Remasters of all sizes and styles are commonplace within the present online game panorama, and admittedly, some deserve the return to the limelight greater than others. Argonaut Video games, itself revived after a protracted hiatus, is bringing again one among its best-loved titles that we expect greater than earns its proper for a comeback. Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is a cult favorite PS1 platformer from a time when making 3D video games was nonetheless new, and whereas in some methods it exhibits its age, it is tough to not be charmed by this remastered traditional.
Hopping into this recreation in 2025 is a nostalgic overload for anybody with fond recollections of Croc; the very first thing you see is the gobbos inflating the Argonaut Video games brand, taking part in out on an enormous CRT tv. Particularly if you hear the title theme on the principle menu, all of it comes flooding again, and what’s so beautiful about this remaster is simply how trustworthy to the unique expertise it’s; you’ll be able to actually inform that is basically the identical recreation with the identical code, solely with some mod-cons and a contemporary coat of paint.
Loading is instantaneous as you hop into the sport correct, which retains the colorful, stylised look of the unique with clear enhancements, particularly to character fashions. A number of graphical choices mean you can apply numerous filters and visible tweaks, that are appreciated, although we caught to the remaster’s default look as a result of it is so crisp.
As for the way it performs, you’ll be able to transfer Croc with both his traditional tank controls on the d-pad, or go for a a lot smoother, trendy expertise with full analog management on the left stick. You should utilize both of those always, and what’s attention-grabbing is that, as a result of the sport was initially designed across the d-pad’s tank controls, there are some eventualities the place that is really the higher choice. Clean analog management goes to really feel finest for many gamers, although, and it has been applied nicely, permitting you to actually velocity via ranges in a means you’ll be able to’t with the previous scheme.
The sport could be very simplistic by right this moment’s requirements, with brief ranges, enemies posing little risk, and pretty tame obstacles. Straightforward although it might be, particularly utilizing the fashionable controls, that is nonetheless an old-fashioned expertise, which means restricted lives and beginning a degree over for those who do hit Sport Over. Newcomers and veteran followers alike may breeze via, however once more, the sport’s inherent appeal will imply you are smiling whereas it occurs.
There are six gobbos to seek out in every degree, in addition to particular colored crystals that open a bonus door close to a stage’s exit. The extent construction is kind of distinctive; they’re all segmented by quite a few doorways, with some easy puzzles requiring you to seek out one thing in a single room and return to a different. It is broadly a really linear recreation, however there are some examples of doubling again on your self or discovering well-hidden secrets and techniques that present some novel concepts for the time.
Croc himself has a stable transfer set, with a beneficiant bounce, a butt-slam to open bins, a 180-degree flip, and a tail spin assault, to not point out the power to climb sure surfaces, swing on monkey bars, and swim underwater. The sport makes common use of most of those, giving the platforming a great tempo.
Additionally serving to to maintain issues contemporary is completely different degree themes for every island, which introduce new enemies and obstacles to take care of. A spotlight of Croc for a lot of is the characterful boss fights, that are all fairly easy to defeat however have enjoyable designs, like a boxing ladybird or a big fish with a trident.
General, the sport itself has a lot of cutesy persona, and appears and performs higher than ever with this remaster’s additions. Its simplicity may go away some just a little chilly, however we discovered it to be refreshing and stress-free.
Elevating the package deal is the Crocipedia, a surprisingly massive museum part with tons to see and do. The soundtrack, work-in-progress music, previous pictures, design documentation, character mannequin sheets and animation checks, and many speaking head interviews with present and former employees is all right here. For followers of the unique, or simply followers of gaming historical past, there’s a lot to chew on right here, and it actually provides worth to the remaster.
Conclusion
Whereas the sport itself inevitably exhibits its age with its simplistic design, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos stays an lovely and enjoyable platformer on this remaster. The revamped visuals pop whereas staying true to its old fashioned look, and the analog management offers a a lot smoother method to play. The Crocipedia fleshes issues out, offering a lot of element in regards to the making of this pioneering 3D title.
