Let’s be real for a second. Toys for Bob didn't just make a sequel; they made a test of human endurance. If you're looking for a Crash Bandicoot 4 walkthrough, you probably already know that this game is exponentially harder than the original N. Sane Trilogy. It’s mean. It’s beautiful. It’s occasionally unfair. But mostly, it's just demanding.
You aren't just jumping on turtles anymore. Now you’re phase-shifting platforms mid-air while grinding on a rail and trying to ignore the fact that a single mistake sends you back three minutes. It's a lot. Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is treating It’s About Time like a casual weekend platformer. It isn’t. If you want that elusive 106% completion, you need a strategy that goes beyond "git gud."
The Brutal Reality of N. Sanity Island and Beyond
Most players breeze through the first few levels and think they’ve got it down. Then they hit the Tranquility Falls or the Sn@xx Dimension, and the difficulty spike feels like hitting a brick wall at sixty miles per hour. The level design in Crash 4 is dense. Hidden crates are tucked behind scenery where the camera literally cannot see them unless you backtrack or jump into a blind corner.
Take "Rude Awakening," the very first level. It seems simple, right? Wrong. There’s a hidden crate behind a tent near the start that messes with people every single time. This sets the tone for the entire Crash Bandicoot 4 walkthrough experience: trust nothing. Every time you see a suspicious-looking pile of fruit or a platform that seems to lead nowhere, there is almost certainly a crate or a hidden gem waiting for you.
The game introduces the Quantum Masks—Lani-Loli, Akano, Kupuna-Wa, and Ika-Ika—and these are the real game-changers. Mastering the timing of the slow-motion mask (Kupuna-Wa) is basically the only way you’re getting through the later Cortex Island stages. If you’re struggling with the timing, stop looking at Crash. Look at the obstacles. The rhythm of the gears or the falling platforms is what matters, not the character model.
Why Your Traditional Completionist Habits Are Failing
In the old games, getting all the crates was the goal. In Crash 4, that’s just the bare minimum. You have the N. Verted levels, the Flashback Tapes, the Hidden Gems, and those nightmare-inducing N. Sanely Perfect Relics.
To get an N. Sanely Perfect Relic, you have to break every single crate and finish the level without dying once. Just once. It sounds doable until you realize some levels, like "Cortex Castle" or "Toxic Tunnels," are ten minutes long and filled with instant-death traps.
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The Flashback Tape Trap
You’ve probably seen those floating VHS tapes. You can only collect them if you reach them without dying. Here’s a tip: don’t obsess over them on your first run. Seriously. If you try to get every Flashback Tape while also trying to learn the mechanics of a new level, you’re going to burn out. These tapes unlock "Flashback Levels," which are pure 2D puzzle platforming gauntlets set in 1996. They are great for lore, but they will break your spirit if you aren't prepared.
The Hidden Gem Locations
Every level has a hidden gem. Some are clever. Some are just cruel. In "A Real Grind," the gem is tucked high above a goalpost you have no reason to jump toward. In "Crash Compactor," it’s hidden behind a massive piece of machinery in the background. The game rewards curiosity, but it also rewards stubbornness. Use the "Enhanced Shadow" setting in the options menu. It puts a yellow circle directly under Crash, which is the only way to accurately judge jumps in a 3D space when the camera angle is fighting you.
Modern vs. Retro Mode: The Great Debate
When you start your Crash Bandicoot 4 walkthrough, the game asks if you want "Modern" or "Retro" mode.
Modern gives you infinite lives. Retro gives you the classic life system where 100 Wumpa fruit equals one life, and "Game Over" sends you back to the start of the map.
Unless you are a literal masochist or a speedrunner, choose Modern. The game tracks your deaths anyway for the gems, so having a finite pool of lives adds nothing but frustration. Some of the late-game bosses, like the final encounter with Neo Cortex, can easily eat up 30 to 40 lives on a first attempt. Don't let a "Game Over" screen delete your progress through a grueling 15-minute level.
Mastering the Triple Spin and Slide-Spin
Once you beat the main story, you unlock the Triple Spin. It replaces the Death Tornado Spin from Warped. It’s faster, but it requires a specific cadence. You can't just mash the button. You have to time the presses—one, two, three—to get the speed boost.
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This is mandatory for the Platinum Time Trials.
The slide-spin is another core movement tech. By sliding and then immediately spinning, you maintain a high velocity that can bridge gaps you normally couldn't clear. If you combine a slide-jump with a spin, you get a massive horizontal boost. This isn't just "pro-player" stuff; it's practically required to find some of the more obscure crates in the later worlds like the Bermugula's Orbit.
The Problem with the N. Verted Levels
Let's talk about the N. Verted mode. It’s essentially a mirrored version of the level with a weird filter—underwater, neon, or a "sketchbook" style where you splash paint to see. It’s a polarizing feature. While it doubles the content, it can be physically straining on the eyes.
If you're going for the full walkthrough completion, do the N. Verted levels immediately after the standard version of the level. The muscle memory is still fresh. If you wait until the end of the game to go back and do all the N. Verted stages, you’ll have forgotten the crate placements, and you’ll have to learn the level all over again.
Tips for the Hardest Levels in the Game
- Toxic Tunnels: This is widely considered the hardest level for a Perfect Relic. There is a "Gem Gauntlet" inside it that requires all four colored gems (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow). Do not attempt the crates here until you have all four. It's a waste of time otherwise.
- Cortex Castle: The final stretch requires you to swap between all four masks in rapid succession while platforming. It's about rhythm. Treat it like a music game.
- Bears Repeating: The hitbox on the polar bear cub is... questionable. To get the crates during the riding sections, aim for the middle of the crate, not the edge. Many players miss the 2x2 stacks because the collision detection is tighter than it was in the original games.
Rail Grinding and Wall Running
Crash 4 adds wall running and rail grinding. On the rails, you can hang below or jump on top. The trick here is the yellow fruit. Usually, the fruit path tells you exactly when you need to switch positions. If you see fruit hanging below the rail, drop down. If it disappears, get back up. The game is constantly communicating with you through the placement of items. Listen to it.
The Colored Gem Locations (No Spoilers)
You won't find these by just smashing crates. They require specific, often cryptic actions:
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- Blue Gem: Finish "Draggin' On" without breaking a single crate. Yes, zero. This includes the checkpoint crates. It's a test of patience.
- Red Gem: In "N. Sanity Peaks," there is a mural. Follow the platforms in the order shown on the wall.
- Green Gem: During the chase in "Hit the Road," you'll find a trash can. Spin it.
- Yellow Gem: At the very start of "Run it Bayou," don't get on the boat. Jump across the crates to the moving platforms on the side.
Actionable Strategy for Completion
Stop trying to do everything at once. The game is designed to be played in layers.
First, just finish the level. Get the ending. Don't worry about the crates or the deaths. Just see the finish line.
Second, go back for the gems and the 100% crate run. Use a guide for the one or two crates that are inevitably hidden behind a wall or off-camera.
Third, do the N. Verted run.
Finally, once you've mastered the layout, attempt the N. Sanely Perfect Relic and the Time Trials. Trying to do a "perfect" run on your first time through a level is a recipe for a broken controller.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough:
- Turn on the Enhanced Shadow: Go to settings right now. It makes the platforming 50% easier.
- Map the "Mask Ability" to a trigger: If you find the face buttons too crowded, some players find remapping the mask activation to R1 or L1 helps with the late-game dexterity requirements.
- Hunt the Colored Gems first: Getting these early unlocks paths in other levels that contain dozens of crates you can't reach otherwise.
- Check the "Crate Total" often: Pause the game. It tells you how many crates you've broken versus the total. If you've missed one and you're past a point of no return, restart immediately to save time.
Focus on one dimension at a time. The game is a marathon, not a sprint. If you get frustrated with a particular Platinum Relic, go play a Flashback level or try a different dimension. The variety is what keeps the game from feeling like a chore. Stay patient, watch the shadows, and remember that even the best players died hundreds of times on their way to the 106.