


While this should normally be a good thing, it isn't for this game. These levels are LONG, like I mentioned earlier, and significantly more so than the older Crash games. The last thing I want to focus on are the levels, and specifically their pacing. Players with lots of patience may be able to find these gems on their own, but most will likely have to rely on a strategy guide to find them (myself included), which really hurts the experience by taking away the satisfaction of finding said gems on your own with well thought out visual cues.

While a few of these gems are genuinely well hidden with good visual cues, most are placed in spots that don't make sense or are flat out off the screen. What could be bad about finding hidden gems, something that normally enhances one's game experience with exploration (like Mario or the older Crash games for example)? Well it seems Toys for Bob went out of their way to make finding these gems as obnoxious as possible. Then you have the bad like collecting a set percentage of Wumpa fruit (which is not all that different than collecting all crates and feels like extra padding to artificially lengthen your play time) and finding hidden gems. You have the good, like completing time trials, collecting all crates and making it through the level without dying. However, if you're the type of gamer that likes to experience everything that a game has to offer, like me, then that nice little package starts to stink of **** Each level offers a lot of replay value, some good but mostly bad. Overall, if you only want to get through the base game without collecting everything, you have a pretty nice package here that should last you around 10-15 hours. The levels also have fun gimmicks like slowing down time, making boxes appear/disappear on command and rail grinding sections that will make playing through the considerably long levels more enjoyable. While it doesn't have a truly engaging story, it has plenty of levels to enjoy that looks great, sounds great and offer a decent challenge most of the time. While it doesn't have a Let me start this review off by saying that I think that Crash 4 is an enjoyable game, especially for casual gamers.

Let me start this review off by saying that I think that Crash 4 is an enjoyable game, especially for casual gamers.
