Crash Bandicoot’s new game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time was recently revealed and shows fans the adventures of a Bandicoot are never truly over. Neo Cortex is back at it again and now he’s trying to mess with the timeline to take over the world. While the reveal trailer was short, a lot of information was revealed, including details about the game’s story, gameplay features, and the platforms on which it will be released.
- A Direct Continuation
The game canonically takes place after Crash Bandicoot: 3 Warped. After Crash defeated Neo Cortex and trapped him into a time stream, the doctor turned into a baby. Unfortunately, this didn’t stop him from causing havoc in the timelines after his absence.To explain this, the ending in Warped was indeed canon, as it had Crash transform the villains into babies. The ending was played for laughs as it was a tough predicament for any villain to overcome. The solution to being transformed into a baby is actually comically simple, as 20 years have passed since the events of Crash Bandicoot 3; the villains have finally grown up and are ready to cause more havoc with the help of Cortex who is messing with time. Now it’s up to Crash and Coco to travel through more worlds and dimensions to stop Cortex’s villainy for a fourth time.
- Developed by Toys For Bob
The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy was developed by Vicarious Visions, who is currently working on the Tony Hawk Pro Skater remakes. While they seem like the ideal candidates for the sequel, Toys For Bob, who developed the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, will be handling the project instead. Toys For Bob has also been known to assist in the development of the N. Sane Trilogy while also handling the Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled. The game’s story, tone, and gameplay are in experienced developers’ hands.
- Gameplay Fans Know
The Crash Bandicoot series is known for its tight controls, unique platforming, and brutal levels. It’s About Time is no different. The gameplay trailer shows that Crash will be dealing with levels like he usually does. He gets teleported in and must run to the end of the level where the stage ends or a boss fight ensues.Since the game is dealing with time travel, Crash will get some new ways to traverse levels, which will make platforming easier and more fun. For starters, depending on some surfaces, Crash can wall run. Additionally, Crash can grind on rails just like the Ratchet and Clank series. Furthermore, Crash will be able to use a variety of inventions and masks to get through some of the harder stages. There are four new masks that Crash can find on his adventure, each with a unique ability. For instance, Crash is seen using a mask which slows down the falling platforms so he can jump over them. He is also seen wearing a futuristic suit which allows him to jump back and forth from the ceiling. It also seems like playing as other characters will make a return. The trailer shows off Coco jumping on top of cars in a futuristic setting. Doctor Cortex also looks like he’s a playable character, as he is carrying his raygun while jumping over platforms. How these characters will adjust to the new futuristic gadgets is a mystery, but it can be assumed they play similarly to Crash.
- Made for Current-Gen
Crash Bandicoot 4 is not made for the next generation. It will be released before the holidays, meaning it will be coming to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Toys For Bob did not mention any new gameplay capabilities that would make use of next-gen hardware, though, it is confirmed the games will be coming to the newer consoles. This could mean the games will be cross-generation with performance improvements, such as a higher frame rate and faster loading times.
- Release for October 2020
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time will be coming to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 2, 2020. While Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled and the N. Sane Trilogy filled the void for long-waiting fans, nothing can beat an official sequel to a long-running series. This is exciting news, as it seemed Activision was only interested in remakes. With the announcement of a Crash Bandicoot sequel, fans will hopefully see more of the series in the future.
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