Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a 3D action-platformer game was originally released for PS4 and XBONE in 2020, while it was later released for PS5, XSX/S, Switch, and PC in 2021.
It was developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision, and it is the 8th installment in the Crash Bandicoot series and a retcon of the games that originally followed 1998's PS1 title such as Crash Bandicoot: Warped.Taking you back to my previous review of Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy that I've already covered 6 years ago which I already described it as a fantastic remastered compilation of the original PS1 trilogy that are worth owning it for the fans of the platformers genres, so if you haven't seen the rest of my review, please check it out on the link down below:
Right moving on to this review, shall we. As I previously enjoyed the remastered trilogies that I've mentioned it above, it seems that we are getting another crash bandicoot games for PCs and modern console platforms which I was looking forward to see another crash's wacky platforming action, so it took me 3 years to get a hands on with this 3D platforming title for my PS4.
This game marks a true return of the classic traditional 3D platformer, since the PS1 era which these original trilogies is what made the franchise quite recognisable, until the 6th gen era started when SCE and Naughty Dog has sold the rights of Crash Bandicoot franchises to different publishers such as Vivendi Universal and Sierra Entertainment which unfortunately their games weren't as fun compared with the previous installmant, and they handed it over to Activision in 2008 with the last game in the main series was Crash: Mind Over Mutant are kinda average, but not as bad with Vivendi and Sierra efforts.
Thankfully Activision had learnt their lesson by delivering a true title that the fans of the series been wanted for years which is why they did it right with the Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy back in 2017, and then of course this game came out in 2020, so crash is back in business for good because he is one of the coolest video game heroes of the PS1 era that was started back in mid-90s, so it is great to have him return for the new exciting title that everyone are looking forward to see a new insanely levels and adding a creative stuff.
The question is does the game went well? I will cover all the answers further on this review to see if this game still lives up a same expectations as the original trilogies.
So without go further do, let's start the review.
Presentation
The game takes place after the event of the previous threes, as it starts with these villains such as Uka Uka, Doctors Neo Cortex and Nefarious Tropy attempts to liberate themselves from their prison in the past.
Uka Uka rips open a hole in the fabric of space and time, and causes him to pass out. Cortex and N. Tropy swiftly escape, abandoning Uka Uka, as they discover that the rift links their universe to the rest of the multiverse, and decide to make use of it to conquer all dimensions.
Meanwhile at the Bandicoot homeland, Aku Aku senses a great power emanating from N. Sanity Island's central peak and urges Crash to investigate which is why he then meets a ancient Quantum Mask named Lani-Loli urging Crash and his sister Coco to stop those villains from taking over the multiverse before it's too late.
They then meets with their former enemy named Dingodile and an alternate-dimension counterpart of Crash's old girlfriend named Tawna came to aid them for adventuring.
The story is pretty straight-forward which involves Crash and his sister Coco as they learned it from Lani-Loli explains that they need to find the other three Quantum Masks across the multiverse to seal the rifts.
Quantum Masks is a four ancient witch doctor masks that have great power over space and time, and who would only appear if something has opened up the multiverse.
Those all-powers will help them to prevent Doctor Neo Cortex and Doctor Nefarious Tropy from falling into wrong hands.
I really liked the idea of having a game takes place in 10 dimensional timeline which is kinda like you could say time traveling stuff where you can travel between the time and places, so it's pretty similar to most of the TV series and films from the 80s and 90s that involves time travel and interdimensional that changes the different time periods which I got to say it's pretty the neat concept that worked well for Crash Bandicoot games like this.
You have Crash Bandicoot which I really liked him as a video game protagonist with his awesome attitude and has cool personality.
He has his sister named Coco Bandicoot, who is smart and intelligent girl really good with problem solving and her tech stuff, came to help her brother throughout the adventures.
Then you have Crash's girlfriend Tawna which she's used to have a lovely long-blonde hair and has short outfits back in PS1-days as well as in remastered version which is why it made her attractive and recognisable in Crash Bandicoot series, so instead they just purposely redesigned her original look into a tomboyish new design with different coloured hairstyle and full clothing which I fully understand she's from the alternative universe, but the truth is that she's looks kinda weird in the game with her butch looking outfits and hairstyle that doesn't quite a same match as the original design she used to be back then, which is why I really missed the original Tawna looks way so much better on remastered version of N.Sane trilogy and Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fuelled.
Lastly you have Dingodile which I got to say I really like his sense of humour and speaks with Australian accent especially he just curses his mild word in one of the level just made me rolled on the floor laughing.
I also wanted to praise numerous cast of bad guys such as Dr. Neo Cortex up to no good again, so he really nailed with his comedic craziness and insane characteristics is what I've liked about him, while N.Tropy had a great shares with his smugness and being an advanced scientist which are also quite just as memorable.
Lastly you have those bosses such as N. Gin who is the right-hand man appears to be an ugly version of Dexter from Dexter's Lavatory having the missile shoved on his brain, Louise the hideous looking purple sea monster, and that coneheaded scientist N. Brio.
The presentation of the game is just fantastic as the previous titles, as it had 10 different hub worlds with different scenery and unique settings of the locations.
Stuff like N. Sanity Island has tropical stuff like lush rain, forests, beaches, and ancient temples. The Hazardous Wastes has post-apocalypses themes filled with manmade objects and junkyard machines.
Salty Wharf set in 18th century with pirate ships and seaside.
Tranquillity Falls has vibrant of day and night tone filled with colourful trees, ghostly dragon and lion, and old-fashioned temples and houses.
Mosquito Marsh filled with musical party settings all over the places with pianos, ghostly musicians, lampshades, fireworks, jugglers, drums, and balloons.
The 11th dimension has cold environments such as icicles and snow scattered everywhere as well as big huge cavehole.
Eggipus dimension has many jungle environments such as crooked trees, leaves, plants, wild animals, and volcanoes.
Bermugla's Orbit is a space-station places filled with many alien-style techs and mechanical environments.
Lastly the Snaxx dimension has cyberpunk themes to it like flying vehicles and futuristic skyscrapers.
This is incredibly well built stage design and settings they put in the game just adds the same match as the classic Crash Bandicoot games from the PS1 era, which is why I really liked the bold and cartoony environments just appeals to me quite well.
Overall, it has great story, decent cast of characters, and fantastic presentation settings.
Gameplay
In single-player game, you'll be starting off in dimensional maps with about 43 regular levels to complete.
You take control of either Crash or Coco depending on which any of these playable characters you've selected in 3D perspective, as your main objective is to reach at the finishing goal.
You'll start with basic controls by pushing the left stick or d-pad button to move player around, then the cross button to jump while double tapping the cross button makes you perform double jump to reach the higher platforms.
There are two action buttons such as square button for primary and circle button secondary, so the primary allow player to perform spin attack, while the secondary uses for ground body slam to break objects and sliding for slide through small gaps underneath.
You will also perform 4 different mask powers by activating each of them with the triangle button.
These will allow you to use their powers to avoid obstacles and being able to cross specific areas, so stuff like Lani-Loli can able to switch various of objects, crates, and obstacles in and out of existence. Akano using his power to allow player to perform tornado spin which can be used to glide from platform to platform, break locked crates, and knock back certain coloured projectiles.
Kupuna-Wa uses a slow-mo time which makes the player easier to jump across in fast-moving platforms and avoid fast enemies.
Lastly Ika-Ika uses gravity power allowing the player to flip the direction upside-downs of gravity to walk on the ceiling to solve puzzles and avoid certain hazards.
The player can also perform various of stunt moves depending on which level you're playing on, so stuff like running on the side-walls, riding on the rails, jumping off the ropes while swinging, and jumping and bouncing on the crates in higher platforms.
You also get to play with other three playable characters such as Tawna which she has ability to use her grappling rope to attach on grappling point to reach the platform and also does wall jumping mechanics, and Dingodile uses his vacuum to suck up all crates and items, as well as shooting out attacking objects such as explosive TNT crates, and he can also float through the platforms by holding the jump button.
Lastly you also take control of Dr. Neo Cortex which uses his gun to not only attacks the enemies, but also transformed mid-air enemy into two forms such as rock form to jump on reachable platform, and bouncy form that made player to reach higher platforms.
The items can be found on the crates such as wumpa fruits, extra lives and protective Aku Aku masks which protect player from one single hit from enemy and obstacle. Collecting 100 of wumpa fruits will also gained you extra lives. There are some different types of crates such as letter C for checkpoint that lets the player resumes the level after losing life, arrow crates which makes player bounces on, and the TNT crates makes the things explodes, but the Nitro crates are quite deadly which makes instant kill to player, so be careful. You will able to earn the hidden collectable crystals which can be found somewhere hidden in the levels which unlocks player's skin, and you can also earn relic by beating the time limit from time attack mode which can be available after beating each stages.
You can also find bonus stages which can be appeared as question mark sign in each stages, so your task is to break many crates as possible to earn many wumpa fruits which also rewards you with the crystals.
So far, the game did a solid job of recapturing a traditional 3D platformer style of classic PS1's trilogy as well as adding several of creative ideas that made the game feels like a true renaissance of the Crash Bandicoot franchise.
Stuff like it had a great shares of platforming segments that I've mentioned it on above like using the special powers to being able to reach it at the end without taking damage from projectiles such as flames, lasers, dead pit, chemicals, and other hazardous stuff scattered around the levels because this really helps me to get past of these platforming aspects where I can able to land on right spot without falling off the stages which kept me playing an entire stages till I've reached at the finishing goals.
I also liked the mechanics they used to design for certain levels like running on the walls, riding on the rails, and doing wall jumping are also worked pretty well too.
I really liked the endless stages where you ride with polar bear and stuff to reach at the finishing goal while avoiding the obstacles which is amazing, but it's nowhere near close to predecessor like Crash Bandicoot: Warped which has many better segments such as motorbike stages, dogfight stages and of course Coco's jet-ski stages that really adds up a overall fun factor, but don't get me wrong because this game are also quite great to play which I am quite grateful to see stuff like this taking in the right direction.
Sometimes just like every platforming game does shares with some tedious stuff like there are some hazardous stuff and projectiles are kinda bit overdone which adds up quite frustrating for those who hates keeps dying in the game, so it takes like 10 or 15 tries to get past through the levels.
Once you get used with the levels by practicing it, the more you can able to progress through the game without making numerous of mistakes.
Then again with the floaty jump that I've previously mentioned on N.Sane Trilogy review that I've made back in 2017 can sometime lose a track of the platforming may cause you to fall down the stage, but thank god they added the round-circle which really helps me a bit to land on the right spot.
I also liked having a three new playable characters with different abilities on certain level just adds up a new platforming experience.
I also wanted to praise a boss battles such as N. Gin where you fight against him at the awesome heavy metal concert, Louise in the swamp places, N. Brio that chucks his experimental potions at you, and best of all the two counterparts N.Tropy which has two segments such as jumping on platforms using the mask power and also evading many projectiles and lasers to fight against these twos.
These are the bosses which I described it as an magnificent part of the whole game may not going to disappoint you because it's all about figuring out what their weak patterns and incoming projectiles just adds up a fun factor of the game.
The controls are much easier to learn especially the game also has an option to re-configure the control scheme which matches the people's playstyle makes it an suitable platforming experience.
I'm really glad that the game turned out pretty fantastic with numerous of replay values where you're aiming to gain 100% completion by collecting all the relics and other collectables to unlock stuff just keeps you busy with the game itself is what made the platforming title so great to play.
Overall, it has creative special powers, solid gameplay mechanics, and great platforming segments.
Graphics
The visuals is looking spectacular for both 8th and 9th gen era. The environmental design are looking quite bold and detailed throughout the stages, as you can see stuff like Salty Wharf has the great use of particle effects such as misty and fog scattered around the sands, Tranquillity falls has the large scales of rivers and trees on the foreground areas, and Mosquito Marsh has the 3D-style parallax scrolling in background layouts which is well constructed stage design they just about got everything done right.
I also liked the playable character's death animation where you get to see them getting zapped by lasers, squashed by heavy objects, faints after taking hits, turned into angel or demon, and of course comedic fall over just adds the game's overall comedy.
It is the most obvious to say the PS5, XSX/S, and PC did deliver a better use of frame rate running on 60fps and has better overall image quality in 4k resolution, but when it comes with 8th gen console like PS4, XBONE, and Switch are actually something else, but it didn't hurt the game's experience.
I am using the base PS4 console which ran on between 30fps and above with 1080p resolution where as the base XBONE console ran on same frame rate but ran on 900p resolution are much lower compared with base PS4 console, as these two base system model that I've mentioned above are opposed to 4k console models like PS4 Pro and XBONE X runs on 60 fps with 1080p resolution with no issues whatsoever.
The switch however locked on 30fps with 1080p resolution in docked mode, and 30fps with 720p resolution on handheld mode are kinda low compared with other console platforms that I've mentioned above before, but it doesn't look so terrible on the portable system once you get used to playing the game on the Nintendo's portable device.
Overall, it has well-constructed stage design, comedic character's animations, and spectacular use of visual environments and effects.
Music and Sounds
The soundtrack are clearly deserves the same charm as the classic PS1's trilogy retaining a same style of music which was composed by Walter Mair, who has previously worked on Guerrilla Games's Killzone: Mercenary, Creative Assembly's Total War Battles: Kingdom, and Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction, did a amazing job of creating a great original music throughout the game.
The sound effects are just as excellent as the previous titles with cartoony style sound design, atmospheric background noises for each stages, and of course the voice cast also did a stunning job on their character's voice role for delivering a numerous of humours.
Overall, it has amazing soundtrack, excellent sound effects, and stunning voice role.
Special Features
This game also features some replay values such as revisiting same levels for collecting more relics in time attack mode, as well as collecting crystals to unlock various of skins. It has 3 playable characters and has extra 21 secret levels to unlock by collecting many flashback types items.
Overall, an splendid features.
Advantages
Fantastic presentation settings
Creative special powers
Solid gameplay mechanics
Great platforming segments
3 new playable characters with different abilities
Magnificent boss battles
Spectacular visual environments and effects
Amazing soundtrack
Disadvantages
Overdone hazardous parts
Twana's new design nowhere near good as the original counterpart
Final Verdict
Presentation 8/10 - great story, decent cast of characters, and fantastic presentation settings
Gameplay 8.5/10 - creative special powers, solid gameplay mechanics, and great platforming segments
Graphics 9/10 - well-constructed stage design, comedic character's animations, and spectacular use of visual environments and effects
Music and Sounds 8.5/10 - amazing soundtrack, excellent sound effects, and stunning voice role
Special Features 8/10 - has numerous of collectables and unlockable secret levels.
Overall 8.5/10 - As much I loved the N.Sane Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is quite a step in the right direction which I definitely approved the uniqueness of platforming style like you have these cool power-ups to perform special powers, wacky single-player platforming action, has 3 playable characters to play, and of course entertaining boss fights is what made the game a triumph comeback of the beloved classic franchise.
The price of the physical copy cost around £20 and over, while it's included a free upgradable for both PS5 and XSX/S if one of you had own the PS4 or XBONE copy.
The digital release for Steam cost £35 which is great price purchase for PC owners, while other platforms like Nintendo eShop, Xbox Store, and PS Store are cost between £45 and £60 which the console owners are better sticking with physical copy as an cheaper alternative to digital storefront or if one of you prefer the digital copy should better off wait for the sale goes down.
That being said, this is definite a must play for the platforming fanatic, as well as the fans of the original franchise will be feel appreciated with the follow-up title just feels like a great throwback to the classic PS1's trilogy we know from the mid-90s.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Skip it
Rent it
Buy it
If you like my recent blog, please hit like and comment below for further questions.
This is Zeeshan Mirza's Blog and I'll see you next time, happy blogging everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment