Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is the latest installment in the iconic platforming action-adventure series from the developer Toys for Bob. It originally came out in October of last year on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
In a recent news report, it will also be heading to the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. That means some next-gen capabilities for those lucky enough to own one of these next-gen consoles.
March 12th was the release date provided. That’s not too far off. Players on either console can expect an upgraded performance and better graphics, although the original game on current consoles did pretty well in both categories.
Many praised this latest installment for its return to a tried and true platforming formula, while mixing in new features that updated the franchise in the right departments. The addition of the Quantum Masks really has gone over well since launch. They give Crash and his pals amazing powers that revolutionize how you move and fight off enemies.
The developer also did a good job at fleshing out some of the characters in this latest installment. In previous games, they were pretty much surface-level characters that you just had fun jumping around with. In Crash Bandicoot 4, you grow more attached over time and that aids in their story arcs.
The game’s story also has a lot of good elements. It centers around Crash and his sister Coco, who attempt to stop both Doctor Neo Cortex and Doctor Nefarious Tropy. They’re out to enslave the universe, which sets off an incredible chain of events that keep you on your toes from start to finish.
The past couple of installments in this series have been good, but this latest one hits a lot of classic notes that fans of the franchise will enjoy. It doesn’t fall back too hard on a classic formula though, which is important for continuing to evolve the series.
Here in a couple of weeks, the next-gen versions of the game will be available and that’s just another audience of gamers that can appreciate what the developer was going for.
Crash Bandicoot 4 also will be made available on the PC and Nintendo Switch around the same time, so that’s cause for celebration if you play regularly on either platform. There is still signs of life in this iconic platformer yet and that’s reassuring to see. Let’s see how the developer builds off this pretty successful installment.