Where To Find The Hidden Gems In Crash Bandicoot 4
Everyone's favourite Bandicoot is back, and since October 2 players have been jumping, spinning and smashing boxes to their heart's content in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. The game itself is a perfect blend of old and new, with the same nostalgic elements loved by long-time Crash enthusiasts mixed in alongside a range of new mask abilities and inverted play modes.
So you've got your game, and in true Crash Bandicoot fashion, you need to 100% those maps. So where are all of the hidden gems located?
Click the links below to find out where to find the Hidden Gem for that level.
Rude Awakening
On the first level, the hidden gem is quite literally that - hidden. After your first grind, locate the hut that requires either sliding or crawling underneath. Position Crash underneath the hut, laying below it in the middle and get Crash to jump up and knock the hut to reveal the gem inside. Don't worry, some of the other gems are a lot easier to locate, but Toys 4 Bob weren't letting any players off easy with the first level.
N.Sanity Peak
On meeting Lani-Loli, you'll begin to be chased by a rather large, angry blue-spirit giant. While running as fast as your character's little legs can go, keep your eyes peeled on the left-hand side of the screen at the beginning of the chase - there's a gem hidden behind a wooden fence block. This one is easier to obtain, but may require a few runs of the map to ensure you don't miss it, and don't get hit by the giant.
Red Coloured Gem: There is also a red gem to collect within this level. Just before you enter the room where you meet Lani-Loli, there's a secret code on the wall that shows you the right way to jump along the sliding ledges. If you can't find the code on the wall (it's not hard to miss if you know what you're looking for), then just jump in this particular order: left: right, right, up, up, left, left, down, right. Then, your red gem will pop up!
A Real Grind
Using the dimensional swap, make your way to the end of the level, and you'll find disappearing platforms you need to climb. The clear gem is hidden on the left-hand side at the very top, so you'll need to do a pretty swift slide-jump, get up to the small ledge in the top left, then double jump off the boxes to get to another ledge which is housing the hidden gem.
Click to enlargeCrash Compactor
Once you get past the rail section, you'll come close to a checkpoint where there are lots of Nitro boxes. Behind the Nitro is an enemy, who you must defeat to reveal a room where the hidden gem is hiding behind him. Once he's defeated, use the solid bouncy crate to jump up and claim the clear hidden gem!
Hit the Road
There are two gems within this level. First, let's look at getting you your clear hidden gem. After activating the Lani-Loli mask to phase objects in-and-out, you'll come to a vertical section of the level. At the top of the elevator shaft, you'll need to hop on over the fire to the right. Once you've done that, do a slide into a double jump to the left to get on the platform which will be situated on the left-hand side. From there, complete another slide and double jump to get on top of the crate. Once on top of the crate, your hidden gem shall be waiting.
Green Coloured Gem: After you make it through the first chase, you'll come to a spot filled with trash cans and a Nitro box. Give the left trash can a spin - it'll be vibrating a little bit, in case you can't work out which one to spin. A device should then land on the floor following your spin, so go ahead and give that another spin and it'll land smack bang into the Nitro box - unveiling the lovely green coloured gem.
Truck Stopped
Depending on how speedy you are, roughly about two minutes into the level is where Tawna will find the hidden gem. I suppose that doesn't help you completely, as you'll be too preoccupied finding the gem to count, so here's what you need to do. After a few wall jumps, a flying enemy will appear, so defeat him and wall jump up until you see a crane carrying a car. Instead of following the chosen pathway, jump up onto the black and yellow-edged platform, and walk down until you get to the gem. Definitely, one of the easier levels to obtain a hidden gem, in our humble opinion.
Click to enlargeBooty Calls
Also, one of the easier levels to obtain a gem, after you complete the bonus round, you'll enter a dark alcove. You won't miss it - there's a giant pirate ship coming out of the wall. Just drop down a couple of the platforms until you're met with two swashbuckling enemies, but before you come face to face with them, head to the right and jump across to find the treasure chest. Spin it, and get your hidden gem! If you're having trouble locating it, before you jump down the platforms if you look down on the right, you can actually see the chest.
Thar He Blows!
Ah, the beloved Dingodile mini-level. Not long after you blow up the Nitro, you'll head right-side of the map towards another TNT crate (not a usual red one, the same ones you've been using with Dingodile's suction-blower contraption), and behind that is another platform where the hidden gem is happily waiting for you.
Hook, Line, and Sinker
Playing as Tawna again, you'll get to the first set of wall jumps not long after the checkpoint. Wall jump up to the next platform, but instead of continuing on with the level by turning right, jump up to the higher platform, and you'll find yourself another clear hidden gem.
Click to enlargeJetboard Jetty
After riding through a tumultuous raft ride, you'll arrive at a collection of six metal boxes. Jump on top of those boxes, and then jump even higher. Your hidden gem is hiding off-screen, and can only be found by jumping above the silver boxes to the skies.
Give It a Spin
When you get past the first checkpoint, instead of moving up the waterfall, jump on over to the right. There's a huge stack of crates that you'll need to break before you can climb up and reach the gem.
Potion Commotion
Tawna again, meaning once you start the level and do some grappling over wall jumps, the first spot you land in is where you're going to want to walk towards the screen. Don't fear, just drop down and turn to the right, because your gem will be hidden neatly around the corner.
Click to enlargeDraggin' On
For the gem in Draggin On, you need to go past the checkpoint until you reach an enemy that looks a bit like a lion. Once you beat him, go into the narrow passage and head on over to the left. Activate your Dark Matter spin when you come up to a shedload of boxes, and your little clear hidden gem will be found inside there!
Blue Coloured Gem: So this one may sound easy to get, but if you've been playing crash for a long time then it could be much harder than you think - well, it was for me anyway. So to get the blue coloured gem, all you need to do is complete the entire level without breaking a box. No, you can't even break the checkpoints, so you might want to hope you don't die, although you can cheat it a bit by entering the bonus stage and jumping out when you get to it - it acts as a form of a checkpoint. If you can succeed without breaking a single box, your lovely little blue gem will be presented to you at the end.
Off-Balance
During the level you'll come up to a fan that will blow you upwards, if you use your Dark Matter Spin to get into the air current it'll begin to take you to the left but go against it and head to the right. You may need to stop spinning mid-air to allow yourself to land on the right, but it'll place you within a secret part of the level to run through. Once you get to the end of that, you'll find your gem.
Off Beat
Following the bonus round checkpoint, you'll come across Lani-Loli's mask. Jump up the cubed platforms that are pulling questionable faces, and you'll visibly see the hidden gem on the left side of the screen. Either spin or dodge the juggling enemies in order to obtain the clear hidden gem.
Click to enlargeHome Cookin'
During the level, you will come across Dingodile's destroyed diner (it's definitely seen better days), instead of going forwards as the level would encourage you to do, go around the diner and head to the right-hand side, then downwards. Make your way along the path to the right where there'll be some boxes, so just jump and hover further over to the right where you'll see the platform that is housing the clear hidden gem.
Run It Bayou
After swinging around on the ropes like the Tarzan that you are, you'll be met with a checkpoint next to tons of boxes. On the right of those boxes is a big ol' barrel, so just spin behind it, and you'll find a box with an exclamation mark on it. Return to the location where the fireboxes were, jump to the right to the metal boxes, and there is where you'll find the hidden gem located!
Yellow Coloured Gem: Just before you get to the first jump board, head on over to the right and use a slide jump to get yourself onto the stone platform. Make most of the boxes that are in the water to allow you to progress to the next platform, and then use a slide jump to hoist yourself onto the moving platform. Once on that, jump to the left where you'll spot four boxes, and above those is the yellow gem. It's hidden away, so you'll have to jump high off the screen to get it! Sneaky gem.
No Dillo Dallying
Pretty easy gem here, once you get to the second checkpoint, you'll see a barrel to the left of the screen. Get over to the left of the barrel, and jump on the bouncy metal boxes to get your clear hidden gem, which can be found above!
Click to enlargeSnow Way Out
Get yourself over to the river, where you'll find snowy and icy platforms. Get yourself directly across the river where you'll see boxes that are neatly stacked like stairs, walk up the 'stairway to gem' to find your prize!
Ship Happens
Early on in the level, there are multiple-layered platforms that Cortex will need to use his air dash to go across. Once you find the exclamation mark box on the right, you need to hit it and head over to the left and find the highest platform. Use the air dash again to find the clear hidden gem on top of the metal boxes.
Stay Frosty
Head on over to the bonus platform, and from there you'll want to bear to the right and find the checkpoint. Get up the steps, then perform a slide jump to the left get on the higher platform box, but there is a Nitro box there so you may want to watch your step. Once you've safely passed the Nitro, do a slide jump to the left, bounce on the box, and you'll get to the platform where the clear hidden gem is waiting for you.
Click to enlargeBears Repeating
You'll come to a platform with a giant green tank on the left. In front of you are two more platforms you'll later jump across, but below the first one is a hidden bottom tier where the gem is hiding below. Take out the flying robot drone above you, or strategically wait for it to move to the right for you to be able to jump down.
Building Bridges
After reaching the first grapple hook point, there's a hidden gem above to the left. To get access to the little guy, grapple on over, defeat the enemy that is blocking your way and then take two wall jumps up. Walk towards the screen and drop downwards. Voila, the gem is yours.
Blast to the Past
After you reach the second grinding part past the checkpoint, follow around the long right bend, jump left and right as quickly as possible, and you'll get the clear hidden gem. This one is tricky, and may require cat-like reflexes and the patience of a saint.
Click to enlargeFossil Fueled
Find the tree stump early on in the level; it'll be one you need to do an air dash jump from. Just walk towards the tree stump to fall into the area below, and there you'll find the gem! Easy peasy compared to the last level, that's for sure.
Dino Dash
Once you've done the second T-Rex chase, you'll find a rock behind an Aku-Aku box. Head on behind there, and you'll find your gem. Hidden very cleverly to the naked eye, but with this guide, it's actually not too hard to obtain!
Rock Blocked
When you begin to play as Dingodile, you'll come to a platform with three TNT boxes. Clear just one away, but use the other two to take out the remaining boxes on the left and right-hand side of the screen. Hover back towards the screen where you'll find a platform that holds the clear hidden gem.
Click to enlargeOut for Launch
The clear gem is hidden away on the left-hand side of the screen, just before you reach the wall jumps. Probably the easiest yet, if I'm honest.
Shipping Error
Another Cortex level and this gem will require more quick manoeuvres from yourself in order to obtain. The gem can be found hidden in the background after a large drop where you will collect three Wumpa fruit.
Stowing Away
Ah, the last gem. So after you obtain the Ika-Ika mask, you'll be taken into the second section of vents. Reverse gravity and get up the chute, but don't reset the gravity at the top, keep walking to fall into a hidden vent above. On the right-hand side, you'll need to spin an exclamation mark box, but don't worry, it's almost done. On the left-hand side, step right up and claim your prize - the final clear hidden gem.
So how does it feel knowing you've now obtained EVERY gem within Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time? You should be proud; it's a lot of hard work. Even with the guides, obtaining the gems can be tricky, and you've mastered it all. Until the next Crash game, folks!
Images Via Toys 4 Bob