Everyone’s favorite marsupial hero is back with a new chapter of the legendaryCrash Bandicootseries, which has been gracing consoles for over two decades. In the latest collaboration by developer Toys For Bob with Activision, the beloved characters from the franchise are thrown into a whole new experience inCrash Team Rumble.
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Unlike previous titles in the franchise,Crash Team Rumblebypasses the typical storyline structure, instead opting for an online 4v4 arena battle where players square off against one another to be the first to fill their Wumpa bank. Each of the game’s characters has a unique skill set, giving them unorthodox advantages over their opponent. Character abilities are a fundamental part of success in the game, so careful consideration is advised to ensure the character fits the playing style.
10Quantum Wall - Coco
The brains of the Bandicoot family is unsurprisinglythe most technically savvyin the arena, evident in Coco Bandicoot’s Quantum Wall ability. Her high-tech ability supports the intelligent persona and appearance of Coco, especially when considering she could not be without her tablet, even in a high-stakes battle for Wumpa supremacy.
Coco’s Quantum Wall ability allows her to conjure a temporary obstacle to separate herself from the opposition and buy precious time to make an escape or capitalize on the opportunity to bank her Wumpa stash. It is particularly useful when Coco is being pursued by opposing Blockers, or when she is on the cusp of being interrupted while attempting to bank the precious fruits for the win.
9Heal Burger - Catbat
Anyone that says burgers aren’t healthy needs to speak with Catbat. Thefirst non-binary character in theCrash Bandicootfranchisehas the ability to whip up a tasty sandwich in a heartbeat to recover some health for themselves or to pass along to teammates in need.
The Heal Burger ability allows Catbat to toss a burger in front of them to recover any lost health, or for another member of the team to do the same. This is a great ability when Catbat is on the move or under attack from an opposing player, as a close-quarter exchange may have a different outcome after Catbat recovers from some of the damage delivered.
8Hookshot Dash - Tawna
Despite her size, Tawna is a deceptively agile character, making her an ideal Scorer inCrash Team Rumble.Part of what makes her so speedy is her Hookshot Dash ability, which allows her to swiftly cover a significant amount of ground.
The Hookshot Dash ability allows Tawna to throw her hook ahead of her and pull herself toward it, which is great for establishing a speed advantage over the opposition. This ability can be used in both an offensive and defensive manner, as it allows Tawna to escape the grasp of enemies or narrow the gap between Tawna and her target.
7Transform - N. Brio
N. Brio is the character with the most to gain from the abilities he uses inCrash Team Rumble. On the surface, Brio lacks any physical prowess or skills that would make him a threat by any stretch of the imagination. However, once he gulps down the suspiciously-colored contents of his flask, it is an entirely different story.
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N. Brio’s Transform ability allows him to change his small stature intoa Hulk-like physiquein a true modern-day Jekyll and Hyde conversion. For a short period of time, Brio’s hulking mass charges ahead, beating his large fists into the ground and onto any unfortunate opponents that happen to be in the way. This is a particularly potent attack, however, it does not rank as high as it may deserve because of how vulnerable he is without it.
6Time Tethers - N. Tropy
There are some questions as to why the female N. Tropy, who was first introduced inCrash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, is featured in the game instead of her longer-tenured male equivalent, however, there is no question that she is a powerful character inCrash Team Rumble. An agile but strong Blocker, Tropy comes with a few effective skills for knocking out opponents and denying their Wumpa banks. One of them is the Time Tether.
The Time Tether ability allows Tropy to shoot a long bar-like projectile toward her opponents that will trip them up and cause them to lose some health and precious Wumpa. As an added bonus, victims will also be knocked backward, which can put them in a sticky situation if they are close to an edge on the field.
5Slime Monster - N. Brio
When not in his hulking green Transform physique, players will find N. Brio zipping about the field with two flasks in his hands. He can use these to clobber his opponents, but can also use the serum contained in them to create some temporaryallies to help fight his battles.
With the Slime Monster ability, Brio can conjure a large and aggressive green slug that will attack any nearby threats and cause damage to them. These monsters make up for the lack of offensive prowess Brio has, and can temporarily distract opponents from the scientist as he makes his getaway or transforms into a formidable creature to turn the tide in his favor.
4Gravity Slam - N. Tropy
The menacing master of time performs all of her movements with purpose and grace and commits toa very calculated form of combat. This is evident in her Gravity Slam ability, where the Master of Time gracefully floats in the air before slamming into the ground, forming a number of energy orbs that can damage any who come in contact with them.
The Gravity Slam ability will cause damage to any targets it hits, but will also slow them down. This is a useful skill to have, as Tropy is able to capitalize on the opportunity to launch a further assault with her Time Tethers or swift melee strikes to deliver a knockout blow.
3Transform Shot - Cortex
No matter the size of the target, Dr. Neo Cortex’s Ray Gun has the capacity to make anyone feel and look very small. With his Transform Shot ability, Cortex shoots a ball of energy to turn its victim into a small and defenseless animal. It is as effective on small characters as it is on large, as evident in the above image of the hog formerly known as Dingodile.
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Cortex’s Transform Shot will temporarily render opponents vulnerable and defenseless, which is a great opportunity to deliver further damage by using his Piano Drop or to escape from any threat and take his Wumpa supplies to the bank. As an added bonus, players who use Cortex’s Dash ability on a transformed opponent can deliver a big knock-back blow, which could result in an instant knockout.
2Superslam - Crash
Crash Bandicoot’s Superslam ability is ranked among the best character skills inCrash Team Rumbleon account of its effectiveness, butalso its nostalgia value. One of Crash’s signature moves throughout the franchise sees the bandicoot leap into the air and perform a devastating belly-flop onto the ground.
Any unfortunate enough to be underneath the Superslam will find themselves literally flattened temporarily, rendering them defenseless. This ability is an excellent tool for slowing down opponents and will grant him an opportunity for Crash to deliver further offense with his signature spin move.
1Super Tailwhip - Dingodile
Dingodile has always been an unusual creation, given he is a genetic combination of a dingo and a crocodile, but with his Super Tailwhip ability, he is also capable of turning himself into a terrifying tornado. With this ability, Dingodile charges up his spin move to continuously pirouette in the direction of any enemies in the way.
The Super Tailwhip makes Dingodile near-unstoppable for a short period and is a particularly useful skill for the Blocker when one or more opponents are attempting to bank their Wumpa. With a well-timed move, Dingodile can deny multiple opponents the opportunity to contribute to their team’s total, and risk being knocked out in the process.
Crash Team Rumbleis now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
