Given that it’s due out on October 2, fans were hoping to get some new information on Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time during the Gamescom 2020 Opening Night livestream event. And lovers of the fast-moving, platform-hopping, fruit-gobbling bandicoot were not disappointed in the slightest!
Although they were not joined by Crash himself — the bandicoot, clad in his brand new COVID prevention map, having accidentally traveled to Cologne, Germany, the location of the previously canceled physical Gamescom event — host Geoff Keighley chatted with Lou Studdert from developer Toys for Bob. Studdert revealed a brand new element which will be debuting for the first time in It’s About Time: a level type referred to as “Flashback Tapes.”
Described as a “throwback to the 90s,” Flashback Tapes are platform-filled puzzle rooms that were developed by the diabolical Dr. Neo Cortex to test Crash and his sister Coco while he experimented on them. According to Studdert, they represent a time in Crash and Coco’s history, which has not previously been discussed in detail, shortly after the two were first created by Cortex and before they managed to free themselves from the doctor’s clutches.
The Tapes themselves are physical items that players can earn by completing certain main game levels without dying — an extremely tricky challenge, especially if It’s About Time retains the notorious difficulty of previous Crash titles. Although the Tapes levels themselves are entirely optional, and not required to progress the story’s main plot, collecting them will be a fun challenge for players — plus, they’ll provide some fascinating new backstory information on our favorite bandicoot duo!
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time will be releasing on October 2, 2020, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. In addition to the Flashback Tapes, it will feature multiple new gameplay elements, most notably new playable characters and masks which grant environment-warping powers.
