Random Video Game Review - Crash 4: It's About Time

 

So many games in, and we finally get the long awaited fourth main entry game. Or rather, a retcon of games that came after Warped. Unlike most fans, I'm not as big on Crash Bandicoot as many of you other fans. I've mainly played the more recent games, which include the remake of the original trilogy and Crash Team Racing. All very good games, and I do honestly understand the nostalgia that many of you will have had from playing the games. But here we are with the game that retcons all main entry games that came after Warped, which seems to be a common thing with most games and film franchises these days. An attempt to continue a franchise and retcon things that are usually considered inferior to the original series. So let's see if this is a good retcon or just some attempt at a cash grab:

The story sees Crash and his sister Coco (voiced this time by Eden Riegel) go on an adventure to stop their enemies from taking over the multiverse, with a few unlikely allies and old friends along the way. Much like the other games, this is a platform game which has levels, worlds (or dimensions in this game's case) and the like. Each level plays out linearly, and you get to choose the play style rather than difficulty, which I'd say is a nice touch. While played from a third-person perspective, like before, Crash and Coco can move towards the camera and have side-scrolling sections. All the usual things they are able to do, are all present, including spinning, jumping and so forth. Crates and Wumpa fruit are back and serve the same purpose as before. Aku Aku (reprised by Greg Eagles) is also back, and he too serves the same purpose as before of giving the characters limited invincibility while also playing a part in the plot too. Bonus areas are also back, again serving the same purpose as before. New to the series is Quantum Masks which can be used to help with different sections of the level, but materialize in places where they are needed, unlike Aku Aku. Along the way, you will also be able to control other characters, but like the Quantum Masks, only in certain sections of a level. At the end of the level, you are awarded gems if certain conditions are met, with one such one being finding a secret gem in the level. Time trails are back and of course, every dimension will have a boss level. There are even secret levels that are set before the first game, too. And yes, multiplayer is a thing here too.

This game is good. It's a good continuation of the Crash formula with some refinements here and there, and it looks very well-made. A shame that the creators are not the ones that made the original trilogy (licensing was a big deal for the games back then), but Activison did it justice and it's a lot of fun. Difficult as expected though for those wanting to go down the completionist route, but pretty good all the same. 9/10