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.
 * Much like the Death Routes Crash and Coco must at least collect the flashback tape from each level without dying or they will become transparent like the Death Route platform.
 * 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.
 * During "Bandicoot vs Wombat Eval", Cortex reveals that he inspired in the cartoons to create the TNT crates and the Nitro crates.
 * During "Diary Entry: 30th May, 1996", Cortex reveals that he was developing a fatherly affective bond with Crash, but then Cortex tells to his subject to forget what he said.
 * During "Team Health Analysis" although Cortex being very rigorous with N. Brio, him reveals that he was so worried with his henchmen that he tells to Crash that he was going to make a surprise dinner for N. Brio, but then Cortex lies to his subject. Ordering to his henchmen to make a surprise dinner for him.
 * During "Team Health Analysis" although Cortex being very rigorous with N. Brio, him reveals that he was so worried with his henchmen that he tells to Crash that he was going to make a surprise dinner for N. Brio, but then Cortex lies to his subject. Ordering to his henchmen to make a surprise dinner for him.
 * During "Subject #272_Final_B", Cortex says that Crash was going to make birthday which implies that the date of birth of Crash is July 19th in some year and he is from the cancer sign.
 * In "Tech Check" level, the theme lifts motifs of Dr. Neo Cortex (boss fights) themes of Cortex Strikes Back and Warped.