| INFO | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Platform |
| Platform |  |
| Release date | 1998-09-09 |
Where do I begin? Maybe with the conclusion: it's great, go play it. Gosh, do I really need to explain it by writing some paragraphs? You won't take my word for it, will you?
(Sigh...)
Where would you go looking if I told you to find some of the best 3D platform games for children in the fifth generation of consoles? The N64 catalog would be my bet. That joystick, those fast, cute, and colorful graphics with Gouraud shading and little texturing, those family-friendly IPs. It had Super Mario 64 as a launch title! What else could you need?
Well, you'd be missing out on this flaming jewel. I enjoyed it as a kid and, when a few years ago I decided it was time to pay another visit to the Dragon Kingdom, I was actually afraid that it wouldn't live up to my nostalgia. Thankfully, I was wrong. So wrong that I took the effort to collect and unlock absolutely everything, and I must say that I really HATE the games with such mechanics (just wait until I write my review of Banjo-Kazooie, yeah).
The game is fun. And it's fun because it's uncomplicated. You won't find brain teasers or hellish platforming here. Apart from one or two jumps and the final boss (and well, a bonus level in particular) everything will be smooth and straightforward. Too easy actually, maybe, so that makes it the perfect entertainment for your little brothers. Some games do their consoles a disservice, but this is quite the opposite.
The first thing that strikes your eye, though, is how beautiful it is. The work of Insomniac Games is commendable; those "wobbly" PSX graphics never looked better. The worlds are full of life and color and feel dream-like. The drawing distance is a true feat, mainly thanks to a genius level of detail (LOD) system, one of the first to be seen on Sony's veteran gray box. The particles, the models, the HUD that only appears when it's necessary also aim for top scores. Anything else? Oh yeah, the loading times. Not only are they short, they've been disguised with sequences of our dragon hero entering a portal and flying the skies. They help a lot with keeping the illusion of a non-stop adventure.
Spyro's controls are responsive and in a short time you'll have him breathing fire, gliding or ramming head-on. The camera can be moved with the triggers but most of the time it follows you around without problems. Most of your playtime will be spent rescuing our dragon pals (who have been turned into statues by a spell) and gathering gems. Doing so will require exploring every corner of the levels, nothing too difficult if you've got attention to detail. Patience is optional here, most locations will be ransacked before you even realize it. "Just one dragon more! Oh wait, is it over already?"
The world is divided in realms, each one with its own thematic ambiance. When you're finished with one, it's time to use the services of the balloonist to travel to another. Getting the "true" ending requires achieving 100% completion, but if I could do it, you'll be able to as well.
So, quick and easy gameplay, yet rewarding. Cute levels and characters, nice graphics. Crash Bandicoot should learn from this one. No multiplayer of any kind, right. But who needs that?
Playing
- Buy it second-hand, or use
an emulator. - There is a 2018 remaster of the whole trilogy available for several platforms, including PC. Haven't played it yet.