Back in 1996, an unconventional hero was born.
Originally developed by Naughty Dog, PlayStation gamers were treated to a unique new platformer featuring a mutant marsupial known as Crash Bandicoot. He went on to become one of the most beloved video game characters in history, spawning two official sequels and a number of different spin-offs.
In recent years, the original Crash trilogy has been remastered so that old school fans could enjoy his adventures all over again, whilst also encouraging new players to jump in and see what all the fuss was about. Following the huge success of that remaster, the Crash Team Racing spin-off game was also given a makeover. Then came the announcement that everybody had been waiting for. A brand new Crash game was in development.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time has one of the most apt video game titles we’ve seen in a long while. From developer Toys For Bob (responsible for the Crash remasters) and publisher Activision, the platformer takes place over a decade after the events of Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped.
A familiar rogues gallery - including Neo Cortex and N. Tropy - have been working to escape their inter-dimensional prison and take revenge on Crash, Coco and Aku Aku; but they’ve also got domination over all of time and space on their mind. With the multiverse at stake, it’s once again up to Crash and company to stop the villains in their path, utilising a bunch of new skills whilst doing so.
One of the first big decisions you’ll make going into Crash 4 is whether to play the game in Modern or Retro - though it is a choice that can be changed at any point within your game settings.
The Modern Mode is a new way to play, where you’ll have an unlimited amount of lives to get through a level and always restart at your latest Checkpoint when you die. Gems are also collected dependant on the amount of Wumpa fruit you collect, how many crates you smash, if you die three times or less and, in a hidden location on each map. That leaves six Gems up for grabs in each level, and they can be used to buy new skins for Crash and Coco.
Retro is the Crash we all know and love. You have a set amount of lives that can be increased with every 100 Wumpa fruit you collect, and if you run out of those lives then you are forced to go right back to the beginning of the level. Gems are collected in the traditional way here, forcing you to be more vigilant in smashing every crate on the map. This is the mode to go with if you’re looking for that nostalgic, infuriating challenge made famous by the original three games.
Gems aren't the only items you'll be collecting along the way. Many levels have secret rewind tapes that can be collected if you reach them without dying. Once they've been pocketed, you're able to play through some crate-smashing levels which take you back to the days of Neo Cortex putting his mutant Bandicoot to the test. They are some of the most frustrating, anger-inducing levels you'll ever play in a Crash game; which of course makes them all the more satisfying when you reach the end with 100% of crates destroyed. If you're anything like me, you won't want to leave a rewind level until you've figured out exactly how to make it from start to finish, smashing each and every crate along the way.
In Crash and Coco’s attempts to stop N. Tropy and Neo Cortex in their tracks, they’ll come across a selection of new friends known as the Quantum Masks. Awoken due to the time rift created by villainous mask Uka Uka, these legendary defenders of time and space must work with our Bandicoot duo if they’re to bring order to the multiverse once more.
Each of these masks appear across levels, giving Crash and Coco unique abilities when they wear them.
Lani-Loni allows the user to phase shift, bringing crates, platforms and obstacles both in and out of existence with a simple click of a button. 'Akano brings dark matter to the table, creating a whirlwind of energy that allows the wearer to break reinforced crates with a spin and jump across huge gaps without falling to their death. Kupuna-Wa when activated allows the user to slow down time, making it easier to traverse fast-moving platforms and dodge speedy enemies. She also allows you to walk across Nitro crates; a first for the series! Finally, Ika-Ika allows the wearer to flip the direction of gravity at will, if standing on the floor or under a ceiling.
Each of these new mechanics add a layer of excitement to proceedings. They work extremely well and whilst they do of course take some getting used to, with each of them requiring precision or certain death, they elevate player experience to the next level. As for the characters you control?
Along with the interchangeability of Crash and Coco (you can play either of the Bandicoots on the majority of the levels), there’s the addition of Tawna. She’s gone from being the busty Bandicoot babe of the first game, to a multi-dimensional-traveling hero with a mysterious backstory and her own mission to complete. She’s a joy to control, with a swinging dropkick as her main move rather than a spin, and a grapple hook that allows her to reach far-away locations and crates.
She’s not the only newly-playable character. You can step into the shoes of Neo Cortex, who has a short jump and a leap, along with a ray gun that can turn enemies into platforms. There are other recognisable characters you’ll step into the shoes of along the way, each with their own skillset; it’s a real pleasure to give each of them a try.
Toys For Bob could have just given us another nostalgic Crash game, with all of the usual mechanics, linear levels and a familiar storyline. Whilst we got all of that, they also elevated the game onto a level unseen in the past. A major success, through and through.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is available now on Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox One S and PlayStation 4. A code was given to Female First for Xbox One in exchange for a fair and honest review.