While the most famousCrash Bandicootgames may be the titular marsupial’s single-player adventures, there have been many attempts at multiplayerCrashgames over the years, with varying degrees of success. There have been multipleCrash Bandicootkart racers, party games likeCrash Bash, and the cooperative modes found inCrash Bandicoot 4, to name a few. Thelatest attempt at aCrash Bandicootmultiplayer gameisCrash Team Rumble, an online-only competitive platformer that can be a lot of fun to play, but has questionable longevity.
Crash Team Rumblecomes courtesy of Toys for Bob, the studio behind the critically-acclaimedCrash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Instead of sending Crash and company on another story-driven adventure,Crash Team Rumblesees the various members of theCrash Bandicootcast compete against each other in two teams of four with the goal of collecting as much Wumpa Fruit as possible.
Crash Team Rumblefeatures some of the most memorable charactersfrom the main platforming series. Crash Bandicoot himself is accounted for, of course, but players can also play as Tawna, Dingodile, Coco, Dr. Neo Cortex, and more. The characters are split into three categories: Scorers, Blockers, and Boosters, though players are free to play how they want in any given match.
Scorers are meant to put points on the board bycollecting the Wumpa Fruitspread across the map and bringing it back to their base, while Blockers are best hanging out on the opposing team’s goal to stop them from scoring. Boosters are supposed to collect the relics found throughout the map and deposit them elsewhere to assist their teammates with power-ups. While the characters are slotted into one of these three categories, each character is distinct from one another and brings their own unique abilities to the table.
For example, Dingodile has a vacuum that he can use to suck Wumpa Fruit from enemies, while Dr. N. Brio can periodically drink potions to transform into a massive Hulk-like creature that can easily swat opponents away. Dingodile and N. Brio are Blockers, so their abilities play to that role, whereasScorers like Crash and Tawnahave kits that are more about mobility so they can collect Wumpa Fruit and deposit it as fast as possible.
TheCrash Team Rumblecharacters have a nice variety of maps inspired by the coreCrash Bandicootgames to test their abilities on. Not only are the maps all quite different from one another visually, but they also have their own specific power-ups that players can unlock by depositing relics. So even though everyCrash Team Rumblematch is effectively the same in terms of the goal and general gameplay, the variety in the maps and characters ensures that it never gets old or starts to feel stale.
Crash Team Rumble’s core gameplayis a ton of fun, offering polished platforming action that serves as a shining reminder of how great Toys for Bob is at making games in the genre. While some may be turned off by the online multiplayer focus, theCrash Bandicoot-style platforming and items translate perfectly to this kind of game. It’s certainly more exciting than one would expect, and it’s surprisingly easy to lose hours playingCrash Team Rumble.
It’s difficult to putCrash Team Rumbledown, especially before players have unlocked all the characters and powers. Theunlockable characters like Catbatare the real carrots on a stick that will keep players queuing up for one match after another. It doesn’t take too long to unlock everything, though, at which point progression becomes entirely about the battle pass and character levels.
TheCrash Team Rumblebattle pass is a misstep. Unfortunately,Crash Team Rumblebattle pass progression is too slow, requiring numerous matches for players to go up even a single level, regardless of their performance in the match. With so many other, better-established live service games on the market with their own battle passes to complete,Crash Team Rumble’s battle pass simply demands too much time.
Perhaps the slow-leveling battle pass is an attempt to keepCrash Team Rumbleplayers engaged with the game long-term because that is a serious concern. WhileCrash Team Rumblehas new charactersand other content on the way, it remains to be seen if it will get updates on a frequent-enough basis to ensure that fans will stick with it in the face of existing live service games and blockbuster new releases. The game’s distribution model isn’t doing it any favors either.Crash Team Rumblewould stand a much better shot at developing and maintaining a dedicated community of players as a free-to-play experience, but it’s currently blocked behind a paywall.
Crash Team Rumbleis a premium experience at launch, retailing for $29.99, and that barrier to entry could be a huge roadblock that keeps the game from amassing enough players to truly have legs in the crowded live service market. While the core gameplay is certainly fun,Crash Team Rumbleis going to have a hard time competing with games likeFortnite,Call of Duty: Warzone, the recently-releasedDiablo 4, and the many other online multiplayer games on the market.
This makes it more difficult to recommendCrash Team Rumble. If one buys the game right now for $29.99, there’s no guarantee that it will be active even three months from now. There’s way too much competition right now and a multiplayer version of a beloved single-player game franchise is a tough sell. With only nine maps and eight characters at launch, some might also find that there’s not enough content to justify the price.
Those that giveCrash Team Rumblea chance will find fun, fast-paced platforming gameplay that rewards coordinated teamwork but is still perfectly entertaining with randoms. Toys for Bob has proven that theCrash Bandicoot-style of platforming is right at home in the online multiplayer space, but the game’s longevity is a legitimate concern. Anyone interested in the game should jump in now while the community is most active, but those that don’t want to risk spending $30 on a game that may fall off in a few months may be better served waiting to seeifCrash Team Rumblegets a free-to-play re-releasedown the road.
Crash Team Rumble
WHERE TO PLAY
Join the battle for Wumpa fruit-capturing supremacy. Heroes and villains from the Crash universe clash in this wild 4v4 online multiplayer game from Toys for Bob, the same team that brought you Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Select your character from a cast of Crash favourites, then enter the arena, where you and your teammates will compete in a 4v4 competition to bank the most Wumpa fruit in your drop-off zone. Rise as a hero, or feed your inner villain across a wild and N.Sane cast of characters, each with their own unique skills and abilities. Teamwork is integral to every match, as you must work together to battle the opposing team, defend your own Wumpa Bank and capture key points around the map to boost your score.
Crash Team Rumbleis out now for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Game Rant was provided with a PS5 code for this review.
