The Last of Us Part 2 takes a lot of design cues and lessons from developer Naughty Dog’s recent games, including its direct predecessor and the Uncharted series. The final result is a linearly focused adventure, but one that often opens up into the studio’s biggest environments and levels. And at one point, it could have been an even greater departure from past games. Speaking to IGN ahead of The Last of Us Part 2’s release, director Neil Druckmann discussed how early ideas of the game had taken on an open-world design. Warning: Major spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2 follow. Turn back if you haven’t finished! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/the-last-of-us-part-2-ps4-pro-limited-edition-unboxing"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] “The game initially was this open world thing. And you spent all this time in Jackson,” Druckmann, who also spoke to us about The Last of Us Part 2's ambitious story, explained. Jackson, Wyoming is the first major location for the sequel, which spends most of its time in the Pacific Northwest. In Jackson, though, we see where Ellie and Joel have been living in the ensuing years since the end of The Last of Us. There’s a full community here, and in the final release of the sequel, we meet other citizens like Dina, Jesse, Maria, and Seth, while hearing stories about others like Eugene. The more time players would have spent in Jackson also altered the way Abby, the main second playable protagonist, was introduced. “Abby joined the community and you were playing as this new character until she betrayed Joel later on,” Druckmann explained. “And it just didn't work because Joel dying is the inciting incident, and you want to get to the inciting incident as quickly as you can.” And so Abby’s introduction and quick playable levels comes early on, before Joel’s death sends Ellie on her revenge quest to Seattle. Druckmann explained how Abby’s role actually shrank from earlier iterations of the sequel’s story, but that ultimately the team settled on a playable portion that felt long enough to convey what was necessary. “Abby was the concept that made us want to make this game about empathy, interactivity; knowing we could use Joel and Ellie to create that feeling right at the beginning,” he said. “Her role actually kept shrinking and shrinking until we thought this is the right amount for what we need you to feel about Abby.” Stay tuned to IGN for more from Druckmann on the sequel, and if you haven't already be sure to check out IGN's The Last of Us Part 2 review. For more on the Naughty Dog sequel, read our dive into The Last of Us Part 2's accessibility features, how much The Last of Us Part 2 sold in its debut weekend, and why the sequel probably won't get DLC. And if you're playing, be sure to check out IGN's comprehensive The Last of Us Part 2 guide for help with collectibles, Trophies, and more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, Host of Podcast Beyond!, and can't stop hearing Pearl Jam in his head now. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

The Last of Us Part 2 takes a lot of design cues and lessons from developer Naughty Dog’s recent games, including its direct predecessor and the Uncharted series. The final result is a linearly focused adventure, but one that often opens up into the studio’s biggest environments and levels. And at one point, it could have been an even greater departure from past games. Speaking to IGN ahead of The Last of Us Part 2’s release, director Neil Druckmann discussed how early ideas of the game had taken on an open-world design. Warning: Major spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2 follow. Turn back if you haven’t finished! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/the-last-of-us-part-2-ps4-pro-limited-edition-unboxing"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] “The game initially was this open world thing. And you spent all this time in Jackson,” Druckmann, who also spoke to us about The Last of Us Part 2's ambitious story, explained. Jackson, Wyoming is the first major location for the sequel, which spends most of its time in the Pacific Northwest. In Jackson, though, we see where Ellie and Joel have been living in the ensuing years since the end of The Last of Us. There’s a full community here, and in the final release of the sequel, we meet other citizens like Dina, Jesse, Maria, and Seth, while hearing stories about others like Eugene. The more time players would have spent in Jackson also altered the way Abby, the main second playable protagonist, was introduced. “Abby joined the community and you were playing as this new character until she betrayed Joel later on,” Druckmann explained. “And it just didn't work because Joel dying is the inciting incident, and you want to get to the inciting incident as quickly as you can.” And so Abby’s introduction and quick playable levels comes early on, before Joel’s death sends Ellie on her revenge quest to Seattle. Druckmann explained how Abby’s role actually shrank from earlier iterations of the sequel’s story, but that ultimately the team settled on a playable portion that felt long enough to convey what was necessary. “Abby was the concept that made us want to make this game about empathy, interactivity; knowing we could use Joel and Ellie to create that feeling right at the beginning,” he said. “Her role actually kept shrinking and shrinking until we thought this is the right amount for what we need you to feel about Abby.” Stay tuned to IGN for more from Druckmann on the sequel, and if you haven't already be sure to check out IGN's The Last of Us Part 2 review. For more on the Naughty Dog sequel, read our dive into The Last of Us Part 2's accessibility features, how much The Last of Us Part 2 sold in its debut weekend, and why the sequel probably won't get DLC. And if you're playing, be sure to check out IGN's comprehensive The Last of Us Part 2 guide for help with collectibles, Trophies, and more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, Host of Podcast Beyond!, and can't stop hearing Pearl Jam in his head now. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

Twitch has suspended President Donald Trump’s official Twitch channel citing a violation of Twitch’s community guidelines against hateful conduct. A suspension is not the same as a ban, but it’s unclear when President Trump’s Twitch channel will be reinstated. In a statement provided to IGN, a Twitch spokesperson said, “Hateful conduct is not allowed on Twitch. In line with our policies, President Trump’s channel has been issued a temporary suspension from Twitch for comments made on stream, and the offending content has been removed.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/03/02/trump-to-meet-with-game-industry-execs"] Twitch defines Hateful Conduct on its platform as any “content or activity that promotes, encourages, or facilitates discrimination, denigration, objectification, harassment, or violence based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or serious medical condition or veteran status, and is prohibited. Any hateful conduct is considered a zero-tolerance violation.” Trump’s Twitch channel rebroadcasted multiple rallies that Twitch cited as violations of this rule. One was a recent rebroadcast from his 2016 campaign rally where he said:

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we’re getting. And it only makes common sense. It only makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people.”

Twitch cited a second comment made during a Twitch stream from Trump’s Tulsa Rally:

“Hey, it’s 1:00 o’clock in the morning and a very tough, I’ve used the word on occasion, hombre, a very tough hombre is breaking into the window of a young woman whose husband is away as a traveling salesman or whatever he may do. And you call 911 and they say, “I’m sorry, this number’s no longer working.” By the way, you have many cases like that, many, many, many. Whether it’s a young woman, an old woman, a young man or an old man and you’re sleeping.”

Twitch told the President’s team when the channel was started last year that, “Like anyone else, politicians on Twitch must adhere to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. We do not make exceptions for political or newsworthy content, and will take action on content reported to us that violates our rules.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/03/08/president-trumps-violence-in-video-games-highlight-reel"] Several other politicians have Twitch channels, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Trump’s suspension from Twitch comes on the same day Reddit banned subreddits deemed as propagating hateful content, including the r/The_Donald subreddit which is not officially associated with the President. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. Blogroll photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Twitch has suspended President Donald Trump’s official Twitch channel citing a violation of Twitch’s community guidelines against hateful conduct. A suspension is not the same as a ban, but it’s unclear when President Trump’s Twitch channel will be reinstated. In a statement provided to IGN, a Twitch spokesperson said, “Hateful conduct is not allowed on Twitch. In line with our policies, President Trump’s channel has been issued a temporary suspension from Twitch for comments made on stream, and the offending content has been removed.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/03/02/trump-to-meet-with-game-industry-execs"] Twitch defines Hateful Conduct on its platform as any “content or activity that promotes, encourages, or facilitates discrimination, denigration, objectification, harassment, or violence based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or serious medical condition or veteran status, and is prohibited. Any hateful conduct is considered a zero-tolerance violation.” Trump’s Twitch channel rebroadcasted multiple rallies that Twitch cited as violations of this rule. One was a recent rebroadcast from his 2016 campaign rally where he said:

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we’re getting. And it only makes common sense. It only makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people.”

Twitch cited a second comment made during a Twitch stream from Trump’s Tulsa Rally:

“Hey, it’s 1:00 o’clock in the morning and a very tough, I’ve used the word on occasion, hombre, a very tough hombre is breaking into the window of a young woman whose husband is away as a traveling salesman or whatever he may do. And you call 911 and they say, “I’m sorry, this number’s no longer working.” By the way, you have many cases like that, many, many, many. Whether it’s a young woman, an old woman, a young man or an old man and you’re sleeping.”

Twitch told the President’s team when the channel was started last year that, “Like anyone else, politicians on Twitch must adhere to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. We do not make exceptions for political or newsworthy content, and will take action on content reported to us that violates our rules.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/03/08/president-trumps-violence-in-video-games-highlight-reel"] Several other politicians have Twitch channels, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Trump’s suspension from Twitch comes on the same day Reddit banned subreddits deemed as propagating hateful content, including the r/The_Donald subreddit which is not officially associated with the President. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. Blogroll photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Call of Duty: Warzone will soon be getting a new limited-time 200 Player Battle Royale mode that will allow 50 Quads of Operators to fight for victory. This new mode will arrive alongside a brand new Season Four Reloaded update on June 29 at 11pm PT and on June 30 at 2am ET/7am BST that will also add a new weapon, map, operator, and much more. Warzone currently supports up to 150 players, and this new limited time Quads mode will allow for 50 more players. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-warzone-official-season-four-trailer"] The update will have a download size of 22-36 GB for owners of the full version of Modern Warfare, with console owners needing a secondary 3.5 GB download. Free-to-Play Warzone players can expect a download of 22-30 GB. According to Activision, once these updates are finished, there will be "a reduction to the overall footprint on their machines." There will also be new Supply Run Contracts in Warzone. Once activated, your team will be directed to a nearby Buy Station. If it is reached in time, a discount on Buy Station purchases will be applied. Juggernaut Royale mode will also become available. In this mode, there will be airdropped care packages that will allow players to become the Juggernaut with a mini-gun and high armor. Once a Juggernaut is defeated, a new care package will drop, giving someone else a chance to become the fearsome soldier. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=call-of-duty-modern-warfare-and-warzone-season-4-screenshots&captions=true"] A Spotter Scope will also be put around Verdansk. While sniper scopes can be spotted by other players by the glint of sunshine when they are used, this new scope has none of that. If found, players can can the environment and find enemies without as much fear as using a regular scope. Speaking of Snipers, the Rytec AMR will also make its way to Modern Warfare's multiplayer modes and is a ".50 caliber-chambered beast." It is "one of the deadliest semi-automatic anti-material rifles an Operator can get their hands on." On the multiplayer front, the Cheshire Park map will become available and allow players to travel to urban London, England to visit a "picturesque garden and conservatory." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-warzone-season-four-battle-pass-trailer"] Lastly, Team Defender returns to multiplayer after being introduced almost 10 years ago and brings back the variant of Capture the Flag where there is only one flag between both teams. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Call of Duty: Warzone will soon be getting a new limited-time 200 Player Battle Royale mode that will allow 50 Quads of Operators to fight for victory. This new mode will arrive alongside a brand new Season Four Reloaded update on June 29 at 11pm PT and on June 30 at 2am ET/7am BST that will also add a new weapon, map, operator, and much more. Warzone currently supports up to 150 players, and this new limited time Quads mode will allow for 50 more players. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-warzone-official-season-four-trailer"] The update will have a download size of 22-36 GB for owners of the full version of Modern Warfare, with console owners needing a secondary 3.5 GB download. Free-to-Play Warzone players can expect a download of 22-30 GB. According to Activision, once these updates are finished, there will be "a reduction to the overall footprint on their machines." There will also be new Supply Run Contracts in Warzone. Once activated, your team will be directed to a nearby Buy Station. If it is reached in time, a discount on Buy Station purchases will be applied. Juggernaut Royale mode will also become available. In this mode, there will be airdropped care packages that will allow players to become the Juggernaut with a mini-gun and high armor. Once a Juggernaut is defeated, a new care package will drop, giving someone else a chance to become the fearsome soldier. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=call-of-duty-modern-warfare-and-warzone-season-4-screenshots&captions=true"] A Spotter Scope will also be put around Verdansk. While sniper scopes can be spotted by other players by the glint of sunshine when they are used, this new scope has none of that. If found, players can can the environment and find enemies without as much fear as using a regular scope. Speaking of Snipers, the Rytec AMR will also make its way to Modern Warfare's multiplayer modes and is a ".50 caliber-chambered beast." It is "one of the deadliest semi-automatic anti-material rifles an Operator can get their hands on." On the multiplayer front, the Cheshire Park map will become available and allow players to travel to urban London, England to visit a "picturesque garden and conservatory." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/11/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-warzone-season-four-battle-pass-trailer"] Lastly, Team Defender returns to multiplayer after being introduced almost 10 years ago and brings back the variant of Capture the Flag where there is only one flag between both teams. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

One of many reasons Star Wars has embedded itself in our collective consciousness is through its iconic imagery, made all the more recognizable by its clean, minimalist shapes that create instantly recognizable silhouettes (like the shadow of Darth Vader that made The Phantom Menace's teaser poster so effective), so it's no surprise that minimalist designer and illustrator S. Preston has drawn inspiration from a galaxy far, far away for his new line of artwork. IGN can exclusively reveal Preston's three latest designs, featuring R2-D2, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader, building on his previous work which showcased BB-8 and the Millennium Falcon. Check out the officially licensed designs in the slideshow below. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-minimalist-prints-by-s-preston&captions=true"] Preston is well known for creating minimalist takes on Major League Baseball's mascot designs and ballparks, and the artist shares a little of the inspiration in his work here: "Mascots are for kids. When I set about to create a collection of mascot art, I really wanted to capture the playfulness and joy that a young fan gets when they meet a mascot or character.  Partially inspired by Wilson, the neighbor in Home Improvement, my collection of minimalist mascots are meant to capture your attention by “peeking” over the art.  Over the years, thousands of sports fans have added my minimalist mascot artwork in their kids rooms and I’m crazy excited that LucasFilm decided to introduce my minimalist mascot artwork into a galaxy far, far away.” The prints are now available through Preston's website with a 10% discount for IGN readers using code IGN10. Get the details on the prints below: Open Edition Poster Prints - Officially licensed artwork of Lucasfilm, Ltd. - 11x17 on enhanced matte paper. - 12x12 on enhanced matte paper Both retail $30 Limited Edition Prints - Officially licensed artwork of Lucasfilm, Ltd. - Hand numbered and signed by the artist. - Certificate of Authenticity included. - Optional framing available. Medium - 14x20 print on archival fine-art paper. - Limited to 350 Large - 24x36 print on archival fine-art paper - Limited to 100 For more Star Wars goodies, check out Hasbro's new Mandalorian and Star Wars Rebels Black Series figures, see the Funko versions of Knights of the Old Republic villains Darth Revan and Darth Malak, and read the first chapter Star Wars: The High Republic - Light of the Jedi. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/20/hasbros-baby-yoda-animatronic-figure-in-action"]

One of many reasons Star Wars has embedded itself in our collective consciousness is through its iconic imagery, made all the more recognizable by its clean, minimalist shapes that create instantly recognizable silhouettes (like the shadow of Darth Vader that made The Phantom Menace's teaser poster so effective), so it's no surprise that minimalist designer and illustrator S. Preston has drawn inspiration from a galaxy far, far away for his new line of artwork. IGN can exclusively reveal Preston's three latest designs, featuring R2-D2, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader, building on his previous work which showcased BB-8 and the Millennium Falcon. Check out the officially licensed designs in the slideshow below. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-minimalist-prints-by-s-preston&captions=true"] Preston is well known for creating minimalist takes on Major League Baseball's mascot designs and ballparks, and the artist shares a little of the inspiration in his work here: "Mascots are for kids. When I set about to create a collection of mascot art, I really wanted to capture the playfulness and joy that a young fan gets when they meet a mascot or character.  Partially inspired by Wilson, the neighbor in Home Improvement, my collection of minimalist mascots are meant to capture your attention by “peeking” over the art.  Over the years, thousands of sports fans have added my minimalist mascot artwork in their kids rooms and I’m crazy excited that LucasFilm decided to introduce my minimalist mascot artwork into a galaxy far, far away.” The prints are now available through Preston's website with a 10% discount for IGN readers using code IGN10. Get the details on the prints below: Open Edition Poster Prints - Officially licensed artwork of Lucasfilm, Ltd. - 11x17 on enhanced matte paper. - 12x12 on enhanced matte paper Both retail $30 Limited Edition Prints - Officially licensed artwork of Lucasfilm, Ltd. - Hand numbered and signed by the artist. - Certificate of Authenticity included. - Optional framing available. Medium - 14x20 print on archival fine-art paper. - Limited to 350 Large - 24x36 print on archival fine-art paper - Limited to 100 For more Star Wars goodies, check out Hasbro's new Mandalorian and Star Wars Rebels Black Series figures, see the Funko versions of Knights of the Old Republic villains Darth Revan and Darth Malak, and read the first chapter Star Wars: The High Republic - Light of the Jedi. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/20/hasbros-baby-yoda-animatronic-figure-in-action"]

After years and years of entries that tried but often didn’t quite capture the magic of the original trilogy, we’re actually getting a proper Crash Bandicoot 4. Crash 4: It’s About Time comes from developers Toys for Bob, who have a long history with platformers, most recently tackling the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. With our first look at Crash Bandicoot 4 gameplay and details, we saw some of the various time-hopping locales Crash and Coco will venture off to. Thanks to a bit of new, exclusive footage, which you can watch in the video breakdown below, we can also see how a level will flow, and many of the new moves, ideas, and returning gameplay tricks Crash 4 will bring later this year. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/29/crash-bandicoot-4-new-gameplay-shows-new-tricks-returning-moves"] This pirate-themed level takes Crash from the seaside shore through a seeming pirate cove to a cavernous end-of-level treasure area. And, thankfully, a lot of the staples of the Crash experience appear intact, which Toys for Bob has said is a key component of why they called this Crash 4. Wumpa, Aku Aku, Nitro, and TNT crates all return as collectibles and hazards around the world. There’s also a few new crates thrown into the mix, including one that spits fire in several directions, as well as a golden Wumpa fruit crate at the end of the level. Speaking of the end of the level, in true Crash original trilogy form, we’ve got a crate counter tallying your success in aiming to 100% the level by smashing every crate in sight. It’s a familiar touchstone, but an important one. And another seemingly returning aspect is time trials, as a stopwatch appears at the start of the level. Toys for Bob’s Lou Studdert in an interview with IGN told us the team is focused on really enriching Crash 4 with replayability in the same way that players could find reasons to keep going back to levels in the original Crash games. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=crash-bandicoot-4-its-about-time-first-screenshots&captions=true"] Of course, this time, they’re working with modern console technology, and the impressive detail and design work proves it. There’s a great bit of character enemy behavior early on, as Crash spin-slaps a foe into one of these new enemies sporting whirlwinds around them, which causes that foe to arc on the wind and take out another enemy. Combo kills in Crash have always been a joy to discover, and this one hopefully hints at some intriguing combinations to come. The scope of the levels is also showcased in the middle, rope-sliding section, which offers a look at one of Crash’s main new techniques. But as he’s sliding and flipping around these ropes, you can see much more of the level unfurl below him. There’s a whole series of platforming challenges for Crash to face on the lower deck of this level, and it speaks to Toys for Bob’s efforts to offer expansive, larger levels than the original trilogy could. And last but not least, I just really wanted to point out this crate with a shark on it. Is there a shark in the crate, is it a crate that will eventually house a shark, or is it a crate filled with food, toys, or costumes for sharks? [caption id="attachment_2373606" align="alignnone" width="720"] What's in the shark box!?[/caption] Crash 4 will take the series to new worlds on October 2, when It’s About Time comes to PS4 and Xbox One. For more on Crash 4, check out the initial reveal trailer, and learn about other major gameplay details set for the sequel. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, Host of Podcast Beyond!, and lifelong Crash Bandicoot player. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

After years and years of entries that tried but often didn’t quite capture the magic of the original trilogy, we’re actually getting a proper Crash Bandicoot 4. Crash 4: It’s About Time comes from developers Toys for Bob, who have a long history with platformers, most recently tackling the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. With our first look at Crash Bandicoot 4 gameplay and details, we saw some of the various time-hopping locales Crash and Coco will venture off to. Thanks to a bit of new, exclusive footage, which you can watch in the video breakdown below, we can also see how a level will flow, and many of the new moves, ideas, and returning gameplay tricks Crash 4 will bring later this year. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/29/crash-bandicoot-4-new-gameplay-shows-new-tricks-returning-moves"] This pirate-themed level takes Crash from the seaside shore through a seeming pirate cove to a cavernous end-of-level treasure area. And, thankfully, a lot of the staples of the Crash experience appear intact, which Toys for Bob has said is a key component of why they called this Crash 4. Wumpa, Aku Aku, Nitro, and TNT crates all return as collectibles and hazards around the world. There’s also a few new crates thrown into the mix, including one that spits fire in several directions, as well as a golden Wumpa fruit crate at the end of the level. Speaking of the end of the level, in true Crash original trilogy form, we’ve got a crate counter tallying your success in aiming to 100% the level by smashing every crate in sight. It’s a familiar touchstone, but an important one. And another seemingly returning aspect is time trials, as a stopwatch appears at the start of the level. Toys for Bob’s Lou Studdert in an interview with IGN told us the team is focused on really enriching Crash 4 with replayability in the same way that players could find reasons to keep going back to levels in the original Crash games. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=crash-bandicoot-4-its-about-time-first-screenshots&captions=true"] Of course, this time, they’re working with modern console technology, and the impressive detail and design work proves it. There’s a great bit of character enemy behavior early on, as Crash spin-slaps a foe into one of these new enemies sporting whirlwinds around them, which causes that foe to arc on the wind and take out another enemy. Combo kills in Crash have always been a joy to discover, and this one hopefully hints at some intriguing combinations to come. The scope of the levels is also showcased in the middle, rope-sliding section, which offers a look at one of Crash’s main new techniques. But as he’s sliding and flipping around these ropes, you can see much more of the level unfurl below him. There’s a whole series of platforming challenges for Crash to face on the lower deck of this level, and it speaks to Toys for Bob’s efforts to offer expansive, larger levels than the original trilogy could. And last but not least, I just really wanted to point out this crate with a shark on it. Is there a shark in the crate, is it a crate that will eventually house a shark, or is it a crate filled with food, toys, or costumes for sharks? [caption id="attachment_2373606" align="alignnone" width="720"] What's in the shark box!?[/caption] Crash 4 will take the series to new worlds on October 2, when It’s About Time comes to PS4 and Xbox One. For more on Crash 4, check out the initial reveal trailer, and learn about other major gameplay details set for the sequel. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, Host of Podcast Beyond!, and lifelong Crash Bandicoot player. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.