Hidden nooks, blind glides, there’s always something extra for the completionists. Even with straightforward level design and navigation, you’re still rewarded for extra curiosity. Movement is fluid, easy to grasp and rarely ever confusing. Glittering trails of gems litter the paths and platforms of each level, effectively replacing the need for a map. Toys for Bob adds a polished variety to the game without changing its core.Īnd the core of Spyro is a delight Spyro remains a treasure hunter’s dream. Some hold scepters and dusty tomes, others roar into existence with burly shoulders and expressive faces. In the original, the dragons were relatively characterless, existing to deliver in-game tips or say “thank you.” But the Reignited Trilogy goes the extra mile in assigning all 80 dragons a distinct personality through their clothes, accessories and speech. In addition to reclaiming their treasures, Spyro flies from kingdom to kingdom torching bosses and saving his fellow dragons. Main villain Gnasty Gnorc, furious that he was called ugly on a TV interview, uses his powers to petrify every dragon in existence (except for Spyro, obviously). Take, for example, the many dragons that appear in the first entry. Spyro in Stone Hill Toys For Bob/Activision Toys For Bob joyfully recreates what makes the series so captivating: the feel of being in this universe.

All I remember are sounds of running water and rays of light spilling into white hallways. When I think back to my memories of the Artisans’ World or Spyro 2’s Summer Forest, I don’t think of rough, uneven polygonal edges or characters that had mittens for hands. And the rough edges of the PlayStation 1 era visuals have been smoothed to match my polished, rose-tinted memories. Formerly an Insomniac Games property, the beloved PlayStation platformer has been revived by developer Toys For Bob with all the familiar songs, sound effects and characters intact. Luckily, that’s not the case with the Spyro franchise. Sane Trilogy and Banjo Kazooie-inspired Yooka Laylee have proven that some classics and styles don’t age as gracefully as others. When I heard Activision was remastering the original Spyro trilogy, I was skeptical - and a little afraid the game that got me through middle school wouldn’t be quite so appealing as an adult.

Spyro the dragon tree tops