Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy on Nintendo Switch
Editor’s Note: Twinfinite reviewed Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy last year, and much of our nitty-gritty analysis of the game itself is unchanged going into this review of the Nintendo Switch version. So we’ll be mostly honing in on the differences between the PS4 version that we reviewed last year, and the Switch version this year. For a more complete breakdown of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, to supplement this review here, please read our review from last year.
If the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy was some kind of litmus test to gauge the public’s interest in the classic games in the series, I think Activision got its answer. Last year, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy was a huge success for the PlayStation 4. Vicarious Visions did an excellent job beautifully recreating the three original classics, and in the time since, has proven its own mettle too, releasing the new level, Future Tense. At least on the PS4, everything is coming up Crash and Vicarious Visions.
The Switch version is a different beast of course. It doesn’t have the same horsepower under the hood that the PS4 and the Xbox One have, much less the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. So if you were assuming that the Switch version would run/look different than the other two versions, you’d be correct.
The Switch version sadly cannot match the vibrant and polished look of the other versions of the game. Everything is clearly turned down a couple of notches visually to accommodate for the Switch. It still looks great though by and large. When compared to the original PS1 games obviously the Switch version is going to look fantastic, so don’t fret if the Switch version of the N. Sane Trilogy is the only one that you’re able to purchase, you’re still going to get an awesome-looking game. But yes, compared to PS4 and Xbox One, it’s noticeably downgraded. This is especially evident in docked mode on a big screen TV where you can easily see its rougher edges.
In addition, the game doesn’t run as smoothly on the Switch as it does on the PS4. There were times where the frame rate felt a little off. Nothing that detracted from the game in a significant way, but when combined with the lower visual quality, it does lead to a somewhat less than perfect experience when compared to the other two home consoles.
But let’s get real for a second. Given an option, no one is picking the Switch version up expecting it to look as nice as the other platforms you can play Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy on. You’re choosing the Switch because you want to play it wherever you want. Although the above issues still exist in portable mode, it’s less noticeable, and overall the game runs great on the go. Another plus is that the Crash games are perfect for short, bite-sized play sessions while out of the house that the portability of the Switch can provide. Don’t get me wrong, the Crash games still hold up great, but unless you’re a super fan, you’re probably not going to lock yourself down and play for hours, like you would other modern games from this generation. So despite the slight visual and performance downgrade, honestly, the Switch version might be the way to go if you have multiple options that you’re considering. It really comes down to personal preference. There’s no wrong answer, each of the three home console options are viable and most importantly, fun.
If peak performance is your #1 concern – which is fine considering how damn pretty Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy looks on PS4 and Xbox One – then maybe you should skip the Switch version. However, if you can put that aside, or lower your standards just a bit, the Switch version still looks and runs fine for the most part, and the three classic Crash games fit like a glove on the portable Switch console.
Score: 4/5 – Great
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