Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

 Switch
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
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  1. Switch Player
    Apr 1, 2021
    90
    While the sharp difficulty spikes and commitment required for completion can be daunting, Crash 4 miraculously succeeds as both a direct successor to the original 90s trilogy, and a modernised reimagining of the franchise. It might be the best Crash game yet.
  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 17, 2021
    85
    The perfect place for anyone to jump in if they're interested in this brand of marsupial madness. [Issue #52 – May/June 2021, p. 72]
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  3. Gaming Nexus
    Apr 2, 2021
    85
    Like all Nintendo Switch ports, Crash 4: It's About Time makes concessions to run on the less-powerful hardware. Ultimately, though, the concessions are more than worth it to get a great game with a wealth of content running on the Nintendo Switch.
  5. Nintenderos
    Mar 17, 2021
    85
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a magnificent 3D platform game that preserves the essence of its classic trilogy while innovating to offer players an entertaining, fun and challenging title if they want to complete it.
  6. GamingTrend
    Mar 15, 2021
    85
    If you haven’t played Crash 4 yet, this is a competent version of the game if you don’t mind the drastically reduced visuals. However, it is slightly more glitchy and more difficult due to reduced visual clarity and the halved frame rate.
  7. God is a Geek
    Mar 13, 2021
    85
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time on Switch is just as fun and frantic as it is on Sony's consoles, but it's just that little bit less glorious to look at.
  8. Vandal
    Mar 11, 2021
    85
    This is a brilliant port of one of the best 3D platformer of the generation, that looks and plays incredibly well on the Switch.
  9. Gamers' Temple
    Apr 27, 2021
    80
    After so many mediocre sequels to the original Crash trilogy, it’s great to see Crash Bandicoot have a worthwhile game again. The difficulty may be hard, but it’s the type of difficulty that kept me trying. I never got truly frustrated at the game since the game gives you the option to play it like the original trilogy (with limited lives and restart level once all are gone) or with a new style (unlimited lives and continue from checkpoints). It’s only super hard if you try to 100% all stages, which is a good challenge for diehard players. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is every bit what a Crash sequel should be and is very comparable to the Naughty Dog installments.
  10. Universo Nintendo
    Apr 2, 2021
    80
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, it’s a fantastic experience and a must play to anyone who enjoys the platform genre. Certainly it’s one of the best games that will be released to the Nintendo Switch in 2021. No matter if you are an old fan of the bandicoot or someone who just wants to enjoy a platform, you can’t go wrong with this game. Still, know that although the entire premise may seem childish, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, might give you a really hardcore challenge if you decide to 100% everything in this game.
  11. Nintendo Insider
    Mar 25, 2021
    80
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a great port of a fantastic, beautiful game that’s just a little bit too bloated with frustrating content for completionists. When it works it really soars above most modern platformers, but much like Crash itself it feels like it has a problem focusing on one thing at once.
  12. TheGamer
    Mar 23, 2021
    80
    Overall, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on Nintendo Switch is well worth picking up if you liked the version that came out on console earlier this year and want a portable copy. It holds up very well on Nintendo’s system, and springs a few surprises with how well it handles everything. As for newcomers, this is probably as close to Warped as we’re going to get, so classic Crash fans should grab it too, even if it’s not quite Crash with all the trimmings.
  13. Gfinity
    Mar 22, 2021
    80
    It may be late to the party, but the extra time for the Switch version of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time has not gone to waste. It’s an excellent port with the mountain of content contained in the initial release all present and correct. Long-time Crash fans will be more than happy with what’s on offer, a continuation of the series they love that introduces some excellent new ideas. However, platforming fans new to Crash may find the way his movement echoes his wild personality rather frustrating.
  14. Vgames
    Mar 17, 2021
    80
    I know, I know - it ain't pretty, but looks aren't everything, and for what it's worth, this is an extremely solid port of an excellent game. Switch players should definitely give this one a try.
  15. Nintendo Life
    Mar 12, 2021
    80
    The Switch version of Crash 4 is a perfectly passable port of a fantastic platformer that's absolutely rammed with things to do. It may have the lowest frame rate and resolution of all versions of the game, but if the Switch is your main console or you're looking to enjoy some bandicoot-bouncing on the go in handheld mode, it's still an excellent offering when judged on its own merits.
  16. Jeuxvideo.com
    Mar 11, 2021
    80
    Yes, because of its lower definition, It’s About Time exhibits sluggish panoramas. Nothing too intrusive for overall readability, except perhaps for times when the character is sliding from one rail to another at full speed, but the downgrade should be noted.
  17. Hobby Consolas
    Mar 11, 2021
    78
    Like many other ports for the Nintendo Switch, if you don't know any other version or you don't mind the visual sacrifices, you will enjoy Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time.
  18. Everyeye.it
    Mar 14, 2021
    77
    In short, if you have the opportunity to taste it elsewhere, do not hesitate to do it without too many hesitations, because the proverbial Switch factor is in this case much less incisive than elsewhere (and indeed requires the payment of duties that to some extent compromise the pleasantness of the whole) .
  19. NintendoWorldReport
    Mar 15, 2021
    75
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time resurrects this classic series in an authentic fashion. While a modern adventure with maximum replayability is a godsend for fans, a lot of what made the original Crash games rough around the edges is also present in this iteration, with inaccurate platforming and frustrating difficulty. However, for those looking for a return to form for the Bandicoot, Toys For Bob has proven themselves yet again in this long-awaited sequel.
  20. LevelUp
    Apr 9, 2021
    70
    To the clinical eye of the hardcore fan, Crash Bandicoot 4 on Nintendo Switch can be considered as avoidable, however, this may well be different for those who seek the portable experience. Despite the obvious limits of this version, everything, maintains its essence in terms of design and mechanics, saving it from disaster.
  21. Vooks
    Mar 22, 2021
    70
    Crash Bandicoot 4: It's about time is an excellent follow up for those who loved the first three games. A lot of time has passed since then, and Crash 4 feels like a strange relic from the past. It's as if Crash was found frozen, thawed out by Toys for Bob and taught how to be a modern game just like Encino Man. For nostalgic fans, this will be exactly what you were waiting for, potentially at the expense of newcomers.
  22. Cubed3
    Mar 22, 2021
    70
    Crash Bandicoot 4 is a raving success when it comes to producing a sequel worthy of the franchise's original trilogy. Any fan should have no hesitations in picking this up. The content on offer is huge, with tons to collect and aim for in every stage, costumes to unlock, different characters to play as, fresh gameplay that compliments the familiar, and bundles of humour and charm. This is not an easy game, however. Getting to the end is one thing, but be prepared for one of the toughest tasks in modern games if attempting to 100% every level. Despite the performance cutbacks on Switch, it runs and looks well enough, but if portable play doesn't matter to you, it might be wiser to opt for one of the other versions.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. 3DJuegos
    Mar 12, 2021
    A good port for Nintendo Switch, that keeps all the good things the original release had. Crash Bandicoot 4 is a must-have for users that enjoy playing platformer games. [Recommended]

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best Switch Game of 2021
51
#51 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 84 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 84
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 84
  3. Negative: 11 out of 84
  1. greninjaX
    May 11, 2021
    8
    this is definitely one of the best crash games in terms of level design and gameplay, but they definitely went too far with the collectiblesthis is definitely one of the best crash games in terms of level design and gameplay, but they definitely went too far with the collectibles in this one. 100% completion is nearly impossible. a casual playthrough is still great though… Full Review »
  2. MorbidFable
    Apr 11, 2021
    8
    This is a fantastic sequel. Many games who don't have new entries in decades return and flop entirely but it is everything crash use to haveThis is a fantastic sequel. Many games who don't have new entries in decades return and flop entirely but it is everything crash use to have and then some. I will admit I am not good at this at all, in fact I would not recommend this as hardly to those who aren't already massive fans or want a challenge. It's not impossible, in fact its very doable, it just will require you to try and try again.

    This review is for the switch version, played exclusively in handheld. Performance was not generally an issue. I would've loved 60FPS or more, and higher visual fidelity. There were certainly times when I died because the platforming was hindered by graphics. I suspect this is not an issue on other platforms and others may not have experienced it as much as I have.

    There is plenty of replayability in the game. There are side levels on top of bonus levels that let you play as a different character with a different tool set, as well as mirror mode levels. There are plenty of unlockable cosmetics but good lord the grind required to unlock them is rough. It requires you to entirely master a level in order to unlock it.

    The story was nothing incredible, and the humor wasn't awful, in fact I rather enjoyed it most of the time but there wasn't a whole lot which I honestly would've preferred more of. I'm sure others maybe wouldn't but the cutscenes were fantastically animated and voiced.

    I'd recommend this to anyone who is a grown adult and can take frustration and no one else. Your kids gonna hate this game.    … Full Review »
  3. MotorDrive
    Apr 3, 2021
    10
    this game has consumed my life i have tried to 100% for 20 hours and im only 20% done
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