Crash Team Rumble Vs Crash Bash

Crash Bandicoot is back by popular demand, and in the shape of a love letter to Crash Bash, no less. Aptly titled Crash Team Rumble, the upcoming 4v4 MOBA will reportedly deliver all the same iconic high-octane action as its forefather, but with a few enhanced components to boot. But what is it, exactly, and what has Toys for Bob done to alter the course of a venture that, quite frankly, has already been travelled once or twice before?

Despite the fact that twenty or so years have passed since Eurocom Entertainment first brought the beloved party game (that being Crash Bash) to the table, Sony's globe-trotting poster child has yet to truly fit into those boots that were fashioned back in 2000. This begs the question, will Crash Team Rumble prove itself a worthy successor to the fan favorite, or fall flat and forgotten about in the immediate aftermath of its June 20 launch?

Crash Bash, in a Nutshell

Credit: EpicMia17

Crash Bash, for those who don't know, is a local co-op party game that launched on PlayStation One back in 2000. Its idea, which was to pit up to eight characters against one another over a series of 28 unique mini-games, received three individual modes: Adventure, Battle, and Tournament. These games, much like a lot of its party-based peers, consisted of engaging in timed events, as well as arena battles and, well, highly addictive modes that fueled sibling rivalries like it was going out of fashion. A lot like Crash Team Rumble, perhaps?

If memory serves us well, Crash Bash had just seven categories to choose from, each of which served as a “Warp Hub” for four variations of mini-game. A typical mini-game would be played in a 4v4 format, and would last until either a certain player reached the maximum score limit, or the time depleted. A traditional party game, in ways, and one that just so happened to capture the heart and soul of the Crash Bandicoot essence.

Of course, being an offline game, there wasn't a whole lot of maneuverability as far as linked play went. That said, for its time, Crash Bash was a bastion of pride—a flag with which Sony could hoist, bathing in the fact that it would carry a timeless presence. And it still does in 2023, providing you know where to look and, more importantly, how to unearth your old hardware.

And Crash Team Rumble?

Crash Team Rumble, flowing in a similar vein to Crash Bash, features a pretty standard 4v4 mode. Its only major difference is, well, it doesn't come bundled with the scattered Warp Hubs and several flavors of mini-game. On the contrary, it really only has the one, which of course leaves copious amounts of space left to explore in future patches. Fact is, though, there isn't a whole lot to showcase just yet, and we can't say for sure whether or not Toys for Bob is playing coy, or if they've no idea what Crash Team Rumble actually is yet.

As it stands, Crash Team Rumble has the one mode: Wumpa Fruit. Its idea is fairly straightforward; two teams of four must fight to collect Wumpa Fruit on a generated map, and with it, return it to one of two drop-off zones before the other team exceeds their capacity. It's a mixture, really, of base defending, racing, and tug-of-war scavenging. And while it certainly doesn't reinvent the wheel as far as party games go, it does bring with it an instantly recognizable cast of characters. So, a definite winner for any major fan of the Crash anthology.

What About Gameplay?

While there are clearly a few similarities between the two aforementioned Crash chapters, the dividing factor that separates the two is the sheer quantity of modes the original has to offer. Both 4v4 games on paper, it's easy to recommend either of the two in any couch co-op scenario. That said, if you're looking to go beyond the confines of your own living room, then Crash Team Rumble is, in all fairness, the only route you could possibly take. The only caveat is that you'll miss out on 90% more content, something that Crash Bash supplies an abundance of.

For the sake of convenience, Crash Team Rumble is the obvious choice here, as it's available across all major platforms, and is of course an open book to some extent. And while Toys for Bob has yet to flesh out the latest chapter or even give fans an idea of what it could potentially become, it does mean it's capable of receiving post-launch content, whereas Crash Bash is already past its heyday.

But Which One Is Better?

It goes without saying that Crash Bash, being a game with a substantial amount of followers, is the all-round fan favorite. And not just that, but the better looking game overall, as it brings with it a whole heap of content and endless replayability. We can't say the same for Crash Team Rumble, a product that, in all fairness, looks and plays like it has a short shelf life and essentially lacks in character.

Perhaps it's too early to tell, and maybe even a little unfair on Toys for Bob for not giving Crash Team Rumble enough time to settle into its new skin. Either way, there's no denying that Crash Bash is the better game, and one that, quite frankly, you could pick up in 2023 and still find something to hook onto without relying on the nostalgia factor alone.

Anyway, if you're looking for a party game that delivers familiar 4v4 battle arena action, then take your pick — you're spoilt for choice. If we had a say in it, though, then we'd suggest digging out that old PlayStation, for sure.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Crash Team Rumble when it releases on June 20th? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.