Spyro Reignited Trilogy Review

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Fast Facts

Title: Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Developer: Toys for Bob
Publisher: Activision
Website: https://www.spyrothedragon.com/
Genre: Adventure, Platformer
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Age Rating: Everyone 10+ Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
Release Date: 03/09/19
Price: £34.99 – Rapid Reviews were very kindly provided with a review code for this title.

A firm favourite…

While not quite reaching the dizzying heights of stardom that our beloved moustached plumber has, Spyro the Dragon is a deserved member of the video game ‘Hall of Fame.’ After he sauntered onto the PSOne in 1998, he became a firm favourite amongst gamers new and old, amassing sales aplenty throughout his trio of PSOne titles. Subsequent releases across the platforms failed to replicate the scintillating form that Spyro was in at the beginning, but Toys For Bob have sought to remind us of just how much Spyro defined a generation of gamers by reigniting this trilogy.

The original roast master is back, and he’s on-the-go! Same sick burns, same smouldering attitude, now all scaled up in stunning HD. Spyro is bringing the heat like never before in the Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy game collection. Rekindle the fire with remastered versions of the original three games, Spyro™ the Dragon, Spyro™ 2: Ripto’s Rage! and Spyro™: Year of the Dragon.

With three fully-fledged titles on one cart (albeit requiring a hefty additional download), it is difficult not to let nostalgia run riot and declare the Spyro Reignited Trilogy a masterpiece. The beautifully rendered, upscaled high definition visuals are a sight to behold, and are arguably more inviting now than they were back in the ‘good ol’ days.’ The characters look and feel fantastic, the locations are delightful, and the platforming elements are thoroughly enjoyable. Toys For Bob have done an incredible job of recreating what made Spyro so special 20 years ago, and it is rather fitting that they produce this work of art having started their Skylanders series with ‘Spyro’s Adventure’ in 2011.

Experiencing something for the first time again

It is often said that people wish they could experience something for the first time again, and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy comes as close to creating that opportunity as any other form of media has done before. Playing the Spyro trilogy again is an absolute treat, and it was as enjoyable the second time around as it was in the golden years of Sony’s PSOne from 1998 – 2000. The three games hold up exceptionally well and will provide avid fans of the genre an outstanding platforming adventure.

By offering such a faithful recreation of the series, there is naturally going to be some caveats that still present themselves after all this time. It could be argued that as time passes by, these issues may become exacerbated by expectation and new experiences. Fortunately, this isn’t the case, and the only notable ‘issue’ is what it has always been with Spyro the Dragon: the difficulty.

All three titles in the trilogy do get progressively more challenging, evidence of the learning curve that the original development team underwent during the three short years it took to produce the three titles. That being said, they never truly test the skills nor the patience of the player. It is difficult to determine whether or not this is an issue for the average gamer, especially in an age of ‘Dark Souls’ difficulty levels and Metroidvania unpredictabilities.

As both a remaster and a port, evidence of slowdown was to be expected. That being said, the only example can be found during the loading screens between levels. It is quite evident, with Spyro spluttering around as he flies through the air. It is not something that will hinder enjoyment in any way, and it is a testament to the game that Toys for Bob wanted others to experience.

Toys for Bob knew exactly what they were doing when they procured the license for Spyro the Dragon. It is evident that this loveable, purple dragon means as much to them as the millions who purchased the games before, and there is an understated beauty in recreating these games so faithfully to the originals. Sitting proudly now alongside the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, these two collections are must-have titles for any fan of video games. Period.

Rapid Reviews Rating

You can purchase Spyro Reignited Trilogy from the Nintendo eShop on the following link, https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch/Spyro-Reignited-Trilogy-1576500.html