We're living in the age of surprising platforming mascots making a return, and Croc — one of the lost icons of the PlayStation era — is the next returning star from that era. Yep, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is getting a remaster, and it's been confirmed for all platforms, including Switch.
What's more, the original developer, Argonaut Games — yes, that Argonaut, the one that worked on Star Fox and the Super FX chip — is the studio behind the remaster.
The remaster was actually announced back in August, but platforms have only been confirmed today. We also don't have a release date yet, but the official announcement trailer does tease "coming soon", so perhaps it'll squeak its way into 2024.
As well as looking fantastic with new HD visuals, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos will also come with updated modern controls (those who want those tank controls, fear not — you'll be able to turn them on if you want), as well as the brand new Crocipedia, which acts as a digital museum chronicling the game's development, including lost assets, design documents, animations, beta music tracks, and interviews.
In a statement sent to the press, Argonaut Games founder Jez San said that "The Croc remaster aims to reignite the imaginations of players", and that the reunited team at Argonaut has "dedicated ourselves to bringing this remaster to as wide an audience as possible".
Croc debuted on the PlayStation back in 1997, with ports to both the Sega Saturn and PC following shortly after. It's one of Argonauts most successful games, selling over 3 million copies, spawning a sequel and Game Boy Color versions of both games.
Given Argonaut's close relationship with Nintendo in the '80s and '90s, it's no surprise that the game was heavily influenced by the Big N itself, particularly Yoshi. Our friends over at Time Extension had a chance to speak to Nic Cusworth, lead designer on the PS1 version of Croc, which is well worth a read.
Did you play Croc back on the PlayStation? Are you excited to see the return of this beloved platformer? Jump down to the comments and let us know.
Comments 25
Nice, the fact that it's coming to GOG and not Steam or Epic Game Store is excellent. That means we could own the game and not just a license. Definitely will be getting this for my Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.
Looks cute and fun so I might get it eventually. It's always nice to play decent 3D platformers.
Physical or not buying.
Really hoping for that Holiday 2024 release. Would be fun to play it again over Christmas break after all these years.
I remember ownong it back in the PS1 days...
"Beloved Classic" is quite the Overstatement
I wonder If anyone really asked for this...
I’ll get it for the soundtrack alone. Some great tunes in this one.
Hope those “kersplat” and “wahoo” texts don’t actually appear on screen during gameplay 😬
Honestly, this seems like exactly the kind of 3D platformer I like. A bunch of collectibles, not too many weird gimmicks, just a little guy who can jump. Sounds good to me!
This was actually one of the first games I ever played, and while I'm not sure it really was all that special, a remaster does pique my curiosity a bit.
I remember liking this game as a kid but figured with the tank controls I don’t think I could ever revisit it today.
With modern controls now as an option I’ll definitely keep an eye on this.
TBH this is a game that needs a remake, not a remaster. Upgraded visuals are nice, and them taking out tank controls will certainly help, but at its core its still just gonna be an incredibly basic platformer with small areas with almost nothing to do in them beyond some jumping and the occasional enemy.
Looks like the game has had a barebones facelift at best. The controls were pretty terrible, so they’ll need to work wonders to get me interested in this, because it honestly just looks like misplaced nostalgia at its best.
@bigcalsworld agreed. The trailer does a good of showcasing the incredibly simple locations.
The animation for Croc’s little walk was great
I'm down. I always wrote the game off just by virtue of its generic looking box art, and I was really surprised to learn that it sold similar numbers to Banjo yet no one seemed to hold it in such esteem. I'd like to see what it's all about.
I remember having this one.
Sorta only looks upscaled from those screenshots tho
Croc 2 was a great improvement, so I'm hoping this paves the way for that to be remastered.
I’ve heard of the game (mainly due to some urban legend about some sorta 3rd game.) and it sounds fun. I do enjoy me some collect-a-thons.
Not to sound ungrateful, I am really glad this is happening in the first place, but I do wish they bundled up Croc 1 with the second game. I fear that as a stand-alone game it won’t do well enough to justify Croc 2... and 3 (which was hinted at). I have a soft spot for those games, but I even will admit theyre not perfect. Fingers crossed everything goes well.
Can't wait, it's simple but I have wanted to experience this again.
And 2 as never played it. The Croc's World 2D games are fair I guess (for free on phones than cost on consoles).
That aside I think other platformers had more exciting ideas but I enjoy some simple platformers from time to time and it was an early era games so it is fair to be simple then 2 expanded on things of course.
But I enjoy Spyro 1's simplicity and pacing of mechanics/level design as each level goes, 2 I don't mind the additional things they added of objectives, it's fine about it. I think, 3 went way too far I find.
Sometimes just platforming then all the additional/objectives and new sandbox open world type approach I'm not that into, so simplicity is enough for me but it's how they do the mechanics and pacing/level design to make that simplicity worth it though.
If we got Indies that weren't trying to put a spin or original assets but still be heavily inspired by ideas in popular games sure but they keep doing it so I'm going to keep ignoring them.
I don't like to just randomly fun an old game just like that but I will wait.
Physical will be ways off I think or if LRG then pass as no physical elsewhere then sigh.
I'll just wait for it digital then even though would like a physical for this or else PS1/Saturn it is if I ever find a copy which haven't yet. But did Malice/Kya for bit high but still worth it to me picking them up and 100%ed Malice so loved it. Willing to try other Argonaut games and of course Croc again.
I'm looking forward to playing this and other "b-tier" PS1 platformers I never had growing up, like Gex and Glover. The latter of those was announced years ago, but it's kind of just fallen off the face of the earth. Where are you??
#WheresGlover #SaveGlover #GiveGloverAHand
I had Croc when it was new on Saturn but didn't like it due to the camera. I found out years later the PS1 version has a better camera setup. I had an odd urge to revisit Croc several years ago(PS1 version). I was specifically in the mood for a basic 3D platformer with d-pad/tank controls. I ended up having a good time with it. I'm glad to see Croc remastered. There's value in improving it by adding a modern control option, along with offering the original controls, along with other updates.
I also revisited another 3D platformer some time later, a much more famous and popular 64-bit platformer featuring plumbers(supposedly), and I had a miserable time with it. I'm only speaking for myself, but I just did not enjoy it and I mention just for the sake of contrast. I look forward to this, though I wonder if I'll be able to run it on the old GPU I just bought(I truly am retro!).
I definitely love this game
Hope comes out soon😊
@kevinm360 Should have been both games at once in this case
Give me a physical and I will definitely be getting it
There's over seven realms!
Love to hear that it's finally confirmed also for Switch, will eventually get it for sure!
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