Spyro Reignited Trilogy Review (Xbox One)

excellent
key review info
  • Game: Spyro Reignited Trilogy
  • Platform: Xbox One
  • Show system requirements
  • Reviewed on:

Today's kids may not know much about Spyro (unless if you mention that the popular Skylanders toy line is based on his stories and epic adventures), but this purple fire-spewing dragon is back with a completely new look, and he's ready to captivate a new generation of children, like he did way back in 1998.

Same story, new paint job

Let me start with a full disclosure: hearing about the remaster made me really happy, since I loved the character and the game ever since their original appearance, but I had to admit that it didn't age very well graphics-wise, since I could have probably counted the number of polygons that made up Spyro using only the fingers of my two hands.

Spyro and his tales remain as lighthearted as ever, as this interesting trilogy is nothing more than a visual remastering, along with a few changes to the voice acting.

But despite the visual overhaul, Spyro is the same full of life dragon cub, hell-bent on saving the Dragon Realms from Gnasty Gnorc, Ripto, and Sorceress, all while cracking jokes whenever he gets a breather.

Incredible graphics overhaul

Do you ever have fond memories of an old game you used to play, and then when you finally install it again, you are disappointed to see that it looked way worse and that your mind just subconsciously exaggerated due to the great moments it gave you? Well, this is the same feeling you'll get when playing Spyro's adventures, only in reverse!

While some game remasters are nothing more than an improvement of textures or a slight increase in poly-count, Spyro the dragon was built back from scratch, using the latest technology that the Unreal Engine 4 game engine had to offer. The graphics are so good that you sometimes get the feeling that you are in some animated series rather than in a game, and this is further reinforced by the cut-scenes and cinematics that don't even need to be re-rendered to be set apart.

To sum it up, it can be said that their greatest achievement is that they finally made Spyro look the way he does in the artwork.

The type of game any child (or returning adult) should grow up with

The funny moments you will enjoy, such as the dialogue or interesting character interactions will further reinforce the cartoon feeling of the game, and it will be a welcome addition to your gaming library, especially if you have a small kid or are personally tired of games that take their stories and art style way too seriously. Even the combat is nothing to be taken seriously, as hitting enemies could be defined more as "fun" rather than "brutal".

Story-wise the game is unchanged, although die-hard fans will have noticed that most characters retain their old voice actors. More so, the OST seems to have been made by the original composer of the series from 20 years ago, and those of you that love to let nostalgia take over will be thrilled to know you can switch between the games new OST and the original one.

The same old tricks you use to know will apply here.

While I can't say precisely how much I had to throw fireballs at Gnasty Gnorc until I defeated him in the old game, the encounter felt no different this time. Any old tips and tricks I used in the original games still apply here, and even the NPCs (including mobs) are right where they used to be.

Even most of the hidden treasure locations remain the same, so those of you that know the title inside and out will have a "built-in" game guide in the form of their memory.

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The same cast of characters you fell in love with

The ever-helpful Sparx is still there to act as your health bar and to munch on butterflies, while the various friends you made in the sequels, like Hunter, Elora, the professor, Zoe or the coin-grabbing Moneybags the Bear are still here, and they are all boasting the same AAA graphics as Spyro.

Of course, not everything remains the same, and the few existent changes brought to the game are in my opinion, for the better. Characters have all new and improved powers, and Spyro is no longer limited to just headbutts and spewing flames, with gameplay progression giving him access to a variety of new attacks, including freezing breath.

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Smooth gameplay

The game behaves very well, and the animations are very fluid, making the game feels even more like an interactive movie rather than a platformer, which is funny since platformer games are among the first game archetypes to have ever appeared.

Even if you don't give Spyro any command, you'll be amazed by how alive the world feels, especially in town areas where you might feel the urge to give up your quest and just meet the characters. There aren't any balance issues and the game itself is easy to complete in just a few hours, although at the end of the game you'll probably feel bad that it is over.

One thing worth mentioning about progression in the game is that you don't need to play the titles in any particular order, so if you preferred one title over the other, you can start with that one first. The problem is that some NPC interactions will make you wish you played the games in order since some of their dialogues contain references in what would supposedly be the "previous game".

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The Good

  • Great Story
  • Polished Graphics
  • Wacky cast of characters
  • Overall child-friendly experience
  • Faithful to the original trilogy

The Bad

  • A bit too short

Conclusion

Spyro and his wacky roster of friends and enemies came into our lives in 1998,  and we created fond memories with them that we hold precious even today. Well, it seems that Spyro doesn't want to be just a memory anymore and the fresh coat of paint he is boasting is meant to make him appeal to the younger generations as well.

Spyro's original adventures have been lovingly recreated in the Reignited Trilogy, so if you're ready to fire up the legends again and explore a vast and beautiful realm disguised as a fire-breathing dragon, then you simply can't miss this one.

story 8
gameplay 8
concept 9
graphics 9
audio 9
multiplayer 0
final rating 9
Editor's review
excellent
 

Spyro Gallery (19 Images)

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