I don’t know about you but I’m always up for a good, out-of-date game getting an awesome, up-to-date makeover. It’s a nice little nod to the fans and it’s a great way to introduce a whole new generation to the characters and storyline. While some of you are familiar with the famous Crash Bandicoot, there’s a whole bunch of people out there who didn’t grow up with those crazy PlayStation commercials and magazine ads. As a Crash Bandicoot fan myself, I was ecstatic when I heard that the N. Sane Trilogy was coming to the Nintendo Switch. But does this fun, challenging game hold up after all these years? Let’s take a look.

The N. Sane Trilogy features the first three Crash Bandicoot titles. I’m going to review the game as a whole instead of three separate titles, due to the fact that they are so similar in design and gameplay.

The Crash Bandicoot series was really popular back in the day. Despite some criticism over level design and other small details, they sold millions of copies even years after release. In my opinion, they really were just a little ahead of their time. Now, getting to play these awesome games with up-to-date graphics and better controls makes the experience even better than it was in 1996. While I would never trade my good memories or nostalgia, this is the version of Crash Bandicoot that I’ve always wanted.

Crash Bandicoot is just like any other platforming title. You’ll make your way down a linear path towards the end goal. There are plenty of enemies standing in your way. Using Crash’s spin attack works for most of them, but you’ll also have to know when to jump instead. There are also a few short boss fights. Depending on your experience level, these can take up to around five minutes or multiple days. I kept telling my friends that this game is all about patterns. Enemies stay on a specific path, traps and moving platforms are on timers. Once you relax and pay attention it’s easier to get the hang of things. I always try to think of my favorite quote when playing games like Crash Bandicoot, “Patience is a virtue” – Thomas the Tank Engine.

Throughout levels you’ll also be collecting wumpa fruit to earn extra lives, and smashing crates… ALL THE CRATES! You know how Link loves smashing pottery? Well Crash Bandicoot loves smashing wooden crates. To fully complete a level in a Crash Bandicoot game you have to smash EVERY single crate that’s in the level. This will earn you a shiny, white gem. However, while some crates are in plain sight, others won’t be so easy to locate. You’ll have to find the hidden bonus areas, alternate paths, and complete full levels without dying (which is way harder than it sounds). There’s also a time trial relic that you can earn for beating a level in a specific amount of time, and multiple hidden, colored gems. Each game has an autosave feature and an option to save whenever you want.

While a game this difficult and meticulous might not be appealing to everyone, I will say that 100% completion isn’t required to beat it. You can attempt to fly through each level and do whatever you want. Once you reach the goal you can move onto the next area, easy peasy. But it’s a lot more rewarding to try and find all of the hidden stuff in my opinion, it also makes the game last a lot longer. Not to say there isn’t plenty of content here. There are three full games packed in, so you will definitely get your money’s worth.

Since this remake was made for the PlayStation 4 last year, you might assume it doesn’t run as well on the Nintendo Switch. I had a chance to sample the game on my friend’s PS4 and all I noticed was a slight drop in resolution. As far as gameplay and aesthetics go, the N. Sane Trilogy looked great on both systems. Like really great, especially compared to their polygon counterparts. I feel like the environments and characters are finally the way the developers imagined them to be over 20 years ago. So if you’re worried about performance issues, there’s nothing to stress about. I thought Crash played well both while docked and in handheld mode. It’s actually one of the better games I’ve played in handheld mode too.

Personally, I’ve been waiting for this since I was a kid. Right after Nintendo, Sony was the next best thing. I remember renting the third Crash Bandicoot numerous times so my brother and I could try and get just a little further than the last time. I didn’t think I would get a chance to play the N. Sane Trilogy, seeing as I chose to own a Nintendo Switch over a PlayStation 4, but I’m glad I held out. Being able to play Crash Bandicoot on the Switch whenever, wherever is a much better option. Whether you’re or a fan of the original or someone who wants to see what all the fuss is about, I highly recommend checking out Crash Bandicoot N. Sane trilogy for the Switch (or whatever system you have, really). Also, good luck. You’re gonna need it.