After numerous teases, leaks, and even an official puzzle distributed to press by Activision, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time has finally been unveiled. A direct sequel to Naughty Dog's universally acclaimed Crash Bandicoot trilogy that concluded in 1998, the title will supposedly be a major new reboot to the series that sees Crash, Coco, Cortex, and several other iconic characters taking part in a brand new adventure.
The trailer showcases a number of new aspects to the game, including a variety of playable characters and a wholly original story, but it also seems as though the title will feature fresh abilities that Crash can wield. The source of these dramatic new gameplay mechanics is actually a set of new masks that feature in the story, with Paul Yan from Toys For Bob revealing that these characters are known as the "quantum masks."
Within the gameplay shown following the reveal of the trailer, a lot more was revealed about two of the four masks Crash will be able to get his hands on throughout the story. The first is the "time mask," which allows the lovable bandicoot to slow time to a crawl. In the footage available for It's About Time, the ability is shown off several times, with Crash using it to slow falling ice platforms so he can traverse across them and dodge past enemy plants attempting to strike him. According to Yan, it will also give players the ability to use nitro boxes as platforms for the first time, with Crash gaining a few seconds before the iconic green boxes blow up. It will undeniably make for a great addition to the bandicoot's arsenal.
The second mask available is the "gravity mask," which gives players the ability to attach themselves to ceilings and other platforms. In the trailer, fans see Crash use the ability to traverse over long gaps, as well as solve pretty extensive gravity-based puzzles. It seems the ability will also make for a fairly dramatic switch up to basic platforming, with a few sections showing players needing to perform intricate jumps despite the area's gravity having shifted.
Overall, it seems Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time will be looking to provide a much more intricate and multilayered experience than previous entries in the franchise. With players waiting for a new mainline iteration of the iconic series for years, it seems now is finally the time for one of gaming's most notorious mascot to make his return.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time will be available on October 2 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.