Rate top gamesOther than some minor gripes with updated character designs, this is a perfect reunion with my childhood friend Spyro.
Spyro 1: Kinda linear, more like Super Mario 3D Land than Super Mario 64. Solid, but the collectibles feel largely pointless and the flight levels just aren't a great time. Fun enough game but wouldn't stand up well on its own if not for the other games in the collection.
Spyro 2: Expands the formula but ends up overcorrecting. So many collectibles are hidden behind clearing out X number of enemies from the level to open a gate or power-up. So many others are hidden behind finding the gate at the end of the linear level and then wandering finding the different collectibles. It was a good idea to move from dragon statues to two different types of collectibles, but talismans and orbs act so identically mechanically that the last level just gives up on the idea and rewards you with orbs where talismans were precious given. Boss fights are ok but go too long, thankfully there's only three.
Spyro 3: More like the original in a good way. But then they add those extra characters which are just bad. The third-person shooter monkey is the worst and introduced way too late and I just don't understand why they even bother. Using them in the bosses is a really good idea, though! For the third time, I don't understand why the "true" ending requirements are so high and so tedious. Great game buried here under the trilogy but it's kinda hidden under different parts between the whole trilogy.
Spyro 2: Expands the formula but ends up overcorrecting. So many collectibles are hidden behind clearing out X number of enemies from the level to open a gate or power-up. So many others are hidden behind finding the gate at the end of the linear level and then wandering finding the different collectibles. It was a good idea to move from dragon statues to two different types of collectibles, but talismans and orbs act so identically mechanically that the last level just gives up on the idea and rewards you with orbs where talismans were precious given. Boss fights are ok but go too long, thankfully there's only three.
Spyro 3: More like the original in a good way. But then they add those extra characters which are just bad. The third-person shooter monkey is the worst and introduced way too late and I just don't understand why they even bother. Using them in the bosses is a really good idea, though! For the third time, I don't understand why the "true" ending requirements are so high and so tedious. Great game buried here under the trilogy but it's kinda hidden under different parts between the whole trilogy.