Video games are all about innovation and pushing the boundaries of what we can do in our digital domains. As much as we collectively crave the new, we still long for the classic games that made us fall in love with the medium. This complex sentiment led Vicarious Visions to repackage the first three Crash Bandicoot titles into Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. An epic of nostalgia that polishes every strength and flaw until it glistens.
New Crash, Who Dis?
The term remastered often means an improved resolution and some tweaked controls, but Vicarious Visions got it right. Crash is redesigned from the ground up to reflect the times. Besides being a delight to the eye it greatly improves the gameplay, making enemies and hazards more distinct with clear and crisp clarity.
The visuals also add greater depth to the personalities of the titles. From the facial expressions, Crash makes as he dances to the Shakespearean performances of the bosses to the subtle alterations to the dialogue. The added scenes are small sporadic changes that substantially increase the experience.
Annoying Blast From The Past
What people remember the most about Crash is its platforming gameplay. It’s virtually untouched, but Vicarious Visions has made improvements. A decent amount of difficulty stems from frustrating mechanics: the trial and error jumps, the levels where you run towards the camera, annoying vehicle sections, etc., but you can argue that is part of the game’s appeal. While the enhancements only mitigate the frustrations, they do decrease in time with each title.
Since the games, with the exception of Warped, rarely mix it up. Things can stagnate quickly. The different themes and islands do their best to keep you entertained, but over the course of three full feature games, only nostalgia or pure willpower will keep you going.
Newcomers to the series may find the original Crash Bandicoot a hard grind, but things do improve. In addition to the shear nostalgia value, a lot could be gained from playing through these titles if only to take a glimpse into gaming history.
The music of the trilogy has been enhanced in every way and wraps up the package in a pretty bow. There is a reason people constantly gush over musical tracks from the games of yesteryear. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy pushes the styling of drums and marimba to the forefront. Classic tunes are new, and soundtrack remains infectious from start to finish.
The voice acting and improved sound effects round of the audio spectrum putting some modern games to shame with its delightful quips. Making some of the more unbearable segments easier to stomach.
Our Verdict
Vicarious Visions has honored the legacy created by Naughty Dog. They may have only repainted some of the cracks, but the foundation is still intact. Whether you’re in it for nostalgia or curiosity, Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy a journey worth its weight in wumpa fruit.
