Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
- October 18, 2022
- Hardsuit Labs
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on PS StoreCrash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time is now on Steam, following Crash and Coco on a time-shattering adventure to save the multiverse from Neo Cortex and N. Tropy. With new abilities, playable characters, alternate dimensions, and epic bosses, this game promises an action-packed experience with the same classic charm. Get ready to bend the rules of reality and restore order to the universe.
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Reviews
- The game captures the essence of the original trilogy while introducing fresh mechanics and beautiful graphics.
- The level design is creative and varied, providing a fun and engaging platforming experience.
- The addition of new playable characters and the quantum masks adds depth and variety to the gameplay.
- The game is excessively difficult, especially for completionists, with hidden boxes and gems that are frustratingly placed.
- N. Verted levels feel like unnecessary padding, requiring players to replay levels with minimal changes.
- The controls can feel floaty and imprecise at times, leading to cheap deaths and frustrating gameplay.
- gameplay578 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Crash Bandicoot 4" is a blend of nostalgia and modern mechanics, featuring fluid controls and the introduction of new elements like quantum masks that enhance platforming variety. While many players appreciate the creative level design and challenging gameplay, some criticize the difficulty spikes, tedious completion requirements, and occasional clunky mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, it offers a rewarding yet demanding platforming journey that appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers.
“Taking it as a linear platforming journey from start to finish, it's an exciting and engaging journey with unique mechanics, beautiful worlds, and a solid difficulty curve.”
“The addition of new mechanics, such as quantum masks, adds variety to the gameplay, offering players new ways to interact with the environment.”
“The core gameplay is really fun, the controls for Crash are well-tuned, and most of the gameplay additions for this game are well implemented; whereas compared to, say, Crash Bandicoot 3 where it felt like they did all they could with the formula at hand, so they introduced new vehicle sections instead to vary gameplay, Crash 4 actually expands on the core platforming by introducing new mechanics, such as the masks, and by giving new characters to play that introduced new spins on Crash's platforming formula.”
“As a result, the level design from a gameplay perspective comes across as bland and predictable.”
“I cannot believe the developers of this game - who are clearly very capable of creating intricate levels with varied mechanics and incredibly tight controls - somehow signed off on a few little things that make getting 100% completion a tedious, frustrating mess.”
“The gameplay feels scuffed and not very fun compared to the older generation of Crash Bandicoot games.”
- story312 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as lighthearted and fun, fitting well within the Crash Bandicoot universe, with nostalgic elements and engaging cutscenes that enhance character development. While some players appreciate the humor and charm, others find the plot simplistic and occasionally inconsistent, with a mix of old and new characters that may not always serve a clear purpose. Overall, the narrative is seen as enjoyable for casual play, though it may not meet the expectations of those seeking a deeper or more complex storyline.
“The story is lighthearted and fun, fitting perfectly within the Crash Bandicoot universe.”
“The story is pretty damn good and brings back not all but some of the best characters from the past, the whole broken dimension storyline gives the creators a chance to make Crash go through all these different scenarios which offer many different obstacles.”
“The core game, the story mode is just fantastic, I loved everything about it – the visuals, the sound, the level design, the cutscenes.”
“The story is probably the worst part about the game as I only played Crash Bandicoot as a kid and do not remember it.”
“It's even more saddening cause I'm glad the voice actors can nail a script or a line or two but here the story is such a mess especially when you realize secret endings are locked behind the completion run is just pure insult.”
“The story also has some inconsistencies and there are many parts in cutscenes that feel rushed with interactions kinda just happening with no build up or exposition.”
- graphics288 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and fluid animations, effectively blending cartoonish charm with modern design elements. Many players appreciate the unique level designs and attention to detail, likening the experience to playing a Pixar movie. However, some critiques highlight that the overly busy art style can occasionally hinder gameplay clarity, making it difficult to navigate certain environments.
“The animation is fluid, and the art style perfectly balances cartoonish humor with modern graphics, making the game visually appealing to both new players and long-time fans.”
“Graphically the game is stunning, all the character designs are nailed, everyone looks the part and the environments you traverse are just as beautiful; it's intensive on the GPU for sure but it still runs great.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the movements are fluid, and the mechanics are improved over the previous games.”
“All they had to do was make a Crash game with better graphics... why are they trying to punish us?”
“The fact that I paid 39.99€ for this game, I am disappointed that the game developers failed to capture the essence of what a Crash Bandicoot game is all about; the art style and characters are so off compared to the original series on the PlayStation.”
“I do not like this game and I will never will until Activision understands that game art style cannot be sacrificed and needs to be preserved when developing new games in the series; this is like a pathetic redesign of Crash Bandicoot and I do not enjoy it at all.”
- music126 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its vibrant, dynamic soundtrack that features unique themes for each level and nostalgic callbacks to the original trilogy, while others find it lackluster and forgettable compared to its predecessors. Many players appreciate the effort put into the sound design, noting that it enhances the gameplay experience, but some criticize it for lacking memorable melodies and thematic depth. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it does not consistently meet the high standards set by earlier entries in the series.
“The music, the visual style, the effort put into the animations; they went to great lengths to emulate the feel of the original trilogy and pay extensive homage to it.”
“The soundtrack is fantastic, still feeling like the Crash games of yore while being their own thing.”
“The sound and music are wonderful, especially with how some levels incorporated changing music as you progressed.”
“The soundtrack seems like a massive afterthought - it's completely forgettable.”
“The biggest downgrade this game has is the music.”
“It is the weakest soundtrack in the series with very generic sounding tracks that don't really leave a mark.”
- grinding120 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, particularly when attempting to achieve 100% completion. Players often find themselves repeatedly replaying levels to locate hidden boxes, with many expressing that the design choices, such as rail grinding sections, contribute to an unnecessarily inflated difficulty and a lack of enjoyment. Overall, the grind is seen as a chore rather than a rewarding challenge, detracting from the overall experience.
“I cannot believe the developers of this game - who are clearly very capable of creating intricate levels with varied mechanics and incredibly tight controls - somehow signed off on a few little things that makes getting 100% completion a tedious, frustrating mess.”
“This game is one of the most grindy things to 100%. The collectibles require a lot of repetition and flawless runs that will test your patience and skill to the max.”
“Absolutely grindy, repetitive, tedious and sometimes even unfair if you want to go for 100% (or even 106%).”
- humor70 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending slapstick moments and clever nods to previous titles, which delights both new and long-time fans. While some players find certain design choices frustrating rather than funny, the overall tone remains light-hearted and silly, with amusing cutscenes and character interactions that evoke nostalgia. The game successfully balances challenging gameplay with a whimsical atmosphere, making it an enjoyable experience filled with laughter.
“That aside, it's a beautiful, funny platformer that lives up to the originals; a much better sequel than Wrath of Cortex ever hoped to be (I kinda miss Crunch though :c).”
“The writers clearly put a lot of effort into filling this game with humor - point being it makes us laugh for different reasons.”
“The storyline and the characters are very, very funny, just like the first three games.”
“The game has a good premise, but the humor falls flat.”
“I found the jokes to be forced and not very clever.”
“While the gameplay is enjoyable, the humor just doesn't land.”
- character development36 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant and expressive character designs that enhance the overall visual experience. While some players appreciate the updated, cartoonish style and the addition of new characters, others feel that the designs stray too far from the original aesthetic, leading to a less genuine connection to the characters. Overall, the character designs are noted for their animation and expressiveness, but opinions vary on their alignment with the series' legacy.
“Overall, I'd say the only thing this game really has going for it is the impressive visuals, cutscenes, and interesting character development.”
“The new masks/characters add a different flavor when it comes to platforming which was needed, the art and character design are the best they've ever been, and most of the levels are true to the original games being challenging, but not exceedingly hard (with some exceptions).”
“At a minimum, the new character designs are definitely far more animated and expressive, which is a big plus.”
“I do not like the character design overall; Crash looks too bright compared to the older character designs in the series.”
“Character design is mostly the same with a more cartoonish tone. I personally don't mind; Crash was always a kids' game despite what 30-year-old boomers think, but I am not a fan of Cortex's design.”
“I don't even like the character designs.”
- replayability34 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its meticulous level design, multiple paths, and the introduction of new playable characters, each with unique playstyles. While some players appreciate the added challenges and hidden gems, others feel that certain design choices may have trivialized the experience. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay, vibrant settings, and various challenges makes it one of the most replayable entries in the series.
“The level design is meticulous, with multiple paths, hidden gems, and time trials that encourage replayability.”
“The levels being memorable, well designed, and fun to explore also adds to the replayability.”
“Controls are tight, level design is top notch, and the replayability is the best in the series, no doubt.”
“Forced replay value for anyone not following a guide.”
“What seemed like fun additions back then, retroactively ruined replayability, a big component of the series, by trivializing levels designed around only the base movement abilities.”
“Verted levels feel like too much, but add up to the general replayability so it's something to appreciate from the developers (unless you're too frustrated by playing them while getting the 100%).”
- optimization30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed feedback; while many players report smooth performance and impressive optimization, some experience clunky movement and performance hitches in specific levels. The game is generally well-optimized for platforms like the Steam Deck, but there are inconsistencies that can affect gameplay enjoyment. Despite some graphical issues, the majority find the performance satisfactory, with no major crashes reported.
“I had no crashes or performance issues.”
“The game looks beautiful and is perfectly optimized.”
“Smooth game, very difficult and satisfying levels, the art style is so beautiful, the gameplay is so smooth, very well optimized performance.”
“The remastered trilogy was good, but it had the excuse of being made 10+ years ago. This was made not long ago by people in China that do not understand what makes a platforming game fun to play. The movement is clunky, the game hitches at weird times (probably because it's a terrible port or maybe DRM, or maybe it's just not optimized, hard to say). The music is forgettable, the characters are not at all memorable and are lacking in the personality they had in the other games.”
“There seems to be a lack of optimization in some levels (Stage Dive and Off Beat, to name a few), where my PC goes full-on even though it's kind of high-end for this game.”
“The game hitches at weird times (probably because it's a terrible port or maybe DRM, or maybe it's just not optimized, hard to say).”
- stability24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting numerous glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as clipping issues and unresponsive elements. However, some users have noted that the game runs smoothly on platforms like the Steam Deck, indicating that performance can vary significantly depending on the system. Overall, while the game offers a visually stunning experience, it could benefit from additional polish to address its stability issues.
“Played the whole game on Steam Deck, no bugs or any other problem, runs great.”
“I am buying and playing this for the third time because it is a great game and because it also runs great on Deck now that it's finally on Steam.”
“Runs great on Steam Deck, I've had no issues and didn't do anything special to get it to run.”
“The game is a bit buggy though found numerous amounts of bugs involving random clipping into walls, getting warped downwards to my death, clipping out of bounds once and breaking the entire level; could've used a bit more polish in that regard.”
“Glitches and bugs are your advantage and I am aware in old games these exist, but in Crash 4 they're so weird and annoying that they might lose your track or momentum, causing you to panic a lot while trying to maintain a stable run.”
“The modern obsession with graphics and buggy physics engines doesn't help, either.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of nostalgia and frustration regarding the emotional impact of the game. While some found joy and warmth in its colorful design, others reported feelings of disappointment and anger due to technical issues and unfair gameplay mechanics, leading to a desire to avoid the game in the future. Overall, the emotional responses range from heartfelt nostalgia to significant dissatisfaction.
“I enjoyed Crash; it was such a wholesome, colorful, and joyful game. While staring at the long end credits, I had many thoughts going through my head, but a special thought was: 'Wow... how many people have worked on this game?'”
“Sane Trilogy made me cry because of nostalgia.”
“Made me cry.”
“The emotional impact of the story is overshadowed by an overinflated and tedious grind for any real amount of completion, making it a pretty boring experience overall.”
“The levels are excessively long and can be objectively unfair at times, which detracts from any emotional engagement with the characters or story.”
“Technical problems persist even on a high-end PC, further diminishing the emotional connection one might have with the game.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Crash Bandicoot 4 is vibrant and engaging, characterized by bright colors, detailed graphics, and lively animations that evoke a relaxed, holiday seaside vibe. Players appreciate the blend of humor and nostalgia that enhances the overall experience, making it enjoyable to explore both the main and bonus levels. The game's music and visual design contribute significantly to its charm, inviting players to immerse themselves fully in its whimsical world.
“The graphic designers have packed an immense amount of details and small animations into every square centimeter, which perfectly illustrate the fundamentally flawed concept of the game, and Crash is a joy to look at not only while jumping quickly, but also in a situation where you just stop and soak up the atmosphere.”
“Beautiful, fun, and expands upon the mechanics and atmosphere that made Crash 1 through 3 the legendary games they are; and Crash 4 easily joins the others with tons to collect and complete if you like, many secret levels and different ways to play, and great music that's already stuck in my head.”
“The graphic designers have packed an immense amount of details and small animations into every square centimeter, which perfectly illustrate the fundamentally flawed concept of the game, and the four Crash is a joy to look at not only while jumping quickly, but also in a situation where you just stop and soak up the atmosphere.”
“The story and humor also had the typical Crash atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is really well made.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for its reliance on excessive advertising, particularly in relation to YouTube content that prioritizes promotional material over gameplay. Reviewers feel that the game's branding as "Crash Bandicoot 4" misrepresents its quality, suggesting that better marketing and balance could improve its reception.
“This game is a wet dream for all those YouTube bots who put up 'all collectible' videos where the first five minutes out of six are a channel intro and ads.”
“By all means, this game could be a fine game with some balancing changes and better advertising about what it actually is, but it shouldn't have been named Crash Bandicoot 4.”
