It has all the familiar marks from the first three games: linear level design that demands precise platform skill and a host of collectibles, crystals, and secrets to discover. But with some significant iterations of the formula, like noticeable improvements to the game and level design, new mechanics like quantum skins, timelines, and new playable characters, and vibrant new worlds with some truly awesome environments.
A tale of two time travels Bandicoots
The Crash Bandicoot 4 story is as in-mark as it gets: Dr. Neo Cortex and N. Tropy have escaped from their interdimensional prison, but not without havoking and opening a hole in the fabric of space and time. Once again, evil scientists embark on a mission to take over the multiverse as Crash and his sister Coco go to great lengths to stop them.
It is undoubtedly Crash, but if you are like me, a finalist who wants to collect every gem, you probably won’t pay much attention. That’s because you’ll be busy falling to your death countless times as you try to crush each box and pick each piece of Wumpa fruit through clenched teeth. Yes, Crash Bandicoot 4 feels like it will retain the series’ signature difficulty and maybe even increase a notch or two.
This was most notable at the “Snow Way Out” level. This arctic fishing village has six gems and is full of icy dangers and plenty of rickety wooden scaffolding to keep you alert. Undead pirates with hooks and arm cannons who shoot swordfish like harpoons prowl, but these predictable foes are the least of their concerns.The most dangerous platform in my game took place on a frozen river where I had to use ice sheets to get the current up and down. These moving platforms alternated between comically slippery and so fragile that they would collapse under Crash’s feet if I stayed there too long.
If I wasn’t hell-bent on breaking all the boxes in the level to get my celeb gem, I would have only had to survive this death trap once. But after hitting a “!” In the drawer, which activated the phantom drawers, I was forced to retreat upstream to break those newly materialized drawers, thus testing my ability to cross the same treacherous area more than once.My death count increased rapidly and my patience ran out, but I wanted to keep trying and eventually I did. Crash fans will be used to this type of punishment and it is very clear that Crash Bandicoot 4 is intentionally targeting that demographic. Newcomers or those accustomed to a more simplified platform experience may be discouraged. Fortunately, the game tries to tackle this additional difficulty with two modes: modern and retro.
Retro mode, like classic games, limits your attempts to the number of lives you have, which is a good option if you are someone who wants the classic experience. Modern mode, on the other hand, gives players unlimited opportunities to finish a level, only taking you back to the last checkpoint after you’re dead. Replace the Extra Life Boxes with the Golden Wumpa Boxes, and also add a small kill counter in the corner of the screen. I enjoyed having the option of modern mode as it made the greater difficulty of certain areas much more tolerable. I was able to keep trying and improving without the frustration of having to start again.
There is science and then there are quantum masks
The adjustments to physics in the N. Sane Trilogy made Crash Bandicoot feel stiff and amplified the difficulty in ways that seemed unfair. In Crash Bandicoot 4, Crash’s movements are fluid and jumping no longer feels like you’re being overwhelmed by an invisible sack of potatoes. He also has all of his signature moves along with some fun and new abilities temporarily bestowed with the help of Quantum Masks. Unlike Aku Aku, quantum masks are not found in boxes. Instead, they materialize in areas where his powers can be used, transforming into a suit that Crash uses.Snow Way Out features the “Kupuna-Wa” mask that gives Crash the ability to cut time. The first time I used the power of Kupuna-Wa was after hitting a red exclamation box that activated ghost boxes within nearby red outlined areas. The red exclamation boxes are active for a brief moment and Kupuna-Wa’s ability only lasts for a few seconds. Pressing the triangle or R2 just before I pressed the switch allowed me to run and break the boxes before they quickly disappeared, but achieving that correct moment took a few tries.
This moment became even more important when I had to use the Kupuna-Wa ability to cross a giant icy chasm. The only way to do it was to cut down on time and use a pair of falling glaciers as platforms. If he activated the powers too soon or too late, the glaciers would not be at the right height to cross. If I took too long to cross, it went straight to the last checkpoint.
Another quantum mask called Lani-Loli has the power to phase objects in and out of existence. He is featured in “Dino Dash”, a level covered in tropical vegetation and poisonous flora that spits out venom and stun spores. Dinosaurs roam around, some helping Crash navigate through the level’s many deadly heights, and one in particular that poses a huge threat, but I’ll talk about that later.Crash Bandicoot can now grind the rail, and the power of Lani-Loli helped me carry it safely through a long, winding vine suspended above a tree canopy. As Crash began to slide, boxes and obstacles appeared in rapid succession. The circular button allowed me to toggle between hanging under the vine and standing on top of it, while the power of Lani-Loli allowed me to push the boxes in to break them while gradually removing the annoying obstacles that threatened to knock Crash out of his way.
With the ability to alter space and time, Quantum Masks don’t feel too overpowered or too frivolous. Unlike Aku Aku (whose presence I think has a purpose, especially in a game known for its difficulty), they grant powers that require thought and skill to use. I am interested to see you at work in Crash Bandicoot 4 in the future when I can use them to their full potential.
Space, time and alternative timelines
Dino Dash features a chase segment with a T-Rex (that threat I mentioned earlier) and requires some very nimble platforms. I went through the Nitro boxes, dodged the spoiled mushroom, slipped under the vines, and jumped on the molten lava. It’s like the chase segments of Crash games, but it’s one of those things that doesn’t go out of style. The platform using purely reflex and somehow getting out alive will always be so deeply satisfying.
Something new was introduced during this chase and it was a random event that stopped the T-Rex on its way. It was the result of an alternate timeline, giving players the opportunity to play another part of a level as a different character and see from a different perspective how a certain inexplicable event started.
A different perspective
Snow Way Out has an alternate timeline that you can play as Neo Cortex, donning the lab coat and shoes of the villain from the long series. At first I was scared of a new playable character included in the mix, not only because I wanted Toys for Bob to make sure the Crash platforms were correct, but because there is a fine line between an addictive new game idea and a throwaway trick. Fortunately, playing as Cortex comes much more first, so much so that I was initially surprised at how different it plays.
Cortex only has a single jump instead of double Crash, and instead of a spinning attack fires its polymorphic blaster at enemies. The first blast turns them into a stone platform, while a second shot reduces them to a gelatinous cube and a convenient inflatable surface. Combine this Cortex jetpack board move, and suddenly there’s almost a new but still engaging platform game thrown into the mix. The Cortex portion still required precise time and a little rig experimentation, but in a new and rewarding way. – Jonathon Dornbush
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is still in development and the demo was for a version of a game that is subject to change. That being said, what I experienced feels promising. It has all the appeal of a classic Crash game, but with what looks like significant additions and improvements. The art style could be the best Crash Bandicoot has ever seen (even better than Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled) and the difficulty feels true to the series. I’m excited to see that Toys for Bob includes two modes, but I hope you will consider some accessibility settings in later versions of Crash Bandicoot 4 as well, so it may be a game that not only attracts fans but is welcoming to everyone. .
Felicia Miranda is IGN’s SEO editor. Talk to her at @FeliciaVagabond.
