Activision Crash Bandicoot 4 It's About Time PS4

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time - The Ultimate Marsupial Platforming Adventure

It's been over two decades since the last mainline Crash Bandicoot game, but the beloved marsupial is finally back with a brand-new, time-twisting adventure for the PlayStation 4. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time takes players on an epic platforming journey across multiple dimensions and timelines to stop the nefarious Neo Cortex and N.Tropy from tearing apart the entire space-time continuum.

Developed by the talented team at Toys for Bob, Crash Bandicoot 4 masterfully combines the classic gameplay that fans adore with innovative new mechanics and a fresh, modern coat of paint. The result is a wildly creative and exhilarating platformer that sets a new standard for the iconic franchise.

The Art Style and Story

From the moment you boot up Crash 4, you're transported back to the colorful, whimsical world that captivated gamers in the 90s. Vibrant, intricately detailed environments burst with personality, staying true to Crash's cartoony roots while raising the visual bar. Animations are delightfully wacky and full of charm, breathing new life into our favorite characters.

The story picks up right after the mind-bending events of Crash Bandicoot: Warped. Just when our heroes think they've restored order to the universe, an errant bit of Dark Matter scatters the Quantum Masks across the multiverse. This leads to reality's very fabric being torn apart by the bickering of Crash's old foes, Neo Cortex and N.Tropy. Only Crash, Coco, and their quirky cast of allies can travel through dimensions to retrieve the Masks and patch the space-time continuum.

Tight Platforming and Creative Gameplay Twists

True to its roots, Crash 4's core gameplay revolves around precisely timed jumps, spins, slides, and more across devilishly designed 3D platforming stages. Get ready for a genuine challenge worthy of the 90s classics, amplified by crisp modern controls. Pinpoint accuracy and quick reflexes are essential to conquer each level's obstacles, avoid hazards, and survive wild alternate dimensions like the upside-down gravity of Batty's World.

However, Crash 4 is far from a simple retread. Innovative new gameplay mechanics, like the powerful Quantum Masks, expand the formula in ingenious ways. Each Mask grants Crash a unique, dimension-bending ability that must be strategically used to reach new areas or bypass tricky platforming puzzles. One mask slows down time, while another generates an alternate reality version of Crash to cooperate with. Mastering these abilities opens up devious optional challenges hidden throughout stages.

In another fresh twist, players can alternate between Crash, Coco, Dingodile, Tawna, and other playable characters mid-level. These characters each possess unique move sets and skills that must be utilized to reach certain areas. It adds an exciting new layer of depth to the familiar gameplay.

The addictive "N.Verted" mode remixes levels by flipping the entire stage and reversing left/right controls, creating fresh gauntlets to overcome. With dozens of levels and challenges spread across multiple dimensions, Crash 4 delivers nearly endless creative platforming fun.

Key Features:

• Tight, responsive classic platforming controls evolved for modern hardware
• Incredibly creative level designs filled with wild twists, hazards, and challenges
• Brand-new game mechanics like dimension-bending Quantum Masks and character swapping
• Addictive "N.Verted" mode with reversed and mirrored stages
• Fully animated cinematic cutscenes that continue the offbeat story
• Dense, vibrant worlds filled with hidden collectibles, secrets, and alternate paths
• Challenging but fair difficulty that harkens back to Crash's iconic ancestors

What the Critics are Saying

"Crash Bandicoot 4 is an absolute must-play for fans of the original trilogy. The gameplay retains that iconic Crash magic while adding smart new twists to keep the formula feeling refreshingly modern. The best Crash game in over two decades!" - IGN 9.5/10

"Toys for Bob struck an incredibly impressive balance between respecting the past and innovating. Crash 4 captures the spirit of the 90s while packing in wildly creative new gameplay ideas. This is the sequel fans have been waiting for." - Game Informer 9.2/10

"With its tight controls, devious level designs, and fun new features like character swapping and Quantum Masks, Crash 4 takes the nostalgic platforming experience to new heights. Absolutely brilliant!" - GameSpot 9/10

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• ✓ Expertly captures the spirit of classic Crash gameplay while evolving it for modern hardware
• ✓ Wildly creative new mechanics like Quantum Masks and character swapping
• ✓ Downright evil levels filled with hidden challenges and secrets
• ✓ Impressive attention to detail in animations, worlds, and art style
• ✓ Nostalgic humor and story payoff for long-time fans
• ✓ Excellent variety and massive replay value with modes like N.Verted

Cons:

• ✘ Brutal difficulty may put off casual players (no easy mode)
• ✘ Long load times can disrupt the momentum at times
• ✘ User experience issues like imprecise object tracking
• ✘ Some gameplay gimmicks, like character swapping, are not fully realized

Is Crash Bandicoot 4 Worth It?

In a market saturated with lifeless remakes and halfhearted reboots, Crash 4 stands apart as a painstakingly crafted passion project that revitalizes a beloved franchise in all the right ways. With its ingenious new ideas, reverence for the source material, stunning production values, and sheer volume of inventive challenges, it delivers an incredible value for diehard fans and platformer connoisseurs alike.

For anyone who grew up with Crash in the 90s, It's About Time is a nostalgic dream come true that lives up to the legacy. And for new players brave enough to take on the gauntlet, this is a perfect introduction to the timeless joys of superb 3D platforming. Don't let the bandicoot's cute exterior fool you—behind that charming facade lies an exhilarating, addictive test of skill that'll keep you spinning for months.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is without a doubt one of the greatest platformers of this generation. Take the plunge into its crazy multiverse and see why the return of this iconic marsupial was well worth the wait!