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For many PlayStation gamers, Spyro is an iconic staple of the platform. Much like Bandicoot Crash, the purple dragon defined when they were switching from pixels to polygons. In fact, Insomniac was one of the first developers to really begin with the idea of immersive 3D open-world games, setting the stage for PlayStation exclusive like Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, and Ratchet and Clank to follow. Even Insomniac's most recent work, Marvel's Spider-Man, can be traced back to the studio's roots in developing Spyro the Dragon 20 years earlier.
Toys for Bob is no stranger to Spyro The Playstation icon SkylandersThis studio of passionate developers and fans was eventually able to reignite the flames of nostalgia in a big way. Spyro Reignited Trilogy collects the original three PlayStation games-Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon-Into one massive package. Not content with simply remastering those games, Toys for Bob took care of, rebuilding each one from the ground up. They did so with accuracy, not only for content, but also for memories.
Nostalgia can be a tricky thing. Memory is often tied to many things, most of the time we are remembering. Memory is a state of being in the moment, and while it plays Spyro the Dragon may come from a number of places. I remember my very first memory of the game. It was on a demo disc. I was 10-years old, had just moved to a new place, and did not have any friends except this little gray box. I replayed the opening Spyro countless times, and when I finally got my hands on the full game, I knew how to complete the introductory moments instinctively.
Not only was Spyro the Dragon cutting edge at the time it came out, but it played a special role in my own life, which is why I look back so fondly on the series. Toys for Bob may not be able to recreate those specific memories, but they tuned each Spyro game to feel completely modern and right at home. Levels are updated to account for our imaginations that filled in the gaps created by limited technology. Where are you going to be in the world of toys, collectibles, Toys for Bob reimagined the aesthetics of every corner Spyro's universe.
In that way, Toys for Bob perfectly captured the insomniac had made it with today's hardware. I was not going crazy and I was not going crazy. Original Spyro, while a long time ago, was looking pretty dated. Not only does the Spyro Reignited Trilogy amazing look, it feels great to play. I have not played the original in over 10 years now, but I can not imagine that my nostalgia is letting me clearly see the flaws. Fortunately, Toys for Bob smoothed everything over, making the games play just like I remember them, even if it's not a one-to-one recreation of exactly how they played on the PS1. I've had two decades of gaming between then and now. I'll take a fresh update on clumsy authenticity any day.
Remembering Spyro
The moment I spawned into that opening level Spyro the Dragon, a flood of feelings came rushing back. I remembered that grassy little arena that the portals to other levels. I remembered that crystal dragon that became Nestor. I remembered my little purple buddy who had been my friend through a pretty lonely time. I'm playing Spyro in a very different place now, 20 years later, and it reminded me of how far I had come. And at the same time, it allowed me to begin creating new memories. I'm in the middle of selling my first house Spyro for those moments in between cleaning and packing. I'm sure another 20 years on, I'll look back fondly on this period Spyro memories.
Untitled. Toys Toys Toys,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Toys Toys Toys Toys In this way, the whole trilogy does feel like a complete and whole experience, but it does serve to highlight the differences in them too. The first game, for example, barely has any real story or character development, which has been remedied in the follow ups. In the first game, Spyro can barely touch water without having his eyes sparkling. The first game is also missing some other moves that Spyro gets access to later games.
It was not about which of the three games I was playing though, my collector's brain went into overdrive. I had to neurotically collect every single collectible and 100% each level before moving on to the next. I had to get every point and explore every single corner of the map. If that gem counter read 398/400. I would have spent a long time in the future, but I would have spent some time in the dark renting. Long before the trophies came and took over my life Spyro, and I was more than happy to do it all over again.
Sounds Like Dragons
Of particular note is the soundtrack, an ever-changing series of songs individualized to each level. Sound is drilled into memory in a bigger way then visuals, but nostalgia still takes over and fills in those gaps. Tea Reignited soundtrack. I am disappointed with each other. The game gives you the ability to switch between the original songs and the Reignited soundtrack, which is fun to play around even if it's cumbersome to access.
Swapping the soundtrack means pausing the game, going to Options, then Audio, down one, then X to switch between the two. Then you have to go back again. I would have loved to be touchpad, allowing the soundtrack to be switched at any time. While the option is entertaining at first, it can be used as a tool to compare the two audio samples. At some point, most players will just decide on the original Stewart Copeland soundtrack or the new Reignited soundtrack and stick with it. I settled on the new Reignited soundtrack with Dynamic audio, which makes each level feel more alive and immersive.
Toys for Bob also went through and recorded all of the dialogue again, using Spyro 2 and 3's Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants) for Spyro's voice in all three games this time. Each character was voided by their original actor where possible, providing an authenticity that would have diminished their ability to succeed with different actors. In the original games, which is the foundation of these blocky characters, allowing them to emote and have personality. While graphics and animation may be a lot better now, it was still important to get those voice lines right.
It's not just the voices or those newly defined environments that bring the worlds to life though. At the heart of it all is the redesigned characters, from the lowly fodder that Spyro fries up to his fire, to Spyro and Sparx themselves. In some cases, Toys for Bob had to use a bit of imagination to extract a character, but they always nailed it. Each dragon in the first game tells a story just in their appearance, even if they only show up for a few brief moments. Sparx-Spyro's Dragonfly is a lot more than just a stick with wings. In most cases, I felt like the studio somehow got right into my head and plucked from my imagination.
Many video games do not age well, but Spyro Reignited Trilogy feels like the game did not age at all. Toys for Bob Applied the fountain of youth to a 20-year old series, and the little purple dragon is just as perky and fired up as ever. Two decades is enough time for a beloved classic to lose its magic. Toys for Bob, who's been here for a while, reigniting nostalgia and memory while making the series feel right at home. Whether you're hopping back in the background or the memories of Spyro or taking flight for the first time, Spyro Reignited Trilogy has a charm that will allow everyone to create new memories with this gaming icon.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy review code provided by publisher. Version 1.02 reviewed on a standard PS4. For more information on scoring please see our Review Policy.
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