Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Developer(s) | Vicarious Visions[a] |
Publisher(s) | Activision |
Director(s) | Dan Tanguay |
Producer(s) | Kara Massie |
Designer(s) | Dan Tanguay |
Programmer(s) | Dave Calvin |
Artist(s) | Dustin King |
Composer(s) | Josh Mancell[b] |
Series | Crash Bandicoot |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 4 |
Release | June 30, 2017 |
Genre(s) | Platform |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a platform video game compilation developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision for PlayStation 4. It is a collection of remasters of the first three titles in the Crash Bandicoot series: Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped, which were originally developed by Naughty Dog for PlayStation in the 1990s. The game was released on June 30, 2017, receiving generally favorable reception from critics, who praised the game's faithfulness to the original trilogy. By 2018, it had sold over two million copies worldwide.
Gameplay
N. Sane Trilogy is a collection of remasters of the first three games in the Crash Bandicoot series, Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back and Warped, which all feature Crash Bandicoot traversing various levels in order to stop Doctor Neo Cortex from taking over the world. Like in the original games, Crash uses spinning and jumping techniques to defeat enemies, smash crates, and collect items such as Wumpa Fruits, extra lives, and protective Aku Aku masks. The trilogy adds new features across all three games, including unified checkpoints, pause menus and save systems, including both manual and automatic saving, time trials, which were first introduced in Warped, and the ability to play most levels in each game as Crash's sister Coco.[1] It also features remastered audio and cutscenes, including new recordings of the games' dialogue given by the franchise's more recent voice actors.[2]
Development
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ec/Crash_Bandicoot_N_Sane_Trilogy_comparison.jpg/220px-Crash_Bandicoot_N_Sane_Trilogy_comparison.jpg)
Rumors of a new Crash Bandicoot game for the PlayStation 4 were first heard in 2013, with an Activision representative stating that they still owned the rights to the series and were exploring ways to bring it back.[3][4] The game was announced at E3 2016,[5][6] developed by Vicarious Visions,[7] the team behind several Skylanders titles who previously developed Crash Nitro Kart (2003), as well as the Crash Bandicoot Game Boy Advance titles.
During development, Vicarious Visions coined the term "Remaster Plus" to describe the collection, as they did not fully remake the original games, but rather used Naughty Dog's original level geometry to rebuild the gameplay from scratch. As the levels were coming together, they also added their own art, animation, and audio.[2] Almost none of the source code for the original game was available to the developers, as the game engine was specially written for the original PlayStation and Vicarious Visions could not find a way to use it on more powerful systems.[8] Sony and Naughty Dog were able to provide various polygon meshes from the original, although many important elements from these were missing and the team found that "they were compressed in some wacky format that we had to decode" beyond that Vicarious Visions looked at various internet communities to make sure they had essences of the games captured.[8] The team also had some fans test the game and give notes about it compared to the originals.[8] In April 2017, there was a contest for fans to submit ideas for idle animations for the character.[9]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | 80/100[10] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Destructoid | 8.5/10[11] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 9/10[12] |
Game Informer | 8/10[13] |
GameRevolution | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
GameSpot | 6/10[15] |
GamesRadar+ | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
IGN | 8.5/10[17] |
Polygon | 6/10[18] |
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[10]
Sales
In the United Kingdom, the N. Sane Trilogy was the best-selling game in the week of release, a first for the Crash Bandicoot series, and became the best-selling exclusive launch of the year, beating the record previously held by Horizon Zero Dawn. Its release also saw the biggest launch of a game in the first half of 2017, behind Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands.[19] The game had sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide by September 2017.[20]
Accolades
The game won the award for "Best Remake/Remaster" at IGN's 2017 awards,[21] while the readers and staff of Game Informer voted it as the "Best Remastered Action" and "Best Remastered/Remade" game in theirs.[22][23] It was also nominated for the Tappan Zee Bridge Award for "Best Remake" at the New York Game Awards 2018,[24] and for the "Game, Classic Revival" and "Original Light Mix Score, Franchise" categories at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.[25]
Notes
- ^ Original games were developed by Naughty Dog.
- ^ Mancell was the composer of the original games; the music was arranged by uncredited members of Vicarious Visions' audio team. Mark Mothersbaugh is listed as a composer in the credits, but was only a music producer for the original games.
References
- ^ Oh, Ashley (June 13, 2017). "Coco Bandicoot playable in Crash N. Sane trilogy". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b Tanguay, Dan (December 3, 2016). "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy: First Screens, In-Depth Details". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Did Sony Buy Crash Bandicoot From Activision?". IGN. November 21, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ^ Zeidler, Brett (November 25, 2013). "Activision states it still owns the Crash Bandicoot IP". Destructoid. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "Crash Bandicoot is Back in Skylanders Imaginators and in Remastered Classics!". Business Wire. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Shawn Layden Trolled Us All with Crash Bandicoot Shirt". Push Square. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA UNVEILS EXTRAORDINARY GAMING EXPERIENCES FOR PLAYSTATION 4 AND PLAYSTATION VR AT E3 2016". Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c MACHKOVECH -, Sam. "A remaster with no old code: Crash Bandicoot was rebuilt nearly from scratch". Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Romano, Sal. "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy idle move contest announced". Gemastu. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Carter, Chris (June 29, 2017). "Review: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy". Destructoid. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Slead, Evan (July 3, 2017). "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Reiner, Andrew (June 29, 2017). "Aged Like A Fine, Orange Wine - Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy - PlayStation 4". Game Informer. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Kozanitis, James (July 1, 2017). "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Review – Warping to the Present". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Brown, Peter (June 29, 2017). "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Blain, Louise (June 29, 2017). "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy review: 'Makes the Binding of Isaac feel like a summer getaway". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (June 29, 2017). "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Oh, Ashley (June 30, 2017). "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dring, Christopher (July 3, 2017). "UK Charts: Crash Bandicoot is the biggest single-format release of the year". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Kain, Erik (September 24, 2017). "'Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy' Has Sold Over 2.5 Million Copies On PS4". Forbes. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Best of 2017 Awards: Best Remake/Remaster". IGN. December 20, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- ^ Miller, Matt (January 5, 2018). "2017 Action Game Of The Year Awards (Page 3)". Game Informer. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Cork, Jeff (January 4, 2018). "Reader's Choice Best Of 2017 Awards (Page 4)". Game Informer. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Whitney, Kayla (January 25, 2018). "Complete list of winners of the New York Game Awards 2018". AXS. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
- ^ "Nominee List for 2017". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
External links
- 2017 video games
- 3D platform games
- Activision games
- Crash Bandicoot games
- Platform games
- PlayStation 4 games
- PlayStation 4-only games
- Single-player video games
- Video game compilations
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video games featuring female protagonists
- Video game remakes
- Video games using Havok
- Vicarious Visions games
- PlayStation 4 Pro enhanced games