Insomniac Games is a video game company that has become synonymous with the Playstation consoles of each generation. They have created several Iconic video game franchises such as Ratchet & Clank and Resistance. Recently, they have become most well known today for their take on the web-slinging hero himself, Spider-Man. Before all those games, one franchise was a significant success in Insomniac’s early years, and that would be none other than Spyro the Dragon. After Insomniac’s critically acclaimed but commercial failure, Disruptor, the Insomniac team created a game that would appeal to younger games as much as it did to older gamers. The famous purple dragon was born, and Spyro became a gaming icon alongside Naughty Dog’s Crash Bandicoot. Although the Spyro Franchise would leave Insomniac to be sold to other gaming companies, there is no doubt that this first game is fascinating and holds up very well despite its problems.
When a TV Interview of some of the eldest and wisest dragons catches the attention of Gnasty Gnorc, who was banished from the dragon kingdom. Gnorc overhears the dragons calling him names, leading Gnorc to attack the kingdom and freeze the Dragons in crystal shells. When a young purple dragon named Spyro sees all the chaos happening right before him, he, along with his dragonfly companion Sparx, must travel to different lands to free the trapped dragons while also getting steps closer to putting an end to Gnasty Gnorc and his minions.
The Story is not complex or profound, but it doesn’t need to be for a game like this. The game’s storytelling tone is very laidback and cute, which is appropriate since the game is about a young purple dragon. The good thing is that it's not immature or forces pop culture references like a bad DreamWorks film. There is a straightforward goal and a villain to beat while traveling through different realms; you can’t get much simpler than that. The story remains as timeless as ever, even if the gameplay and graphics for the time might be lacking.
The Characters, like the story, are cute and enjoyable. None of the Dragons except Spyro himself get many chances to be well-developed or have many speaking lines because Spyro will only interact with the other dragons once he has freed them from their prison. On the plus side, the other dragons, though their time is short, do have funny or sometimes helpful interactions that will further help Spyro on his quest. Spyro himself is very cocky and sure of himself but in a mellow and cute way seeing as he still is a young dragon. Even Gnasty Gnorc, while only having a few speaking lines, makes an impression as a whiney but still intimidating main antagonist. These characters are simple and straightforward; almost anyone can understand them regardless of age, making the game more memorable.
The Gameplay is easy to understand but allows the player to let loose and experiment with completing tasks, defeating enemies, and navigating open-world platforming sections. Spyro’s companion Sparx acts as a health meter he’ll change color anytime Spyro gets hit; if Spyro gets hit without Sparx he’ll lose a life, and if Spyro loses all his lives, it’s game over. Thankfully, Spyro can gain more health by fire-breathing particular small creatures that produce butterflies for Sprax to feed on. Spyro has three simple moves: breathing fire, Charging, and Gliding. Many enemies you will encounter will require you to either Charge or Breathe fire to take them out in just one hit. Gliding, on the other hand, helps the player to get across platforming gaps and even glide off of high points of any given level to reach hidden areas. There are even different uses for the powers mentioned, such as charging down specific slopes to jump off ramps and reach farther places in a given world. Of course, the primary mission is to release many elder dragons from their stone prison on many levels and even hub worlds. Still, the game allows the player to complete other side missions, such as collecting all the gems in any given area, stopping thieves from getting away with precious dragon eggs, and even certain levels where Spyro can fly through rings and pulverize objects to win more gems. Spyro will need to collect as many imprisoned dragons as possible to have the balloonist take Spyro to travel to other hub worlds in the game until he finally arrives at Gnasty Gnorcs lair. Every dragon the player saves will unlock a checkpoint that can act as a save point to save the game’s progress. The game is simple for most casual players to beat. On the other hand, the completionists will also enjoy the challenge of collecting every single item in the game to unlock special surprises. It may have been the first game, but the simple controls and open-world exploration were just a blast. I am looking forward to seeing how Spyro’s sequels would improve upon what the gameplay in this game started.
The Graphics may look dated, given the time period, but the colors and design of the levels still make this game engaging and visually pleasing. Everything in this game has a colorful, fantastical feel, and the number of bright and vibrant colors at any given level makes levels stand out and sets the mood for the entire playthrough. Expect to travel through lush landscapes, towering castles, scorching deserts, and much more. The player doesn’t spend too much time in one place, which is great cause the game always keeps them interested to see what three-dimensional open lands will have in store for them. The character designs look pretty good for the time. Spyro is cute and petite but also shows signs of heroism and bravery. The rest of the elder dragons can vary in design choices; some of them admittedly look copied and pasted, but each does have specific body poses to make a decent impression when Spyro releases them. The enemies also have incredible variation, and even similar-looking enemies have many unique features that help them stand out. These graphics are fun and colorful, even if the low poly designs might be a turnoff for players looking for more polished-looking visuals.
The Music was composed by Stewart Copeland, who, fun fact, was formally the drummer for the British band The Police. After getting glimpses ot the game’s visuale during production, Copeland wrote the music around what he had been shown. Every level a player visits would have a different song. It's pretty outstanding how the music came to be because it is iconic and even catchy sometimes. It's also straightforward, and it never tries too hard to be anything that it's not. Most of the tracks are very playful but also mellow. It's a fun track to listen to when playing, and the tunes never get old, no matter how many times I listen to them.
Spyro the Dragon is charming and cute, and it allows players to explore a fantastical world brimming with life and color. While the graphics may look a bit rough around the edges due to technical limitations, and the stiff controls and camera work may make the game a bit tedious at times, this short and small game makes the best of everything it got to keep younger players engaged and also provide completion challenges perfect for more experienced players. The reignited trilogy version of this game, released for multiple modern-day consoles, fixes a lot of the issues present in this game. Still, playing the first incarnation made by the brilliant team at Insomniac Games was quite a joy. The gaming company would eventually move on to create games that are even bigger and arguably bolder than those presented in Spyro the Dragon. However, this game still kicks butt years later. Spyro would see many reincarnations in the years that followed, but what Insomniac did with Spyro is what propelled him to be a gaming icon in the first place.
(Final Grade: A-)