doesn’t let up. And that works for and against the game. To elaborate, “Crash 4” is constantly challenging you and demands you know what you’re doing. It does this partially through its bonus levels, which previous games would reserve for shorter courses that were a little less intense than the courses they could be found in. They were there to give you more time to think before going back into the fray and help you farm for additional Wumpa fruit or lives. In here, you’ll need to work harder to earn the extra goodies! Know how to control the mask powers and be ready to make your thumbs jump between buttons! Yeah, it’s easier said than done which makes it tough to recommend to those not in tune with “Crash Bandicoot’s” past games. As someone who’s been playing the games for over twenty years, even I found the last third of the game to be pretty frustrating given how infrequent Checkpoint Crates were. I’m pretty confident in saying this might be the hardest “Crash” game in the series, and that’s both good and bad. I’d be more than willing to overlook this if the game didn’t task you with finding tapes that can only be collected by not dying ONCE throughout a portion of specific levels. It also doesn’t help that Time Relics make their return as well, and some of these courses aren’t exactly built for attempting to get Platinum grade Relics. That isn’t to say I didn’t have fun playing this game. “Crash 4” gave me plenty of reasons to go back and replay levels. Each level holds twelve gems for you to collect - six for the normal version and six for the N-Verted version. N-Verted, by the way, was an excellent idea to give the game’s 43 levels more replayability. You may simply experience a level in a different art style or have to spin every so often to reveal things in your vicinity. Unfortunately, I feel like more could have been done with the N-Verted mode to make things more challenging - reverse controls, flip the screen, enable timed effects, give ultimate power to a mask and let them alter the stage by adding more explosives, phasing platforms, or moments where time slows down. I don’t mind what’s already here, but I feel like more could have been done to really bring out N-Verted mode’s potential. Another addition I liked was the multiple playable characters - a concept that was previously explored in “Crash Twinsanity”. On top of Crash and Coco, players will get to take control of Doctor Cortex, Tawna, and Dingodile in their own levels that present the story from their perspective. Each character’s moveset is a blast to use, too, whether you’re getting around with Tawna’s grappling hook or blockifying enemies with Cortex’s ray gun. I only wish there were a few more of these moments to go around. Lastly, I want to talk about trophies and achievements. “Crash 4” is very much a game that completionists should be cautious of as you’ll have to get everything in the game...and I mean EVERYTHING! This was, originally, understandable for a “Crash” game and not too different from the original trilogy’s trophy lists. Unfortunately, what kills the encouragement to pop the Platinum trophy is that one trophy demands you earn every N. Sanely Perfect Relic, which can only be earned by completing every level without dying ONCE! Again, I was fuming throughout the last third of the game, so if you still want to Platinum this, be prepared. It’s going to be hard enough trying to get all of the Platinum Time Relics...which is also a trophy and achievement! Overall, “Crash 4” is an excellent addition to the franchise and shows that Crash is back in the limelight. It boasts a lot of personality with its animation and art, features a handful of mechanics that not only make the game more interesting but add to the world, and gives you plenty more reasons to go back and improve your skills or experience levels in a new way. It’s just upsetting that it goes overboard with its aim to be hard in the last third of the campaign. The N. Sanely Perfect Relics and Platinum Time Relics further deterred my desire to fully 106% the game let alone pop the Platinum trophy. Even so, I still think it’s a fantastic game and one that “Crash” fans - casual and hardcore - will adore. Just be prepared to lose a bit of your sanity in the process.
