Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is finally available worldwide and is bringing lots of new content to Crash's latest adventure. On top of new hidden gems, extra challenging flashback tape levels, and a variety of new skins to unlock, Crash 4 also offers players the chance to play with friends.

In a surprise announcement, it was revealed not too long ago that Crash Bandicoot 4 would include multiplayer and co-op modes for between 1 and 4 players. For those hoping to play co-operative "Pass N. Play" mode with others, players will need to unlock the world map in the game by completing the first couple of levels. Co-op mode can then be selected by pausing the game and going through the options menu. Up to four players can play the main campaign together, passing the controller each time one dies or reaches a checkpoint, or both.

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The original player who set up the campaign is the only one who will make progress through Crash 4's story in co-op mode, but the game will keep track of each "Pass N. Play" player's deaths, boxes, and Wumpa fruit count. At the end of the level, the game will total up each player's Wumpa fruit as a score, with boxes and deaths acting as tiebreakers, to see which player 'won' the round. Pass N. Play also works in flashback levels, timeline levels, and N.Verted modes, but isn't available in time trials. Crash 4's co-op mode means players can assist each other throughout the entire story mode of the new game, which will be helpful for those extra tricky levels.

crash bandicoot 4 co-op menu

Separate multiplayer challenges are also available in Crash 4. The multiplayer option is titled Bandicoot Battle and is accessed in the game's main menu screen. Between 1-4 players can join in on two multiplayer challenges titled Checkpoint Race and Crate Combo. Checkpoint Race is a time trial mode where players race to reach checkpoints faster than the others, while Crate Combo puts the focus on smashing crates with the player who has the highest crate count winning the round. Players will also have the choice of four different characters while playing- Crash, Coco, Fake Crash, and Fake Coco.

The catch for both co-op and multiplayer modes in Crash Bandicoot 4 is that they are available locally only, meaning players need to be in the same room to participate on a single gaming system. Potentially, the developer may make multiplayer mode available online in the future, but for now, the game can still be enjoyed by players together at home.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is available now on PS4 and Xbox One.

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Source: Game Spew