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Activision started talking about the return of Crash Bandicoot as far back as 2011, and six years later it’s finally here, in the form of a remaster of 1996’s original Crash Bandicoot, 1997’s Cortex Strikes Back and 1998’s Warped, entitled the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. These new versions support 4K and PS4 Pro HD.
The initial announcement said: "Activision and Vicarious Visions are honouring the heritage of Crash in a variety of ways, including a fully remastered game soundtrack, as well as newly-recorded dialogue from some of the familiar voice actors who appeared in the original Crash Bandicoot games, including Jess Harnell and Lex Lang."
The N. Sane Trilogy is likely to attract a wealth of players who have been eagerly waiting for Crash to return, and it’s clear the game will primarily appeal to its core audience of hardcore Crash fans. How this will translate into sales remains to be seen, as the title has two possible paths ahead.
It could have a similar fate to Yooka-Laylee, meaning a decent performance at retail with sales being led by nostagia but not enough to become a hit. Or, it could go down the same route as 2016’s Ratchet & Clank remake, which did really well at retail, with Sony attracting old and newcomers alike. We think the former is more likely, but the game could still surprise us.
The return of Crash Bandicoot has been long-awaited by fans, and that means critics and players alike are going to have high expectations. In his preview for Trusted Reviews, Brett Phipps noted that this remake is "very true to its source material, which is both a blessing and a curse. How you feel about the original series will determine on which side you’ll fall [come] June 30th." Having liked the original, Phipps enjoyed the N. Sane Trilogy, despite its "sloppy" mechanics.
Metro’s GameCentral team tried it having no "nostalgic feeling for the originals" and said "we found ourselves happily engrossed by the very precise movements needed [for] combat."
So with the release of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy just around the corner, wehaveselected some tie-in items available alongside the game.
Crash Scented Candle Triple Pack
Crate-shaped Crash Bandicoot-scented candles? That sounds like the kind of merch we never knew we wanted. Each fragrance is inspired by the franchise, with the scents of the jungle being the main perfume.
SRP: £29.99
Manufacturer: Numskull
Distributor: Rubber Road
Contact: 01707 800 881
Skylanders Imaginators Thumpin’ Wumpa Islands Adventure Pack – Crash and Neo Cortex
While they wait for the launch of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, players can pass the time playing as Crash or Neo Cortex in Skylanders Imaginators. This adventure pack includes the two figures and unlock the Thumpin’ Wumpa Islands level. This level can also be unlocked when buying the Crash Bandicoot starter pack for Skylanders Imaginators.
SRP: £29.99
Manufacturer: Activision Blizzard
Distributor: CentreSoft
Contact: 01216 253 388
Crash Bandicoot Keychains
Numskull has had four Crash Bandicoot keychains made, including these Aku Aku and Crash designs, as well as Neo Cortex and Uka Uka.
SRP: £4.99 each
Manufacturer: Numskull
Distributor: Rubber Road
Contact: 01707 800 881
Aku Aku Wallet
This leather wallet features a nice Aku Aku design on the outside and the Crash Bandicoot logo on the inside, as well as internal space for cards and cash.
SRP: £9.99
Manufacturer: Numskull
Distributor: Rubber Road
Contact: 01707 800 881
Aku Aku Witch Doctor T-shirt
This unisex T-shirt is one of the five created by Numskull for its new Crash Bandicoot collection. Other designs include Cortex laboratories, Wumpa juice, N. Sanity Beach (the first level of the original Crash Bandicoot) and a simple Crash emblem.
SRP: £12.99
Manufacturer: Numskull
Distributor: Rubber Road
Contact: 01707 800 881
