REVIEW: Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (Nintendo Switch)

Many of us have not played since the last time we did. Crash Bandicoot Was used as an Easter egg at the start of Uncharted 4 - A Thief's End. Nate and Elena, ever-competitive, fire up an old PlayStation to compete for victory in the original game. Nate screams "I bet you can beat your high score in your TV game thing", but Elena isn’t impressed. "On my Television game What is it called? It's not even known!" He has no chance.

It's about time, the fourth installment of the Crash Bandicoot series is out. It's a bit ironic that it has an Uncharted element within its gameplay. Crash and Coco (the game allows you to switch between them at will) swashbuckle through different worlds, swinging on ropes, and engaging in far more omnidirectional hijinks that we have ever seen.

The game's level design is a key strength. It's designed around the pursuit of four talking Quantum Masks that grant the wearer a set of special powers. These include the ability to manipulate time and speed up time, to stop the clock and control gravity. Each boss fight uses the capabilities of a particular mask until you have defeated a pair alternate universe Dr. N.Tropys. The addition of wallrunning, rail grinding, and double jump permanent abilities keeps gameplay exciting even without the masks.

Just as this swathe of special abilities allow Crash to be more dynamic, so does the game itself in its availability on the Switch. Although It's about Time was made for another console, the cutscenes are particularly poor. They are surrounded by a blurry film with comic-book-esque greyish areas. However, it runs smoothly in both handheld and docked mode. It's easier to deal with the constant deaths (flying shoes, all) caused by the franchise's famed difficulty when you can play from anywhere.

The game's new life system allows players to choose between a 'Modern and a 'Retro' mode. There are no more Game Overs. This is a relief for those who have survived the earlier games, given the tedious process of progressing through the titles. Another welcome addition to this series is the introduction of a jumping shadow that will show where our favorite genetically enhanced bandicoot is while bouncing around in his environment.

But Is Everyone's favorite crash? It's about time A version of Tawna, Crash's girlfriend in the other games, who comes in from an alternate universe to rescue Crash and Coco after they are kidnapped. After her thrilling adventures in Hook, Line and Sinker, which featured some of the most satisfying and fun gameplay in the series, she was unlocked as a playable player character.

Tawna, past enemies Dingodile, and Dr Cortex, prefer to work together. They take separate paths but intertwine, working alongside Coco and Crash to recover the masks and defeat Dr N.Tropys. These side-challenges can be used to help you complete the main story. While N. Verted mode mirrors levels that have been beaten, many worlds also offer Flashback Tapes. These are playable recordings of Cortex's original lab experiments. There are a slew of collectables that can be found, including bonus mini-levels, time trials, and standard crates. You also have the option to purchase skins to personalize your bandicoot.

Although the Switch version of It’s About Time takes a significant step back in graphics, it is a fair trade-off that ensures the game's colorful, zany antics don't get lost in translation. It's the rich, responsive platforming that is the most important thing here. This won't hinder your ability to smash crates, eat wumpa fruits, and attack your way through space and time. Oodibigah