Almost 27 years after the game was first released, gamers are still making brand-new custom levels for the original Crash Bandicoot. Once the iconic mascot for Sony's PlayStation, the Crash Bandicoot franchise holds a special place in the heart of many gamers out there.
As of late, the Crash Bandicoot series has had something of a resurgence. It all began with Vicarious Visions' 2017 remake of the original trilogy. While 3D platformers were certainly out of fashion, the financial success of the remakes showed Activision that the audience demand for more Crash Bandicoot was alive and well. The result was a true sequel to the original trilogy, released 22 years after Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. It was a huge success, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time was released to critical acclaim. It wasn't going to save the entire genre, but it definitely breathed new life into a franchise that desperately needed it.
It seems the fans certainly haven't forgotten about the famous bandicoot either. As shown in a video posted to YouTube by ARD, a tool called Crash Creator now exists to create Crash Bandicoot levels using the original assets, and gamers are using it to create all-new games. It's Super Mario Maker-esque, and raises the question of why something like this hasn't been officially pursued by Activision. The video itself shows off the editor, and it looks extremely user-friendly, so anyone can jump in and attempt to create some new Crash Bandicoot levels.
ARD shows off footage from a fan game using the editor, dubbed Crash Bandicoot: Back in Time. It's clearly an extremely powerful tool, and it's exciting to see what others will create with it going forward. Right now, it's only possible to create 2D levels in the editor, but anything is possible in the future, especially with the speed that it appears to be developing. It's great to see the fans continue to honor one of gaming's earliest icons. While some gamers make new levels for others to play, some choose to show their love through other methods, like the Crash Bandicoot fan who made an incredible Uka Uka mask replica.
The future of the Crash Bandicoot franchise is looking bright. In just a few months, a brand-new party game titled Crash Team Rumble will release, offering hope that more is in the works at Activision. It would be a shame for the character to make a triumphant return after so many years, only to be allowed to disappear into obscurity once again. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time developer Toys For Bob is rumored to be working on a new Spyro title. It's extremely likely that anything Crash Bandicoot will have to wait until that is completed, if the rumors are to be believed.
Crash Bandicoot was released in 1996 for the PlayStation.