The Spyro: Reignited Trilogy is a wonderful recreation of three of the most beloved PS1 games. Not only is it beautiful, but it's a fantastic trip down memory lane for gamers looking for that quick hit of nostalgia. While it's certainly not as challenging as I remember it being as a kid, that low barrier to entry is exciting for a new gaming generation.
Spyro the Dragon left an indelible mark on my childhood in 1998. It’s not surprising that Spyro: Reignited Trilogy is hitting so many of the same notes the original games did 20 years later. Toys for Bob (developers of the Skylanders franchise) clearly know what they’re doing when it comes to the beloved purple dragon, and we’re all fortunate enough to reap the benefits. From the intricate and beautiful recreation of all three games to its slightly simplified control scheme, Spyro: Reignited Trilogy is a must play.
Remake, Remake, Remake
It can’t be understated how much TLC has gone into Spyro: Reignited Trilogy. Each game has been beautifully recreated (this isn’t a simple up-res) to really bring Spyro’s world to life. Specifically, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage (my personal favorite) looks and sounds exactly as I remember it; even though many of the voice-overs have been completely re-recorded by the original voice actors. The stages have been faithfully recreated, never losing the fun and magic the original had, yet still manages to throw in new little touches like particle effects that really make the stages feel alive. As a kid, I always imagined the sheep’s faces as I would torch them with Spyro’s flame attack, but now seeing wonderfully animated facial animations for every enemy/NPC is just a sight to behold.
It’s easy to throw around conjecture like, “this game is the best looking game on the PS4, Xbox One, etc,” but Spyro truly is a spectacular looking game. It’s not necessarily on the level of Insomniac’s Ratchet & Clank remake (which looked like a Pixar movie), but Toys for Bob presents a remake that illustrates the game in the way I remember the original Spyro games, and not how they actually looked.
Controlling a Dragon
There are very little issues with the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy. That being said, one slight issue I had to overcome was how loose the game felt. I never really learned to use the dual analog sticks on the original PS1 (took me all the way to the late-PS2 era to get used to the analogs), so perhaps I’m just remembering the game feeling tighter than it actually was. While the game allows players to use the directional pad to control Spyro, I felt it more natural to use the analog sticks. It took me a bit of time as I comically ran off cliffs and rammed Spyro’s head into the wall because I never felt like I had full control over him. This isn’t really a big issue, and really just a nit-pick of mine.
Otherwise, playing through all the stages again as an adult was a surreal experience. I thought I remembered how these games/stories went but were constantly hit with that nostalgic moment of, “oh my god, I forgot all about this!” From torching and headbutting enemies to searching for every single gem on a stage, I was quickly reminded that I fell in love with the game as a kid not because Spyro looked cool, but because the game was actually fun to play.
It also became apparent that the game really wasn’t made for adults. Not to say the game isn’t fun to play (because it most certainly is), but the difficulty never goes above what I remember it being. I’d highly recommend this for any classic Spyro fan, but I can only imagine what kids would think of this game. I know I would fall head over heels if this version of the game came out when I was a kid.
Is this a Farewell?
Overall, the Spyro: Reignited Trilogy is a wonderful recreation of three of my favorite games from my childhood. I’m so happy that I got to experience the games again in a new way, and it really excites me knowing a new generation will get to experience it as well. Is it the last time we’ll get to see Spyro and his buddy Sparx outside of the Skylanders franchise? I certainly hope not. And if this much love has gone into this remake, it would be a shame if it was.
