Firefly

Game: Spyro the Dragon
System: Sony Playstation
Release date: September 10, 1998
Developed by: Insomniac Games
Published by: Sony Computer Entertainment

In the mid and later 1990s, 3D platformers ruled the earth. Titles like Super Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot, Banjo-Kazooie, Rayman 2, Donkey Kong 64 and Spyro the Dragon appeared on the two biggest consoles of the era, Nintendo 64 and Sony Playstation. Although Spyro the Dragon doesn't quite match up evenly with the best of the generation, it remains an enjoyable, fun-for-all-ages platform game with some excellent graphics, sound and play control.

Typical of its genre and time, Spyro the Dragon has a nuts and bolts storyline which serves mainly to set up the action. Gnasty Gnorc has used a magic spell to imprison all dragons in crystal; he also has transformed all the treasure of the five dragon worlds into his loyal minions. One dragon, the smallest of all, avoided being turned to crystal: Spyro. Soon Spyro accepts the mission to free the dragons from Gnasty's spell, recover the treasure (and stolen dragon eggs) and defeat Gnasty once and for all.


The five dragon worlds, each inhabited by a particular caste of dragon, are divided among several environments. Each environment has several dragons waiting to be freed, hundreds of treasure pieces and a few stolen eggs, here and there. The environments are absolutely huge and it takes Spyro a while to traverse the terrain and find all the hidden items. At his disposal are several abilities, including a flame attack, a charge attack and the ability to glide from high places. As the game progresses and the difficulty level rises, gliding is necessary to find every last hidden gem and dragon.

Mixed among the traditional platform stages of Spyro the Dragon are several timed flying stages, where Spyro has the ability to fly freely around the environment. Before time runs out, players must pass a number of obstacles: flying through rings, destroying airplanes, etc.

Spyro the Dragon can be beaten without collecting every single treasure piece, egg and frozen dragon, but if players persevere and reach 100% completion they can unlock an alternate ending.

Score: 86/100