Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 854 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 635 out of 854
  2. Mixed: 104 out of 854
  3. Negative: 115 out of 854
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  1. Baraqyal
    Nov 16, 2020
    4
    There’s a good platformer in here somewhere. But between the buggy levels, annoying gimmicks, excessive nostalgia, bizarre difficulty curve, forgettable story, and infuriating grind if you want to collect everything, I cannot in good conscience recommend this.
  2. ultimatesoll
    Oct 3, 2020
    4
    The game is nowhere near the previous installment, Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy. The overall game design is too messy, poorly built stages/platforms and doesn’t have any old-school platformer vibe that we used to play.

    Crash 4 isn’t so challenging at all, make the game child play. Pixar-ish cutscenes are boring, not seemly and not unique. There are tons of differences between this one    The game is nowhere near the previous installment, Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy. The overall game design is too messy, poorly built stages/platforms and doesn’t have any old-school platformer vibe that we used to play.

    Crash 4 isn’t so challenging at all, make the game child play. Pixar-ish cutscenes are boring, not seemly and not unique. There are tons of differences between this one and Crash Bandicoot 1 remake. The powerups are also make the gameplay even easier and the core gameplay life span is too short.

    Crash Bandicoot 4 could’ve been way better than this after it’s glorious resurrection in 2017. But in this form, it’s just another copy of it’s old unsuccessful entries.

    Better stick with Super Mario Galaxy HD, a game that offering hella fun experience even after a decade.    … Expand
  3. agent13
    Apr 28, 2023
    4
    the graphics, level design and gameplay of crash 4 is quite good but the story? not so much. the big problem with this late sequel is that it's too damn difficult even with having checkpoints i died like 100 times in some levels and the last levels get rediculously hard where you have to be fast and perfect which is not always possible also the checkpoints are way too apart it ended up athe graphics, level design and gameplay of crash 4 is quite good but the story? not so much. the big problem with this late sequel is that it's too damn difficult even with having checkpoints i died like 100 times in some levels and the last levels get rediculously hard where you have to be fast and perfect which is not always possible also the checkpoints are way too apart it ended up a nightmare to just beat the game and i couldn't even finish the game so i deleted it the original trilogy and other activision crash games had balanced difficulty but crash 4 is impossible to beat for me… Expand
  4. Falkenauge
    Nov 23, 2020
    4
    Unfortunately much too heavy and only causes frustration.
    If you think the Souls games are difficult, please play this game. Ideally to 100%.
    Only give a 4 because the levels are way too difficult. The challenge is good and okay, but not during the normal run and certainly not that difficult! I went through the Crash Trilo on platinum and didn't have nearly as many problems with it as    Unfortunately much too heavy and only causes frustration.
    If you think the Souls games are difficult, please play this game. Ideally to 100%.
    Only give a 4 because the levels are way too difficult.
    The challenge is good and okay, but not during the normal run and certainly not that difficult!
    I went through the Crash Trilo on platinum and didn't have nearly as many problems with it as with the game, even though I only played through ...
    If ever a 5 part should come then for god's sake it shouldn't be like the 4 part.
    Character or graphic design is also unfortunately not nice. Why didn't you take over the graphics engine from the Trilo 1: 1? Especially the jumping behavior and the physics are much more pleasant than in the 4 part.
    The graphics are also worse than in the Trilo but you have 60 fps which is great.
    That's what I missed with the Trilo.
    Therefore, a request from a crash fan makes the next game less difficult! The graphic design is also better like the Trilo. Better to bring in the adult humor. See Little Tiger, what relates to his penis and much, much more!
    The original Crash was also designed for older people and didn't have a toddler look. The funny and extreme dying animations are missing and have also made crash!
    Just like his super hot girlfriend!

    The look of the game was clearly designed for younger children. Then why do you make it so bloody hard? Do you want the children to be frustrated or even so angry that they break the controller?
    As an adult I can hardly stand it. how are children supposed to survive this without freaking out? Or are today's children all such pro gamers and manage a game like this 100% without any major help or problems? Would be new to me.
    Somehow a contradiction and I wonder if the developers even knew for whom they were really making the game.
    Should it pick up the old fans? then i ask you why did you change the look and the type of crash so that it has little to do with the old games?
    Should it appeal to new customers and children? then i ask the developers why is it so damn difficult and scare off new customers?    … Expand
  5. Lttrev
    Sep 9, 2021
    4
    Its honestly NOT what i would consider fun. They went our of their way to make this as hard as possible. Almost sadistic levels of hard. Thats not what made Crash fun to me. Fair and challenging, but not overly challenging to where it makes you want to put the controller down after 2 stages.
  6. B-Bog
    Aug 30, 2023
    4
    This was my second attempt to get into Crash after the N.Sane trilogy and the series just does NOT gel with me, even with the new modern mode with checkpoints, apart from which, the game feels insanely archaic. Controls and physics just feel off, the double jump is one of the clunkiest I have ever encountered in any video game, and the fact that Crash cannot hold on to ledges never managedThis was my second attempt to get into Crash after the N.Sane trilogy and the series just does NOT gel with me, even with the new modern mode with checkpoints, apart from which, the game feels insanely archaic. Controls and physics just feel off, the double jump is one of the clunkiest I have ever encountered in any video game, and the fact that Crash cannot hold on to ledges never managed to quite sink into my brain because it has been a standard not only for platformers, but video games in general for literally DECADES. The locked camera makes it very hard to correctly appraise distances and positions when you're going into or out of the screen. All of this maybe could've been fine if the level design was a little more forgiving, but every level is just one long series of frustrating traps designed to immediately kill you, many of which require trial-and-error to even get a sense of what's going on. Look towards the king of platformers, Mario, on how to do this better: In every level, a mechanic is first introduced in its most basic form and without severe repercussions, then it is GRADUALLY expanded upon and made more challenging throughout the level. Whereas Crash just says: FU, it's sink or swim right from the get-go. Not fun.

    The game certainly looks good, but could've definitely used more clarity in its visual design because sometimes you can't even accurately make out hazards until it is too late.

    Music and sound are OK I guess. Story doesn't matter at all, it is fourth-grader s**t and I soon started skipping through all of it. Once again, take a hint from Mario: It's OK not to have a super-deep story in a platformer, but if you don't, then don't interrupt the game with dumb*ss superfluous cutscenes all the time.    … Expand
  7. Distrial
    Dec 4, 2020
    4
    Visually it's a great game, the music is a bit forgettable but still good, and the moment to moment gameplay is there and competent, so overall it's pretty solid, although the story is pretty meh until near the end. However there's a lot to this game that make me wonder "did they even play the originals?" Now, I've completed Crash 1-3 including all gems and plat relics, I don't considerVisually it's a great game, the music is a bit forgettable but still good, and the moment to moment gameplay is there and competent, so overall it's pretty solid, although the story is pretty meh until near the end. However there's a lot to this game that make me wonder "did they even play the originals?" Now, I've completed Crash 1-3 including all gems and plat relics, I don't consider myself a top Crash player so I feel like I'm pretty good, right? Well apparently not considering how annoying trying to collect everything in this game; so many boxes in every level that are hidden so well you need a guide to find them, enemies with bad hitboxes, long levels that take an eternity to finish which makes collecting to gems you can only get without dying more than 3 times harder to get, repeated levels and overall less creative level designs, the list goes on. What I'm getting at is that all these things add up and make it so you're replaying levels over and over again trying to 100% them until deaths start feeling more and more cheap, gems stop feeling like rewards and more like blood drying in your hair after hours of banging your head against a wall, and lastly, the game starts to feel boring. I hate that I even feel like this because even in crash 1 when I was going for platinum relics and having a hard time I still felt challenged and engaged; with this game I feel like it expects nearly impossible things of me at times and so I have to spend a bunch of time practicing a certain section or running through the level 5 times looking for 1 off screen crate. I wanted to love this game, but my favorite part of Crash games is the completion stuff and this game honestly stinks at it.… Expand
  8. X-men1995Fringe
    Oct 5, 2020
    4
    Hi, first of All I played every single Crash game there is on every consoles/Handhelds (Yes, even that sh*t "Boom Bang") so I consider myself (25 years old) a Crash Veteran.

    But hell even though "It is about time" is a good game, to me it doesnt feel like proper sequel crash game... first of all I love stupid childish humor, but in this game to me it seem too much childish and not funny    Hi, first of All I played every single Crash game there is on every consoles/Handhelds (Yes, even that sh*t "Boom Bang") so I consider myself (25 years old) a Crash Veteran.

    But hell even though "It is about time" is a good game, to me it doesnt feel like proper sequel crash game... first of all I love stupid childish humor, but in this game to me it seem too much childish and not funny at all... (Well there are some exceptions - Dingodile :-). The map system from frist game I was never a fan of, I much prefer Crash 2 and 3 portals system... but these are jsut minor things, what I truly hate is that the game is hard as hell (Trophies even more!) but not in a fun way like Crash 1 but realy frustrating a lot of times, my little sister couldnt even completed the second level without my help and was sad with even with my help she wasnt able to collect all the boxes ! I thought the game was made for everyone not just for hardcore gamers ?! Box placements is a joke, but a bad one, the amount of them in some levels is also crazy and box placements in those sliding sections is pure hell if you want to do the no N-Sanely Perfect no death challenge. Sound design is very bland and uninspirative, even the sound of Wumpa fruits pick up isnt what it used to be. Character designs I still dont like, but I got used to it but the whole aesthetic of the game is what bothers me a lot, the graphics are too simplistic and Fortnite-like, colors are too much saturated for my eyes (I have literally had to tune down my TV Contrast to be able to play) also the boxes lot of times just blend in with the enviroments and is much more hard to find just because of that. The level designs some are good but most of them feels too much narrow to my taste, and second routhes are sometimes also too hard to see where you can go and where you just fall to your death. The masks I actually enjoys but sometimes is the only focus of the levels, to me it feels like they tried to put so much new content that they forget about simple but well made platforming. Look in OG trilogy we got only jump/double, Crouch/slide, Spin/4xtimes (plus Wumpazooka) And everybody loved it, I still enjoyed and prefer the Trilogy over Crash 4 IAT. I hope we well get a Bash,WotC and Twinsanity Remakes from VV after this game    … Expand
  9. ec30859
    Oct 2, 2020
    4
    Love the Crash series but this game controls like **** have clipped through the ground so many times and the controls just do not respond consistently. If you want your Crash Bandicoot fix play the N-Sane Trilogy or Nitro Fueled and skip this **** bomb. Only giving it a 4 for graphics and sound
  10. Juananrey
    Oct 14, 2020
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Main complaint: yet another example of making games artificially lengthier for no reason

    Pros:
    - Crash and the new concept for masks feels fresh and overall the control is quite OK
    - The tapes concept is a good idea too
    - The game aesthetic is beautiful and keeps the bandicoot essence

    Cons:
    - Achieve 100% of the boxes is absurdly difficult. There are always a couple hidden for no reason.
    - The inverted gems is a joke to make it more replayable I guess
    - Checkpoints ubication is mostly terrible: either too close or too far
    - The levels are so large and full of meaningless dialogs.
    - Last but not least: there is absolutely no point on manually restart a level when you have checked no checkpoints for achieving the tape (0 deaths) or the 3 death gem. Your death counter increases and when you manually restart it takes around 30 seconds. Come on, I’m restarting the level, keep it in the freaking cache or something, holly molly.    … Expand
  11. Cloddo
    Nov 22, 2020
    4
    Good conept, I've loved every Crash Bandicoot game so far. This game is good, don't take me wrong. But it's boring. At least for me. Levels are just too much long and frustrating (challenge is always good in every game, but I have to feel it's actually MY fault for the mistake when I lose. And in this game there are too many occasions where it's not like that). I am struggling just toGood conept, I've loved every Crash Bandicoot game so far. This game is good, don't take me wrong. But it's boring. At least for me. Levels are just too much long and frustrating (challenge is always good in every game, but I have to feel it's actually MY fault for the mistake when I lose. And in this game there are too many occasions where it's not like that). I am struggling just to finish it, not to tell to try to make it 100%... And when a game is boring, sorry, but can't take an high note.… Expand
  12. stesproject
    Nov 27, 2020
    4
    I didn't like the game. It's insanely difficult. It's so difficult that you can't enjoy it.
  13. MattMusky
    Dec 26, 2020
    4
    If you forget the N. Sane trilogy (a perfect remaster) exists, this game still somehow feels like a downgrade from the PS1 games. Everything just looks off (character designs, crates, animations), Crash acts differently, the writing isn't good (not that the writing for any crash game ever was but it's the worse of the 4), and most importantly, Crash moves differently. This game just feelsIf you forget the N. Sane trilogy (a perfect remaster) exists, this game still somehow feels like a downgrade from the PS1 games. Everything just looks off (character designs, crates, animations), Crash acts differently, the writing isn't good (not that the writing for any crash game ever was but it's the worse of the 4), and most importantly, Crash moves differently. This game just feels like a cheap knockoff and I can't understand why. Did they not have access to anything at all from the N. Sane trilogy? I'm not saying they couldn't make improvements or change what they wanted from it, it's just bizarre that nothing at all is the same as it was in the remaster.… Expand
  14. Marsupio
    Sep 1, 2021
    4
    This isn't crash Bandicoot. Is a trial and error game with full of bad ideas and one of the hardest and confusing game ever.
  15. HearYouMe
    Mar 1, 2022
    4
    This game is so difficult that is not fun anymore, it's frustrating and boring, level design is boring, very few levels feel smooth and fun to play, the new mechanics are bad and don't feel polished, the only masks that are fun are Lani-Loli and Kupuna-Wa, the other are confusing and frustrating to play, also their levels are badly designed.
    The levels feel like they were designed for you    This game is so difficult that is not fun anymore, it's frustrating and boring, level design is boring, very few levels feel smooth and fun to play, the new mechanics are bad and don't feel polished, the only masks that are fun are Lani-Loli and Kupuna-Wa, the other are confusing and frustrating to play, also their levels are badly designed.
    The levels feel like they were designed for you to die over and over and over again, difficult in an unfun way, hitboxes are weird, jumping physics feel like you are floating. I was so fed up of this game that there's was a point were I was just ignoring the boxes and secret levels and trying to be done with it.
    Tawna is boring and his mechanics are badly made.
    Dingodile is the only one I kinda liked. Right stick should be used to aim, badly designed nonetheless.
    Cortex is extremely boring to play and his levels too.
    Some bosses are extremely easy and some others feel like I'm playing Touhou.
    Camera work is also bad, right stick is completely useless.    … Expand
  16. BetitoBaby
    Jul 15, 2022
    4
    Probablemente uno de los peores plataformas que he jugado, con un estilo artístico interesante pero gráficos de hace 2 generaciones, me alegra que sea un fracaso.
  17. Thosevelvetygms
    Sep 12, 2022
    4
    Crash games are usually fun to play, but Crash Bandicoot 4 just isn't. This isn't Dark Souls, but apparently the devs forgot about that. What a complete, bitter disappointment for a longtime fan of the series.
  18. ignore78
    Nov 15, 2020
    3
    its crash bandicoot. Take out the fun challenging gameplay and you get crash bandicoot 4. this game is just frustrating and no fun. the original game was hard, bun not frustrating hard. just hard. this game making me want to delete the game every time i die thinking . this is **** and the new mechanics is not fun.
  19. Zequila
    Nov 29, 2020
    3
    Awful game... The level design is probably one of the worst I've ever see in a platform game. Controls are terrible, the hitbox simply doesn't exist. Wrath of cortex is a great game compared with this
  20. SirCatflap
    Apr 25, 2021
    3
    Infuriatingly difficult, sluggish to control, devoid of any substantial story, and near impossible to 100% with your sanity intact.
  21. VanillaCone
    Oct 2, 2020
    3
    The game levels looks good, some new ideas are fresh but i think they doesn't fit crash universe.
    some levels look very similar to old games, sometimes i feel like i'm playing crash 2 again.
    the collectables are funny and difficult, i like it but i feel like are the same old mechanics, maybe specific challenges accordin to the level would be great. Not a great fan of the new desgin but    The game levels looks good, some new ideas are fresh but i think they doesn't fit crash universe.
    some levels look very similar to old games, sometimes i feel like i'm playing crash 2 again.
    the collectables are funny and difficult, i like it but i feel like are the same old mechanics, maybe specific challenges accordin to the level would be great.
    Not a great fan of the new desgin but I can live with some of them
    The bosses selection, should be more diverse and also some mechanics looks like a remaster ideas for the past games.
    My main problem is that the game looks more fun when someone is playing it and I don't know why, maybe the mechanics, maybe it's me.

    I think if no matter the game is good or bad we should give our honest points of view and don't go to the extremes to put a 0 or a 10, if you like a videogame the critic will help a lot to the next development team    … Expand
  22. jameseyryan
    Oct 4, 2020
    3
    For me, this game has been made just to challenge speedrunners and has zero replay value for the casual gamer.

    I'm halfway through the main levels. Each level has me dying 30+ times to finish it so the idea of time trialling seems like a joke. Flashback tapes where you need to stay alive until a certain part of the level to get it? Pfft! Almost every level requires a youtube tutorial to    For me, this game has been made just to challenge speedrunners and has zero replay value for the casual gamer.

    I'm halfway through the main levels. Each level has me dying 30+ times to finish it so the idea of time trialling seems like a joke.
    Flashback tapes where you need to stay alive until a certain part of the level to get it? Pfft!

    Almost every level requires a youtube tutorial to be able to find all of the boxes and hidden gems. The bonus levels are so convoluted that some of them require going back and forth over the level multiple times, dying 40+ times to try and succeed. The precision required all the time is ridiculous. The game looks great, and the new addition of the quantum masks and playing as other characters is great, but this game is too much about frustration and anger than challenging and fun.    … Expand
  23. Karlmar
    Oct 4, 2020
    3
    Terribly frustrating game design that leans on the crutch of a infinite life mechanic. Which ultimately erodes what made crash a fun and challanging game in the first place. Art is okay music is mostly remix of classic songs but used in odd ways rather than as a call back to previous games. Poor input in locations and bad signaling of game design let's it down. Summary play n sane trilogy
  24. whyiexist
    Oct 24, 2020
    3
    Why does this even exist, its horrible. The remakes were good, but this is way up its own ass and it seems like it was made to appeal to ass holes. Its 2020 and there's no camera control, I don't care about collecting all the boxes, the art style is not for me but the overall charm of the crash games has been decimated. Its not cool or funny if you are TRYING to be cool and funny. Why areWhy does this even exist, its horrible. The remakes were good, but this is way up its own ass and it seems like it was made to appeal to ass holes. Its 2020 and there's no camera control, I don't care about collecting all the boxes, the art style is not for me but the overall charm of the crash games has been decimated. Its not cool or funny if you are TRYING to be cool and funny. Why are you trying to force a niche culture and sense of modernism. Who asked for Tawna to have crap blue hair and have the I'm independent and strong woman spiel, its old and its not even original nor is it charming. It makes you cringe and roll your eyes. The game is cheap. Toys for bob shouldn't touch another crash game because they changed it in ways it shouldn't have and kept it to the originals in ways it shouldn't have.… Expand
  25. CBfan20
    Nov 4, 2020
    3
    ok so i am a crash bandicoot fan this game was one of my favorites as a kid, i played almost all past crash bandicoot games including the remastered version of the 3 parts , i was exited for the new crash 4 game, i played the first level and it was alright but then when i reached about half of the game it got really hard for me everything is good in this game for me except the difficulty,ok so i am a crash bandicoot fan this game was one of my favorites as a kid, i played almost all past crash bandicoot games including the remastered version of the 3 parts , i was exited for the new crash 4 game, i played the first level and it was alright but then when i reached about half of the game it got really hard for me everything is good in this game for me except the difficulty, when i reached the ice level (i don't remember the name of the level) it was too much difficult to even be fun, that's when i decided to close the game and delete it immediately, that's not what i used to in any crash bandicoot game the difficulty is just too much it's not even funny, i used to have so much fun playing crash bandicoot but in this game it's more frustration than fun i know some people are gonna call me noob but i don't care this isn't fun for me i wish the next crash bandicoot game would be less difficult than this, unfortunately i don't like this, i wish there was a refund policy so i can get my money back!… Expand
  26. RP1_
    Mar 1, 2022
    3
    This game can be summed up in one word, frustrating. The jumping mechanism at times seem broken. Box placement, timed jumps are overwhelming at times… I feel like the ‘death count’ was included to add to the absolute madness of the game. It isn’t difficult, it’s annoying. I hated it.
  27. Jason0507
    Dec 7, 2022
    3
    The games story is somewhat interesting and the use of the different maskes provides an element of fun gamplay. However, that is basically the only good things about this game. The story is dragged out and forces you to complete levels which do not develop the story at all. The level sometimes feel like than can take up to half an hour to complete. The game becomes more of a chore thanThe games story is somewhat interesting and the use of the different maskes provides an element of fun gamplay. However, that is basically the only good things about this game. The story is dragged out and forces you to complete levels which do not develop the story at all. The level sometimes feel like than can take up to half an hour to complete. The game becomes more of a chore than fun. Also the implementation of the LGBT characters is unnecessary. Kids play this game and they don't need this forced down than neck. After the first hour you will want to uninstall this game. There are much better games to spend your time playing.… Expand
  28. Celentanomolle
    Mar 10, 2022
    3
    This is a glitched trial and error, full of bug, awful hitboxes and terrible level design.
  29. DaweHolzer
    Sep 6, 2022
    3
    This game is pretty annoying. I thought that i was too unskilled but i see others have frustration with the controls as well. Every chapter that i played felt like i was balancing on ice while jumping .Couldn't play much of it because i got fed up with the trolling that the devs pulled off.
  30. Iansilva
    Jun 20, 2022
    3
    It was simple. Just make a game like the remake, but in an attempt to innovate they ruined it. Isn't a Crash game.
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Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best PS4 Game of 2020
21
#21 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 95 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 95
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 95
  3. Negative: 0 out of 95
  1. Riot Pixels
    Jan 26, 2021
    70
    Toys for Bob's game is a welcome addition to the original trilogy, although you will hardly remember its levels or music. Crash Bandicoot 4 is two steps below the amazing Super Mario Odyssey and Yoshi’s Crafted World.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Dec 18, 2020
    95
    I honestly did not expect such a stellar game. Crash Bandicoot 4 is breathtakingly beautiful, features an amazing soundtrack full of references to the original trilogy, offers tons of content, and thrilled me to bits with its brilliant level design. What’s more, it stayed true to its gameplay roots, while introducing loads of great new mechanics. For me it’s the game of the year. I salute you, Toys For Bob! [12/2020, p.58]
  3. Gamers' Temple
    Dec 18, 2020
    90
    Crash Bandicoot 4 is a worthy addition to the Crash legacy. It captures the spirit, fun, and challenge of the original games, and adds a lot more that genuinely makes the experience even better rather than simply padding out the gameplay. The game is certainly challenging and the levels could probably use a few more checkpoints, but the number in the game is truer to the spirit of the originals than modern gaming standards. A little perseverance will get you through the game, but it’s going to take a little work if you want to be a Crash completionist. Overall it’s a great platform game that perfectly blends the old and the new into a fun new experience.
    Read full review
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