One of the fun elements of Crash Brandicoot 4: It's About Time is the Flashback Tapes available in many of the story levels throughout the game. These collectibles can only be picked up if the player doesn't die prior to collecting them. The player must finish the level after collecting it in order to unlock a Flashback Level. These unique levels are set prior to the events of the other mainline games in the series.
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There are a total of 21 tapes, with the first 11 collected being for Crash and the last 10 collected being for Coco. Coco's Flashback Levels specifically take place prior to the start of the second Crash Bandicoot game. While the tapes themselves are not assigned to specific levels, this guide will give players details as to where the last 10 tapes they can possibly encounter appear in the game.
The first of Coco's levels is Subject: Perameles Coco, set about a month after Crash's last Flashback Level on October 9, 1996. If the player has collected the first 11 tapes that appear in the game, the next tape they should encounter is in Bears Repeating. While chasing Neo Cortex, players will need to look high upon leaving the ice tunnel. There will be a big jump there where the tape will be available a little bit right of center.
N. Gin N. Terview is the second of Coco's levels, taking place on November 12, 1996. The next tape to collect in order to unlock this level is located in the main level Blast to the Past. After vine grinding in the side-scrolling section, the tape can be found after getting under a rock formation and going up a ledge.
Although the level takes place on Christmas Eve, there is no holiday celebration going on in the Nitro Bounce Crate Test outside of unlocking secrets in certain boxes. The third possible tape to collect for Coco's Flashback Levels is located in Dino Dash. After sliding under the burnt tree past the sixth checkpoint, the tape will be there for the taking as long as the player didn't die beforehand.
It's the start of the New Year on Jan. 1, 1997, and Coco has to deal with a new individual running these experiments in N. Gin's N. Genious N. Bouncers. The next main level to look for a tape in is the Out for Launch level. After the second grind rail section, players should keep an eye out for a Gasmoxian Scorcher, who will be guarding the tape.
The fifth Flashback Level for Coco is called Mammal Manipulation, taking place in February 1997. This is unlocked with the 16th collected tape in the game. If players are going in order, that means the next tape is located in the Stowing Away level.
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After taking the elevator down when entering the spaceship cockpit, players will see a long hallway they will need to Dark Glide across. Jump while in the middle of the hallway to catch the tape.
The largest Flashback Level between both Crash and Coco is Replacement Considerations, with 331 crates needing to be smashed to 100 percent the level. The 17th tape is located in Crash Landed just before the final side-scrolling section of the level. After seeing Ika-Ika in the second tunnel he shows up in, the tape will be available right before the next portion starts.
The Flashback Level of the Overall Fitness Exam starts a string of levels that all have revived versions of boss battle songs from Crash Bandicoot 2, starting with N-Gin. The next tape that can be collected is in Food Run and is among the harder-to-reach ones of the bunch. It can be found in the second wall running section on top of boxes in the middle of the two lanes of trucks.
The third to last level for Coco is the Tech Check, which features N. Cortex's battle music. As for where the final three tapes are, players will need to play through the Cortex Island levels. Starting with the Nitro Processing level, players will be able to pick up this tape after going down a water slide near the end of the level.
Remember Tiny Tiger? His boss theme will play during the penultimate Flashback Level called Resilience Evaluation. The next Cortex Island tape is located in the Toxic Tunnels. This is another tape that appears near the end of the stage. This particular tape is out of the way a bit as players will need to jump to the left of the platform with shock diodes on it and jump on the Bounce Box hovering in the air.
The final test of the Flashback Levels is known as The Gauntlet, which is fitting considering how difficult this challenge is. If players have all other tapes before playing the penultimate main level of Cortex Castle, finding this Flashback Tape will be the player's last. Prior to the second-to-last obstacle at the end of the stage, players will be able to easily pick up the tape so long as they survive everything the level through at them to that point.