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This little shrine is dedicated to the 1998 PS1 game Spyro the Dragon, one of my most beloved videogames of all time. I usually replay it once or twice a year; it's like meditation for me.

I love the original Spyro (more than either of the sequels) because of its unique fairytale/storybook atmosphere that I've sought but never found in any other game. The game's palettes and textures are gorgeous and make the most of the PlayStation hardware. It was the first game to change my opinion that videogames were tedious and boring!

What I love about the game

It's exactly what I want in a videogame: a lovely world to explore and hidden things to find and collect.
For a PS1 game, it's really pretty. There's no fog or popup, and it has an impressive draw distance thanks to Insomniac's skill at smoothly swapping out low and high-poly models with distance. The skyboxes are especially gorgeous.
Spyro's model is lovely - he moves elegantly and his colouring is subtle; something that's lost in the Reignited version.
The sound design and the chunky golden letters of the UI. I love them both and they go so well together.
Some of the levels have a 'how do I get over there' puzzle element to them, which i found lacking in the sequels.

What I don't like

The designs of the 'pygmy' enemies in Tree Tops and Metalhead haven't aged well! I'm glad the Reignited version changed them to gorilla-like apes.
The fairy in Misty Bog holding up the arrow sign. It's environmental storytelling for 'playtesters couldn't tell the tree stump was able to be entered'. It's funny! But I think they could have added something a bit more subtle.
Spyro's characterisation isn't great. He has generic 90s 'attitude'. As one of the developers pointed out, Spyro in this game is 'like an unfunny Bart Simpson'.
The final completion percentage is 120%, not 100%.

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