Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (REVIEW) - Let's WOAH!

Publisher:  Activision
Developer: Toys for Bob (TFB)
Platforms: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Prices: $59.99 
Review Copy Provided: Yes 
Platform Reviewed: PS4 Pro

​Before we begin the review let's take a quick rewind on these two games, and how everything went down to these two being remade.
​WARNING: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS, I MAY MENTION IN THE GAME SO DO BE WARNED. (You will see spoilers in the side of the texts if needing to look away, but I will try my best to keep it spoiler free.).

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​How the game first off came middle of no where..

During the time many Outlets and Youtubers like Canadian Guy Eh and Crystal Fissure received puzzles that resembled a mask mentioning it to be an all-new game. During the following day, the game was rated in a Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee revealing, the title and box art in general, and that the developers being Toys for Bob.

On June 22, 2020, they announced Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time during Summer Game Fest, showing off one of the masks that was to the Puzzles sent to Outlets and Youtubers.
Even talking about how it is a totally new game all the way through, and during the time Toys for Bob mentioned that Crash 4 will be continuing after Crash Bandicoot: WARPED (Crash Bandicoot 3). Where Cortex, N. Tropy and Uka Uka were warped into the prison of time due to Crash collecting all the Gems, Relics and Crystals.

​Still interesting of TFB (Toys for Bob) to even confirm ALL the games in the series are canon but as a multiverse.

During, the PlayStation State of Play. They showed a trailer with one of the people working on Crash Bandicoot 4. He mentions that the game says that there will be skins and customizations in the game, and with Dingodile as a playable character beside with Dr Neo Cortex also, with later on from a PlayStation Blog mentioning Tawna becoming playable with Dingodile and Tawna being involved in the story too.

With all the stuff we heard during the time.. The game is out now, and IT'S ABOUT TIM-

​Yeah the puns getting, old..
Any who, let's begin this review.

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​The Beginning (SPOILERS!)

SPOILERS! YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS AND WANTING TO PLAY THE GAME PLEASE DO LOOK AWAY THIS WILL BE EXPLANING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GAME.

​After the Defeat of Cortex, Uka Uka and N. Tropy by Crash.
Uka Uka tried to liberate himself to get Dr N. Tropy and Dr Neo Cortex from the Prison of Time (which is basically the past).
Although Cortex has been playing around acting like he is doing his final blow against Crash, as N. Tropy didn't like the fact he was slacking off, even though Cortex knowing Uka Uka will fail over and over, even with N. Tropy hating being with Cortex in this Prison of Time for too long even with how Crotex chews, he exclaims, but both stopped and stared at Uka Uka noticing his attempt worked by accidentally ripping a hole in the fabric of space and time which caused Uka Uka to pass out.

​With, Cortex wondering if Uka Uka was dead for liberating his self for too long opening the portal up as N. Tropy says "He lived his purpose" as they enter the portal as N. Tropy laughs manically. They decide to use the rifts to try and conquer all of the multiverses. The cutscene pops out the logo and zooms out with Aku Aku sensing the disturbance in space and time and tried to quickly wake up Crash to get going, as they need to head to N. Sanity Peak.

​ Then in the Peak, Crash comes across Lani-Loli, whom Aku Aku recognizes as one of the Quantum Masks which are four ancient witch doctor masks that have great power over space and time, and who would only appear if something has opened up the multiverse.

​ Lani spots a rift and suspects trouble, and someone is doing this is making a huge mistake, leading to Crash and his sister Coco agreeing to follow him across the multiverse and find the other Quantum Masks while combating the chaos Cortex is creating.​​

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​Gameplay, Controls etc.

So far from playing the game, I really and I mean seriously felt in love with the vibrant and colourful world of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, feeling like I was experiencing the game in a way that I thought from the Legendary Trilogy of Crash 1, Crash 2 and Warped entirely, even with the story and how hugely placed it is, even with Characters like Tawna and Dingodile having their own set of goals was an excellent addition. The controls are super friendly and fantastic, even though I was on the PlayStation 4 Pro system the game ran pretty nice around a 60FPS, even with the Xbox One X version having smooth frames too. 

My only issues upon the controls were the Crash's sliding feels kinda slow and sluggish with some time getting used to and mastering.
​Still, nonetheless the platforming has some challenges when I mean challenge I mean some serious difficulty, and I loved how Toys for Bob has done it, and I may have died almost 60 times on one level, but it didn't stop me from having fun at all.
 Tawna and Dingodile have their own set of skills and goals, even with Cortex and how some levels show how they somehow clash between each other with Crash and Coco.

Even if you have a hard time in a level and dying a lot, even trying to enjoy the game... Don't worry about it you can be a fan or have fun with the game and keep trying your best to beat it because all of that effort and testing you'll make it. The platforming is so precise so play the game how you want to play it, even if you miss all crates enjoy the game, with the games vibrant worlds, it has to offer.
I can tell Toys for Bob made this game for EVERYONE, and to also have fun in general. 

The game having Skins and Costumes was a pretty cool addition adding the fact there placing out Gems in the game where you have to die less than three times, get all crates, find a secret gem, etc. I thought them doing this is pretty cool and proves there are no microtransactions whatsoever as they've confirmed again.

​ The party and other modes are pretty cool addition so even if you die or make a checkpoint, you could pass the controller along to have fun with the family.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is very challenging, and when I mean challenging it is, very challenging by adding Crates in levels where you can't see them, and also Gems too. I think Toys for Bob did an excellent job to the fact hiding the Crates and Gems in the game so well, that I believe they had fun doing this.

​Want to note that Crash 4 even has high replayability, and
the music in It's About Time is excellent, and something I have enjoyed through the game, just with the first level of the game, and it's a map just made me fell in love with it's tune and flow to it.

The story is outstanding and exciting how they put much love into the game to where it is now.

Don't get me wrong, but man, the Time Trials are the best challenging modes I have ever seen, even though it's excessive over time we will all master it one day... 

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Verdict

By my final thoughts, Toy's For Bob did a fantastic job making a true sequel to the original series. It's accurately the most significant post-Naughty Dog title to ever come from the Crash Bandicoot series to date for everyone to enjoy over and over again, with having evidence that the series Future is Bright.

I also, recommend this game if you're interested in a fully vibrant and colourful world filled with skilled platforming, great story, music and specific abilities, other playable character and to have some fun with high replayability, then this is for you.​

​Quote: "Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time proves that Crash Bandicoot is still the king of platforming games as of today."

Pros:
High Replayability
Difficulty has alot of challange giving precise platforming
Colorful and Vibrant World
Characters have their own goals and personalities
Great Music
Many customizations etc.
Cons:
None
Rating: 10/10

Until then.. GAME ON!

-Timothy Stambaugh (Tim/Timthegamer12)