The upcoming Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a return to basics for the series. Following the Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy and Crash Team Racing remakes, the 3D platforming franchise starring the former PlayStation mascot is getting its first original installment in over 12 years, which serves as a direct sequel to the original PS1 games. The new game coming from Toys For Bob, the developers behind the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, aims to recapture the same energy and playstyle from the originals.

Crash 4 brings back all the familiar faces from the series as it continues on with the story from Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. Following a recent hands-on session with three of the game's levels, GameSpot editors Eddie Makuch and Alessandro Fillari came together to chat about their experiences with the throwback 3D platformer, and whether the classic series' approach to 3D platforming gameplay still holds up.

Revisiting Crash

Alessandro: I think it's fair to say that the last few years have been pretty good for Crash Bandicoot. I remember playing the original games and loving them, but then the IP got bounced around to other developers, and it sort of lost its magic. I remember Crash being in the Skylanders games, and that was like the one bright spot for the character during the franchise's off years--which bummed out a lot of fans. The recent remakes for the best games in the series, the original trilogy and the spin-off kart racer, really reminded me that the series holds up, so I was excited that Crash 4 is now a thing. What did you think of it when it was first announced?