Still humming that theme song
The last game I ever thought I would see remastered was one that marked a special place in my nostalgia bucket. The original Croc was a perfect storm of timing and circumstance. Mario 64 was on the horizon, PlayStation was just getting its feet wet with gaming, and analog controllers were all the rage. Originally started as a Yoshi game, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos was a simple platformer that came out in the early years of the original PlayStation, and it stuck with me. From that earworm theme song to the cutesy characters, the game just resonated with me. I have been revisiting it for nearly 20 years, and I finally have a proper remaster that rights a lot of the wrongs of the original.
Croc is a straightforward platformer. It is level-based, and each section is pretty linear. Each world has a set of levels, ending with a boss. The areas include biome themes and overall, it just feels like your standard platformer. The concept is simple: enter the level, collect gems, save the Gobbos, and solve the platforming. Croc has a tail whip attack and can butt stomp on big question blocks. The platforming is straightforward, and the levels are never longer than a few minutes. The challenge isn’t in finishing the levels, but in completing them without losing the gems, or finding all the collectibles.
MSRP: $29.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $29.99
If Croc finds all the hidden gems, there is a secret exit, which is the only way to collect the final Gobbo. There are plenty of opportunities for replayability, and the addition of Achievements gives even more reason to revisit levels. Everything about Croc is simple, but effective, but it is what surrounded it that made it memorable.
Starting with the music. Argonaut crafted one of the catchiest tunes for the main theme. Each level has its own theme as well, and while it feels familiar, it just resonates. The characters look stripped right out of a Nintendo game, and everything is so colorful and vibrant. It is just a joy to play. It is impossible to play Croc without a smile on your face.
So, what makes the remaster so special? Well for starters, a lot of the original team members of Argonaut returned for this. It took longer than I would have liked, but the final product is definitely worth it. For starters Croc now controls like a proper 3D platformer. One of the biggest drawbacks of the original game is that Croc had tank controls. Yes, it was stiff and unresponsive, but it was 1997, so we dealt with it. This changes the entire game. Every single platforming section feels 1000 times better with the refined controls. The camera control has also been improved, making it feel like a modern game. My only complaint is that the camera feels a bit too close at times.
If that was the only upgrade, it would be enough for me, but they didn’t stop there. The visuals have also been redone with several options to choose from. You can opt for the original textures, complete with warping. There is also a retro CRT filter, and the ability to use only upgraded textures or character models. The mix and match options are great, and lets players customize how the game looks. The entire soundtrack has also received upgrades and sounds familiar and fantastic.
One of the biggest things that I love about modern remasters is the stuff they include about the game. Knowing the history of how it came to be is super interesting to me. Croc goes above and beyond in this category, making it feel like the gold standard for single game remakes. The amount of bonus content included here is outstanding. There are interviews with the development team, both original and new. Soundtracks for the game including new remixes and originals. Old design docs for both the game and planned TV show. Pictures of merchandise and events from the original game, and bonus test levels that are playable. This thing is packed with extras that I spent more time investigating than perhaps playing the game. It is incredible.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is a winner on two levels for me. It is a game that is very near and dear to me, and the team came back to really make this remaster worth revisiting outside of nostalgia. They reworked the controls, made it look fantastic, and packed it with so many extras it is hard not to love it. This was one of my most anticipated remasters and it did not disappoint
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
