For those looking for a platformer that feels like the successor from the 90s era, this is your game. Fan service, expanded levels, alternate skins, good story, and character exploration, this game has it all!

For those hating on the difficulty of Crash 4, have we got just the thing for you. There is an n.hanced difficulty mod that will greatly change the game. Instead of collecting 12 gems to fully complete a level, you will only need to collect 2 gems (and few times a color gem) for completion. Platinum relics too hard for completion? Not a problem! You only need sapphire relics to get the true ending. Timeline levels got you down? They will soon be changed/removed!

This game is on sale at times, so get this game while you can so you can get the recommended way to play Crash Bandicoot 4 It's About Time!

Fairly close to 106% i can say this game will drive you towards substance abuse and makes you call this ♥♥♥♥ game, video ♥♥♥♥, indie ♥♥♥♥, buggy ♥♥♥♥ and ♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥ but in the end you will love and hate every moment.

As much as I was looking forward to playing Crash 4, I had heard a lot of complaints about the game. "It's too hard, the levels are too long, there are too many crates...". Now that I have played it, it's time to answer... Were people right ?

You can tell right away that the presentation of the game is top-notch. I still like the design from the N.Sane Trilogy better, but the game looks gorgeous. From the cutscenes to the world map and the characters, everything looks good.
The levels look vibrant and colorful, with varied environments. The levels are challenging and cleverly use the new mechanics. The levels are... too long. And as someone who has played the game quite a bit, I believe this is the one problem that creates, or at least emphasizes the others.
When the levels are this long, everything the game encourages you to do on the side almost feels like a chore. Beating them without dying, destroying all crates or going fast in time trials is not only harder, but also a lot less appealing. The N. verted mode is a confusing addition. You have crafted beautiful and engaging levels, why ruin your work by applying an ugly filter on top of it ? Then you have the new playable characters. Dingo gets a pass, because he has a fancy Australian accent, but playing as Tawna or Cortex is simply not fun and doesn't bring anything to the game.

As a result, I didn't really enjoy the first 8 hours it took me to beat the game. Trying to go for completion your first time through is a mistake, because dying to one of the last traps, or reaching the end to see that you've missed 4 out of the 356 crates in a level is extremely frustrating. Still, I wanted to get a little more out of the game before moving on, so I decided to unlock some skins and beat the Flashback tapes ( hard platforming challenges with a retro vibe to them ) because I found those fun...

And that's when the game grew on me.

Turns out, Crash 4 is a lot more fun once you're familiar with how it works. Whether it's the levels, the mechanics or the hitboxes, they all feel better and the gameplay becomes what you could expect from a modern Crash Bandicoot, moving with the times. I started having fun collecting gems, crates and speedrunning the beautiful and busy levels I hadn't taken the time to enjoy at first. There's a lot to do and there's a challenge for everyone.
I'd like the game to remain as a good memory, so I'll leave the Perfect and Platinum relics as well as the ugly N. verted levels to braver souls, but know that these will require dedication and a lot of time.

If Crash 5 were to happen, those issues would be easy to fix. Shorter levels, fewer crates not hidden in obnoxious places... and maybe skip the additonal characters ? This would make for a game that's more accessible and immediately enjoyable.
I ended up having a lot of fun with Crash 4, despite a rough first impression. That learning phase shouldn't have been necessary, but if you get past it you'll be graced with a great game and a worthy successor to the series. The story of a game that grew into a beautiful 8. Give it a chance !