If it felt like a dream come true to try your hand at Crash Bandicoot in the midst of Uncharted 4, youâre in luck: the beloved marsupial is backâand this time, he and his many foes are rendered in glorious HD. We learned at E3 today that Activision is set to release what theyâve dubbed the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy for PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro this month. It compiles the first three games in the series: Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped.
Don’t worry; the learning curve of the series isnât too steep if youâre unfamiliar with the original games. Crash Bandicoot, released way back in 1996, was a fairly basic platformer with a few fun twists along the way, like levels that saw the marsupial riding a pig or (as you may recall from A Thiefâs End) running from a boulder. Cortex Strikes Back and Warped built upon that formula, with Warped going so far as to add motorcycle mechanics and underwater levels (though tragically not at the same time).
Thereâs not much plot in Crashâs world, but thereâs no need for itâlike Mario and Sonic before him, heâs just a fun character to pilot through elaborate settings on the way to the Big Bad, collecting apples (in lieu of coins or rings) along the way. Equally fun: Coco, Crashâs sister, whoâs a playable but oddly silent character in both the original and remastered editions of Warped.
The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy comes out June 30, 2017.
What was your favorite level in the original series and why was it Hog Wild? Let us know in the comments!
Image: Activision