Flashback Tape

s are collectible VHS tapes that are needed to unlock special Flashback Tape levels in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. They focus on the experiments and trials Crash Bandicoot and Coco Bandicoot went through in Cortex Castle after their creation by Doctor Neo Cortex up to their respective escape. Crash's tapes are chronologically set before the events of the first Crash Bandicoot game. Coco's tapes are set after the original game and before Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back.

Flashback Tape levels are unlocked by finding Flashback Tapes on story levels without dying before obtaining them and are always unlocked in order. The game has a total of 21 tapes, with the first 11 being playable as Crash, and the latter 10 being playable as Coco. Completing a Flashback Level rewards the player a Sapphire Flashback Relic. Breaking 90% of the level's crates earns a Gold Flashback Relic, and a Platinum Flashback Relic for breaking all of them. Flashback Tapes reuse tracks from the original versions of the first two games as background music.

Trivia

 * Flashback tapes are a replacement to the Death Routes from the previous Crash Bandicoot games.
 * During "The Gauntlet", Cortex will comment about testing on other animals, stating "Maybe next time I'll try a hedgehog.....or a bobcat.....or a gecko". These are a nod to platforming mascots Sonic the Hedgehog, Bubsy Bobcat and Gex the Gecko respectively.
 * During "Wumpa Affinity Test", Cortex was revealed to be allergic to Wumpa Fruit, although Cortex collects Wumpa Fruit in his timeline levels.