Since I'm a HUUUUUUUGE Crash Bandicoot and moderate video game music fan, this is a pretty big deal for me. Consequently, I'm dedicating three blog posts to looking at the retooled soundtracks for the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, starting with the rerecorded soundtrack for Crash Bandicoot. Since I'll be looking at each game's soundtrack in depth, I'm counting each of these as reviews and both the remakes and the originals will be getting scores, although I'll probably be discussing the N. Sane Trilogy music more.
Crash Bandicoot was a great little platformer with some catchy tunes but overall, it was a bit patchy. The gameplay was challenging through poor mechanics and the music was forgettable due to the simplicity of it. However, there were a couple of tunes that stood out and one of those was the game's main theme; N. Sanity Beach. The catchy xylophone rhythm, the tribal percussion that kicks into a full drumbeat, the "BWAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR" that's become a staple of the franchise, it's all perfect and the N. Sane Trilogy does a fantastic job of recreating it.
They knew not to fuck around with the game's iconic theme and I respect that. However, it's a shame they weren't so cautious with the game's other main theme; the theme from the Great Hall. The original theme has comic elegance aided by a perfect mix. Whilst the rerecord is good, it just sounds a little too farcical and I blame the overuse of brass for that. In fact, a few level soundtracks in this game use a bit too much brass (Hog Wild/Whole Hog, Temple Ruins/Jaws Of Darkness, Pinstripe Potoroo), giving it more of a Jazz feel and perhaps making some of the creepier levels a little less imposing.
However, if you're a fan of added percussion, you've got some treats lined up. Levels with subdued music still play just as well but now with improved music in the background. Slippery Climb is a well known level in the franchise for being so fucking difficult but now it's got another highlight; a funky song in the background. Sure, it might not make the level seem as scary when it sounds like you're listening to a mash-up between a Horror cartoon and a Salsa party but if you're going to listen to a tune over and over again due to dying on a challenging level, I'd rather listen to something enjoyable.
There's still a great variety of music across the game too, aided by the improved musical quality. Whilst there was always a clear difference between music in the jungle and music in the castle, the PS4 remakes amplify them. Take N. Brio's Theme or The Lab; the use of modern Rick & Morty-esque synth and enhanced stringed instruments really brings them to life whereas I recall the originals always being present but never really exciting. However, there are some examples where the enhanced music is a downside.
Part of the charm in the original Crash Bandicoot is the wacky, cartoon-like elements of the music but with a fresh soundtrack, these have been partially removed. The music in the Tawna Bonus Rounds used to have a fun melody but the N. Sane Trilogy version has replaced it with electric guitar, making it sound cleaner but also less memorable. The game could've benefited from keeping a few of the original instruments the same but I suppose it's a roll of the dice in terms of which ones work with most fans and which ones don't.
On the plus side, some of the music sounds spot on if you're after faithful recreations. The music in the Upstream/Up The Creek levels is damn near identical to the original and each of the boss themes (with the exception of Pinstripe) has been rerecorded perfectly, especially the Ripper Roo and Koala Kong themes. It's also interesting to hear the Papu Papu theme in full, since I usually only heard the first 20 seconds of it on account of him being such an easy boss.
Overall, the original music for Crash Bandicoot is appropriate (and much better than the Urban Chaos idea suggested in the planning stages for the game) but the N. Sane Trilogy really kicks it up a couple of gears. Themes from the original game that you heard but never really listened to due to their simplicity are now a bit more fleshed out and whilst the originals will probably always reign superior if there was a specific tune you loved, the dull tracks will be far more enjoyable to your ears now...which is what I predicted/hoped for months ago, so that's great!
In terms of ratings, I rate the original soundtrack 5/10 and the N. Sane Trilogy soundtrack 6/10. I haven't played the other two Crash remasters yet but if this is anything to go by, I've got a lot to look forward to. Then again, if the Halestorm cover EPs were anything to go by, it's that the first entry in the musical trilogy is usually the best. Ah well, guess I'll have to just play the games to find out!
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