When I first heard of Croc Legend of the Gobbos making its way back into existence, I felt this weird sense of excitement mingled with nervousness. It used to be one of my favorite games growing up on the old PlayStation, and to be honest, I really did not think that I would ever come to see this game again. It was a type of game that stayed in one’s head because it was super fun and colorful.
In the late 90s, 3D platformers were a dime a dozen. Along with Super Mario 64, Spyro, Banjo-Kazooie, and Crash Bandicoot comes Croc, which was not the most famous, but something about it made it different. It somehow felt simpler, friendlier, and much more personal.
Croc Legend of the Gobbos first came out in 1997 and ended up selling over three million copies. That’s huge for a new character back then. Now, Argonaut Games, the same team behind the original, has brought it back with a proper remaster. Nor did they hand it off to another studio, thus proving how much love they still have for their creation.
Tried this on the Xbox, and it’s also available on PC and consoles other than it. The very first thing that hit me was how fluid it felt. The game is about a small green crocodile called Croc that was found as a baby by little furry things called Gobbos. They brought him up, but then this horrible guy called Baron Dante takes them all away, and Croc goes to save them.
Each of the levels has Gobbos and gems to be collected inside. Collect all of them, and you get a free bonus Gobbo at the end. It’s really very simple, but at the same time draws you in because it makes you keep thinking, “There has to be something else left.”
All 3D platforming, really. Jump from floating island to floating island, beat up little enemies, solve some light puzzles, and each time at the end of every stage, you ring a gong. Nothing overcomplicated here. Just good old-fashioned fun that makes you smile.
The best improvement in the remaster is the controls. The original game had what we called “tank controls”, and they were honestly a pain. Croc used to move stiffly, and it took forever to turn him around. But now it is completely rectified. The analog controls are now smooth and natural to use, and Croc moves exactly as you want him to. Still, if you wish to relive that original clumsy feel, you can switch back to the old control style from the menu.
Boss fights also improved significantly. In the PS1 version, you had to go on guesswork as to how many hits the boss would take before it went down. This time round, there is a visible health bar. A small thing, but it makes fights less irritating.
Majorly, nothing in the gameplay has changed, and that is actually good. Just like before, Croc now runs, jumps, tail-whips enemies, and collects shiny things. Some levels could feel irritating when missing a collectible and having to redo, but again, because these levels are short, such doesn’t feel like a grind.
Those ice levels were the most slippery as I remember them as a kid, and they are still so much fun. Some puzzles feel old, but that’s to be expected. It’s still retro in the best possible way.
Perhaps the coolest thing in this version is something called the Crocopedia. It’s like a behind-the-scenes museum inside the game. You see concept art, interviews, and even old photos from the 90s, where they were making the game. Music, ads, and some early ideas for a Croc cartoon that came to nothing are all included. For someone who has a love of game history, that was amazing to explore.
It also allows for swapping between original and new graphics at any moment. The new visuals, as clean and colorful as they run at 120 fps, still leave that “old pixel filter” behind, while the retro TV mode gives the warm, blurry look that you would find in CRT screens.
The score deserves credit as well. The music of Justin Charvona, Karen Griffin, and Martin Gwyn Jones is so intact with that bright energy of the 90s. Each level is treated with its theme, which does not get monotonous; sometimes I just found myself stopping for a second just to listen to the tunes. Croc’s little sound effects are also back, and they are once again as adorable as ever.
Playing Croc Legend of the Gobbos Remastered in 2025 feels like flipping through a childhood photo album that has just come alive. It isn’t competing with any of the modern 3D platformers. It’s just Croc being Croc-simple and fun.
The integrity of the game is kept intact. They do not try to add unnecessary features or change too much. It just takes what worked in 1997 and makes it feel better today. For those who grew up with it, this is a perfect nostalgic throwback. And for new players, it gives a glimpse of what made that era so special.
Before, this was reminiscent of the old memories when, sitting in front of my TV with that old gray controller, I saved every Gobbo proudly. Now with better visuals and smoother controls, keeping that same cheery vibe makes it even better.
If you loved Croc back in the day, then you definitely need to try this remaster. For those who have not played it before, it is the best introduction to see why little green-headed heroes continue to be remembered after all these years. You may also be interested in: Halo Studios and AI: Can Technology Really Replace Human Creativity in Gaming?
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