The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy takes the level data from the three original PlayStation classics and adds new graphics, sounds and challenges. It’s not quite a remaster and not really a remake. Whatever it is, it’s really good.
Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot: Warped are three amazing games that helped usher in the era of 3D console gaming. They also don’t hold up well visually.
Here’s the first level of the first Crash Bandicoot game:
Good stuff, but really rough. Here’s the same level from the N. Sane Trilogy:
It looks and feels like a whole new game, only it’s not. The animations are new, the music’s been remastered and the 3D models have been completely rebuilt, but it’s the same level data Naughty Dog used in the original game.
Basically, it delivers the feeling of playing a Crash game back in the late ’90s, while looking, sounding and playing like a game developed today. Responsive controls (now with analogue support!), challenging platforming, Warped‘s random driving and jet-ski levels, those cheap-arse stages where you’re running towards the front of the screen with no idea what’s in front of you until it’s feet away — it’s all here.
Seriously, Naughty Dog, what the hell?
And the love just keeps coming. Each game’s cinematics have been redone, with the original voice actors returning to reprise their roles.
Crash’s sister Coco is now a playable character across all three games, capable of replacing her idiot brother in most stages. She’s a pretty mean jet-skier.
The whole thing is wrapped up in a unified package that utilises the same transitions for loading, saving and dying, making the whole affair feel like a cohesive package rather than a bundle of three disparate games. If you’ve not experienced Crash’s quirky brand of platforming, prepare to see this screen a lot.
Generally accompanied by vigorous cursing.
I’ve played through a chunk of each of the three games included in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy now, and I’ve been having a blast. Each features the charm and challenge that made the original games so delightfully evil back in the day. It’s been equal parts grinning and loud cursing. It’s getting trampled by baby tigers, picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and diving right back in to the furry fray.
That’s the sweet spot.
The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is available on PlayStation 4 digitally and in stores today.
Comments
8 responses to “New Crash Bandicoot Trilogy Makes The Old Games Better”
The only problem – most people will want to play the games in order of 1,2,3 , yet the difficulty curve is in reverse to that, going 3,2,1.
All the best peeps :D.
I never got into Crash back in the day, probably because yeah i kept dying in the first level and having to start over and then moving on to another game (I kinda miss the days of playstation modchips)
It is the difficulty curve of the original games.
On that note, screw tomb wader
Counting the hours until I finish work so I can go and pick mine up!
Omg me too. Just popped over to the mall on my lunch break and I have it sitting here on my desk looking at me. I honestly cant wait to get home. Crash has a special place in my heart like no other game does. Playing this again with the updated everything is going to be glorious.
I never played crash back in the day but my wife did. Is there any sort of split screen multiplayer type stuff in this? Might get it on my way home tonight
The only thing more better than playing Crash Bandicoot on PS4 is waiting to hear back from the team at Activision about when they are going to bring Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy to the Nintendo Switch. For the love of gaming Activision When are you going to bring Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy to the Nintendo Switch and are you going to release Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy for the Nintendo Switch next year or the year after? I’m not going to say it again Activision.
I demand some answers.
Just remember for Xbox One users, Micromachine World Series is out today. If you dont have a PS4 and want your SEGA Megadrive nostalgia hit.
Holy shit thanks for the reminder. And I’m a PS4 owner, haha. Loved Crash but MM tops it.
Not sure how this isn’t a remake
I still covet this