I finally had the chance to try out the Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About TIme demo last night, and as a longtime Crash fan, I feel confident in saying that this is the Crash Bandicoot game that longtime fans have been waiting for. This is the true Crash 4, not counting the many spin-offs of varied quality, that follows the traditions of the PS1 classics while also bringing exciting new features to the table that feel at home in Crash Bandicoot.
Since it’s made by Toys for Bob, everything feels perfectly in-line with the controls and tone of the N. Sane Trilogy. The goofy enemies, colorful environments, and goofy death animations feel like a direct continuation of the classic Crash tone, while the new time and space-bending features add a refreshing new layer of depth to each stage. There’s even a classic forward-facing stage segment that has Crash running from a T-Rex, which is a fun throwback.
“I’m confident that Crash 4: It’s About Time is the Crash game I’ve wanted since the start of the PS2 era […]“
One thing that I’m really glad to see is some fiercely difficult segments in each stage. This is because two stages in the demo are ice stages, and ice physics are often challenging, but it feels straight out of Crash 2 at times. Rather than give you a specific number of lives, the demo counts your deaths and places the number beneath your main character icon. It’s a great feature that makes it feel like the game is challenging you to die less, while never punishing you for trying again and again. The bonus stages seem especially hard, as they require quick thinking and tight timing to get all the boxes.
A new feature that feels right at home is the ability to play as Dr. Neo Cortex, Crash’s greatest foe. Cortex has an entirely different playstyle to Crash, as he can only jump once but can shoot projectiles from his gun and dash using his large head. His coolest ability is to transform enemies into ice or bouncy platforms using his gun, which allows for higher jumps. This feels like a feature from Crash Warped, as it radically changes gameplay while still feeling like a proper Crash game.
I’m confident that Crash 4: It’s About Time is the Crash game I’ve wanted since the start of the PS2 era, as the demo has shown me that Toys for Bob and Activision are giving their all to capture the original feeling of Crash Bandicoot. I’m excited for the full game to release, as it could signal the start of a new and awesome era for everyone’s favorite marsupial.
