REVIEW: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy —‘N. tense Nostalgia’

For PlayStation babies like myself, Crash Bandicoot is responsible for some of the fondest of platforming memories. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy manages to retain the exact same experience whilst coating it with all the splendor that comes with making a true remaster. I’ve never had this much enthusiasm for a platformer in the last two console generations. 

S T O R Y

The original cinematics has been recreated with new lighting and textures. On top of that, it also features newly recorded dialogue from the voice cast from the original trilogy. Not that anyone would really remember, but it’s a nice touch nonetheless. The new visual fidelity really brings the characters’ personalities out, giving off the feel of a noontime cartoon. As simple as the plot is, it’s pretty entertaining, especially for the younger gamers.

G A M E P L A Y

Apart from the ability to use the left stick for movement, the original platforming mechanic is still largely intact, for all the good and the bad that comes with it. As with the original, there’s virtually no room for error. Some jumps require pinpoint landing, which can be tough considering how the visual style really messes with your depth perception. Other jumps require the full length of a jump. Jump even a fraction early can result in failure.

Despite the visual overhaul, Crash Bandicoot 1 is still the worst in the trilogy. Crash’s move set is limited to just jumping and it’s also the most challenging among the three. The difficulty spikes quite often here and on top of that, there’s also very little environmental variety. The ability to use the left stick for movement is a welcome (and expected) feature. You can now also swap between playing as Crash or his sister Coco, which is really just a cosmetic feature but welcome nonetheless.

Crash Bandicoot 2 Cortex’s Strikes Back starts to keep things up a notch. Here, they introduce Crash’s ability to crouch, dash, and slam. The environmental variety also steps up from here on out. Here, the platforming, though still quite challenging, is now well-paced.  Crash Bandicoot 3 Warped is still, the best among the three. The difficulty has been dialed down comfortably, offering a decent challenge without being too difficult. This also has the most variety in environments as well as sporting some of the most memorable gameplay gimmicks and Boss fights in the entire trilogy.

V I S U A L S  &  P E R F O R M A N C E

Vicarious Visions really did a number on the trilogy. Everything looks lush and vibrant, somehow retaining the original charm whilst making even the most memorable places feel new and fresh. The musical score is also largely responsible for retaining the original trilogy’s charm. They’re largely untouched save for the high-quality audio conversion. Keeping the original composition was a good call as the soundtrack still fits right in.

Everything has been updated in respect to the original format, but there are still a few areas that needed a bit more improvement. For instance, it’s fine that difficulty wasn’t at all watered down, but it could have been more bearable if loading times was cut a little shorter. You will fail. Often. So the 3-5 second loading times can feel like forever especially while getting past some of the tougher levels.

V E R D I C T

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy provides a nostalgic trip that feels new and fresh. Despite challenges that occasionally spikes towards cringe, it’s difficult to stop going back for all the missed boxes and beating your last time. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a wonderfully nostalgic platforming treat perfectly bridging a childhood favorite with the new, younger generation of gamers to share with.

[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]