Crash Bandicoot is back and better than ever. Completely reworked from the ground up with HD textures and redone gameplay mechanics, Crash’s N.Sane Trilogy is an remastered collection with a ton of replay value, and even more hair pulling headaches.

Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy is a 2017 HD Remake collection of the first three Crash games, it is developed by Vicarious Visions, and published by Activision, it is currently available exclusively on Playstation 4.

Titular character Crash Bandicoot as he appears in N.Sane Trilogy.

Editor’s Note: This review is being written as a first time playthrough of all titles featured in N.Sane Trilogy, because well it is one. 

Debuting in 1996 on the original Playstation, Crash Bandicoot became a standout in the early decades of modern console gaming, due to it’s animation, sound design, core gameplay, and story. The series has spawned seven core games, and twelve spinoff titles ranging from racing games, to mobile games on multiple platforms within its 20 year history, and continues to hold a place in the hearts of gamers across all generations.

Reworked, redesigned, remastered, and damn near rebooted Crash returns with a vengeance.

THE GOOD: Let’s get one thing out of way, Crash N.Sane Trilogy is difficult, extremely so. While many deaths can often be considered cheap (and there are some), N.Sane’s difficulty is way more than just a cheap rage inducer for the sake of it. You actually have to nail your timing and be precise with the platforming, or you will die, very easily and very quickly. If you’re already aware of the Crash story, then there really isn’t much here as it’s a remaster. A mad scientist has turned a bandicoot (Crash) into a lunatic & has captured his sister, so now Crash must rescue her. There’s not much reason to go into Crash’s story because it’s kind of just there admittedly for all three entries within the collection, but Crash’s fun is it’s gameplay & gorgeous design.

Oh hey, Crash’s sister is playable.

THE BAD: While Crash’s difficulty was revamped for the remaster, some deaths can be laughably unavoidable and yes there are times when they do feel cheap, this is really my only gripe.

A rare remaster done right.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Remasters come and go, and in a world where nearly ever game and it’s grandmother has a remaster port, it’s nice seeing one truly change up the usual formula and giving players both old and new something to look forward to beyond nostalgia, which is where Crash N.Sane Trilogy succeeds with flying colors.

[ctt template=”1″ link=”3fe21″ via=”yes” ][/ctt]