When you get to cut loose and play the traditional Crash Bandicoot platforming stages, this game offers by far the best version of that formula. I'm not a very skilled speedrunner but it feels incredibly satisfying to blaze through the stages at top speed, especially on repeat visits when you've refined your gameplay and your ability to traverse the stage.
Unfortunately there's a lot of gimmick stages in this game, tons of weird vehicles and the usual on rails animal riding levels. They're far from the worst thing ever, but it's a mild disappointment when they're stacked up against some of the best platforming the series has to offer. And it's kind of unfortunate that they break the pace of what is otherwise a super fun game to try and 100%. Also Hot Coco is just ass I'm afraid. That being said it's a testament to how fantastic the normal Crash stages are that none of this really hurts the game.
Unfortunately there's a lot of gimmick stages in this game, tons of weird vehicles and the usual on rails animal riding levels. They're far from the worst thing ever, but it's a mild disappointment when they're stacked up against some of the best platforming the series has to offer. And it's kind of unfortunate that they break the pace of what is otherwise a super fun game to try and 100%. Also Hot Coco is just ass I'm afraid. That being said it's a testament to how fantastic the normal Crash stages are that none of this really hurts the game.