Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time shows off new gameplay, cosmetics, and a new playable character

Kicking off the recently concluded State of Play presentation was a strong showing from our furry friend in Crash Bandicoot, showing off new gameplay, an “N. Verted” game mode, as well as the return of a familiar face as a new playable character.

That was quite a lot to take in, so let’s break it down for you!

While we know that Crash and Coco will be playable, but they’ll also be joined by Neo Cortex, and returning fan-favorite Dingodile – half dingo, half crocodile – as a playable character for the first time in the platform adventure games.

As the first new game in quite a while, it was about time (heh) to introduce a new style of play and Toys for Bob teamed up with Beenox to bring N. Verted mode, a bizarre take on levels takes the concept of mirror mode and phase-shifts it into entirely new dimensions, giving players alternate perspectives, sound effects, music and in some dimensions, extra additional transformations to the gameplay experience.

Lastly, it was revealed that there will be unlockable skins for Crash and Coco by earning gems and completing challenges throughout the game. From pirate garb to space suits and unicorn onesies, all skins will be purely cosmetic, reiterating the fact that the game will have no microtransactions when it launches.

PlayStation players will get to enjoy a couple of cosmetic skin sets early and will be awarded automatically after players complete the second level of the game and access the Dimensional Map. These skins, dubbed “Marsupus Erectus” and “Serious Upgrade,” will be available on other platforms no earlier than December 31, 2021.