Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time

★★★★☆ A worthy follow up to a GOATed trilogy. It's got some bs things for full completion like off screen boxes, but its good otherwise

[h1]Rage Bandicoot 2.0[/h1] Crash Bandicoot is back, and he’s back with a bang. This is a fantastic sequel where the developers actually managed to stay true to what made the classic titles so great. It is packed with new levels and original ideas. They also cranked up the difficulty, which I honestly didn't think was possible. If you thought the original trilogy was brutal, you can take comfort in the the fact that they made everything—especially for completionists—even harder. It is no understatement to say that this is the Dark Souls of platformers. Hidden beneath all the vibrant colors lies a truly punishing and brutal game. But is it also brutally fun? It definitely has some flaws, but ultimately, the positive far outweighs the negative. [b]Where it really jumps high again:[/b] • [b]More Nostalgia:[/b] This looks and feels like a true sequel to the original games. The core gameplay is fully intact with tight platforming and excellent level design with fresh challenges. This time around, the game is a bit more story-driven than what we are used to from the classics, but it works surprisingly well thanks to some genuine humor, simple dialogue, and highly charismatic personalities. • [b]Eye-Candy:[/b] In my review of the N. Sane Trilogy, I talked about how great and modern the remade graphics looked. Toys for Bob put in serious work to recreate that exact same magic here. However, the art style this time is much more cartoonish; where the trilogy went for a slightly more realistic rendering, Crash 4 leans heavily into pure Pixar magic—and I think I actually prefer this style. The colors and environments feel incredibly alive and bursting with personality. The game is simply beautiful. On top of that, the PC port actually fixes the mistakes of the trilogy: the framerate is completely unlocked, running smoothly with flawless performance and zero stutter. • [b]Fixed Footwear:[/b] Toys for Bob actually fixed the biggest annoyance from the remake. They added a subtle yellow drop-shadow directly beneath Crash whenever he jumps, showing you exactly where your feet will land in the 3D space. It is a great improvement to the overall precision. • [b]Still Linear and Minimalistic:[/b] What made the original games so successful was their beautifully straightforward design. At its core, it’s just about getting from the start to the finish of a stage. I can safely say that Crash 4 follows that exact same blueprint, and honestly, that’s exactly what you want from a Crash game. Same recipe, same success. • [b]Creative Level Design:[/b] The level design here is at an incredibly high level. The stages are highly varied, constantly tossing you into completely different settings and eras. You also get access to multiple new powers and quantum masks that alter reality, which keeps the gameplay feeling fresh. One of my main complaints with the trilogy was that it started to feel a bit repetitive after a while, but Crash 4 completely avoids that trap by throwing creative mechanics at you around every corner. • [b]Content Overload:[/b] This game is absolutely packed with content. Even if the main campaign is short, there is a mountain of extra stuff to play around with. The developers even introduced "N. Verted stages"—special mirror-mode versions of the levels that completely warp the visual style, like turning the game into a black-and-white canvas where you splash paint by spinning. It's a highly creative way to replay the game. [b]Where it actually runs out of time:[/b] • [b]The 106% Masochism:[/b] As I mentioned, if you thought the trilogy had frustrating achievements, you are in for a treat here. If there is one area where the developers did not hold back, it was the difficulty. Crash games have always been notoriously tough, but this game takes it to an entirely new level. Just beating a stage isn't the problem, but when you are forced to hunt down the "N. Sanely Perfect Relics"—which requires you to break every single crate and finish the level without dying a single time—we are talking about a completely different beast. The stages are three times longer than the old games, making a single mistake at the very end soul-crushing. Getting that 106% completion badge was not fun. It was so deeply irritating that I wanted to give up at times, but I managed to survive through it. Might be one of the hardest platformers I have completed in terms of achievements. • [b]The Triple Spin:[/b] To maximize your speed during Time Trials, you are forced to use a new mechanic called the "Triple Spin." Instead of a simple dash button, you have to tap the spin attack with a very specific, rhythmic timing continuously throughout the level. It feels incredibly clunky compared to the old speed shoes from Crash 3, and after a long session, it leaves you with literal hand cramps from constantly hammering the button. That's one thing they didn't need to change, if you ask me. [b]The final verdict:[/b] After over 20 years of mediocre spin-offs and identity crises, the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy has finally received the sequel it deserves. Not only does Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time deliver a worthy continuation of the mechanics we grew up with, but it beautifully expands on that foundation with brilliant new ideas. If you loved the original games, this is an incredibly easy thumbs up. Just do yourself a favor and don't go for the 106% if you value your sanity.