Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time Reviews

I already played and completed this on PS5, but had to grab it again on PC because it’s just that good. The platforming is tight, the visuals are gorgeous, and the levels are creative from start to finish. But make no mistake—this game will test your patience and reflexes, especially if you’re aiming for 100%. It’s a mix of nostalgia and fresh ideas that actually works. Pros: Stunning art style and animations Tight controls and varied gameplay Tons of replayability Cons: Difficulty spikes can be unforgiving Completionists beware: collecting everything is tough Verdict: 9/10 – If you love platformers and don’t mind a challenge, it’s a must-play.

shit game - have to press 20+ buttons in a few sec to achieve - make it hard yes thats fun -do not make it so its nearly impossable to achieve - frustrating - shitty game overall

Came from getting 100% on N sane trilogy, and after only 18mins I have zero desire to ever play this game again.

It's a good game but only for hardcore Darksouls like gaming for platformers. Crash bandicoot is about a child friendly game which should be medium difficulty and have some challenging moments. This Game is very good graphics new mask mechanics but it is too much, too hard. I can complete the game no problem but it gives me a headache the amount of focus needed and anticipation around every corner. Makes this game what should be relaxing and fun to tedious and frustrating.

Such a great extension of the crash formula. I'm glad they cut down on the vehicle stuff from 3 and added the masks that augment crashes already fun moveset. This game is difficult af but so rewarding and honey on the eyes. Actually the only relative downside is the optional extra character stages. They're fun and interesting, but such a departure from the fun movement of crash and coco that it turns into a different game. It's really not such a bad thing to have this variety, but doing time trials with dingo required quite a few deep breathes.

This game is a pure masterpiece. The gameplay is refined to perfection. The gameplay alone is it's own art form with ligthening fast response time to the controls, but as if that is not enough to make a great video game, the graphics are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! I am an artist myself, so I really really appreciate games like this that really make a cartoony landscape come to life in pure artistic mastery. I played it first on the steam deck and really enjoyed it but now as I replay it on PC full screen I REALLY am enjoying the graphics and gameplay.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time marks a triumphant return for one of gaming’s most iconic mascots. Developed by Toys for Bob and released on Steam as part of a broader multi-platform rollout, this entry breathes new life into the franchise while staying remarkably faithful to its roots. Positioned as a direct sequel to Crash Bandicoot: Warped (1998), the game essentially sidesteps the various spinoffs and lesser-known titles released after the original trilogy. Instead, it focuses on delivering a modern experience that retains the punishing platforming, zany tone, and colorful style that made the original Naughty Dog titles so beloved. The result is a challenging, highly polished platformer that not only caters to longtime fans but also introduces newcomers to the wild, time-bending chaos of Crash’s universe. Narratively, It’s About Time embraces its namesake with gusto. Picking up after the defeat of Neo Cortex and N. Tropy, the plot kicks off with the villains escaping their dimensional prison and tearing open the fabric of time and space. Crash and his sister Coco must traverse multiple timelines and alternate realities to stop them, all while recruiting help from an array of quirky allies—some familiar, others entirely new. The storyline is delightfully absurd, full of meta-humor and tongue-in-cheek nods to the franchise’s long and convoluted history. It never takes itself too seriously, and that’s part of the charm. The dialogue is snappy, the character animations are expressive, and the story sequences are stylishly presented through slick cinematics that bring the characters' personalities to the forefront. Gameplay-wise, Crash 4 is both a love letter to the originals and a bold step forward. The core platforming feels tight, responsive, and satisfyingly challenging. Levels are packed with traps, enemies, and moving platforms that demand precise timing and spatial awareness, often with little room for error. The game also introduces a suite of new mechanics, most notably the Quantum Masks—four powerful artifacts that grant temporary abilities such as slowing time, inverting gravity, phase-shifting obstacles, and spinning through the air with tornado-like force. These masks add a fresh layer of strategy and puzzle-solving to the traditional running, jumping, and spinning, often requiring players to master new skills on the fly. The level design in Crash 4 is outstanding. Each world bursts with personality, from prehistoric jungles and neon-lit cityscapes to pirate-infested seas and alternate-reality wastelands. Levels are not only visually diverse but also cleverly constructed to reward both careful exploration and speedrunning prowess. Hidden gems, secret paths, and time trial challenges encourage replayability and skill mastery. The game features a punishing difficulty curve, especially for players chasing 100% completion. Between crates, time trials, hidden tapes, and N. Verted levels (mirrored versions with unique visual effects), the amount of content is staggering. Yet it rarely feels bloated, as the game constantly introduces new mechanics or twists to keep things fresh. Another major highlight is the inclusion of multiple playable characters beyond Crash and Coco. Players can control Dingodile, Tawna (reimagined with a grappling hook and acrobatic moves), and even Neo Cortex himself. Each character offers distinct gameplay mechanics, such as Dingodile’s vacuum cannon or Cortex’s ability to transform enemies into platforms. These character-specific levels are seamlessly woven into the larger narrative and add welcome variety to the core gameplay loop. Rather than feeling like gimmicks, these sections enrich the game’s pacing and give players a break from the relentless platforming gauntlets. Visually, Crash 4 is a treat. The animation work is fluid and expressive, echoing the Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic that defined the original games while taking full advantage of modern hardware. Environments are rich with detail, and the character models are bursting with personality. The game runs smoothly on most modern systems, and the PC port via Steam offers high framerate options, crisp resolution settings, and quick loading times. The audio design is equally impressive—energetic music, punchy sound effects, and excellent voice acting combine to create a lively, immersive experience that never overstays its welcome. However, it’s worth noting that Crash 4 isn’t for the faint of heart. While the early levels are approachable, the game becomes increasingly brutal in its later stages. The demand for pinpoint precision can feel overwhelming at times, especially when aiming for 100% or attempting the game’s infamous “Perfect Relics” that require finishing levels without dying. Some players may find the difficulty spikes frustrating, especially when compounded by levels that stretch beyond ten minutes. Yet for those who appreciate old-school challenge, the game delivers a deeply rewarding sense of accomplishment. In conclusion, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is not just a great sequel—it’s one of the best platformers of its generation. It captures the essence of what made the original trilogy great while injecting modern mechanics, expanded gameplay variety, and a heaping dose of personality. It respects its legacy without leaning too heavily on nostalgia, and it’s bursting with content that encourages exploration, mastery, and replayability. Whether you're a veteran of the original PlayStation era or a newcomer curious about the orange marsupial’s latest misadventure, Crash 4 is an outstanding platforming experience that balances tradition and innovation in all the right ways. Rating: 9/10

I grew up on the classic Crash games. This is by far the most bloated and boring level design I have ever seen in a classic style crash game. It's like they took the old formula and just said throw more stuff in til it sticks; Make the levels bigger so it feels like there's more meat on the bones, but they're simultaneously boring and tedious. Double the gem amount; I don't want to hunt 6 gems, 4 of which you will earn just playing normally and the others being annoyingly gimmicky, so I can unlock some le epic skins. It just feels like an unworthy grind. This game isn't fun to casually go through and again I couldn't imagine sitting down trying to go for 100%. The writing is cringe-worthy not in like an ironically funny way but more like a this makes me want to skip every cut-scene kind of way. Playing in classic mode is undo-able as you will most likely be dumping 15 lives a stage. Modern style gives you infinite do overs from the checkpoints, but it doesn't feel any better, because sure you don't need to worry about a game over, but levels are gigantic with checkpoints very far from one another. This game just doesn't hold up to the trilogy in style, execution, or feeling. It's definitely NOT the worst crash game ever, but still it's not a fun one. Pirate this or try it on sale.

This is EASILY the best crash game to ever be released. Personally I would recommend playing the N.Hanced version for the best version of this game but even without (despite it's difficulty) it it easily a game to be remembered and it sucks that Activision has left Crash for dead. Overall a 9/10 A bit unfair in difficulty when trying to 100 percent. Incredible graphics and art styles. Silky smooth frame perfect movement and game play that feels satisfying to pull off. All of this to go along with the fantastic level design with beautiful backgrounds.

to preserve your (sanity) level, you do not have to get 100% in this game, finishing it alone is an achievement + no one really care if you do lets be real.