- Primary Subject: Croc 2 remaster and the quiet resurgence of PS1-era mascot platformers
- Key Idea: Why revisiting forgotten 3D platformers highlights how experimental and fragmented the genre once was compared to today
- Status: Opinion
- Last Verified: July 31, 2026
- Quick Answer: The piece argues that the Croc 2 remaster reflects a broader revival of PS1-era platformers, not just driven by nostalgia but by renewed appreciation for a time when 3D platformers were more experimental and stylistically diverse, suggesting the genre has since lost some of its mid-tier creative variety.
When Argonaut Games announced Croc 2, I wasn't interested because another remaster was on the way - I was interested because even the PS1's more off-kilter platformers refuse to be forgotten.
Following last year's remaster of the original Croc, the sequel will bring enhanced visuals, modernized controls, a new triple jump, and another behind-the-scenes digital museum documenting its development.
On paper, it slots neatly into the industry's current habit of dusting off forgotten classics. But I actually think there's something more interesting going on here. Croc 2 has never enjoyed the same reputation as its predecessor.
Even among longtime fans, it's a surprisingly divisive sequel. Some appreciate its larger worlds, village hubs, and more adventurous approach, while others feel it drifted too far from the mysterious simplicity that made the original memorable.
Normally, that's the kind of game I'd expect publishers to quietly leave behind in favor of safer choices. Instead, it's getting another chance - and I find that strangely reassuring for the future of platformers.
Why Are We Suddenly Rediscovering PS1 Platformers?
Whenever another PS1 platformer gets dusted off, nostalgia tends to become the catch-all answer.
There's definitely some truth to that. The generation that grew up with the original PlayStation now has both the means and the itch to revisit the games that shaped their childhoods.
Publishers would be foolish not to recognize that. I think we're giving nostalgia a little too much credit.
The original PlayStation produced an incredible number of mascot platformers because nobody had completely figured out what a 3D platformer was supposed to look like yet.
Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Klonoa, Ape Escape, Croc, Gex - they all occupied roughly the same genre, yet they felt remarkably different from one another.
They weren't making interchangeable mascot games - every studio had its own wonderfully eccentric interpretation of the genre.
Looking back, I miss when every studio seemed to be making it up as they went along - and somehow that worked.
Modern platformers are technically better in almost every measurable way. Cameras behave themselves, controls are tighter, and quality-of-life improvements have eliminated many frustrations that were common in the late '90s.
But somewhere along the way, the middle ground quietly disappeared. Today, platformers often fall into one of two categories.
They're either massive tentpole releases backed by enormous publishers, or they're indie projects inspired by classics from decades ago.
There aren't many games occupying the comfortable AA space that Croc, Gex, or dozens of other PlayStation mascots once filled.
If these rereleases prove anything, it's that the platforming genre used to embrace far stranger and more distinctive ideas than it does today.
Not every mascot needed to become the next Mario - some were memorable enough just being themselves. Looking at today's market, I honestly think there's room for that again.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming news, reviews, features, and guides.