With Crash Bandicoot returning to screens later this year in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, it seems the gaming world is finally ready to embrace the colorful cartoon bandicoot back into the fold of modern franchises. Not only will Toys for Bob's new take on the seminal platforming franchise feature new levels for Crash to run through, but it'll also act as a direct sequel to Naughty Dog's original trilogy, making for a true love letter to the mascot's greatest hits.
It's About Time won't be the only Crash title launching soon, however, with King Digital announcing that a new mobile game will be joining the franchise very soon. Titled Crash Bandicoot: On the Run, the game will see Crash Bandicoot and his cast of friends navigating through a series of Crash worlds while fighting iconic bosses from the series' past.
Alongside the announcement, King Digital has released a minute-long reveal trailer which provides a better look at the tone and gameplay of the upcoming mobile release. The teaser shows Crash teleporting between a variety of the different stages that featured in previous games, dodging the advances of iconic Crash Bandicoot bosses such as Nina Cortex and Doctor Nitrus. Along the way, its shown that players can craft weapons - such as a bazooka Crash wields during one encounter - and that the game will feature various skins and customizable cosmetics.
The trailer ends with some brief snippets of gameplay, which seem to show that the title is an endless runner in the same vein as Temple Run and Sonic Dash. Players who sign up for pre-access now can also get their hands on the "blue Hyena skin" which seems to be a fun variation on the original Crash appearance. While the game might not be to everyone's taste, it's great to see that Crash Bandicoot is beginning to find more prominence in a variety of areas within the gaming market.
It seems wise to imagine that On the Run and It's About Time will look to make their release dates coincide, so fans can truly embrace all things Crash Bandicoot this holiday. Speaking of the latter, it seems It's About Time will look to introduce a lot of new features to the Crash license when it drops this year, including debuting a new visuals style, introducing abilities facilitated by ancient masks, and even changing how the franchise's seminal lives system functions. It'll no doubt be a big moment for the Crash Bandicoot franchise as a whole.
Crash Bandicoot: On the Run is currently in the works for Android and iOS devices.