Platform: Switch
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Toys For Bob
Genre: Action, Platform
Series: Crash Bandicoot
Players: 1
Release Date: June 29, 2018
One of PlayStation’s earliest and most beloved mascots has found its way onto an unlikely platform; the Nintendo Switch. Considering Crash Bandicoot once competed with mascots like Mario and Sonic, there’s something surreal about playing what were initially PlayStation titles on Nintendo’s latest console. Regardless of Crash’s past with PlayStation, these titles fit perfectly on Switch thanks to Nintendo’s long history with creating and curating remarkable platformers. Vicarious Visions has done a phenomenal job at capturing Naughty Dog’s original Crash Bandicoot Trilogy by updating the experiences into a well polished and improved collection.
Crash Has Never Looked This Good
Remasters and remakes are standard practice in the video game industry today. While some remasters are merely upscaled versions of their original titles, these collections can also vary from the complete reimagining of an original game like Insomniac’s Ratchet & Clank to a meticulously upgraded remaster like Shadow of the Colossus by Bluepoint Games. Vicarious Visions went out of their way to do more than just use higher quality textures or boost the resolution – they deliberately and scrupulously remade all three games from the ground up for the current generation.
Even though the Switch’s hardware limits the extent to which the graphics of the trilogy resemble the PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions, Crash Bandicoot on Switch still looks as nice as its more powerful console and PC counterparts. Toys for Bob have done a great job at getting Crash Bandicoot on Switch to look nice with a few compromises.
The Nintendo Switch version runs at a mostly stable 30 frames per second in docked and portable mode, with a resolution of 720p on the TV and around 480p on the handheld’s screen. Thanks to a brand new lighting system, detailed character models, varied environments, and a stable framerate, the Crash Trilogy has been brought into the 21st century while maintaining the original spirit of the classic PlayStation titles. Lighting effects and shadows are beautifully rendered, jungles are decorated in realistic foliage, and Crash’s animations are delightfully expressive. The graphical blend of realistic environments and over-the-top cartoonish characters mix well to create a wholly unique and comforting experience.
Vicarious Visions also made sure to improve the sound design and soundtrack of the original titles. Crash’s classic spin move and the totally fulfilling tones of collecting Wumpa Fruit have never sounded more satisfying. This is all accompanied by refined versions of the iconic tropical tunes of the series which are sure to get stuck in your head more than once after a playthrough. From a technical point of view, Vicarious Visions has accomplished an incredible feat by remaking the original Crash Trilogy from its polygonal and pixelated presentation to an absolutely gorgeous and impressive visual experience.
Crash Bandicoot
The original Crash Bandicoot has not aged gracefully, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth playing. The first Crash is the most punishingly difficult of the three and that stems from archaic level design and stiff controls. The game requires pixel point accuracy when it comes to certain jumps and stages are often littered with gauntlets of enemies. It can become exhausting to redo some platforming sections over and over again because you just couldn’t land that perfect jump, forcing you to try again from the most recent checkpoint or the beginning of the level. The constant use of enemies in the original game also leads to some exhaustion because they interrupt the flow of the platforming and continually make the player make use of Crash’s spin attack in order to protect themselves. It isn’t very fun to restart a section from a checkpoint only to have to defeat or avoid those same enemies you encountered before. Out of all three of the games, Crash Bandicoot is definitely going to be the one where players die and become frustrated with the most.
Crash Bandicoot is an alright game on its own, but when Cortex Strikes Back and Warped are a few steps away, its flaws are apparent. Regardless of these issues, I still enjoy the first Crash Bandicoot very much. Crash Bandicoot was one of the first platformers I ever enjoyed as a child and the extreme level of nostalgia that hits me whenever I run through those early levels on N. Sanity Island is always delightful. From frantically trying to escape large boulders to defiantly riding a hog through the wilderness, Crash Bandicoot had a lot of personality that helped it stand out from other platformers at the time. The sequels definitely work on those frustrations and further shape Crash’s identity to create more enjoyable, unique, and fair experiences. I sometimes forget that Naughty Dog was the original developer of these games, but it’s interesting and exciting to see how their development style and talents have grown throughout the years.
Crash Bandicoot: Cortex Strikes Back
Crash Bandicoot: Cortex Strikes Back is my favorite title of the original trilogy. Its varied and balanced level systems, warp room hub, and new moves make the game feel incredibly improved over its predecessor.
The levels in Cortex Strikes Back vary from standard platforming sections to riding a baby polar bear through an ice canyon to offbeat jetpack controlled segments in space. These levels do not feel unfair or needlessly tricky as they are designed in a way that makes them seem reasonably challenging, especially when compared to the first Crash Bandicoot. Stages are accessed from a warp room hub where players are able to choose from a set of five levels at a time. This means that if you find yourself stuck in one stage, you’re free to try out any of the other available levels.
Cortex Strikes Back introduces Crash to a few new moves that make our beloved bandicoot feel more fluid in his movements. Along with his standard tornado spin move and jump, Crash can now crouch, slide across the floor, and body slam enemies/boxes. The ability to squat allows Crash to reach small out-of-reach areas, while his ability to slide enables him to jump over great heights due to the momentum of the slide. Crash’s new ability to body slam allows him to crush his opponents and boxes with flair.
If you could only play one game out of all three, these improvements definitely make Crash Bandicoot: Cortex Strikes Back an excellent choice.
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Crash Bandicoot: Warped is a great conclusion to this already solid collection. It features all of the improvements of Cortex Strikes Back along with incredibly diverse level themes based on various historical time periods, additional abilities, and Coco as a playable character. Levels can take place in prehistoric jungles, on the Great Wall of China, and on the pyramids of Ancient Egypt. This diversity helps levels feel distinct and unique in their designs, which is something the first two Crash titles did not have going for them. Defeating bosses in this game awards Crash with special abilities like the Super Charged Body Slam and the always enjoyable Fruit Bazooka. Warped also introduced the option to play almost every level as Crash’s younger sister, Coco. There is no real difference in the way each character plays except for Coco’s adorable character design and colorful animations.
Warped is a great title but it does have a few things that make it a little less grand than Cortex Strikes Back. Warped is the least challenging title of all three games. It was the most accessible game for me to run through as I found myself going through levels with fewer retries and struggles when compared to the first two games. Warped features several vehicle levels where you control Coco and Crash on jet skis, airplanes, and even motorcycles. These stages are cool in concept, but the controls are never tight enough to feel enjoyable. Crash Bandicoot: Warped is still an exceptional title that excellently culminates all the growth, improvements, and ambition developed by Naughty Dog throughout the original trilogy.
Final Thoughts
The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is an outstanding remake of one of PlayStation’s most beloved mascots. Vicarious Visions meticulously and thoughtfully built the Crash games from the ground up for the current generation, and their ambitious efforts definitely show in all aspects of this collection. Even though some gameplay portions of the Crash series have not aged as gracefully as their new graphics, they are still robust platforming experiences that deserve to be experienced by old fans and new alike. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is available on the Nintendo eShop and retail for $39.99.
Review Copy Provided by Activision
