14 DAY TRIAL // 
Once one of the most popular genres among gamers, the platformer was almost completely forgotten in the last years. After the countless Disney adaptations so popular in the 90s, lately, we barely see any more platformers worthy of mentioning. But now a fan favorite, the marsupial everyone knows, Crash Bandicoot returns for another spin to prove that its formula is timeless.
The fans had to wait 10 years to see another chapter in Crash’s adventures, and they probably should have waited even longer if the last year's remaster had not proved to be so successful among the nostalgia driven community. The creators of Crash Bandicoot always prided themselves with the design that made you throw your controller in frustration at the screen. While many are still questioning this formula, Toys for Bob did not want to change too much the recipe of the game, but they made it feel mode modern by tweaking some aspects and adding a few new ideas.
The new Crash Bandicoot is not easier in any way than the original games, in some parts it can be even more frustrating. But is it worth exposing yourself to so much frustration? Read on to find out. It is obvious from the very beginning that we are dealing with a Crash game worthy of its legacy. The story continues the events of the third episode with Neo Cortex and company sitting in jail and plotting their revenge.
When the evil geniuses manage to break the dimensional barrier the mayhem is unleashed on the unsuspected world and once again it is up to Crash and Coco and their colorful friends to make order in the universe. To accomplish this task they will need once again the help of different masks, that can be obtained by clearing out different areas of the map by ultimately kicking a regional boss’s behind.
The different abilities paired with the old and the new playable characters bring variety to the gameplay. The basic idea is the same: you have to get through the level by jumping from obstacle to obstacle, by defeating the opponents in your way and by breaking as many boxes as possible. But Crash Bandicoot 4 refines the entire experience by adding new challenges at every step. The entire level design was overhauled to accommodate the special abilities you gain by collecting masks. The very first of these talking accessories lets you conjure or dispel certain structures in the level. The result puts to test not only your speed and agility but also your problem-solving abilities.
As the environments will change you will gain access to new skills and you will have to combine them to discover everything in the level. There will be several cases when you will have to backtrack after you gained a new ability to be able to discover everything that was hidden in the level. Each level hosts also a bonus section, that is not mandatory, but that can help you gain the resources so necessary to unlock new skins for your favorite character. There are countless challenges and twists from traps, to vanishing platforms and special adversaries, that require a special skill to get rid of.
The combat itself did not change, but we have a greater variety of opponents to challenge you. Due to their behavior, most of them make it pretty hard for you to hit them like a marsupial tornado or jump on their head. Those who do not want to aggravate their frustration with the classic design where you have a limited number of lives, can opt for the new system where they have an unlimited number of retry options, Crash respawning after each defeat at the nearest checkpoint. This does not take away from the fun or the challenge, since each level has a set of special criteria you need to meet in order to achieve the maximum number of stars that can be awarded. One of them is to finish a certain level with a maximum number of retries.
Content-wise, I can't complain about Crash Bandicoot 4. Next to the usual jump and run levels, we have also the moments when we have to escape different entities by running almost blindly towards the screen, and the boss fights are as memorable as they are challenging. Moreover, if you manage to discover the VHS tapes hidden in the levels, you will take part in a retro experience detailing Neo Cortex’s early experiments. But the absolute bonus is the presence of the new playable characters integrated into the story as part of alternative timelines. It is pure fan service to jump around with Neo Cortex or trash around with Dingodile.
Crash Bandicoot is about "challenge" on every level. To get every collectible and to discover every hidden nook and cranny you will have to revisit most levels several times or even replay them in a remixed version that adds new game mechanics and increases the difficulty level. All this can be too much for a newcomer or someone who is just looking to have a good time. The increase in difficulty and complexity after the few dimensions is not only overwhelming, but it can be downright scary to some. You need nerves of steel and cat-like reflexes to be able to make it to the end of the game.
And since Crash Bandicoot 4 is so varied, with so many detailed environments, it is a shame that many will not experience them. The cartoonish graphics are a perfect match for the on-screen action, the soundtrack managing to create an immersive experience. Thankfully there are no framerate drops at least not during the levels. The animations when Crash is sliding on the world map present some hiccups from time to time, but these do not affect the overall experience. Also, the loading times are kept at decent lengths, a must taking into consideration that you will fail a lot.
The Good
- Lots of content
- Gameplay with a lot of variety
- A memorable experience
The Bad
- The difficulty can be overwhelming
- Controls could have been more accurate
- Minor graphical issues
Conclusion
However, the game is a lot of fun, featuring a lot of variety on every level. Also, it breathes a very pleasant and, in some places, a humorous atmosphere, which always keeps you on your toes. Unfortunately, the difficulty will turn away many potential players, and that’s a shame because the developers put a tremendous amount of detail and love into this game. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is not a perfect game by far, it is not revolutionary in any way, but it remains true to its platformer legacy.
