Memories lost, but not forgotten. The game reignites them by providing us with the same original experience, but presented in a more modern look. Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy is one of the most genuine remakes out there, on par with Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy. If you ever had a chance to play the original Spyro on Playstation 1, be ready for another "smashing blast from the past"!




It contains (as its title suggests) all three canonical Spyro games, in a perfect digital condition. Surprisingly, beautiful and amplified graphics don't deprive Spyro of its initial charm and magic. You could even say that now locations feel less empty, since they have much more details everywhere. Comparing characteristic landmarks to what they looked like on PS 1 (with all its hardware limitations) is really mesmerizing. Roughly 20 years have passed since original release. One could only wonder what the upcoming decades might bring to the world of video games.

On the sound design side, Reignited Trilogy also does not disappoint. It features a dynamic soundtrack based on original one. It is especially suited for what's happening on the screen - the music changes whether you are inside a building, charging forward with your horns or just chilling out and standing still. It's a subtle thing, but it feels very refreshing when you notice it. The original OST was great on its own, remake's soundtrack is a further improvement. However, if you are looking for a more vanilla experience, there is an option to turn on the original soundtrack. Sound effects are pretty neat too. Collecting gems feels nostalgic and even more satisfying thanks to that new and sweet dopamine inducing sound. Lovely.

The game is also well optimized, I haven't had any performance issues and didn't encounter any bugs throughout my entire playthrough.




Spyro has already sparked the imagination of youth over two decades ago, now its remake has a chance to do the same for new generations. The formula of the game hasn't changed, but its refreshed looks make the game more appealing to kids already accustomed to pretty graphics and animations. Nowadays they mostly encounter productions of a higher quality, be in a movies or other modern games or even YouTube. Reignited Trilogy with all its vivid colors and glittering effects is truly eye-catching. It just feels very welcoming and wholesome. Appropriate for children, so to speak. The gameplay itself is very family friendly too. The game is focused on collecting stuff, helping funny characters and progressing further through the different worlds. There are occasional fights with opponents scattered around these worlds, but encounters are far from violent - they are presented in a cartoonish and humorous way. Exploring locations is probably where most of the fun lies, they are quite diverse and include secrets. You can turn on the map of your current location, but I think it takes away element of a surprise and I wouldn't recommend using it even for kids.

All in all this game creates an interesting environment for the kids. If I had children myself, I would definitely introduce them to the world of Spyro (and Crash Bandicoot too).




In regards to to older players the amount of joy they receive per square pixel may differ greatly. It really comes down to whether you played the old Spyro or not. I'm not saying it's a bad game, it just doesn't offer that much compared to the current competition. You need to have a very special interest in this game to forgive its imperfections. The remake in itself is top shelf, no denying that. The original Spyro's gameplay wasn't perfect though, people really tend to remember things as better than they actually were. That's why nostalgia is such an important factor in this case.

From the beginning when I started playing Reignited Trilogy, I loved it. Felt very nostalgic exploring all the locations I once visited as a kid. Nevertheless, I had no memories of playing Spyro 2 and 3. I knew only a couple of locations I played in some demo versions of these games on PS 1. Nostalgia has given way to curiosity when I got to the second game. Discovering it for the first time was absorbing, but no strong feelings there. Spyro got a few new abilities, level design became more diverse, but the gameplay stayed mostly the same and after some time it became repetitive. Only when I unlocked Skelos Badlands I really got excited, because that was the level I actually remembered. Third game on the other hand introduces new playable characters, but you can only control them in levels specifically designed for their skillset. So it brings a bit of variety, but in a long run it doesn't have much of an impact on the gameplay. Level design has changed from the two previous games, but I'm not sure if for the better or worse. There were a few places I really enjoyed, but the repetitiveness drawn most of the amusement away from me. Just got tired of doing usually the same thing over and over again, but in different areas. For me, the experience went from 9/10 to 6/10. Playing started feeling like a waste of time instead of a joyful adventure it once was. Additionally some boss fights are a little bit challenging, but not in a way that it would make them interesting. It just makes them more of a chore that you want to pass through and forget.

I don't mind casual games if they offer some depth in exchange. I'm just not a target for that kind of release and if it wasn't for the fact that I've played the original Spyro the Dragon - I probably wouldn't care much about this remake.

And that remake is mostly about reliving carefree memories, so if you've never played this game before, you may get bored or you might even not like it at all. Experiencing Spyro without thick layer of nostalgia makes it appear only like a decent 3D platformer, with neither much depth or story. Simple and casual, but also drawn-out adventure. It tastes well while consumed in small bits, but spending longer sessions with this game becomes tedious. For players who cherish their free time and look for something better I would recommend trying Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy instead. The game is less time consuming, more action packed and provides a player with more of an interesting challenge than Spyro.




The game feels exactly how it was back then in the late 90's, so I can't really blame it much for the clunky mechanics as well as monotony. On the other hand, Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy is a perfect example on how remakes should be made - with appreciation for the legacy that the franchise has left. I'm really glad that someone came up with the idea of remaking this trilogy and then so many talented people actually brought that idea to life. Mad respect for that.


The game is great for:

• people who already played the original game on PS 1
  
• children

The game is average for:

• players looking for a challenge
  
• players looking for a good 3d platformer and some fresh experience