Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time Game Review + Gameplay

on January 23, 2021

Crash Bandicoot.

The name that makes me smile ear to ear but also fills me with fear (wasn't supposed to rhyme but let's go with it)

I played Crash Bandicoot ever since I was little. The original Crash was released the year I was born so I guess you could say it was meant to be. I only ever completed the first Crash game once and it wasn't 100% it was so difficult! You couldn't save your game unless you completed a level without dying and that is such a difficult challenge. I played part of Crash 2 and that was pretty much the same. This put me off getting any Crash game from then on because I come from a poor family, and I could only get one game every 6 months; so I had to be very selective with my choices and the Crash games were just too hard, so it put me off wanting to get them because of this, so I skipped Crash 3. The next Crash game I played was Wrath of Cortex and this quickly became my favourite Crash game! one I could actually complete 100% and enjoy! I then didn't play any Crash games up until N.Sane trilogy which was released 4 years ago now.

I had no clue that one day we would receive Crash 4. The follow on from Crash 3, an actual story to follow! Wrath of Cortex was good, and that will always be my childhood, but this was something. When it first got announced I was scared that they were trying to wipe every Crash game after Crash 3 from the story, which kind of hurt because I loved Wrath of Cortex. I can understand why though, it was never explained in Wrath of Cortex how Cortex, N.Tropy and Uka Uka got out from being trapped back in time. This is now fully explained in Crash 4. I recently finished playing Crash Bandicoot 4 on my YouTube channel so if you're interested in seeing my first impressions of each level and watching me play every level from start to finish then check it out here. Anyway, let's get onto the actual review before I write paragraphs and paragraphs about what I love about Crash Bandicoot.

The Story

I suppose I should start by saying that this game is a sequel to the original trilogy... or N.Sane Trilogy I guess I should say. Most of the characters make an appearance from the trilogy, apart from a few like Ripper Roo and Tiny Tiger. It picks up where Warped left off, N.Tropy, Cortex and Uka Uka have been trapped for 22 years as we banished them to the past. Uka Uka manages to muster up a lot of power and breaks free from this prison that crash and the gang put them in all those years ago. It doesn't state much but after this; Cortex and N.topy become partners to take over the multiverse and have power over the different dimensions. The story itself pretty much stops there with an odd twist near the middle (I'll explain this in a bit). It has a map system similar to Crash 1, Crash goes from level to level on each island, collecting boxes and gems along the way.

There are two modes to play on 'Modern Mode' and 'Retro mode'. The Retro route is the Crash platforming you'll know from before. Collecting Wumpa fruit to gain lives and once you run out you have a classic game over screen and have to start the level from the very beginning. Safe to say, I didn't play retro mode! I played modern which takes that challenge away. Instead of counting your lives in modern mode, it counts your deaths which can be an irritation at times when your dying over and over again and you're watching the number go up but at the same time it saved me from having to start the level all over again, I went back to my last checkpoint every time and having played the role of this game now I wouldn't have done it any other way.

Crash/Coco

Crash's controls are similar to that of his past games with some additions made. Coco as well, who you can swap to play as just as N.Sane trilogy did. Crash can double jump, skid, crouch, belly flop and spin just like he could before in the N.Sane Trilogy. Another thing they added to Crash's controls is a yellow circle that appears under Crash when he's in the air. I loved this addition and it's helped me many times, I know some people online didn't like this addition as they think it made it 'too easy' but I disagree. I think it's great to see exactly where you're going to land, admittedly this wasn't in N.Sane but there are jumps in this game where you need this circle especially when controlling Akano. On the other hand, for those who feel it is too easy with the circle and want the element of challenge that comes with guessing where you're going to land, you can always turn it off in your game options settings.

We had a few additional moves added with the new masks that come along the way... I'll cover them more when covering the masks on their own. There are 4 new quantum masks that all have their own powers such as time control, gravity control, deadly tornado spins and dimension phasing. The hardest of the masks to control (for me) was the gravity control, I always ended up forgetting to change it or trying to flip twice mid-air which can't be done. Thankfully, this is the last one you unlock.

Lani Loli

The first mask (and first new character) you unlock is Lani Loli. You unlock them in the 2nd level on the first Island. Lani Loli is blue in colour and has a tribal look, he's the funniest in personality out of the 4 quantum masks. Lani Loli can phase dimensions, they can phases things in and out of existence, whether this be enemies, boxes or platforms. It can be a challenge to control when you have to switch dimension mid-air quickly else you die but all in all, it's a nice addition. TNT and Nitro can be phased too which helps when it comes to Nitro being on your path.

Akano

Akano is the second mask you unlock in the game. You unlock Akano at the end of the salty wharf dimension. Akano has a deadly spin, indefinitely. This is the closest Crash will get to flying (without a plane). This is similar to the triple spin that is in Crash Warped but handles a whole lot better. Crash can glide across large gaps that he would've never made otherwise, he can also glide across nitro which Crash can't land on. Akano can also smash through metal crates with one spin Crash would normally have to belly bounce on these. Akano is purple and has a rock type look, he's the quietest of the group only having a few lines throughout the whole game. One thing you do have to watch with Akano is they can't touch TNT or Nitro at all, they can glide above them but not touch them.

Kapuna Wa

The third mask you unlock in the game is Kapuna Wa, they're located in the Mosquito Marsh Dimension. They allow you to slow down time for a few seconds. This helps when machinery or ice caps are moving too quick for Crash to jump on normally. They're also a massive help in the first Cortex boss fight! Kapuna is the eldest of the masks and even has a grandma vibe. She has hourglasses and time stamps on her to symbolise her ability to slow down time. They can even touch Nitro!! If you land on Nitro with Kapuna activated then you have a few seconds to move before it blows up! Much better than the tiptoe that was included in Wrath of Cortex.

Ika Ika

Ika Ika is the very last mask you unlock, they are at the end of the Eggipus Dimension. They are also blue like Lani Loli but have a different design. When flipped you can speak and see Gus who is the 'downer' this is because Ika's ability allows you to flip gravity. This was the most difficult mask to master in my opinion. Ika Ika can't touch Nitro like Kapuna Wa can.

Crash's new controls go far beyond needing a new mask with you. They also included rope swings, rail grinds and wall running. Which I don't believe any of these have been in a Crash game so far. Timing is still key with most of them, as sometimes you can jump too soon and miss the wall or the rope. These controls are in many other games though which is why it makes sense for them to be in Crash especially as this game is being released in 2020, not the '90s or early 2000's anymore.

Crash's design is pretty much the same as it's always been. He's a dopey boy but he's still endearing with it though. I do prefer his N.Sane design just because of the fur effect, I love the fur to look real. That's not something I would judge this game for though, Crash's design is perfect for this game and the level designs they have. He has his classic brown leather gloves, blue jeans and red trainers on and the little tuft of hair at the top of his head has a slight red tinge to it to match his trainers.

Coco has a similar design to Crash except she has her dungarees on and her hair tied back into a ponytail. I actually prefer this design on Coco than I do the N.Sane. She looks older (teen) and more level-headed than the N.Sane version. She has her classic blonde hair with a swooping fringe that goes off to the left. She also has blue jean dungarees on with a plain white t-shirt underneath. She's wearing pink trainers with a pink heart patch on her dungarees, pink bracelet and a pink belt to match. She is never caught without her laptop, ever since Crash 2 so of course she's carrying her classic pink laptop with her.

Additional Characters

Another thing which was added was the addition of 3 other characters. Tawna ... well alternate dimension Tawna, Dingodile and Cortex himself. Each has a separate skill set and their levels are very different but I'll go into more detail underneath each character.

Tawna

This is Tawna, but it's not the Tawna you might be thinking of. This is Tawna from a different dimension, she's the heroine of her own kind, not the damsel in distress that we're used to. Tawna comes with her own grappling hook that can attack enemies from a further distance, this came in handy in the later levels more than the first few. It also helps at getting boxes from a distance that you would never be able to reach otherwise. Tawna also has a kick ability. Not sure what to call it but it looks like she's trying to trip enemies up or kick then in the face. I used this a few times but mainly relied on the good old grapple hook. Tawna can also double jump which comes in handy when jumping to higher places or from box to box. Tawna is the first character you unlock in the game to play and she is located in the Salty Wharf dimension.

Dingodile

Dingodile comes with his own hoover? I think it's a hoover anyway. It can suck up the boxes and the Wumpa from a short distance and can also blow TNT away from you. This came in handy later on when you needed to blow the TNT into a barrier that you can't pass or a set of boxes that you cannot reach. Dingodile can't double hump but his hoover can act like a hoverboard for a certain amount of time. this can help Dingo get from platform to platform without needing a double jump. Dingodiles controls are very sluggish, but that's part of the character that he is so it fits well. Dingodile is the second character you unlock in the game, he is in the Mosquito Marsh Dimension and he has his own storyline, he is wrapped up in Crash's world when a rift appears at his own diner, he's then trying to get home throughout the game.

Neo Cortex

I kind of want a Cortex game that is a prequel? why did he become evil? has he always been evil? Cortex can't double jump which made certain things a challenge. His set of skills and his ray gun were the hardest for me to master, there have been plenty of times (see the playthrough) where I've tried to shoot but accidentally head dashed. I kept getting his controls mixed up.

Cortex has a head dash move (which I kept forgetting about) in which Cortex does a normal jump and then at the click of a button dashes across the screen to a totally different place. He can only head dash for so long so you have to be careful where you use this feature. He also has a ray gun which can shoot enemies and turn them into solid platforms that you can stand on or into jelly that you can bounce on. The ray gun has no aim attached to it so it's pretty much guesswork when it comes to shooting.

The twist in the story that I mentioned earlier comes when you cross paths with Cortex. He is in the 11th Dimension and he's the main boss battle at the end. Throughout the game, in cutscenes, it shows you that Cortex isn't happy with how things are going or that he's fighting Crash again. Once you beat him in his boss fight, N.Tropy appears via hologram and announces that he doesn't need Cortex anymore and he's going to wipe everyone from existence (including Cortex) so he can start again and become a god. Cortex obviously doesn't like this so he agrees to stop fighting with Crash and join him to stop N.Tropy!

Some levels have these characters attached to them, even though they are the same level for Crash's part they are revamped in a more challenging way; whether this is the box locations or the jumps being larger. The level is the same but it's not like playing the same level either. These levels happen the same time as Crash's (time travel here don't forget) and even though you've already beaten them they have an entirely different feel. The characters play their own part for the first half of the level and then join back up with Crash for the second half. You then switch back to Crash (or Coco depending on who you're playing as) and play the remainder of that level again. Even though it's the same level with the same design, it still feels different as the boxes are placed differently and there are more TNT and Nitro involved.

Polar & Shnurgle

The ride levels make a comeback. Starting in Crash 2 with Polar there are certain levels that you can ride an animal in. polar is back in this game and he's his usual cute fuzzy polar bear self. He appears in Bears Repeating and Building Bridges where you have to chase Cortex down a ski slope in both of those levels.

Shnurgle is a new addition. They are an alien-looking ride character, I'm not sure what animal they're supposed to be but they look like a dinosaur-bird that can't fly, welcome to my Crash Bandicoot 4 review everyone... Anyway, these characters control exactly the same way and oh my gosh, are they frustrating. The controls are off. They're way to floaty in the air and sometimes when boxes are stacked up in piles of 4 they only hit 2 of them! What makes it worse is these characters don't turn around. If you miss a box you have to die and start from the last checkpoint all over again. So! So! glad I didn't play retro mode!!

Levels

The levels themselves all have a certain objective to collect gems. You

have to find a certain percentage of Wumpa for 3 of the gems, breaking all the of the crates for another gem, finding a hidden gem somewhere in the level and completing the level without dying 3 or more times for another sixth gem. There are six gems to collect in each level. The box gems get increasingly difficult as the game progress' by putting boxes off-screen and some requiring perfect jumps and skid jumps in order to reach them. The hidden gems are also very difficult with some being completely off-screen and out of the way. Why collect the gems? you might ask. Gems unlock skins and are also needed for 100% completion. You have 6 gems to collect in each level and then a further 6 for the N.Verted version of these levels.

These levels are beautiful. I really didn't expect this much detail in the levels. The backgrounds are so gorgeous, especially in the Japanese zen garden island. The trees and the statues in the background are just remarkable. Toys for bob also developed the Reignited Trilogy and that game was done really well graphic wise but for some reason, I didn't expect the same for Crash. I think because Crash has always been more linear than Spyro I didn't expect as much detail to be put in. They really have made a beautiful game! The levels all have their own individual soundtracks which fit the time period you're in, for example, the pirate levels have their own sound and it's a different sound to the prehistoric levels. Each soundtrack fits perfectly in my opinion.

They added in 2 new types of boxes (to me anyway I've only played original, WOC and N.Sane don't forget), one is the fire crates where the crates set on fire and you have to wait for them to cool down before spinning them. I died to these a few times because I go in spinning my arse off and then bam! burnt to death. I like this addition because it teaches you to take the level more slowly and to observe your surroundings more. These were added from the second island onward and are pretty much all throughout the game. The other new box they added was a silver time box. These boxes look like silver metal crates but they have a red exclamation mark on and when spun they bring in other boxes around that area that you have to spin within a certain amount of time. This can be done however many times you wish so you don't have to get the boxes all in one go.

The other thing added within the levels is the enemies, even though some of the enemies are missing such as Ripper Roo and Tiny Tiger; there are some new enemies added. The very first Island had tribesmen as the main enemy, we then moved onto sand sharks for the second Island and so on and so forth for each Island to come. The very last Island really ramped up the enemies with the spike shielding rats and the electric crickets. Crash's new moves are no match though, as some of these enemies became easy to defeat with the quantum masks powers.

The last level (Cortex Castle) throws everything at you all at once where you find yourself swapping masks and abilities mid-air to have to use them a second later. To make matters worse this level is then repeated but from Cortex's point of view in Seeing double. Thank goodness Crash Landed didn't have a second level with another character. This game is hard. It's the most difficult Crash game I've ever played. Whether that be for box locations, enemies, hidden gems or just traditional platforming, there were many times when I got very miffed off. Check out my video on 'Thar he Blows' or 'Crash Landed' to see just a fraction of the frustration this game entails. Crash Landed I actually quit, I didn't complete it because of how mad I was!

Time trials

Time trials make a return. Let's be honest it's not a Crash game without some form of time trials, right? The regular Sapphire, Gold and platinum relics return with platinum being the hardest to collect. Each level has it's own time to beat for each relic, you have to run through each level avoiding enemies and collecting time boxes (which freezes your time for a certain amount of seconds) until you reach the end. If you die in the level you have to start right back at the beginning. If you get the platinum relic straight away (well done) you don't have to collect Sapphire or Gold as these are automatically given. There are also Dev Time Trials apparently but I haven't dabbled with time trials yet so I'm not 100% sure.

Flashback tapes

Flashback tapes are something else they have added to the game. Now admittedly at the time of writing this, I have only completed one, as I'm saving the rest for my YouTube let's play (HERE). From what I can tell these are going to be skill-based tests from when Cortex was training Crash in the 90's before Crash 1. Hence the name flashback tape, they look like an old-school VHS tape too. I can't speak much on these as I haven't completed them all but that's what I can tell so far.

N.Verted

N.Verted mode is another thing added in the game. N.Verted is only unlocked after beating Dr. N.Brio in his boss battle. This is Crash 4's mirror mode in effect. It also adds a lot of filters on top to make the levels look much more weird and challenging than just the regular level. Instead of Wumpa fruit, you're collecting Bumpa berries which is N.Brio's version of Wumpa Fruit. This fascinates me in a way because even though these levels I've played through already, it still adds a different spin to it and it feels like a new level, even though it's not if that makes sense?

Easter Eggs

Before you get my final thoughts here are some easter eggs that I noticed that are placed throughout the game.

The first level 'Rude Awakening' has Crunch's name from Wrath of Cortex written in magnets along the fridge door.
Original/N.Sane Tawna can be seen in 'Rude Awakening' 's bonus stage on a pillow near the end
A Spyro floatie can be seen in the sea in the first level 'Rude Awakening' possible Spyro game up and coming for 2021 or 2022?
Off beat has a lot of easter eggs by using the balloons in the background, the ones I noted are Spyro (also hinting at another Spyro game coming), Pura (from Warped) on a CTR kart and Fake Crash!
In Run it Bayou Fake Crash can be seen dancing on one of the platforms as you're riding your jetski down the waterfall.
Lo-Lo the wind elemental from Crash Wrath of Cortex can be seen in the Blast to the Past bonus stage

Final Thoughts

There are a few things missing in this game, these are my personal opinions and maybe not everyone will agree. First thing I noticed once the credits were rolling is there are no water levels? now don't get me wrong I'm not complaining! but I was kind of expecting a water level, with Crash in his little submarine or scuba suit. Another thing is there is no mention of Uka again during a regular playthrough, is he actually dead or what? I wish they would mention him again somewhere along the line, or not just brush over his death so quickly if he is dead. Also, I wish the old bosses were more involved. Apparently, Ripper Roo was supposed to be a mini-boss in the Mosquito Marsh dimension but they cut it out? why? I have no idea but I wish they would've kept it in. I'd have also have loved to see Tiny Tiger make an appearance too.

Also, the N.Tropy boss fight was mediocre at best. Admittedly I did die, but I was dying to the platforms more than N.Tropy. When you first enter the boss, Tawna is getting her butt beat and Crash, Coco, Dingo and Cortex all rush in to help. You then make your way over to where N.Tropy is, using Crash/Coco and only 3 of the masks (Lani Loli isn't even involved) run away from a few lasers and that's it! 2 hits!! Apparently, a lot was cut from this boss battle which is a shame because of how it's turned out now. Whilst you're 'fighting' the two N.Tropy's - Tawna, Cortex, Dingo and Lani Loli are just left watching? none of them are involved in the boss fight at all, it makes no sense to me, but hey ho that's how the game is.

Crash 4 is now my favourite Crash Bandicoot game. It fits in with the storyline to the first 3 which I loved! It also gives a fresh lick of paint to the gameplay and game design. From new characters to play to new abilities to N.verted mode, Crash 4 is the best! We now have an answer as to how Cortex and N.Tropy escaped from being sent back in time. Who knows the Wrath of Cortex story could fit after It's about time. Cortex got so mad that you destroyed him 5 times that he creates a bandicoot to beat you at your own game ... Crunch. Crunch did get a little nod as his name is spelt out on the fridge in the very first level. Who knows what the future holds for Crash? more remakes of the original games as they fit into the storyline or brand new adventures! I'm down for either! who knows they might be working on Crash 5 as we speak/read ... woah!

Thank you for reading my Crash Bandicoot 4 review! This is the first full game review I've done! If you want to see me play Crash Bandicoot 4 and another Crash games (CTR, Crash WOC, Crash N.Sane) then check out my YouTube channel! Make sure you're subscribed so you know when I post new videos! I have full let's plays on each of these games and I'm now going for 100% completion on this game! So if you want to check that out here's the playlist!