I was around six years old when I was first introduced to the little purple gaming hero the world knows as Spyro the Dragon, and my love for him hasn't waned in the 20 years that have passed by since then. So, whilst the Spyro Reignited Trilogy has been out for a few weeks now, I've still not had enough of the little guy. His adventures are as addictive as they always were, but now with an entirely new paint job from the ground up, and major graphical overhaul, you'll get the gaming experience you always deserved.
As the title suggests, you're able to jump right into all three of the original Spyro games, in whichever order you desire. For the best results, you'll want to of course play through them chronologically; this may be a mystical world far away from our own, but there IS a linear narrative to be followed! For those who may also need to brush up on their skills, the first game is without a doubt the easiest, whilst the second and third at times deliver a real challenge.
99% of the gameplay remains the same (which means all of that ridiculous dialogue and voice work is still front-and-centre), but the addition of Skill Points (which originally came in the second Spyro title) in the first title is something entirely new. It adds another layer of excitement for completionists, encouraging you to return to levels time and time again in a bid to unlock all of the concept art that's up for grabs.
And what a beautiful job the art team have done in bringing this world to life once more. Every bit of landscape is something you'll want to discover, as bland and block-shaped scenery is turned into some of the best-looking of 2018. It's inviting and eye-catching, and extremely encouraging if there's any chance of an entirely new Spyro adventure in the near future.
Camera angles and controls remain a tad frustrating at times. If you're speeding round a level, perhaps after an egg thief, it can take a couple of seconds for the camera to catch up and for your inputted controls to be recognised. You also have to remember to be extremely precise at times, when jumping from one ledge to another, as the tiniest millimetre to the left or right could see you fall to the ground and have to start your ascent all over again.
Aside from the lack of subtitles however, these are minor groans, and actually for the most part exactly what brought an extra bit of charm to the franchise all those years ago.
Though not yet available on Nintendo Switch, we imagine that the title will eventually make its way to the console, and the colours will pop even more than before, as was the case with the critically-acclaimed Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One and the Xbox One X. Female First reviewed the game on Xbox One.