Spyro the Dragon > Year of the Dragon > Ripto's Rage The first game has the best level design, they're the most fun to explore, and it's low on gimmicks. It also has the best super charge, it is a tons of fun to control and the super charge jump-glides are awesome. They not only nerfed the supercharge in the sequel, you can not longer have long jumps/glides, but it feels a lot worse to controls being more finnicky. The only real negative is that combat is too simple and pretty much never a threat, something they worked on in the sequels.
In Ripto's Rage the levels are more varied in theming but most of them feel a lot more constrained, boxed-in. Abilities are locked being upgrades you have to buy later on and it feels really stupid to have to unlock being able to climb ladders. This is also the start of the mini games and some of them are really weak, but they're not too troublesome.
Year of the Dragon is a lot like 2, but now there are even more mini games, and many controllable side kicks with their own sections. However more effort was put into those segments than in 2 so some of them are genuinely fun like the skateboard/snowboard races, or the FPS sections. Some of them are still weak however like the kangooroo.Most levels still feel a lot smaller/constrained compared to 1, though some of them are still really fun to explore.Combat can actually be a threat now especially later on in the game.Gems are absolutely everywhere in this one and it's easy to have to spend a long time backtracking and wandering around because you missed 1 gem.
>>10875353>it's easy to have to spend a long time backtracking and wandering around because you missed 1 gem.Did we play the same game? Sparx points to gems you missed after an upgrade you get pretty early in. Also well done on posting your pics out of order.
>>10875389What do you mean early on? I went back to check the Sparx signs several times. Every time it told me to come back later, and they only opened up once I had beaten the final boss. By the time I had beaten the final boss though I already had every gem.
>>10875353>the FPS sections are fun in a Spyro gameno, sonTrue about the skateboarding, but that's about itSpyro 3 is worse than 1/2I think Insomniac even came out and said they had run out of ideas by 3
3 is a bloated mess and going for 100% in this game made me hate it. 2 was already going in that direction but it wasn't as obnoxious, good game. I enjoyed every minute of 1
>>10875396>I went back to check the Sparx signs several times.The first one unlocks when you beat the first world, the second when you beat the second world and the first Sparx level. You get the power after the second Sparx level. You can just hold off on hunting the last gems until you get it.
>>10875353replaying 3 right now after having just finished 2. it's a pleasant ride so far in to say the least (just entered midday gardens). the mini-games are not bothering as much as before and the OST sounds as fantastic as ever. the platforming is decent, but I do miss the wide open glides and charges from 1. looking forward to the fireworks factory.
>>10875587Well okay I missed that, I was sure I had tried to check them after completing each world but I guess I didn't; plus you're right it makes more sense than playing all 5 Sparx levels in a row. That would have helped, would have saved me 30mins in the boat level.
Ripto's Rage is the best because it's fun to 100% and gives a reward. Year of the Dragon had too much extra crap and minigames. I didn't play the original.
>>10876045I admit that the vacation being gameplay rather than a simple cutscene was pretty amazing
>>10876045>I didn't play the originalBruh, remedy this now
I think spyro has some of the best hub worlds of any game period. Although the ones in spyro 2 are my favorite, each game sets up them up with a unique theme. exploring a brand new home world for the first time was always one of my best memories from each game.
Everyone complains about all the characters and minigames but I actually like all of them in Spyro 3. It's not like Crash 3 where half the levels can suck my ass.
I kind of flip-flop on whether I like 1 or 2 more. 1 is short and lacks gameplay variety, but the level design is better, the lack of missions/minigames to get in the way of exploration and platforming makes it feel more focused, and the brevity is honestly kind of refreshing; there's still a generous amount of levels, and the fact that you can beat some of them before their music track even loops means there's a constant influx of new environments, one every few minutes.2 can kind of meander, and sometimes I'm not sure I like its more "cinematic" approach, with the increased cutscenes and necessity of tracking down NPCs to talk to and get objectives, but I guess 1 has plenty of cutscenes too if you actually sit through all the dragons, and most of the orb missions can be done from the get-go, usually you don't actually HAVE to talk to someone first. I genuinely like most of the missions (and I say missions instead of minigames, because there really are only a few where the controls and gameplay actually change, instead of just using Spyro's normal controls to do a task), and imo Spyro just plain doesn't feel complete without swimming.In any case, to me 3 just feels like a lesser version of 2, though that only means it's like an 8/10 instead of a 10/10. I honestly don't mind the alternate characters, but I really don't appreciate shit like the submarine, hovertank, and UFO.
replayed the trilogy recently. i think 3's minigames are way more annoying and time consuming than 2's. there's a lot more missions that feel designed around them wanting you to fail them a couple of time before getting them right. some were like that in 2 but it feels like they double downed on it. sgt byrd's missions suck and his music is whack. enemy and npc design in general feels worse. still a good game though but i find it the weakest of the bunch. best one is the first game imo. 2 is way better when you input the cheat that unlocks all skills so you don't have to backtrack.
I never see anybody mention the lightning stone mission in Hurricos when bitching about 2, on my most recent replay I was surprised how annoying that was compared to how I used to remember it. I had to run around and replace practically every one before the thieves would show up, and there was only time to kill 2 or 3 at most before having to repeat the whole process. I swear to God the last thief despawned with the rock in his hands or something, I ran around for like 8 minutes unable to find it anywhere. I didn't want to have to come back to the level just for one orb, so I jumped off the cliff to kill myself and had to restart the entire mission. Whole thing took like 15 minutes.
>>10880598yeah that one is complete dogshit. I also hate the alchemist escort mission. those two are the lowest points of spyro 2. I feel like 3 has even worse low points though. I just played through Sheila bomb the eggs escort mission and that was pretty awful, not to mention they make you do it twice. And the entirety of Lost Fleet is easily the worst level in the series for me. The multiple skateboard races (plus skill point) and endless diving in acid pools just ruin it.
>>10875346Nah, second is best. Levels are smaller but more sense, just packed with stuff, level design is great, boosted by ladders and underwater parts, worlds have more character, quests and Spyro controls are better.But first one is definitely better than 3.
>>10880686To this day, I still have problems beating the yeti race without abusing exploits.
I didn't expect so many people to get flitered by fucking Spyro, jesus so embarassing
