5 ways 'Crash Bandicoot' made a huge impact in the world of video games

If you were around in the 1990s, you undoubtedly remember when the faces of video games were not stern dads and hard-edged military men, but were instead cute mascots that occasionally brought a bit of attitude.

While stalwarts like Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog have (to varying degrees) remained relevant past the turn of the century, former heavy hitters like Crash Bandicoot have gone by the wayside.

Not content with being a mere footnote in video game history, Crash Bandicoot is making his triumphant return to the spotlight.

First, he'll appear as a figurine and playable character in the popular toys-to-life game "Skylanders" in October. Then, his first three adventures from the original PlayStation will be fully remastered for PS4 in 2017.

This was huge news when it was revealed at E3 last week, as it lit social media aflame even as tons of amazing-looking new games were revealed left and right. But there are plenty of reasons for that. Here's why the classic "Crash Bandicoot" games were so impactful.