Topic: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy -OT-

I missed out on Crash on PS1, cause I was only allowed a few games a year & I was very much in the Nintendo camp at that time.
Completed a few stages and absolutely loving it! Only negative thus far are the long load times.

Also rocking the Coco running from boulder theme currently

2017, has been my favorite year for games & it's not even close.

I've only gotten to The High Road in Crash 1 so far, but I'm really enjoying it. Moreso than I thought. Once you get past the PS1 muscle memory, playing as Crash is a real blast.

Got all Gems in Crash 1.

I gotta say this is the way to play that gane but I still cant recommend it. I always thought the first game was bad because it had those baffling game design choices around gems and saving and some heavy controls. But no, apparently it runs deeper than that.

So yeah, play Crash 1 in the remake. Or better dont play it at all.

I didnt think id come out hating it more XD

Blitzing through Crash 2 though. Just got some muscle memory issues and found probably my largest problem woth this game: hitboxes.

Red Gem path, those Nitro crates you can sometimes jump over sometines not and they hit you as you go over. The ones you are just meant to walk under sometimes hit you. A penguin can sometimes activate them if you spin it but not always. And those damn crushing pillars, its not icy under them so you lose all momentum and stop for a moment, a split second that gets you crushed.

Saying this now based on that alone: Play the PS1 version of 2.

Yeah, so the more, I've played this, the more I realize now why I always preferred the Super Mario games. The jumping in the first game freaking (and I wish I could use a different F word because I've dropped it about a million times playing the pile of garbage that is Crash Bandicoot 1) SUCKS. The game may be faithful to the originals, but there is such a thing as too faithful. All the work that went into this but they couldn't fix the poor gameplay that hasn't held up well at all. I really hope Crash 2 doesn't tarnish my memories of that game or this will be $40 not well spent. Naughty Dog may have made its name on Crash Bandicoot but I'll the Uncharted/TLoU incarnation of the studio any day after replaying this nonsense. There's frustrating but a fair challenge and then there's frustrating just for the sake of being frustrating, and unfortunately Crash 1, at least, is the latter.

@Gamer83 Have you seen hitbox issues? Like slipping off enemies you need to bounce on or jumping over something you need to dodge for it to still hit?

Crash 2 is worse. Red gem path has those nitro boxes ya need to skate under. They can explode just from doing that.

And then there is this:

Hate to say it man...but even as a guy who grew up on these...this isnt good.

Just 100%'d Crash 1. Have yet to get the relics though.

Overall, I definitely feel the Trilogy version is much better than the original, but it's still a tad rough. Especially with the color gems (some of which are in difficult levels), where PS1 difficulty pops up again. Add in some muscle memory with Crash's more weighty feel, and it was a little hard, but I think it's still enjoyable.

Did anyone instinctively use the D-pad for this? I started playing with the analog stick, but after a while I switched to the D-pad without really noticing. It still feels more natural even in 2017.

@DerMeister You're a machine. I don't think I could ever 100 per cent any of these.

Got 100% in 1 and 2.

1 is still...bleh. A little less bleh in some ways abd more bleh in others. So still bleh.

2 is...play the original. It has hotbox issues and a few things that make it inferior, like how it handles ice, those crushing pillars and the Nitro boxes that randomly jump up and catch you as you jump.

3 is...so far, another play the original. Some of its fine. But the jetski and bike are borked. Had to turn around and redo jumps loads on the ski and the way boosting is now handled on the bike makes it almost pointless as there is now basically 0 turning potential. Even the underwater scuba vehicle feels weird. It seems to carry too much momentum and drags you along more than it feels it should.

Oh, and those rotating electrical discs underwater. Got hit by one from the other side. Lovely.

At least it looks good. Sometimes. Sometimes it does look like plastic.

I can pretty much give my verdict. Play the remake for Crash 1 (Though Id skip that at all), and play the originals for 2 and 3. And beware of the damn wonky hitboxes.

And a colour blind mode wouldnt go amiss. Cant tell you how many nitro boxes ive hit thinking they are time boxes...

I really really wanted to like this coming in, but with the maybe exception of Crash 1, which has problems regardless, Ive got to stick with the originals. Sadly, this is a remake that looks good and sounds good but has its own problems, and they arent restricted to the game design being 20 years old.

I think Crash should have stayed lost in this regard...I really do. It doesnt hold up as well now, and the remake isnt doing it juticd in my opinion.

And that really makes me sad.

Please, dont touch Spyro...

@KratosMD You could turn using it in the originals. Even a little. Here it feels stiff to stop or start boosting and turning doesnt happen at all. Which is annoying as the stages are laid out to have you turn while boosting at certain corners hence the pads being there in the first place.

I'm going to get so much flak but as a platformer fan, someone who grew up with Crash, and loves the series...it needed better.

I'm still on the first, but so far this has been everything I wanted it to be.... a little hard for my kids but that'll help them git gud.

@KratosMD Understandable. To be honest, I only play Crash 1 with the D-pad nowadays, since it was the only one without analog functionality. 2 and 3 I will be using the stick.

@get2sammyb If it's any consolation, I may not get the platinum trophies due to the relics. :laugh:

@BLP_Software I ain't gonna flak ya for your opinion. You at least explain your critique in detail as opposed to just raging like most on the web. I can see your points too. However, I'd say I'm more positive so far, and I'm also someone who grew up with Crash and a lover of the series (If you couldn't already tell :laugh: ) I'll have to play 2 and 3 though, which I'll do soon. Having the most experience with those, I'll likely pick out any issues better than I could with Crash 1.

@KratosMD Rayman is also a great ps4 platformer. Not 3d, but still great and has a TON of content.... Anyhow Rayman would be a better comparison than Knack, IMO.

@KratosMD totally agreed.... Don't know if I'll 100% though, I JUST BARELY after many tries got the saphire relic on the first level of crash 1, and I cant imagine shaving another 6 seconds off for the gold. Some of those are crazy!

Also: In crash 1 for the 99 lives trophy, the level "the lost city" just after ripper roo is the perfect farm spot. 4 extra lives right at the start, 1 shortly after. Just get those, quit, save, load, repeat.

@KratosMD you HAVE to play Rayman origins and legends. Amazing games. A lot of the levels in origins can be unlocked in legends if you can only get one, but while the sequel improves in almost every way, it was missing a sort of charm the first game had for me.

On topic, I really want this collection but I currently have to save money. Bills, you know.

I found a little trick by accident- If you do a spin right after doing a slide jump, you can get some extra air. I never did it in the original, so I don't know if it's a holdover from there. But it definitely works great if you're still having trouble adjusting.

@DerMeister Thats a hold over

I really like the new Crash. It's worth paying full price IMO. I love the visuals, the sound and the feedback from your DS4 when you smash up a crate. Between this and the WipEout Omega collection, the only thing I need is a remake of Metal Gear Solid. So please Konami. If you want to re-use assets, just cancel MGS Survive and give us a proper remake!

LOL @ the idea of Konami being in tune with and listening to its fans.

I find it almost comical how many times I died on Hog Wild in Crash 1.
My only complaint are the load times. From booting up the game to level select, I could probably beat a stage or two. Kind of defies the purpose of a drop in/out game for me.