{"id":14547,"date":"2018-07-13T15:38:14","date_gmt":"2018-07-13T14:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk\/quench\/?p=14547"},"modified":"2019-04-11T09:30:34","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T08:30:34","slug":"crash-bandicoot-n-sane-trilogy-review-platinum-preservation-aged-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk\/quench\/download\/crash-bandicoot-n-sane-trilogy-review-platinum-preservation-aged-legend\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Mike O’Brien |\u252c\u00e1<\/span><\/i>\u00d4\u00ff\u00e0\u00d4\u00ff\u00e0\u00d4\u00ff\u00e0\u00d4\u00ff\u00e0\u00d4\u00a3\u2591<\/p>\n

Disclosure: Activision provided Quench with a review copy of <\/b>Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy <\/i><\/b>for Nintendo Switch<\/b>. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Few of gaming’s icons can claim the legacy of <\/span>Crash Bandicoot<\/span><\/i>. Though it’s had a number of titles over the years, none have equaled the impact of the original trilogy by Naughty Dog, who’ve since moved on to more adult pursuits in <\/span>Uncharted <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>The Last of Us<\/span><\/i>. That legendary trilogy had been lost to the annals of history it seemed, trapped on the PlayStation forever. But Vicarious Visions has emancipated the world’s most famous marsupial in one of the best, if not the best, video game remakes of all time: <\/span>Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy<\/span><\/i>, which after a long year of PS4-exclusivity, has finally come to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re unfamiliar with Crash Bandicoot – a serious explanation is owed if so – it’s a series of platforming games about a manic marsupial on a vendetta to destroy as many boxes as humanly possible, and also save his loved ones and the planet should the time for such trivialities be found. The gameplay is a mix of 2D and 3D platforming<\/span>, <\/span><\/i>with vehicle segments dotted throughout. Whilst most levels are a series of tricky traditional platforming, some have you running towards the screen and away from an enormous boulder, whilst others have the player navigating an unstoppable hog on a warpath. One thing is clear though; regardless of the objective, Crash games are notoriously difficult and demand every fibre of your determination.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hell has never felt so much like home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So how well does the <\/span>N Sane Trilogy <\/span><\/i>capture the essence of old-school Crash? Seasoned gamers are no strangers to reiterations, and more often than not, some of the magic from treasured titles is lost in translation. Amazingly, there’s no such compromise with <\/span>Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy<\/span><\/i>, a game which far surpasses its source material in almost every way. From the tropical vibes to the downright ACME-corp sound effects, the spirit of Crash is perfectly intact here.<\/span><\/p>\n

That’s not to say it’s exactly the same. Visually speaking, Crash himself and the world around him have been drastically transformed into HD. In nerd terms, you’re looking at a total technical overhaul, with modern AAA standards in texture detail, foliage quality, animations, ambient occlusion, lighting, and performance. Viscerally, that means luscious flora, an adorably fuzzy Crash, carvings with excellent depth and texture, and wonderful lighting that brings the whole experience together – and you better believe those wumpa fruits look as delicious as ever. Every inch of this game is brimming with detail and life in ways that weren’t imaginable in 1996, yet it’s somehow exactly as you remembered it, too. Balancing recreation and evolution with such major strides is no easy feat, and Vicarious Visions deserves a massive pat on the back. <\/span><\/p>\n

Music has enjoyed more subtle evolution than visuals, where the little touches Vicarious has added to the soundtrack are just as delightful. While visuals have received a complete overhaul, the music has been faithfully reconstructed and then expanded on. Melodies are exactly as you remember them – but listen a little closer and you’ll notice a handful of welcome new bells and whistles. On \u00d4\u00c7\u00ffN. Sanity Beach’, probably the most famous track in Crash history, extra percussion, the smooth hum of an organ, and much higher sound quality overall really makes Crash pop into the 21st century. Diegetic sound has received a nice boost as well, with Crash’s footsteps making a different sound for each kind of terrain, whilst animals in the background of the stage make some ambient noise as well.\u252c\u00e1<\/span>The most noticeable improvement is in the level \u00d4\u00c7\u00ffBoulder Dash’, which YouTube user T’Henix has demonstrated below:<\/p>\n