Like the numbering suggests, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is ignoring most of the games in the Crash series to continue from where Naughty Dog’s original trilogy left off. This time around, development is being handled by Toys for Bob, the studio behind Spyro Reignited Trilogy, and this week it went into its ambitions for the new title.
With the game set to launch in just two days, studio head Paul Yan spoke with IGN to give a clearer idea of how the studio intends to expand on what the Naughty Dog games established. He started off by stating that the plan from the start was to make the long-awaited sequel “the biggest Crash game ever,” and added that the recently-released demo for Crash 4 was largely meant to convey to fans just how much bigger the game will be compared to its predecessors.
Much of this increased scale has become very apparent in the months following the game’s official reveal in June. More than simply placing classic Crash gameplay in bigger levels, Toys for Bob has been trying to flesh it out with new playable characters and gameplay mechanics, including abilities tied to the game’s new quantum masks. That’s not to mention the N.Verted Mode that will introduce even more mechanics to the game’s levels.
Naturally, a larger scope has led to bigger challenges for the developer to deal with, namely making sure that all of the new and updated content doesn’t detract from the series’ distinct brand of platforming. That balance, Yan said, is something Toys for Bob was “really sensitive about all the way through.” He went on, “We want to make sure that you're coming to this game presumably to play as Crash. And we don't want this to be a string of disparate experiences where it felt like...all kinds of other things outside that may give variety, but might overpower what that core experience is.”
Looking at the original trilogy, Toys for Bob found particular inspiration in Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, with Yan describing it as “a really great example of hitting the right balance.” That being said, he made it clear that the development team didn’t base the new game on Crash 2 alone, only that it served as a good reference for how to pace Crash Bandicoot 4 in a way that keeps it feeling like a true Crash sequel.
The Crash 2 comparisons are particularly fitting in light of the most recent trailer for Crash 4 showing off polar bear riding, which just goes to show how much content fans will have to look forward to this weekend.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time will launch on October 2 for PS4 and Xbox One.
Source: IGN