8 /10 22

Spyro Reignited Trilogy represents one of gaming’s most successful nostalgia projects, rebuilding three PS1-era platformers with contemporary visuals while preserving the whimsical adventure spirit that defined the originals. Toys for Bob’s approach prioritizes authenticity over innovation, maintaining core level design from 1998-2000 releases while updating controls and camera systems for modern player expectations. Critics universally praised the visual overhaul and character personality upgrades, with minor complaints directed at occasionally dated mechanics and a 30fps performance cap on certain platforms. This review evaluates whether the remaster justifies a $40 price point, examines how well these games have aged mechanically, and identifies the target audience beyond pure nostalgia seekers.

How to Play Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Gameplay centers on exploration-based platforming across colorful hub worlds connected to challenging levels. Spyro collects treasure chests, rescues dragon friends, and masters elemental breath attacks that gradually unlock through progression. The trilogy alternates between pure platforming focus in the first game and increasingly elaborate side activities in later entries.

1. Controls – Standard dual-stick camera control with jump, hover-glide, and elemental breath mapped to face buttons; learning curve minimal for modern players accustomed to 3D platformers
2. Progression – Complete hub worlds by collecting treasure and defeating enemies, unlocking paths to new areas; nonlinear progression allows player choice in level order
3. Combat/Mechanics – Charge attacks with directional horn thrust, flame breath for ranged damage, and special power-ups for temporary invincibility; puzzle-solving integrates elemental abilities
4. Tips – Hover-gliding jump extensions reach distant platforms; experiment with all elemental abilities to uncover secret areas; early game introduces mechanics gradually without overwhelming newcomers

Who Should Play Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Nostalgic millennials who grew up with original PlayStation installations will find immediate appeal, though newcomers benefit from accessible difficulty scaling and forgiving combat. The trilogy balances casual collectathon gaming with genuine platforming challenges for players seeking relaxation between demanding releases.

• Nostalgia Seekers – Exact recreation of childhood experiences with enhanced visuals; immediately recognizable worlds and characters trigger warm memories
• Platformer Fans – Solid level design and challenge pacing caters to genre enthusiasts; collectible-driven gameplay rewards exploration without punishing missed items
• Completionists – 28-hour 100% completion target with trophy challenges and character unlock galleries appeals to achievement hunters seeking relaxing content
• Skip if – You expect gameplay innovation over faithful restoration, want challenging modern platformers like Celeste or Hollow Knight, or despise slowdown from collectible hunting

Spyro Reignited Trilogy Platform Performance

Performance varies dramatically across platforms with PlayStation enjoying 60fps capability while PC and Switch compromise for visual fidelity. Resolution targets demonstrate developer commitment to pretty visuals over maximum framerate, a philosophically sound choice for a relaxing collectathon.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy System Requirements

PC version accommodates older hardware surprisingly well, with minimum specifications from 2012-era budget components still achieving acceptable framerates. The 40GB install size suggests asset-heavy design philosophy prioritizing visual quality. Windows 7 compatibility provides accessibility for users resistant to Windows 10 upgrades, though modern driver support becomes problematic for aging operating systems.

Similar Games to Spyro Reignited Trilogy

3D collectathon platformers with colorful aesthetics and exploration-focused progression share mechanical DNA with Spyro Reignited. These alternatives target similar audiences seeking relaxing challenges and vibrant worlds.

• Crash N. Sane Trilogy – Parallel remaster project with similar visual polish; heavier emphasis on precise platforming challenges than Spyro’s exploration focus
• Ratchet and Clank – Modern action-adventure with similar third-person camera and character personality; significantly more combat-oriented gameplay
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Accessible Nintendo platformer with collectibles and exploration; designed for younger audiences than original Spyro trilogy
• Super Mario 64 – Spiritual predecessor establishing 3D collectathon template; more intricate level design than Spyro but less tutorial-friendly

Spyro Reignited Trilogy vs Competitors

Competitive positioning emphasizes value proposition through three complete games at $40 retail, undercutting comparable single-title releases. Mechanical simplicity and relaxation focus differentiate from action-heavy alternatives requiring constant reflexes.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy Story and World

Narrative minimalism characterizes all three games, with protagonist Spyro rescuing elder dragons and thwarting villainous schemes across fantastical kingdoms. Story substance takes backseat to world exploration and character personality quirks that Toys for Bob meaningfully expanded with exaggerated animations and vocal performances. Each game presents tonally distinct settings—the first game’s medieval fantasy kingdoms contrast sharply with the second game’s contemporary themes, while the third game explores alien worlds and prehistoric domains. This diversity maintains player engagement across 28-hour playthroughs despite relatively simple core plots. Voice acting improvements elevate character charm, particularly Sparx’s comedic companion banter and elder dragon personalities enhanced through updated dialogue recording and facial animation work.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy Multiplayer and Online

Spyro Reignited prioritizes single-player adventure exclusively with no competitive or cooperative multiplayer modes. This design choice differs from original PS1 games which featured rudimentary two-player content, representing a deliberate sacrifice for campaign depth.

• Single-Player Campaign – Three complete games playable solo; no branching multiplayer options
• Local Multiplayer – Completely absent; original versions featured basic two-player modes not included in remaster
• Online Features – No online connectivity, leaderboards, or social integration
• No Co-op – Full campaign unplayable with second controller; design prioritizes single-player experience

Spyro Reignited Trilogy DLC and Expansions

Post-launch content strategy remains virtually nonexistent, with Toys for Bob providing no character packs, cosmetic upgrades, or story expansions after initial November 2018 release. This bare-bones approach prioritizes consumer goodwill through no aggressive monetization.

• No Character DLC – Zero cosmetic character skins or alternate costumes released across seven years
• No Story Expansions – No additional worlds, levels, or campaign content added post-launch
• Season Pass – Never offered; no planned post-game monetization strategy announced
• Free Updates – Occasional stability patches; no significant content additions beyond bug fixes

Spyro Reignited Trilogy Community and Support

Community discussions congregate around speedrunning strategies, 100% completion techniques, and nostalgic memory sharing across Reddit and YouTube. Official developer support has essentially ceased following post-launch patch cycle conclusion, though community enthusiasm sustains engagement through content creation.

• Official Support – Activision customer service handles account issues; minimal ongoing development communication
• Community Spaces – r/Spyro subreddit hosts active discussion; YouTube content creators regularly stream completionist playthroughs
• No Mod Support – PC version lacks native modding tools; community modifications limited to data mining and texture replacements
• Developer Activity – Toys for Bob has transitioned focus to other projects; Spyro updates ceased in 2019