Fans have waited over two decades for Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. Considering how much the gaming industry has changed in the last 20 years, some fans may be worried that Crash 4 has strayed too far from the series roots to cater to modern gamers, whereas others may be concerned that Crash 4 plays archaically.
Luckily, Crash Bandicoot 4 actually gives players the option to choose whether they want a tougher, old-school experience or if they want the game to be a bit more casual. Players are able to switch between these Modern and Retro modes whenever they want outside of levels, but players may not know which mode is best for them.
Here are the differences between Crash Bandicoot 4's Modern and Retro modes, and which mode players should pick.
Modern Mode
When players first boot up Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, they will discover that the Modern mode is the recommended mode. In Modern mode, Crash Bandicoot 4 players don't have to worry about limited lives. Crash and Coco can die an infinite number of times, with the only consequence having to start back over at the last checkpoint. The game has a high level of difficulty, and so it's likely that Toys for Bob recommends this mode so players don't get too frustrated with the game.
Since there are no lives to worry about in Modern mode, players will see all of the free-life boxes replaced with generic wumpa fruit boxes.
Retro Mode
In Retro mode, Crash Bandicoot 4 adds limited lives, which significantly increases the stakes. Levels are filled with free life boxes in addition to the usual wumpa fruit boxes, plus collecting 100 wumpa fruit will give players a free life as well. If Crash Bandicoot 4 players happen to die all of their lives while playing in Retro mode, they will have to start the entire level over from the beginning. Levels in Crash Bandicoot 4 can be pretty long sometimes, and so this could set players back quite a bit.
Modern vs. Retro
So now that players understand the differences between Modern and Retro mode, they may be wondering which mode they should select. While it's entirely subjective, it seems Retro mode is ultimately the more entertaining option, and that's because it makes level exploration more rewarding. Players don't have as much incentive to go out of their way to collect as many wumpa fruit and boxes in Modern mode, as they don't have to worry about building up their stock of lives.
And while players can certainly lose all their lives and get a game over in Retro mode, the game goes out of its way to ensure that this is a rare occurrence. Wumpa fruit is plentiful, as are lives, and while players will die a lot, many sections of the game have enough wumpa fruit to get a life back. And if players ever find themselves running low on lives in Crash Bandicoot 4, they always have the option to return to previously-completed stages to collect more.
Plus, both modes also make conventions for players who get stuck on any given part in the game. Just like the old Crash Bandicoot games, dying enough times will cause Crash to spawn with an Aku Aku mask, giving him a free extra hit point. If the deaths continue, players will eventually get a second Aku Aku mask, so they have two extra hit points, and the game may also add another checkpoint box to alleviate any stress or frustration.
Now, while we recommend playing Crash Bandicoot 4 on Retro when going through the story the first time (contrary to what the game recommends), it may be best to switch to Modern after beating the main story levels. The Crash Bandicoot 4 endgame is all about finding hidden gems and smashing all the crates in every level, and all of it will be made much less stressful if players don't have to worry about lives on top of everything else.
Smashing crates in Crash Bandicoot 4 is particularly less stressful when playing in Modern mode, as the endeavor may require players to purposefully kill Crash and Coco so that they can restart at the last checkpoint. There are numerous instances throughout the game where players have to smash the boxes in one go with no back-tracking, and so having to waste lives retrying these parts of the game can be annoying.
Pass n Play
There is one other game mode to take into account when playing Crash Bandicoot 4 and that is the Pass n Play mode. Essentially Crash Bandicoot 4's co-op mode, Pass n Play has players taking turns, with the ability to choose to swap the controller at every checkpoint, at every death, or both. However, it's better to just ignore Pass n Play. Those that want to play with someone can pass the controller themselves and can make up their own rules without having to worry about the game's restrictions or the distracting neon outlines it gives Crash and Coco when playing this model. The only reason to do it is to unlock a trophy.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is out now for PS4 and Xbox One.