The simplicity of Spyro 1 wasn’t only beneficial for the gameplay. It also really helped the aesthetics and vibes. 2 and 3 are so… busy. You’re always talking to people, allies. Spyro 1 feels more liminal and magical because of the loneliness, the single, simple quest.
Yep. And the world was unified in terms of themes and aesthetics. With the sequels, there's dinosaurs, monkeys, turtles, robots, seahorses, little kids who know karate. You're in a desert, you're in the future, you're on a robot farm. I had no idea what the point of any of it was to the main story or how these mini worlds connected to the hub worlds. With the first game, everything makes thematic sense: you have wizards, dragons, castles, mountains, moats, and magicians. It's a medieval fantasy setting, plain and simple. Suddenly making me box or ice skate or skateboard would immediately destroy the illusion of that setting.
One thing I can appreciate now, as an adult, is how Spyro 1 was able to do a lot with only a little. The first game basically used the three basic mechanics - moving, charging, and flaming - yet was able to construct so many distinctive and memorable worlds and experiences with those mechanics. Out of the three games, I feel Spyro 1 best illustrates how much emphasis Spyro as a series places on the exploration aspect of 3D platformers, and of the four “big” mascot platformers that I grew up with (the others being Mario, Sonic, and Crash), that point is the reason why it has become my favorite of them. That said, I’ve felt that the best of the bunch is and has always been Spyro 2. When playing the three together as a collection, with Reignited, Spyro 2 feels like it takes the “quality over quantity approach”. Spyro 1 might have bosses that feel more rewarding, since they give you gems for defeating them, but I’d argue that as “boss fights” they’re pretty lackluster. They’re basically just normal enemies that takes a couple extra hits to kill. Jacques hardly qualifies as a “fight”, considering he’s basically just running away from you and not actually attacking. To me, the fact that Crush, Gulp, and Ripto actually put up a challenge makes them more interesting, and in my eyes, the process of beating them *is* the reward. Beyond that, a bit of the same can be said of the levels, I feel. Every single individual world in Spyro 2 stands out vividly in my mind, and I can remember each and every little detail of its design. Comparatively, some worlds in Spyro 1 kind of start to blend in with each other the further into the game you go, largely due to the way they become less and less visually / thematically separated from one another. Name any Spyro 2 level, and I’ll know exactly what you’re referring to. Name one of the regular, non-flight and non-boss levels from a later portion of Spyro 1, and I’ll probably be like, “Yep, that’s… definitely one of the Dream Weavers worlds. Dunno which one, but’s certainly one of ‘em.” As for Spyro 3, I always had mixed feelings about it, ever since I was a kid. Many of the side activities were just _very_ hard for me to beat as a child. When I played through Spyro 3 in Reignited, in2021, I kept getting these anxiety flashbacks where I was like, “Oh god, I remember how awful this was,” and then proceeded to find out that it wasn’t actually that difficult - I was just crap at video games when I was like 11. These days, I’m more frustrated by Spyro 3’s… jank. (If you’ve done the skateboard racing, _especially_ in the remake, you’ll know what I’m talking about.) They obviously put as many ideas into the final game of the trilogy as they possibly could come up with, and while I think it ended the series on a high note, it was on shaky legs. It’s a good thing that Insomniac never decided to try their hands at a fourth entry, I think. Discussing the logic of the storytelling, I think it’s important to remember that Spyro was originally a product of the early, _early_ 2000s, which was a period of time when video game stories “making sense” wasn’t viewed as a priority. Yes, it may seem dumb _now_ that Hunter makes you work for a literal essential item like the orbs, or that portals are locked off by collecting eggs, but that’s only because we choose to think about and care about that sort of thing in modern times. Back in those days, it was just an excuse that served the purpose of gameplay. It’s just like the logic of, “Why does Mario invite Bowser to race go-karts when Bowser is literally his arch enemy?” *But,* to counter this point, allow me to bring up one of Spyro 3’s best aspects: character development. Specifically, the character development of Bianca throughout the course of the game, from “grr, I’m bad and you should fear me” into “wow, I was wrong and misguided, let me correct my actions by helping you”. And it’s done in such a natural and believable way. I like that in each interaction you have with her at the beginning of a new home world, her attitude shifts in a tangible way: from threatening, to mildy perturbed, and then to showing a lack of confidence with a hint of desperation when she begins _asking_ Spyro to leave, before finally presenting herself as an ally. All accompanied with the cutscenes in between involving her and Spyro / Hunter. _That_ is really good storytelling, especially for a genre where the plot isn’t supposed to matter, and it’s what made Bianca one of my favorite Spyro characters. And I especially like the subtle changes that’re made to her appearance throughout the game, as well, going from a fully cloaked and hooded figure into showing more and more of her “true self”. So yeah, all great games at the end of the day, with each one doing something or some things better than the others. I think it’s easy to see how any of them could potentially be “the best one” in somebody’s eyes.
Your point of "I just sucked at video games when I was a kid" may not just be you getting older. Spyro 3 had adaptive difficulty based on your gameplay and it was kind of broken in the first release of the game. If the version you played didn't have unique music for most of the midnight mountain worlds or speedway levels (like playing the first homeworld's music for the final boss) then there is a decent chance you found the yeti race and boxing to be near impossible. Most of the challenges i remember being hard does just seem to be me being bad at games, but playing through my old disc from the year 2000 i have no idea how i ever got to see the ending as a kid (unless all my deaths slowly lowered the game difficulty)
Spyro 3 quite clearly explains that dragons are source of the magic in that world and once they left the magic started disappearing and eventually the portals stopped functioning. Bianca thinks they're stealing the dragon eggs to return that magic. I don't remember if it was blatantly stated, but from these two things I intuitively thought that you gathering more of those magic battery eggs further increases your power and gives you the ability to activate those portals again. I don't wanna be mean, but mentioning in the beginning of the video that you skip dialogue/cutscenes and then complaining how progression of the game makes no sense isn't really a smart combo. In future you should either pick a lane and avoid discussing topics you don't have interest in or do a bit more background research to avoid sounding like you don't know what you're talking about. It's those little things that water down otherwise good video.
At least in Spyro 2 you could avoided backtracking by doing a cheat code to unlock all the abilities at the start of the game so you could just get the whole world completed on the first visit; where in Spyro 3 there is no avoiding backtracking because there are no cheat code to unlock all the characters and even if there was you’ll still have to go back to the previous world to play the Sparx level because his level isn’t available to play until after you defeat the world’s boss.
I've been playing through the Spyro Reignited Trilogy for the first time, and I agree. As good as Spyro 2 is, there's such a strong, simple charm to the first game. Just being able to jump into a level and not have any collatables be locked behind missions, or moves you haven't unlocked. It gives the game that loose, open feeling. Where as Spryo 2 is just a tad too structured. Haven't got to 3 yet.
I agree, it is a lot nicer knowing I can get everything the first time I enter a level. I played the originals when I was little & thought Spyro 2 was my favorite, but the Reignited Trilogy gave me a greater appreciation for the 1st game.
Thank you for correctly breaking down why this game is the best in the series. I would also add that spyro one has really great level design that rewards exploration as opposed to the boring linear designs of the sequels.
I owned 3 as a kid but not 1 or 2. I finally bought 1 and 2 this year and beat them both. Absolutely fantastic games! The simplicity of 1 is so fantastic and I understand why you love it the most.
I'm gonna say outright, I thing the core problem is *forced backtracking.* There's a huge difference between "I'm coming back to this area because I didn't do this thing," and "finally, I reached this specific checkpoint, and now I can go back to complete that other thing." Now, if you're playing an exploration game (Metroid, Castlevania, etc.), the latter is the general MO, you gradually give the player upgrades that let them go back and find more cool stuff. But if it's a collectathon platformer, you really want the former. Unless you're giving them permanent upgrades that make it fun to backtrack, you really want to avoid making them "earn the right" to complete a stage 100%
I'm right there with you. Spyro is my joy. I didn't try Spyro 2 until the reignited trilogy and I just couldn't. I don't care for reignited anyway, but 2 just came off super weird and so I don't even care to give 3 a try or the original 2 & 3. I'll stick to PS1 Spyro 1 💕
There is ONE platformer I feel like recaptures the simplistic magic of Spyro 1, and that’s Super Lucky’s Tale. Like Spyro, Lucky’s Tale has simplistic levels that are just fun to run around and collect stuff in. It’s the closest thing a modern platformer has come to scratching this specific itch imo.
There's a reason Spyro 1 is my most replayed game on the switch. Having to backtrack is annoying. I agree with the whole video, glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way haha
Amazing video. Finally i found someone that talks about backtracking. As a kid i preferred spyro 2 or 3, while in the years playing constantly all three games i realized that nowadays i always prefer to play the first one. Music, ambient, levels and no backtracking make me prefer Spyro 1, however i always take 2 and 3 in my heart for beautiful memories i have and the great levels and soundtracks of these 2 amazing games.
YT recommendations must be messing with me. My favorite Spyro game is 3, a couple of weeks ago I saw a recommended video that said 2 is the best one, and today I'm seeing yours which says the OG is the best one 😂 Portals in 3 open when dragons hatch because dragons emit magic that, among other things, powers the portals. Sheila explains it right after being freed from Moneybags. While backtracking can be tedious, you became more familiar with the worlds, you became more immersed in them, that's why many people, myself included, remember 2 and 3 more fondly. Backtracking is forgotten, unless you've replayed the games recently, but bright images of the worlds stay. While in 1 - yeah, I've completed it in one sitting; yeah, I liked it. But can I remember anything from it? Uh, there was an ice level in Peace Keepers, for some reason; uh, Tree Tops, remembered for all the wrong reasons; well, a very creative hub level in Dream Weavers, but heck if I remember ANY level from that world. Maybe the one with animated armor sets, again, for the wrong reasons.
I’ve always liked Spyro 1 the most out of the 3 as well. I’ve always mentioned the backtracking, but you articulated the other two reasons that I may have but not have realized as well. I play to just run around, break things, and touch shinies as quickly as possible. It’s great stress relief. 2 and 3 have their fun parts, but the added content can be stressful. Everyone who’s played can name their most hated challenge. I never hear anyone talk about their FAVORITE orb/egg challenge. Aside: My brother and I replayed these games a ton growing up and now replay Reignited. He does casual speedrunning and the times to 100% (or 120% or 117%) each game on a good day are approximately as follows: 1: 1-1.5 hours 2: 2.5-3 hours 3: 5.5-6 hours By the time he gets to Spyro 3, he’s already starting to get exhausted and 3 is longer than 1 and 2 combined. 3’s definitely my least favorite due to the very inconsistent aesthetic and obvious padding of 101 different gameplay styles, like Insomniac was just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what would stick. They stopped doing Spyro and started Ratchet and Clank because they wanted to make games where the character can hold weapons. You can pretty clearly see this itch in 3 with how many artillery-based challenges there are.
The current world record for Spyro 1 120% is 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you're brother is completing the game in 1 hour and 30 minutes than he's somewhere on the speedrunning leaderboard.
@@Devlinator61116 I mentioned we do Reignited now. The Spyro 1 speedrun world record on 120% for Reignited is 1 hr 9 minutes. I think his current time is around 1 hr 20-25 minutes.
Great video Tower, we all hate Nestor. I am actually on a hunt to find that old 3d platformer collectable hunt with modern games, I will let you know if i find any.
I recently replayed Spyro 1 & 2 for the first time in 20 years, and I have to say, I completely agree. I think you highlighted every single complaint I had about the later games. The first game had such a mechanical simplicity to it while still allowing you to explore these great, huge worlds. The backtracking was annoying, and the annoying companion stuff in 2 really fought against this narrative that Spyro and co. were trying to save their world ASAP. It's as if the scenarios and in-game minigame dialogue were written by different people who didn't communicate anything to each other during development.
Based video. I gotta say, personally, I love Spyro 1's level design than any of its sequels. It seems like, devs were more creative with the set of skills used by spyro. You dont have to look much further than: Tree Tops, Haunted Towers, Ice Cavern, Dry Cannon, Metalhead or High Caves. Spyro 1 made you really think and explore the level with some thought to 100% complete the levels. Spyro 2 or 3's level design is mostly flat and linear, but makes up for it with everything else. Its a shame tho, because it could have so much more ON TOP of extra features they have to make them unique in their own right. What I love about Spyro 1 mostly tho, than level design is art design. The gems specifically. Spyro 2 and 3 had those gems changed and honestly, I MUCH prefer the design of the original Spyro 1 gems. Its "inner kid self" that speaks here, he would LOVE to have 1-to-1 recreation of all 5 of those gems IRL. Anyhow, when it comes to bosses... to me, in spyro 1 they werent "real" bosses. More like minibosses at most. I appreciated the ACTUAL designed bosses in Spyro 2 and 3. They felt like a genuine threat as opposed to minor inconvienience. But that's just personal preference. "A man can dream tho..." True. For some chosen ones, "Grr... If nobody's gonna do it... I will do it MYSELF!" RIP Spyro: Myths Awakening (The PS1 artistic fan made project) that was meant to be Spyro 4 for the fans. Got slapped with C&D and got rebranded as a Spyro Clone instead titled as "Zera: Myths Awakening".
I recently found a trick to clear Glimmer on the first visit. Once you get past the cave with the climbing wall you can use the super flight gate to fly to the top of the wall before the power runs out. Once you get there use the other flight gate to finish the side quest.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way, I was worried my preference for spyro 1 was from nostalgia as it was the only one I had as a kid, when the reignited trilogy came out I kinda found myself annoyed by how much you got stopped, but everyone I talked to saw it as a good thing so I felt like I was crazy
Of course its because you only played Spyro 1. Why would a grown man want to talk to all the characters in Spyro 2 if not for nostalgia? But as a kid playing with siblings, all the different worlds of 2 & all the funny characters and missions gave it way more life. 1 is way more basic. Whats the point of saving those Spyro 1 worlds? No one talks except dragons
Spyro 1 was a straightforward and cohesive adventure. Spyro 2-3 was an adventure that constently got interrupted by frustrating and distracting mini-games. When i play spyro I wanna glide around an open area, charging enemies and collecting gems, not feeding a picky idol his favorite fish or doing damn trial-and-error escort missions to protect some blind NPC (IM LOOKING AT YOU ALCHEMIST AND THOSE LITTLE MUSHROOM-LOVING BOMB GUYS SHIELA ESCORTS) The strange thing is as a kid i loved all the "extra content" like skateboarding and side missions, and I found the original felt kinda empty and lonely. But as an adult, now I just love the quiet, cozy, openness of the original, the ability to take it at your own pace, the simplicity. No obnoxious or distracting NPCs or side content (ok maybe egg thieves are obnoxious but thats kinda their thing lol) A final point is just the openness of spyro 1 levels, i mean i haven't actually measured the maps in a map viewer or anything like that, but based off memory and feeling, Spyro 1 levels just feel more open and inviting and spyro 2-3 felt much more linear and "on rails". Sure Spyro 1 had some small and more linear levels like dark hollow, but even the first "level" stone hill is just magical. Its basically just a big arena that you explore at your leisure, and as a kid simply learning you can glide up into the hills and that little hillside fort that looks like it would all be out of bounds at first is mind-blowing. Its just a simple level, but it invites exploration, it entices you to scour every nook and cranny and rewards you with hidden areas, like the aforementioned hill tops/the fort, inside the well or the hidden little cozy beach cove area. And that's just the first level, basically a tutorial. Other levels go above and beyond with this interconnected openness with alluring exploration options, like dark passage, wizard peaks, tree tops and misty bog just to name a few. Anyway not trying to hate on Spyro 2-3, i think they are good games, and were monumental in my childhood, but just hoping i can explain why i also find Spyro 1 to be my favorite as ive grown. I know i just repeated alot of points you already made, but it feels good to articulate and rant for yourself, so just thought id let it out and Fanboy a little bit about one of the greatest games of all time.
@@Towerizer that's right! Oddheader, I couldn't remember. I'm glad to see you are making good content too. Funny I was able to recognize you from the shout-outs lol. I hope you continue to make awesome content. Samurai Legends will continue to support your content.
@@jarettbabichuk3137 so true lol, I also remember there being a way to get on top of the gem near the ladder and use the double jump to get up there. Or ofc there is always the unlock abilities cheat code 😁
Spyro 1 is great because you can track your 100% as you go. It was the first game I ever beat 100% and I return to it again and again. Spyro 2 I have also 100% completed… but Spyro 3 never (damn skateboard minigames) Spyro 1 also has the best soundtrack, but that could be my nostalgia talking.
Quite a shocker hearing about the backtracking being a problem in Spyro 2/3. Compared to most other collectathons, there is so minimal backtracking. Spryo 2 has like 4 backtracking levels total? And out of those four, 2 (the climbing levels), can be easily bypassed with some simple jumps/movement.
Neat video! This game gives me so much nostalgia and just enjoyment. Would you agree the remake is nice not just doesn’t capture the same charm as the originals? If so I’d love a video on it!
Yeah the re-ignited trilogy was a fantastic recreation of the games for sure! It was amazing re experiencing the games with the updated graphics, it's why i kept it circled in the image with all the Spyro games hehe.
@@Towerizer yep! Obviously there’s the graphics which would inevitably be changed/updated, but lots of the differences I don’t necessarily love…the harbor level shooting paintball guns, lots of the enemies were changed the way they look, having the map on the screen, Spyro when he gets kissed doesn’t turn red like in PS1 instead he turns like a pulsing purple, etc. maybe I’m just getting old! Lol.
I agree, Spyro 1 is my favorite of the trilogy. It doesn’t require any backtracking at all and you can 100% all of the levels in 1 go. I really enjoyed Spyro 2 and 3 as well but the backtracking in those games is ridiculous and I also found the mini games to be pretty boring. Especially in Spyro 3 which is why it’s my least favorite of the trilogy but also because I thought the other playable characters were not fun to play as at all.
I have a bias for spyro 1 since I grew up with it & only emulated 2 + 3 recently, but I hated how often the gameplay loop from 1 was broken up by challenges & dialogue in 2 & 3. the core formula from the first game had you navigating through levels, dealing with unique enemies & hunting gems along the way, meanwhile in 2 & 3 the pace of the game is slowed down a fuck-ton by putting primary objectives / collectables behind challenges. some are fine like the flying ones in glimmer & the various super-charge ones, but the rest don't elaborate or expand upon spyro's moveset in a meaningful way, like why the fuck is spyro on a trolley or skateboard he's a dragon what's more & I understand the target audience for these games is a younger demographic, but the story doesn't encourage you to do these tasks for the various factions either. although not pronounced the story in the first game atleast made spyro's role important, he's carries himself as the one dragon with the responsibility of saving his elders, releasing them feels important as they provide you guidance & reflect the world around them returning to normalcy. in 2 you're literally gas-lit into saving avalar by helping a bunch of unrelated, random factions who you might not feel for / relate to; you just run around doing petty chores / tasks for them & the rewards they give you don't feel that important vs releasing dragons I get most of it was done because the devs wanted to experiment with their skills, they had less time to iron out 2 & 3 etc. which is fine since its made me really appreciate how special the first game is & if we ever get custom level tools I'll be damn sure to make more with spyro 1's formula in mind
On the story, this & millions of other games/stories: Spyro is a hero. Any time a hero is begged for help, they usually do it… So if you come across an old lady that needs saving- its gas lighting if she says “i need you, please help”? 🤣 And yes, like you said, the game is made for literally ages 5-8. So deep meaning isnt really needed. But i could nitpick like you using adult logic. Spyro 1’s whole mission is BS. Why do all the adult dragons run away when freed? Couldnt they just help Spyro finish the job? Of course they would, if using real logic And as far as the challenges for orbs in 2. Slow the pace down a fuck ton? If you dont want to do the challenges just skip the dialogue and walk away lmao. You barely have to get any until you want to 100% or finish Ripto. If you want pure simplicity & quiet, of course Spyro 1 is better. But Spyro 2 has life. Things in the world that can actually talk besides Gnorc and the dragons. Every world has its own kind of creatures/ people. With its own way of life and problems. Makes them memorable as a kid. You will never get the true experience now trying to play as a grown man
@@clutch7548 yea its just a means of getting the game going, the plot doesn't have the grandiose of death note & it doesn't need to either, which is most likely why spyro 1 is my favourite. as much as I want to I'll never experience spyro 1 again for the first time, but I can always revisit it and appreciate why it was so beloved to me if I may entertain you, when I was young my father got me a pirated version of spyro 1 complete with black marker written on the disc, that's the copy I grew up with. I played the shit out of it, but I was never able to make it to beast makers not because I was too young & had no problem solving skills, but because the game would start freezing whenever I tried rescuing dragons or entering levels; so really I had only gotten up to the halfway point of the game only recently when I decided I wanted to try 2 and 3, I beat 1 in its entirety and you know what? experiencing the second half of the game was brand new to me & rekindled that sense of wonder I now bitterly lack. dream weavers especially, going through lofty castle for the first time was magical, the pink covered scenery, ethereal and floating in nature, all while Copeland's soundtrack for the level played, I felt like a kid again it was perfect. twilight harbour was a pleasant surprise too, a lot of rambo inspiration from the era I guess but still fun to duke it out with military gnorcs using freaking machine guns & artillery weapons I could keep nit-picking on spyro 2 and 3, but I think I'll put that effort toward loving spyro 1 more :)
Spyro 1 is by far the best. I hate how in 2, EVERY orb (minus home worlds) is a mini game. Missed a trick on hiding them in hard to reach places, or puzzles. Spyro 3 has a decent mix, but still too many mini games and repeating the same mini game you've just done (looking at you boxing) and I don't care for the extra characters.
Spyro 2 backtracking killed it for me. Especially Fractured hills where you don't find out you can't continue a minigame without the next home world powerup before you've already had to go through an annoying prequel minigame. When you go back you have to do the annoying prequel minigame AGAIN to get back to the point you can do the follow up. I know there's backtracking in Syro 3 to do side content in some levels with new characters, but this is fine cus there's meat to be done, not just some gems arbitrarily put inside stuff you can't break yet or out of reach on top of a ladder. People dunk on Spyro 3 mainly for the other characters being meh. Aside from Byrd I can agree. Still would take Spyro 3 over 2 any day. Feels more like the magic of Spyro 1 with levels like charmed ridge. Spyro 1 is the best tho. Even if you have to backtrack in Spyro 1 cus you need something to progress with the balloonist it will still be up to you which level you wanna play again for the stuff you need given it has stuff you need left in it.
Reigneted is a 0/10 just for the fact it omitted the cheat code for unlocking climbing, diving and the headbash in 2 on purpose. Like why? Its the only way I play through the game to avoid backtracking so its dire that the devs think their vision of someone else's creation trumps original design.
Played them as a kid and I platinumed the Trilogy. Future playthroughs will stop at 2. Yotd is just too cluttered and the extra characters are just gimmicky. Simplicity will always be king.
Spyro 1 is the best of all of them. I completed it 120% twice (once on PS4 and once on switch). The only reason why I didn’t complete it more times are the flight levels. Those are horrific and sadistic, no matter how you look at it. But other than that, Spyro 1 is practically flawless. The other two games, I couldn’t even get through the story. They just suck. The worlds and world design are inferior and most of the time annoying too. And when it comes to the Reignited Trilogy, finding new dragons with creative designs was always exciting and fun. But you don’t get that in Spyro 2 and 3. Just meaningless things.
I love the simplicity of Spyro 1 but some of the stuff you have against the other two make no sense. Like bosses, the point of bosses is to test your skills at the end of the world. Both takes on bosses do so differently The backtracking is some of the least offensive I've ever played. Its like about 6 levels in RR and like once or twice for thr first three worlds in YOTD Also, storywise, its the baby dragons magical energy that are powering the portals since the Forgotten Worlds are losing magic since the dragons left. And the orbs, its their power too
Bro complaining that collecting eggs to unlock portals doesn’t make sense while first game literally has Gnasty freezing everyone because he was called ugly, and then for some reason wasn’t able to do it again
I mean all of the dragons you release in gnasty's gnexus are dragons you had previously released so I think he can do it again a little. It just doesn't hit dragons under 4ft tall.
@@machr293 it does, the requirement is that you have to exit any level via the vortex. Argus even has different voice lines depending on if you free him before the requirement or after.
You're not even required to backtrack to finish the game, it's only for completion quit the bullshit. Also someone DID skip the cutscenes i see: you need dragons to access portale because dragon's magic is what powered the forgotten realm, that's why the sorceress stole the eggs othen than to make a potion of some sort i can't remember now
Why do the eggs power the third games portal well - its the opposite side of the world where you are needs magic by dragons to open said potals because they bring magic to the world thats why the sorcerys is a big poop hole because she wants to probably inslave or eat the dragons for there power or take there wings 🪽
Always happy to see more Spyro fans celebrating these great games, but being honest with you it doesn't feel like you thought these points through very well. The magic of the dragon eggs is explained, but you already told us you skip the cutscenes. You say the first game lets you play it in any order, shortly after explaining that there are several benchmarks of dragons, gems, and eggs. Just constructive criticism, I feel like you could think through these a little better and make sure you're not contradicting or sabotaging your own points, because I largely agree! When I'm playing through Spyro 3 especially, there are so many mini games, skateboarding, boxing, hockey, that I just skip because they feel like they break up the flow of the gameplay. I replay the first game multiple times a year, and the others maybe once every year or two, because like you say, it's so streamlined and approachable. I miss having simple videogames where I can just switch them on, run and jump, explore, collect things, and progress through it naturally. Where I actually disagree in practice, is that I sometimes go out of my way to avoid picking up gems while playing, specifically because I want to backtrack and play the levels a second time to hunt for the missing gems. It's as close as I'll get to recapturing that feeling of exploring the levels for the first time.
doesnt change the fact that we're forced to do these levels in a linear way before unlocking the other portals in spyro 3, (and spyro 2 to a lesser extend) in spyro 1, we can just pick and choose which levels we want to do first or last. the bosses arent mandatory either unless you wanna do a 100% run
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Thank you for releasing me.
The simplicity of Spyro 1 wasn’t only beneficial for the gameplay. It also really helped the aesthetics and vibes. 2 and 3 are so… busy. You’re always talking to people, allies. Spyro 1 feels more liminal and magical because of the loneliness, the single, simple quest.
Exactly this!!!!
Yep. And the world was unified in terms of themes and aesthetics. With the sequels, there's dinosaurs, monkeys, turtles, robots, seahorses, little kids who know karate. You're in a desert, you're in the future, you're on a robot farm. I had no idea what the point of any of it was to the main story or how these mini worlds connected to the hub worlds. With the first game, everything makes thematic sense: you have wizards, dragons, castles, mountains, moats, and magicians. It's a medieval fantasy setting, plain and simple. Suddenly making me box or ice skate or skateboard would immediately destroy the illusion of that setting.
@@gadpivsThe speedways have little cars & random things that arent medieval. I guess your illusion was shattered playing them
@@clutch7548 Don't be a dick just because you prefer the sequels, bud.
@@clutch7548 No one cares about how clever you think you are.
I’m the same. Spyro 1 is incredibly chill and all the extra mini games and missions in 2&3 just felt like busywork
One thing I can appreciate now, as an adult, is how Spyro 1 was able to do a lot with only a little. The first game basically used the three basic mechanics - moving, charging, and flaming - yet was able to construct so many distinctive and memorable worlds and experiences with those mechanics. Out of the three games, I feel Spyro 1 best illustrates how much emphasis Spyro as a series places on the exploration aspect of 3D platformers, and of the four “big” mascot platformers that I grew up with (the others being Mario, Sonic, and Crash), that point is the reason why it has become my favorite of them.
That said, I’ve felt that the best of the bunch is and has always been Spyro 2. When playing the three together as a collection, with Reignited, Spyro 2 feels like it takes the “quality over quantity approach”. Spyro 1 might have bosses that feel more rewarding, since they give you gems for defeating them, but I’d argue that as “boss fights” they’re pretty lackluster. They’re basically just normal enemies that takes a couple extra hits to kill. Jacques hardly qualifies as a “fight”, considering he’s basically just running away from you and not actually attacking. To me, the fact that Crush, Gulp, and Ripto actually put up a challenge makes them more interesting, and in my eyes, the process of beating them *is* the reward. Beyond that, a bit of the same can be said of the levels, I feel. Every single individual world in Spyro 2 stands out vividly in my mind, and I can remember each and every little detail of its design. Comparatively, some worlds in Spyro 1 kind of start to blend in with each other the further into the game you go, largely due to the way they become less and less visually / thematically separated from one another. Name any Spyro 2 level, and I’ll know exactly what you’re referring to. Name one of the regular, non-flight and non-boss levels from a later portion of Spyro 1, and I’ll probably be like, “Yep, that’s… definitely one of the Dream Weavers worlds. Dunno which one, but’s certainly one of ‘em.”
As for Spyro 3, I always had mixed feelings about it, ever since I was a kid. Many of the side activities were just _very_ hard for me to beat as a child. When I played through Spyro 3 in Reignited, in2021, I kept getting these anxiety flashbacks where I was like, “Oh god, I remember how awful this was,” and then proceeded to find out that it wasn’t actually that difficult - I was just crap at video games when I was like 11. These days, I’m more frustrated by Spyro 3’s… jank. (If you’ve done the skateboard racing, _especially_ in the remake, you’ll know what I’m talking about.) They obviously put as many ideas into the final game of the trilogy as they possibly could come up with, and while I think it ended the series on a high note, it was on shaky legs. It’s a good thing that Insomniac never decided to try their hands at a fourth entry, I think.
Discussing the logic of the storytelling, I think it’s important to remember that Spyro was originally a product of the early, _early_ 2000s, which was a period of time when video game stories “making sense” wasn’t viewed as a priority. Yes, it may seem dumb _now_ that Hunter makes you work for a literal essential item like the orbs, or that portals are locked off by collecting eggs, but that’s only because we choose to think about and care about that sort of thing in modern times. Back in those days, it was just an excuse that served the purpose of gameplay. It’s just like the logic of, “Why does Mario invite Bowser to race go-karts when Bowser is literally his arch enemy?”
*But,* to counter this point, allow me to bring up one of Spyro 3’s best aspects: character development. Specifically, the character development of Bianca throughout the course of the game, from “grr, I’m bad and you should fear me” into “wow, I was wrong and misguided, let me correct my actions by helping you”. And it’s done in such a natural and believable way. I like that in each interaction you have with her at the beginning of a new home world, her attitude shifts in a tangible way: from threatening, to mildy perturbed, and then to showing a lack of confidence with a hint of desperation when she begins _asking_ Spyro to leave, before finally presenting herself as an ally. All accompanied with the cutscenes in between involving her and Spyro / Hunter.
_That_ is really good storytelling, especially for a genre where the plot isn’t supposed to matter, and it’s what made Bianca one of my favorite Spyro characters. And I especially like the subtle changes that’re made to her appearance throughout the game, as well, going from a fully cloaked and hooded figure into showing more and more of her “true self”.
So yeah, all great games at the end of the day, with each one doing something or some things better than the others. I think it’s easy to see how any of them could potentially be “the best one” in somebody’s eyes.
This was such a well written comment. Amazing .
Your point of "I just sucked at video games when I was a kid" may not just be you getting older. Spyro 3 had adaptive difficulty based on your gameplay and it was kind of broken in the first release of the game.
If the version you played didn't have unique music for most of the midnight mountain worlds or speedway levels (like playing the first homeworld's music for the final boss) then there is a decent chance you found the yeti race and boxing to be near impossible.
Most of the challenges i remember being hard does just seem to be me being bad at games, but playing through my old disc from the year 2000 i have no idea how i ever got to see the ending as a kid (unless all my deaths slowly lowered the game difficulty)
5:40 the cutscenes starting new game explains it. dragons contain magic, more dragon more magic for the magic portals =D
*SPYRO MY BOY HOW ABOUT A TIP ON GLIDING!!*
Fully agree, i hate the 'stupid' frustrating challenges like icehockey, just give me the gems and dragons!
I'm glad someone is talking about this. I think it goes beyond nostalgia. It was just a great game.
Spyro 3 quite clearly explains that dragons are source of the magic in that world and once they left the magic started disappearing and eventually the portals stopped functioning. Bianca thinks they're stealing the dragon eggs to return that magic. I don't remember if it was blatantly stated, but from these two things I intuitively thought that you gathering more of those magic battery eggs further increases your power and gives you the ability to activate those portals again.
I don't wanna be mean, but mentioning in the beginning of the video that you skip dialogue/cutscenes and then complaining how progression of the game makes no sense isn't really a smart combo. In future you should either pick a lane and avoid discussing topics you don't have interest in or do a bit more background research to avoid sounding like you don't know what you're talking about. It's those little things that water down otherwise good video.
Thank you for your comment!
At least in Spyro 2 you could avoided backtracking by doing a cheat code to unlock all the abilities at the start of the game so you could just get the whole world completed on the first visit; where in Spyro 3 there is no avoiding backtracking because there are no cheat code to unlock all the characters and even if there was you’ll still have to go back to the previous world to play the Sparx level because his level isn’t available to play until after you defeat the world’s boss.
I've been playing through the Spyro Reignited Trilogy for the first time, and I agree. As good as Spyro 2 is, there's such a strong, simple charm to the first game. Just being able to jump into a level and not have any collatables be locked behind missions, or moves you haven't unlocked. It gives the game that loose, open feeling. Where as Spryo 2 is just a tad too structured. Haven't got to 3 yet.
I agree, it is a lot nicer knowing I can get everything the first time I enter a level. I played the originals when I was little & thought Spyro 2 was my favorite, but the Reignited Trilogy gave me a greater appreciation for the 1st game.
Thank you for correctly breaking down why this game is the best in the series. I would also add that spyro one has really great level design that rewards exploration as opposed to the boring linear designs of the sequels.
I owned 3 as a kid but not 1 or 2. I finally bought 1 and 2 this year and beat them both. Absolutely fantastic games! The simplicity of 1 is so fantastic and I understand why you love it the most.
Spyro 1 = Best Spyro.
I'm gonna say outright, I thing the core problem is *forced backtracking.* There's a huge difference between "I'm coming back to this area because I didn't do this thing," and "finally, I reached this specific checkpoint, and now I can go back to complete that other thing."
Now, if you're playing an exploration game (Metroid, Castlevania, etc.), the latter is the general MO, you gradually give the player upgrades that let them go back and find more cool stuff. But if it's a collectathon platformer, you really want the former. Unless you're giving them permanent upgrades that make it fun to backtrack, you really want to avoid making them "earn the right" to complete a stage 100%
I'm right there with you. Spyro is my joy. I didn't try Spyro 2 until the reignited trilogy and I just couldn't. I don't care for reignited anyway, but 2 just came off super weird and so I don't even care to give 3 a try or the original 2 & 3. I'll stick to PS1 Spyro 1 💕
Definitely try the original Spyro 2. It has way more life. You wont find all of it weird.
tRoUbLe wItH ThE tRoLlEy EHHHHHHHH
There is ONE platformer I feel like recaptures the simplistic magic of Spyro 1, and that’s Super Lucky’s Tale. Like Spyro, Lucky’s Tale has simplistic levels that are just fun to run around and collect stuff in. It’s the closest thing a modern platformer has come to scratching this specific itch imo.
Find dragons first, that's all I can tell you.
There's a reason Spyro 1 is my most replayed game on the switch. Having to backtrack is annoying. I agree with the whole video, glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way haha
Amazing video. Finally i found someone that talks about backtracking.
As a kid i preferred spyro 2 or 3, while in the years playing constantly all three games i realized that nowadays i always prefer to play the first one.
Music, ambient, levels and no backtracking make me prefer Spyro 1, however i always take 2 and 3 in my heart for beautiful memories i have and the great levels and soundtracks of these 2 amazing games.
I'll at least say that the bosses in Spyro 1 were a bit too similar & bare bones. Otherwise I generally agree with your points!
Great video man! The first game will always be my favorite, im glad you think so too 😁
Be a good toast boy
YT recommendations must be messing with me. My favorite Spyro game is 3, a couple of weeks ago I saw a recommended video that said 2 is the best one, and today I'm seeing yours which says the OG is the best one 😂
Portals in 3 open when dragons hatch because dragons emit magic that, among other things, powers the portals. Sheila explains it right after being freed from Moneybags.
While backtracking can be tedious, you became more familiar with the worlds, you became more immersed in them, that's why many people, myself included, remember 2 and 3 more fondly. Backtracking is forgotten, unless you've replayed the games recently, but bright images of the worlds stay. While in 1 - yeah, I've completed it in one sitting; yeah, I liked it. But can I remember anything from it? Uh, there was an ice level in Peace Keepers, for some reason; uh, Tree Tops, remembered for all the wrong reasons; well, a very creative hub level in Dream Weavers, but heck if I remember ANY level from that world. Maybe the one with animated armor sets, again, for the wrong reasons.
You know i've never watched that full cut scene with Sheila, so i never knew that she explained it. what's what i get for not paying attention haha.
Your argument is spot on. The first Spyro game is still really good and has a perfect flow to it.
I’ve always liked Spyro 1 the most out of the 3 as well. I’ve always mentioned the backtracking, but you articulated the other two reasons that I may have but not have realized as well. I play to just run around, break things, and touch shinies as quickly as possible. It’s great stress relief. 2 and 3 have their fun parts, but the added content can be stressful. Everyone who’s played can name their most hated challenge. I never hear anyone talk about their FAVORITE orb/egg challenge.
Aside: My brother and I replayed these games a ton growing up and now replay Reignited. He does casual speedrunning and the times to 100% (or 120% or 117%) each game on a good day are approximately as follows:
1: 1-1.5 hours
2: 2.5-3 hours
3: 5.5-6 hours
By the time he gets to Spyro 3, he’s already starting to get exhausted and 3 is longer than 1 and 2 combined. 3’s definitely my least favorite due to the very inconsistent aesthetic and obvious padding of 101 different gameplay styles, like Insomniac was just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what would stick. They stopped doing Spyro and started Ratchet and Clank because they wanted to make games where the character can hold weapons. You can pretty clearly see this itch in 3 with how many artillery-based challenges there are.
The current world record for Spyro 1 120% is 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you're brother is completing the game in 1 hour and 30 minutes than he's somewhere on the speedrunning leaderboard.
@@Devlinator61116 I mentioned we do Reignited now. The Spyro 1 speedrun world record on 120% for Reignited is 1 hr 9 minutes. I think his current time is around 1 hr 20-25 minutes.
Great video Tower, we all hate Nestor. I am actually on a hunt to find that old 3d platformer collectable hunt with modern games, I will let you know if i find any.
I recently replayed Spyro 1 & 2 for the first time in 20 years, and I have to say, I completely agree. I think you highlighted every single complaint I had about the later games. The first game had such a mechanical simplicity to it while still allowing you to explore these great, huge worlds. The backtracking was annoying, and the annoying companion stuff in 2 really fought against this narrative that Spyro and co. were trying to save their world ASAP. It's as if the scenarios and in-game minigame dialogue were written by different people who didn't communicate anything to each other during development.
Based video. I gotta say, personally, I love Spyro 1's level design than any of its sequels. It seems like, devs were more creative with the set of skills used by spyro.
You dont have to look much further than: Tree Tops, Haunted Towers, Ice Cavern, Dry Cannon, Metalhead or High Caves.
Spyro 1 made you really think and explore the level with some thought to 100% complete the levels.
Spyro 2 or 3's level design is mostly flat and linear, but makes up for it with everything else. Its a shame tho, because it could have so much more ON TOP of extra features they have to make them unique in their own right.
What I love about Spyro 1 mostly tho, than level design is art design. The gems specifically. Spyro 2 and 3 had those gems changed and honestly, I MUCH prefer the design of the original Spyro 1 gems. Its "inner kid self" that speaks here, he would LOVE to have 1-to-1 recreation of all 5 of those gems IRL.
Anyhow, when it comes to bosses... to me, in spyro 1 they werent "real" bosses. More like minibosses at most.
I appreciated the ACTUAL designed bosses in Spyro 2 and 3. They felt like a genuine threat as opposed to minor inconvienience. But that's just personal preference.
"A man can dream tho..." True. For some chosen ones, "Grr... If nobody's gonna do it... I will do it MYSELF!"
RIP Spyro: Myths Awakening (The PS1 artistic fan made project) that was meant to be Spyro 4 for the fans. Got slapped with C&D and got rebranded as a Spyro Clone instead titled as "Zera: Myths Awakening".
I recently found a trick to clear Glimmer on the first visit. Once you get past the cave with the climbing wall you can use the super flight gate to fly to the top of the wall before the power runs out. Once you get there use the other flight gate to finish the side quest.
Very good video brother!
The point you made about backtracking is on point. The crash trilogy has rotten backtracking also
I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way, I was worried my preference for spyro 1 was from nostalgia as it was the only one I had as a kid, when the reignited trilogy came out I kinda found myself annoyed by how much you got stopped, but everyone I talked to saw it as a good thing so I felt like I was crazy
Of course its because you only played Spyro 1. Why would a grown man want to talk to all the characters in Spyro 2 if not for nostalgia?
But as a kid playing with siblings, all the different worlds of 2 & all the funny characters and missions gave it way more life. 1 is way more basic. Whats the point of saving those Spyro 1 worlds? No one talks except dragons
Fun fact: I like Spyro 1 and 3 the most. Ripto’s Rage is my least favorite to play, but Ripto is my favorite villain of the whole trilogy
Great video and great to see more people who acknowledge Spyro 1 is the best of the trilogy. It isn't even a debate as far as I'm concerned.
“Acknowledge” an opinion? And did you play Spyro 2 as a kid?
@@clutch7548 yeah I played them all as a kid thankfully. The trilogy was some of the first games I ever played.
Thank you for your video :)
The first Sly Cooper is my favorite also for the reasons named in the video.
I definitely need to revisit this classic again
I prefer 2 in the trilogy due to the increase of difficulty compared to 1 and 3.
Spyro 1 was a straightforward and cohesive adventure. Spyro 2-3 was an adventure that constently got interrupted by frustrating and distracting mini-games. When i play spyro I wanna glide around an open area, charging enemies and collecting gems, not feeding a picky idol his favorite fish or doing damn trial-and-error escort missions to protect some blind NPC (IM LOOKING AT YOU ALCHEMIST AND THOSE LITTLE MUSHROOM-LOVING BOMB GUYS SHIELA ESCORTS)
The strange thing is as a kid i loved all the "extra content" like skateboarding and side missions, and I found the original felt kinda empty and lonely. But as an adult, now I just love the quiet, cozy, openness of the original, the ability to take it at your own pace, the simplicity. No obnoxious or distracting NPCs or side content (ok maybe egg thieves are obnoxious but thats kinda their thing lol)
A final point is just the openness of spyro 1 levels, i mean i haven't actually measured the maps in a map viewer or anything like that, but based off memory and feeling, Spyro 1 levels just feel more open and inviting and spyro 2-3 felt much more linear and "on rails". Sure Spyro 1 had some small and more linear levels like dark hollow, but even the first "level" stone hill is just magical. Its basically just a big arena that you explore at your leisure, and as a kid simply learning you can glide up into the hills and that little hillside fort that looks like it would all be out of bounds at first is mind-blowing. Its just a simple level, but it invites exploration, it entices you to scour every nook and cranny and rewards you with hidden areas, like the aforementioned hill tops/the fort, inside the well or the hidden little cozy beach cove area. And that's just the first level, basically a tutorial. Other levels go above and beyond with this interconnected openness with alluring exploration options, like dark passage, wizard peaks, tree tops and misty bog just to name a few.
Anyway not trying to hate on Spyro 2-3, i think they are good games, and were monumental in my childhood, but just hoping i can explain why i also find Spyro 1 to be my favorite as ive grown. I know i just repeated alot of points you already made, but it feels good to articulate and rant for yourself, so just thought id let it out and Fanboy a little bit about one of the greatest games of all time.
Towerizer a TH-camr I used to watch used to shout you out all the time. Also down with system D lol
yeah i was a patreon member of Oddheader for a spell. glad i'm being recognized hehe.
@@Towerizer that's right! Oddheader, I couldn't remember. I'm glad to see you are making good content too. Funny I was able to recognize you from the shout-outs lol. I hope you continue to make awesome content. Samurai Legends will continue to support your content.
@@edbagge thanks! i have a big project on the horizon that i hope you will enjoy!
I just wish there was a GTA sized version of Spyro. Like Spyro 1 but Skyrim sized lol for the PS5/ PC.
Fun fact you can 100% glimmer on the first visit, if you fly from the end of the level back into the cave and up the ladder cliff :)
@@jarettbabichuk3137 so true lol, I also remember there being a way to get on top of the gem near the ladder and use the double jump to get up there. Or ofc there is always the unlock abilities cheat code 😁
Spyro 1 is great because you can track your 100% as you go. It was the first game I ever beat 100% and I return to it again and again.
Spyro 2 I have also 100% completed… but Spyro 3 never (damn skateboard minigames)
Spyro 1 also has the best soundtrack, but that could be my nostalgia talking.
Too bad the Spyro 1 bosses all suck tho (except maybe Metalhead, but even he's not too great), unlike the ones from 2 and YoTD.
Quite a shocker hearing about the backtracking being a problem in Spyro 2/3. Compared to most other collectathons, there is so minimal backtracking. Spryo 2 has like 4 backtracking levels total? And out of those four, 2 (the climbing levels), can be easily bypassed with some simple jumps/movement.
Neat video! This game gives me so much nostalgia and just enjoyment. Would you agree the remake is nice not just doesn’t capture the same charm as the originals? If so I’d love a video on it!
Yeah the re-ignited trilogy was a fantastic recreation of the games for sure! It was amazing re experiencing the games with the updated graphics, it's why i kept it circled in the image with all the Spyro games hehe.
@@Towerizer yep! Obviously there’s the graphics which would inevitably be changed/updated, but lots of the differences I don’t necessarily love…the harbor level shooting paintball guns, lots of the enemies were changed the way they look, having the map on the screen, Spyro when he gets kissed doesn’t turn red like in PS1 instead he turns like a pulsing purple, etc.
maybe I’m just getting old! Lol.
I agree, Spyro 1 is my favorite of the trilogy. It doesn’t require any backtracking at all and you can 100% all of the levels in 1 go. I really enjoyed Spyro 2 and 3 as well but the backtracking in those games is ridiculous and I also found the mini games to be pretty boring. Especially in Spyro 3 which is why it’s my least favorite of the trilogy but also because I thought the other playable characters were not fun to play as at all.
I also skip FF14 cutscenes regularly. So I feel you 💀
I have a bias for spyro 1 since I grew up with it & only emulated 2 + 3 recently, but I hated how often the gameplay loop from 1 was broken up by challenges & dialogue in 2 & 3. the core formula from the first game had you navigating through levels, dealing with unique enemies & hunting gems along the way, meanwhile in 2 & 3 the pace of the game is slowed down a fuck-ton by putting primary objectives / collectables behind challenges. some are fine like the flying ones in glimmer & the various super-charge ones, but the rest don't elaborate or expand upon spyro's moveset in a meaningful way, like why the fuck is spyro on a trolley or skateboard he's a dragon
what's more & I understand the target audience for these games is a younger demographic, but the story doesn't encourage you to do these tasks for the various factions either. although not pronounced the story in the first game atleast made spyro's role important, he's carries himself as the one dragon with the responsibility of saving his elders, releasing them feels important as they provide you guidance & reflect the world around them returning to normalcy. in 2 you're literally gas-lit into saving avalar by helping a bunch of unrelated, random factions who you might not feel for / relate to; you just run around doing petty chores / tasks for them & the rewards they give you don't feel that important vs releasing dragons
I get most of it was done because the devs wanted to experiment with their skills, they had less time to iron out 2 & 3 etc. which is fine since its made me really appreciate how special the first game is & if we ever get custom level tools I'll be damn sure to make more with spyro 1's formula in mind
On the story, this & millions of other games/stories: Spyro is a hero. Any time a hero is begged for help, they usually do it… So if you come across an old lady that needs saving- its gas lighting if she says “i need you, please help”? 🤣
And yes, like you said, the game is made for literally ages 5-8. So deep meaning isnt really needed.
But i could nitpick like you using adult logic. Spyro 1’s whole mission is BS. Why do all the adult dragons run away when freed? Couldnt they just help Spyro finish the job? Of course they would, if using real logic
And as far as the challenges for orbs in 2. Slow the pace down a fuck ton? If you dont want to do the challenges just skip the dialogue and walk away lmao. You barely have to get any until you want to 100% or finish Ripto.
If you want pure simplicity & quiet, of course Spyro 1 is better. But Spyro 2 has life. Things in the world that can actually talk besides Gnorc and the dragons.
Every world has its own kind of creatures/ people. With its own way of life and problems. Makes them memorable as a kid. You will never get the true experience now trying to play as a grown man
@@clutch7548 yea its just a means of getting the game going, the plot doesn't have the grandiose of death note & it doesn't need to either, which is most likely why spyro 1 is my favourite. as much as I want to I'll never experience spyro 1 again for the first time, but I can always revisit it and appreciate why it was so beloved to me
if I may entertain you, when I was young my father got me a pirated version of spyro 1 complete with black marker written on the disc, that's the copy I grew up with. I played the shit out of it, but I was never able to make it to beast makers not because I was too young & had no problem solving skills, but because the game would start freezing whenever I tried rescuing dragons or entering levels; so really I had only gotten up to the halfway point of the game
only recently when I decided I wanted to try 2 and 3, I beat 1 in its entirety and you know what? experiencing the second half of the game was brand new to me & rekindled that sense of wonder I now bitterly lack. dream weavers especially, going through lofty castle for the first time was magical, the pink covered scenery, ethereal and floating in nature, all while Copeland's soundtrack for the level played, I felt like a kid again it was perfect. twilight harbour was a pleasant surprise too, a lot of rambo inspiration from the era I guess but still fun to duke it out with military gnorcs using freaking machine guns & artillery weapons
I could keep nit-picking on spyro 2 and 3, but I think I'll put that effort toward loving spyro 1 more :)
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Ripto’s Rage >
Spyro 1 is by far the best. I hate how in 2, EVERY orb (minus home worlds) is a mini game. Missed a trick on hiding them in hard to reach places, or puzzles. Spyro 3 has a decent mix, but still too many mini games and repeating the same mini game you've just done (looking at you boxing) and I don't care for the extra characters.
Spyro 2 betta
Spyro 2 backtracking killed it for me. Especially Fractured hills where you don't find out you can't continue a minigame without the next home world powerup before you've already had to go through an annoying prequel minigame. When you go back you have to do the annoying prequel minigame AGAIN to get back to the point you can do the follow up. I know there's backtracking in Syro 3 to do side content in some levels with new characters, but this is fine cus there's meat to be done, not just some gems arbitrarily put inside stuff you can't break yet or out of reach on top of a ladder. People dunk on Spyro 3 mainly for the other characters being meh. Aside from Byrd I can agree. Still would take Spyro 3 over 2 any day. Feels more like the magic of Spyro 1 with levels like charmed ridge. Spyro 1 is the best tho. Even if you have to backtrack in Spyro 1 cus you need something to progress with the balloonist it will still be up to you which level you wanna play again for the stuff you need given it has stuff you need left in it.
Reigneted is a 0/10 just for the fact it omitted the cheat code for unlocking climbing, diving and the headbash in 2 on purpose. Like why? Its the only way I play through the game to avoid backtracking so its dire that the devs think their vision of someone else's creation trumps original design.
Played them as a kid and I platinumed the Trilogy. Future playthroughs will stop at 2. Yotd is just too cluttered and the extra characters are just gimmicky. Simplicity will always be king.
Commenting for the algorithm
Spyro 1 is the best of all of them. I completed it 120% twice (once on PS4 and once on switch). The only reason why I didn’t complete it more times are the flight levels. Those are horrific and sadistic, no matter how you look at it. But other than that, Spyro 1 is practically flawless. The other two games, I couldn’t even get through the story. They just suck. The worlds and world design are inferior and most of the time annoying too. And when it comes to the Reignited Trilogy, finding new dragons with creative designs was always exciting and fun. But you don’t get that in Spyro 2 and 3. Just meaningless things.
I would be great if someone could mod spyro 2/3 to play like Spyro 1 by removing all the mini games and other fluff
I love the simplicity of Spyro 1 but some of the stuff you have against the other two make no sense.
Like bosses, the point of bosses is to test your skills at the end of the world. Both takes on bosses do so differently
The backtracking is some of the least offensive I've ever played. Its like about 6 levels in RR and like once or twice for thr first three worlds in YOTD
Also, storywise, its the baby dragons magical energy that are powering the portals since the Forgotten Worlds are losing magic since the dragons left. And the orbs, its their power too
Dont worry we can skip nestor aswell now
Bro complaining that collecting eggs to unlock portals doesn’t make sense while first game literally has Gnasty freezing everyone because he was called ugly, and then for some reason wasn’t able to do it again
I mean all of the dragons you release in gnasty's gnexus are dragons you had previously released so I think he can do it again a little. It just doesn't hit dragons under 4ft tall.
@@Towerizer Why can't he refreeze them, he literally casually casted the spell while watching TV xD
@@aleksd286 he DOES refreeze dragons in his home world though....
Korok seeds are the worst collectibles ever existed!
2:33 you cant just drop that sound without warning!
hehe sounds like it worked though >=)
1:59 Thank you for telling what you need to go to each world. The first boss has an requirement too or am I wrong?
@@machr293 it does, the requirement is that you have to exit any level via the vortex. Argus even has different voice lines depending on if you free him before the requirement or after.
You're not even required to backtrack to finish the game, it's only for completion quit the bullshit. Also someone DID skip the cutscenes i see: you need dragons to access portale because dragon's magic is what powered the forgotten realm, that's why the sorceress stole the eggs othen than to make a potion of some sort i can't remember now
She wanted their power and wings to make herself immortal
@@MelancholyJoker19 yeah you're right now I remember
Awe, but the algorithm loves bullshit!
Why do the eggs power the third games portal well - its the opposite side of the world where you are needs magic by dragons to open said potals because they bring magic to the world thats why the sorcerys is a big poop hole because she wants to probably inslave or eat the dragons for there power or take there wings 🪽
Always happy to see more Spyro fans celebrating these great games, but being honest with you it doesn't feel like you thought these points through very well. The magic of the dragon eggs is explained, but you already told us you skip the cutscenes. You say the first game lets you play it in any order, shortly after explaining that there are several benchmarks of dragons, gems, and eggs. Just constructive criticism, I feel like you could think through these a little better and make sure you're not contradicting or sabotaging your own points, because I largely agree!
When I'm playing through Spyro 3 especially, there are so many mini games, skateboarding, boxing, hockey, that I just skip because they feel like they break up the flow of the gameplay. I replay the first game multiple times a year, and the others maybe once every year or two, because like you say, it's so streamlined and approachable. I miss having simple videogames where I can just switch them on, run and jump, explore, collect things, and progress through it naturally. Where I actually disagree in practice, is that I sometimes go out of my way to avoid picking up gems while playing, specifically because I want to backtrack and play the levels a second time to hunt for the missing gems. It's as close as I'll get to recapturing that feeling of exploring the levels for the first time.
doesnt change the fact that we're forced to do these levels in a linear way before unlocking the other portals in spyro 3, (and spyro 2 to a lesser extend)
in spyro 1, we can just pick and choose which levels we want to do first or last. the bosses arent mandatory either unless you wanna do a 100% run
bro doesnt actually like to play games
Yeah i feel like the added nps species were a bit unnecessary, spyro 1 is perfect imo