Crash Bandicoot Remastered Classics
 

As some of you may already know, Activision and Sony have announced at the recently-held E3 that not only would Crash Bandicoot, the character that helped to make the PlayStation a household name and made Sony a leading company in the video game console market would be making his long-awaited comeback in the sixth Skylanders game set for release this year, but they are also developing a three-game collection featuring high-definition remakes of the original PS1 titles excluding Team Racing and Bash set for release sometime in 2017. If you ask me, I'm far more interested in the remakes than I am for the Skylanders cameo.
What are your thoughts?

I've only ever borrowed the first game from a neighbor. So yeah, I'll probably pick it up.

And they'll still be in PS1 graphics. Anyone expecting a full remake like the Ratchet and Clank reboot are fooling themselves.

If this was only Crash 1 then I might see it happening, but 3 games? And in a collection? No way is it going to be a remake.

If that's the case, I'll still be looking forward to it. Even three ports are better than eight years of practical complete and utter silence.

Except, that is exactly what's happening. All 3 games are being remade from the ground up :P

Af of right now, it's my most anticipated game of 2017.
Not to mention the original games were coded in GOOL, a custom tool that only two people in the entire world understand. It also won't simply be the original games on an emulator because the games are being "remastered from the ground up". I'm not expecting any major changes like the "re-imagined" Ratchet & Clank game, just the original games with better graphics, controls and sound. The biggest change so far seems to be the voice cast, if Crash's appearance in Skylanders is anything to go by.

There's a push on twitter to get the original series' composer, Josh Mancell, to help with the remastered soundtrack. If you don't know, the soundtrack in the original games was highly compressed and cut up, but Josh has the original soundtrack files and has expressed interest in returning to the series. I don't know if it will be successful, but it would be cool to have someone from the original team working on this.

It would be more logical if they just used Mancell's original pre-console files. I mean, what's the point of remixing the music when someone else already has high-def versions?

I can think of a few reasons, one being some of the songs in the console version have different instruments compared to the pre-console versions. For example:

Compare these two:
Console Tiny's theme
Pre-console Tiny's theme
The console version has a strong "growl" like instrument while in the pre-console version it's barely audible and sped up.

Though some are just like the console versions, only higher quality:
Console Rock It
Pre-console Rock It

Of couse this is all subjective, but it is worth noting that some of the pre-console versions aren't exactly like the console versions. Either way, Josh Mancell still needs to be contacted for the original pre-console mixes.

Gameplay and boxart for Imaginators have revealed that not only is Cortex going to be a Skylander as well, but Wumpa Island will also be a level pack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFOUo1vx2H0
https://twitter.com/SkylandersInq/st...33876244533248
If the gameplay is supposed to be a tease of what the remasters will be like, sign me the heck up.

CTR won't be remastered? That sucks. Oh well - I still would want to play the original version regardless.

CNK could use some help if the CB remastered game list ever extends - the power boost steering in the game is still a pain in the butt for me to learn / use.

My God, they're gonna make me buy a PS4... That looks AMAZING.

I'm in love with that Thumpin' Wumpa Islands level in Skylanders Imaginators.

Love how Cortex pretty much plays how he did in Crash Twinsanity. There's just too many details to praise in this level, the only thing that feels weird or off to me is the tribesman suddenly talking with a surfer accent.

They even have Spyro make an appearance in the level as a nice nod to Crash Purple/Spyro Orange. I've never been into Skylanders before, but I'll definitely be getting the Crash and Cortex figures.

It's also great to hear Lex Lang as Cortex again. He isn't as menacing as Clancy Brown, but he's just so enjoyable to listen to.
Opening Cutscene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTVpvVfY2xE

Fake Crash! :tlol: Hell yeah, he's the best.

VV are really doing their homework with this. If they're really planning on going all out with character appearances, we might get to see Tawna, though that will most likely not happen for...well, obvious reasons.

I guess that's why we haven't seen Candy Kong in a game since 2007, not counting her Super Smash Bros trophies that is. Though Rouge the Bat was in Sonic Generations and the recent issue of Sonic Universe.

Tawna never had any lines in the original game, I'm curious to see how they could expand her "Pamela Anderson with a brain" personality in this day of age.

Considering that Crash and Cortex's appearances in Skylanders have been ripped right out of the original concept art, it would certainly be...interesting if they did the same for Tawna.
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/...20090907175705
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/...20090907174920
http://66.media.tumblr.com/d23772852...22ro2_1280.png

Though if she did reappear she would probably just have her toned down look from the original game.
http://67.media.tumblr.com/83b5db3de...22ro1_1280.png

The Japanese manual for Crash 2 said that Tawna dumped Crash in favor of Pinstripe Potoroo, it would be brilliant if they would adapt that for the remaster. Something like this.

Crash journeys through three islands, a giant castle, finally besting Cortex himself. Then there's slow motion as Crash and Tawna run to each, arms outstretched ready to embrace one another...only for Tawna to run past Crash and embrace Pinstripe. Then Tawna and one of the bosses you fought in the game walk off into the sunset.

It would be a great subversion of the damsel in distress plots in platformers. That would be up there with the cow falling on Princess What's Her Name in Earthworm Jim for me.

Still no footage for the remakes yet, but a trailer for Thumpin' Wumpa Islands has surfaced (though it's unlisted for some reason).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN4-TpPqjvQ

It's official...Mancell isn't doing the music.
https://crashynews.wordpress.com/201...s-composition/
:tsad:

In more uplifting news, a release date has potentially been leaked.
http://www.gamezone.com/news/retaile...elease-3444203

The Thumpin' Wumpa Islands level pack for Skylanders Imaginators has been released!
(WARNING: SPOILERS)
https://crashynews.wordpress.com/201...s-imaginators/

This might be enough to make me buy a PS4. Crash Bandicoot 2 was amazing back in the day, and I'm sure it still is too.

the only time I have played the game was when I borrowed the first game from my neighbor at the time, so yeah, definitely picking this one up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fbO2-egZ3U
WOAH.

They look great

I just bought the game. Pretty sweet! Though some of the controls are slightly different such as in the ski levels in Crash 3.

The first game feels really hard, and not in a good way. I honestly thought that maybe the perspective was sh*t and that they made it work a lot better as the games went, but apparently they slapped on 3's physics onto all the games.

Died so many times in the first game. It got harder the more I progress lol, but I'm enjoying it.You gotta focus on his shadow when jumping. :D

The other two games feel better than 1. Faster and snappier, I don't know how. You're also just more limited with 1.

Yeah, I've started doing that and it does help but there are still certain levels and jumps that can be quite a pain. I've been progressing but I don't see myself attempting to get all the gems and stuff.

I grew up on 3 so I thought I was just spoiled by the extra abilities. The lack of the slide, high-jump, and long mid-air spin make the game a lot more difficult as you pretty much have to be precise with your jumps, which can be tricky given the brand new physics and punishing platform detection. It definitely feels a lot more limited which took some getting used to. Good to know 2 is better. I dabbled with 3 because my sister wanted to play it and that one felt fine to me.