Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,753 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Game Cover
In Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, timeless game design and quality upgrades come together to deliver three extremely enjoyable platformers.
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Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a remastered collection of the first three games in the classic Crash Bandicoot series. Players control the crate-breaking bandicoot, Crash, as he battles against the evil Dr. Neo Cortex across various levels filled with obstacles, enemies, and wumpa fruit. With updated graphics and controls, this trilogy brings the original Crash Bandicoot games to a new generation of gamers.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,753 reviews
graphics361 positive mentions
stability40 negative mentions
  • graphics807 mentions

    The graphics of the "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual overhaul, bringing the classic PS1 games into the modern era with vibrant colors, detailed character models, and smooth animations. While many players appreciate the nostalgic charm retained in the updated visuals, some have noted issues with performance and minor graphical glitches. Overall, the remaster successfully enhances the aesthetic experience while maintaining the core gameplay that fans love.

    • “The graphics are stunning, breathing new life into the vibrant worlds I loved exploring as a kid.”
    • “The updated graphics breathe new life into the trilogy while the challenging gameplay remains as fun and addictive as ever.”
    • “The graphics are crisp, vibrant, and incredibly faithful to the classic games while still giving them a modern touch.”
    • “The performance becomes an issue even on the lowest graphical settings; the lighting often looks unflattering, and many graphical and gameplay bugs are easy to see.”
    • “The updated graphics make it impossible to see where enemies are coming from; the enhanced models now make it far harder to actually land on platforms because the game was built for simple polygons and didn't factor in elements like smoothly curved edges.”
    • “Not only does it not work as a modern platformer, but even the nostalgia factor doesn't work in its favor: the graphics and the music lack the charm of the originals, which coupled with the aforementioned issues makes for a very underwhelming experience.”
  • gameplay488 mentions

    The gameplay of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy remains largely faithful to the original titles, featuring classic platforming mechanics such as precise jumping and box collecting, while introducing some new elements and quality-of-life improvements. However, players have noted inconsistencies in hitboxes, camera angles, and certain mechanics that can lead to frustration, particularly in the first game. Overall, while the nostalgic appeal and engaging level design are praised, the gameplay experience can be uneven, with some feeling that it doesn't fully meet modern standards.

    • “The gameplay is fantastic, but let me be clear, this is a challenging platformer.”
    • “The stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and nostalgic appeal make it a must-try for fans of the series, as well as newcomers looking to explore a beloved classic.”
    • “The gameplay is very enjoyable with various level concepts, enemies, obstacles, and challenges.”
    • “The gameplay is dull and slow, just move forward and hope you jumped at the right time. Other 3D platformers have you explore the area, kick some ass, collect items that will be useful, then end the level. This is just a 2.5D platformer but instead of going left and right, you're going forward and backward.”
    • “The problem I have with this game is the jumping mechanics - after playing the game enough to get all achievements, I can say that the jumping mechanics are the game's downfall. There's been so many times where I have slammed and held down my spacebar in Crash 1 only for Crash to do a small jump resulting in me dying.”
    • “However, the game stayed true to its origins and kept the controls from those titles, so while everything looks crisper and sharper, if you were expecting an updated gameplay experience, you’re not going to get it.”
  • music304 mentions

    The music in the remastered trilogy has received mixed reviews, with many praising the remastered soundtracks for their quality and nostalgic feel, while others feel that some tracks lack the charm of the originals. Players appreciate the updated arrangements but express disappointment over the absence of an option to switch back to the original soundtracks, which some believe are superior. Overall, while the remastered music enhances the experience for many, it may not fully capture the essence of the beloved original compositions.

    • “The remastered music captures the essence of the original compositions while enhancing them with modern flair.”
    • “The iconic soundtrack has been lovingly remastered, and hearing those familiar tunes while spinning through levels brought a rush of nostalgia.”
    • “The music is great and catchy with most of the tunes I remember fondly still being in there.”
    • “The one downside is that somehow the soundtrack sounded worse for me compared to the original.”
    • “The soundtrack lost a lot; I'll do a simple example... listen to the original Crash Bandicoot level called 'Boulders', then listen to the N. Sane Trilogy 'remastered'; it simply doesn't deliver anymore.”
    • “I kinda wish they let you play the original soundtracks sometimes since some of the updated tracks just don't hit as hard as the originals.”
  • story158 mentions

    The story in the game is generally considered basic and simplistic, often serving as a minimal backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players find it enjoyable and nostalgic, others criticize it for lacking depth and coherence, with many noting that the narrative is not a significant draw for the platforming experience. Overall, the story is seen as functional but not particularly engaging, with players primarily focused on gameplay rather than plot intricacies.

    • “While I am not usually the biggest fan of platformers, the animation, story, and nostalgia were enough to keep me entranced.”
    • “The characters, story, and gameplay are so good that they appeal equally to me, a long-time fan, and my 5-year-old alike.”
    • “The addition of Uka Uka as an adversary helps motivate the player and adds a welcome personal layer to the story, which is delightfully consistent throughout all three parts.”
    • “The minimal storytelling contains themes of western cartoon wackiness, which thoroughly fails to entertain me throughout the game.”
    • “The story is essentially non-existent/unimportant.”
    • “I will not talk about the plot in any of the games, since it's barely there and it's definitely not the focus of the games.”
  • optimization117 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and ability to run well on various hardware configurations, achieving stable frame rates even at high settings. However, others have reported significant performance issues, including stuttering, bugs, and minimal differences between graphical settings, leading to frustration for those with lower-end systems. Overall, while many users enjoy a well-optimized experience, a notable portion of the player base has encountered serious optimization challenges.

    • “The game is very well-optimized and runs smoothly at 4K with a GTX 980.”
    • “Beautiful looking game with great optimization.”
    • “The port is extremely stable, well optimized, and yes, the framerate is a smooth-as-butter 60 fps.”
    • “The performance becomes an issue even on the lowest graphical settings; the lighting often looks unflattering, and many graphical and gameplay bugs are easy to see.”
    • “Unfortunately, this doesn't fix the optimization issues.”
    • “Poor performance, even on the lowest settings, long loading times, even just between menu screens, and delayed response times make this game unplayable for me.”
  • stability58 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, freezes, and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players noted that it runs well on certain platforms like the Steam Deck, the overall consensus is that the remaster is plagued by issues that detract from the experience, leading many to recommend the original versions instead. Despite some positive remarks about graphics and performance, the frequent technical problems overshadow these aspects, making the game feel unfinished.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck OLED.”
    • “The game runs great, it's smooth, and looks gorgeous.”
    • “Game runs great at constant 60 fps with no problems.”
    • “It's buggy and you can't see where the crash is all the time, so you constantly die because of it.”
    • “The game constantly lags/freezes for a couple of frames every 5-10 seconds, making playing the game impossible.”
    • “Don't buy it, it's a buggy shit-show; honestly, just go find original copies of the first 3 games and play that instead.”
  • humor53 mentions

    The humor in the Crash Bandicoot series is characterized by its charming character designs, funny animations, and nostalgic appeal, often evoking laughter through its wacky gameplay and quirky voice lines. While some aspects, like the Spanish dubbing, can feel forced, the overall comedic tone remains engaging and enjoyable, making it a delightful experience for both new players and those revisiting their childhood. The game's blend of challenging platforming and lighthearted humor creates a fun atmosphere that resonates with fans of all ages.

    • “Each character is particular and funny for sure, even if they're not very detailed in their personality.”
    • “It has a lot of heart and a lot of humor, and some of the background music gets stuck in your head because it's fun catchy background music.”
    • “Gorgeous visuals, tight controls faithful to the originals, but with a bit more polish, and the great humor of the 90's.”
    • “I'm done, I'm sorry, but it's not funny. The game is good, pretty hard.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land for me.”
  • replayability45 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through the inclusion of relic challenges, time trials, and hidden secrets, enhancing the overall experience and providing players with ample content to explore. While some players noted that achieving platinum times can diminish motivation for further play, many still found the remastered versions to be highly replayable and enjoyable, reminiscent of the original classics. Overall, the combination of new features and faithful design contributes to a robust replay value that appeals to both newcomers and returning fans.

    • “The inclusion of time trials adds a layer of replayability for those seeking an extra challenge.”
    • “A must-play remake of awesome classic platformers, and the remake is actually good and faithful. I have replayed this remake to death because its replay value has no ceiling!”
    • “With each game, there are new abilities to use which enhance the gameplay experience and add a ton of replayability to it.”
    • “The only major downer to this game is once you get the platinums, there's no further replayability because, as per usual, some absolute degenerates submitted hacked times to each and every level's ranking table, so improving upon your first platinum time is pointless.”
    • “They are very linear (with only one or two forks per level), everything is copy-pasted, there are 'secrets' to collect to give the dull levels replayability, the camera is stuck either to the side (making the game effectively 2D except for small parts where you take one step towards the camera and then continue) or above and behind the character, the things you 'collect' are boring as hell (boxes and apples, the only use being getting an extra life), and jumping frequently involves inching yourself to the edge before hitting jump and forward.”
    • “After having done everything in the game, I can say with confidence that this game has a lot of replayability.”
  • grinding28 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and time-consuming, with players noting that it can feel repetitive and frustrating, especially when progress is hindered after long sessions. While some appreciate the challenge and the nostalgic elements, many feel that the grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it necessary to invest significant time to achieve goals like collecting relics and gems. Overall, the experience can be rewarding for dedicated players, but it may also lead to burnout due to its demanding nature.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “Unless you are mentally ill and want to restart your game every 20 minutes or have your progress hindered randomly after hours of grinding.”
    • “In the original if you died you had to exit and then replay the level and collect all the tokens again to get one more shot, which was incredibly tedious.”
    • “The slow, tedious, punishing gameplay which leaves little in the way of a sense of accomplishment coupled with a poor music score, cliché baddies, and over the top gimmicky sound effects made me move on.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often citing nostalgia and joy as significant factors in their experience. Many reviewers mention moments that brought them to tears, whether from nostalgia or the thrill of gameplay, highlighting how the remastered graphics and music evoke childhood memories. Despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics, the overall sentiment reflects a heartfelt appreciation for the game's ability to rekindle feelings of joy and innocence.

    • “Getting the relic on Stormy Ascent made me want to cry; that hasn't happened for a while.”
    • “I still get happy and emotional when I hear the soundtrack.”
    • “I'm going to be honest and say that this game made me cry tears of joy, and it made me smile stupidly and laugh like a child.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with many players nostalgic for the original trilogy's unique charm and limitations that contributed to its appeal. While the remaster boasts improved graphics and music, some feel it lacks the depth and coherence of the original's atmosphere, particularly in darker levels. Overall, the game retains a vibrant and engaging environment, but opinions vary on whether it successfully captures the essence of its predecessors.

    • “A faithful remake not in gameplay but in the atmosphere and feel of it.”
    • “The relaxed atmosphere of the Wumpa Islands combined with the challenging and intriguing level design blends into a platformer classic always worth revisiting.”
    • “The environments look lush and atmospheric, and everything you see is ridiculously well animated.”
    • “Only a few problems I had were a few graphical hiccups, the atmosphere from the first two Crash games being absent in the remake, and the jet ski physics being way too slippery to control well.”
    • “Shorter single jump, a lack of unnecessary change in atmosphere, and some rather poor lighting choices and visuals that particularly occur in the darker levels of the game might make some hesitant to give it a go.”
    • “Gone are the dark, moody, but also somehow vibrant atmospheres of the original PSone releases.”
  • character development12 mentions

    Character development in the reviewed games is characterized by a mix of charming and humorous designs that capture the essence of the originals, though some players feel the new art style lacks the depth and texture of the classic versions. While the remaster showcases impressive graphics and modernized character designs, opinions vary on whether these changes enhance or detract from the overall experience. Overall, the remaster successfully retains the charm and personality of the original characters while introducing a fresh aesthetic.

    • “Vicarious Visions totally knocked it out of the park with the graphics and character designs.”
    • “All the animations and character designs are improved versions of the original.”
    • “In all releases, the graphics will age drastically faster than the originals due to the more realistic implementation; Crash and his friends lack fur depth and sometimes seem to have no fur at all. Character designs are pretty rough and have a mixture of 'clay' and 'action figure' feeling texture work, which also applies to the levels and set pieces.”
    • “Some weird physics and slippery edges that I don't feel the originals had. A lot of levels and character designs have lost their charm in the new art style, but deep down it's still the Crash Bandicoot games you know and love.”
    • “The character designs are spot-on, capturing the charm and personality of the original characters with a fresh, modern twist.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some praising the absence of microtransactions, which is seen as a refreshing change in an industry often criticized for cash grabs. However, others express concern that the game still feels like a cash grab due to its connection to Activision's broader issues and the potential for future monetization strategies, such as loot boxes. Overall, while the lack of microtransactions is appreciated, there is skepticism about the developers' intentions and the game's long-term value.

    • “No microtransactions!”
    • “This is a good game, especially since it has no standard industry practices like microtransactions, so what are you waiting for?”
    • “It's not a port only or littered with so many microtransactions.”
    • “All in all this is just a lazy cash grab in my opinion, just like the Spyro Reignited Trilogy with its million pages of EULA in a single-player-only game, save games that get deleted for no reason, or physics problems above 30 fps that haven't been fixed to this day.”
    • “I wish they'd fix this, but it's pretty clear after the Crash Team Racing debacle they are more interested in moving on and this was just a kind of cash grab.”
    • “Sounds like a lot of money if you're of the generation that missed the original, and to those I would say maybe wait till a sale. You might not like paying this much. For those who enjoyed it the first time, it's a must buy and play now to show the creators some support and thanks for developing it (and not adding microtransactions), though the dropping boxes at the end of each level seem designed with loot boxes in mind.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
4-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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