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Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Review for PlayStation 4 (PS4)

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Review for PlayStation 4 (PS4)

Crash Returns With a Smash

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a nostalgic walk down memory lane that will reinvigorate the original PlayStation Bandicooters while simultaneously captivating a new generation of gamers. The trilogy reboot brings together three of the wackiest and best games featured on the original PlayStation, Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back , and Crash Bandicoot: Warped , for a challenging yet polished, presentation that feels brand new. The release couldn’t have come at a better time and should make for an exciting experience in between the hot dogs, sodas, and epic display of fireworks this holiday season. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a treat and should keep you coming back for more.

The Crash Bandicoot brand was built on the harvesting loot model that drove players to come back for more, even after they kept failing to get past certain difficult, level-specific obstacles. That same itch to collect every apple, gem, icon, relic, and whatever the game throws at you is still alive and well. In fact, the loot collection defined my gameplay during my review sessions. I enjoyed navigating through the levels, but nabbing up every apple from every box was my main objective. It got to the point where I couldn’t stop to capture my experience until I cleared the level at 100%. I can honestly say my Crash motivations haven’t changed in nearly 20 years.

The overall look of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is very well done. Vicarious Visions clearly spent a good chunk of time pouring over polishing the pixels, refining the colors of each and every asset, adjusting the lighting, and building brand new character models that fit within the revamped levels. Each game within the trilogy is exceptionally remastered, all without losing the nostalgic feel of the original titles. In other words, each game looks like a brand new PlayStation 4 title, but you can physically feel the old Crash Bandicoot title in the palm of your hands as you navigate our old pal with precision. It is easily one of the best ports we’ve seen in a long time. So much so, I hate using that word with this offering.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy also features redesigned cinematics that take full advantage of this era’s high-definition technology to bring players a more immersive and exciting experience. The cut scenes look much more polished and seem to make more sense this second time around. A few of the characters might look slightly different than they used to, Cortex and Uka Uka in particular, but they still manage to retain the spirit of their original appearances.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Screenshot

The trilogy as a whole sounds much better when compared to the late 90’s originals. Each level comes packed with a catchy tune that aids in progressing the narrative forward. While each unique track isn’t tied back to the original title, they do perfectly capture the essence of the Crash Bandicoot name. I couldn’t help but find myself jamming out to that sweet sound of drums beats and perfectly choreographed xylophones. The sound effects have also received an upgrade since the last time we saw these three titles. The sounds of enemies being destroyed, boxes being smashed, and loot being collected have all been refined to match the quality players come to expect from a PlayStation 4 title.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Screenshot

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy presents the games in a linear fashion, subtly guiding players to play the original Crash Bandicoot first, followed by Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back , and then finishing up with Crash Bandicoot: Warped . I recommend starting with the first game if you’re unfamiliar with the series, in part because it is the initial installment and kicked off the whole storyline.. This will allow you to dive right in and learn to navigate our pal Crash with ease and find out about his quest and world. However, if you’re a super OG fan and you still remember every angle of every chapter, head right to Crash Bandicoot: Warped ; you’ll thank me later.

Crash Bandicoot: Warped is easily the best game in Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy . The first two are still decent titles, but they lack depth featured in the third entry. Crash can finally get his duck and slide on in between riding a T-Rex, a tiger, or a jet-ski in the various chapters. Crash Bandicoot: Warped also featured the super-charged body slam, double jump, and the epic laser-guided bazooka. You just can’t top blowing enemies up with a bazooka. It is hands downs the highlight of the collection, thanks to fresh puzzles, additional characters, and a few secret caves that are begging to be explored.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Screenshot

There certainly are a lot of positives to be happy about, but the one thing we can’t get over is the constant frame rate jumping. Yes, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a cartoon-themed game with visuals that certainly have a lower ceiling than most realistic-theme games. However, the frame rate issues were inexcusable as I kept experiencing a drop to what seemed like 30 FPS. Again, such a thing is not the end of the world, especially since that’s my own issues with the game, but it’s definitely a downfall in my book.

When all is said and done, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy delivers and feels like one of the better remakes CheatCC has covered. You can tell a lot of thought and hard work went into making this compilation a solid product. From a consumer perspective, it’s not a bad deal to pony up and receive three full length games for essentially the price of one. From a nostalgic perspective, it’s worth every penny and will send you right back to the late 90’s for some good, wholesome PlayStation gameplay. The final verdict is, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a solid product that will be a treat for anyone, both pre existing fans and newcomers alike.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.0 Graphics
Fantastic redesign with upgraded character models to complement polished elements throughout. 4.0 Control
Same classic Crash controls that feel just as good as they did 20 years ago. 4.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Catchy tunes to keep you coming back for more. 5.0 Play Value
It offers three titles offered in one collection; enough said. 4.2 Overall Rating – Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Take control of Crash as he runs, jumps, and spins through 30 levels of intense action on three different Australian islands. Only you can help Crash save the animals, save his girlfriend, and foil Dr. Cortex’s plot.
  • The evil Dr. Neo Cortex is back…out this time to save the world? And he’s asking for help from his arch nemesis, Crash Bandicoot? Is this just a conniving plan to lure Crash into Cortex’s next dastardly experiment?
  • Oh yeah…he’s back…AND he’s ready! It’s a Whole New Time-Traveling Adventure! All new-style gameplay action – scuba dive, ride a motorcycle, a baby T-Rex, and go free-roaming airborne in a plane!

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