A hero is born...

In an age and time when RPGs cloud the game universe, it’s hard to find a fun game to just sit down and enjoy as a game, not worrying about the storyline or character development. That's why this is a marvel... that even after 8 years, Spyro the Dragon still hasn't lost its virtue. Released back in 1998, Spyro the Dragon was, and still is, one of the most unique games to hit the PSX. With its comical characters, lush, colorful worlds, and such ease of movement, Spyro is just plain fun. And at a first look, one might see it as geared toward kids, but delve into the game and a whole different world will unfold - a world of Dragons, Fairies, Jesters, Wizards, and Hot Air Balloons. The controls are simple, and the basic concept of the game is pretty straight forward as well. Run around, free Dragons, have fun. One would think that might have quite a boring flare to it, but no... it is far from that. Each world is its own, and doesn't fail to disappoint. Just be prepared, for the world of Spyro the Dragon is a classic at its finest.

Story: 5/5
The story starts out in a peaceful meadow of the Dragon Realm, where all the Dragons are relaxing and enjoying their day. Infact, they seem to be making a video, with someone calling out "Rolling!" But soon, the topic turns to Gnasty Gnorc, an evil beast that was banished from the Realm somewhere in the midst of time. The Dragons insult him, calling him ugly, saying he is no threat to the Dragon Kingdom at all. Gnasty Gnorc hears this, and is immediately appalled. He is so enraged that he turns all the dragons to Crystal. Well, almost all of them. Spyro, the smallest of the Dragons, managed to escape the Crystallizing, ducking his head just in time. This being said, it is up to Spyro to free all the dragons from their Crystal form. And this is the plot throughout the whole game. Not complex, and maybe not the most original, but it fits into the game quite well.

Gameplay: 5/5
The gameplay, itself, was intended to be enjoyable and fun, and it accomplished that goal 100 percent. You control Spyro, and your goal is to free all the Dragons in the Realm. All you have to do is go up and touch them, not hard at all. The enemies, for the most part, don't pose any threat. Even towards the end, just using common sense will lead you through almost any level unscathed. However, the difficulty of these enemies/bosses doesn't really detract from the game, as it lets the gamer focus more on the adventuring aspect, rather than killing mindless enemies. Infact, a good portion of the gameplay will be spent searching around, trying to collect gems in order to advance. And trying to find these gems throughout the worlds is definitely not a chore, as the ease of controlling Spyro makes it that much more fun. At first it may seem that searching is a big part of this game, as you also have to free the Dragons. But with the levels not being too complex, the Dragons and Gems are more likely to fall in your path, without making you go too far out of your way. The overall experience of the gameplay is definitely a positive one, with the levels not being too frustrating, and the game creating a colorful, enjoyable atmosphere to play in.

However, Spyro is not limited to just collecting treasure. He has a few moves up his sleeve as well, and they work perfectly. A great, almost necessary, maneuver that the developers added would be the charge. While walking at anytime, press the Square button and Spyro will charge. It definitely helps in getting to places quicker, and chasing down those pesky Thieves. Also, Spyro, being the Dragon that he is, can shoot fire out of his mouth. Press the 'O' button at anytime to make this work; it's a great tool for enemies.

Music/voices: 5/5
I actually created my own soundtrack for this game, the music was so inspiring. Such a variety of music... each piece fits the moment. The sound quality is great, of course, since we left the 32-bit era behind, and the orchestrated tunes are greatly welcomed. From the very beginning of the game, the music draws you in with its light, playful touch. And especially when you reach the later worlds, the music is just incredible, makes you want to keep playing just to hear more tunes. And I say that with every bit of truth, being that the very last level, after completing 100%, was probably some of the best music of the game. Stewart Copeland brought Spyro home, creating an amazing soundtrack. It's a shame they never released an actual one in stores, because I would be the first one to buy it. And, of course, I can't forget about the voices... there are around 80 dragons, and each have something unique to say to Spyro, whether it be tips for enemies or something comical to make the player laugh. And sometimes, Spyro will snap back with a witty comment as well. Keeps the player from getting too bored, and is a welcome enjoyment to the game.

Graphics: 5/5
So to say, Spyro really can't compete with today's games in terms of graphics. But for the PSX, the graphics are flawless. Well... almost. I can say there are a few times I got stuck in a wall, but that is a rare occasion. The characters and landscapes, even the enemies, are uniquely designed, and make up for their lack of realism. I can't really praise the heavens for the graphics, but they are enough to make the game enjoyable, to say the least. The sky looked like sky, and the grass looked like, well... grass, albeit with consideration that they are polygons. And, another addition... the game does have its interactive moments, with such things like the flowers and cactuses, actually burning when you torch them, and objects squeaking when you run into them. And overall, the designers pulled it off, perfectly, for gliding Spyro along through the worlds could not be more fun. It was a brilliant start to an even more brilliant era.

Overall: 5/5
Spyro the Dragon is a classic... a classic to be looked back on for years to come. Why? Because it was such a unique experience, and even today, no game has even come close to duplicating it. The soundtrack, the characters, the voicings... everything was captured perfectly into this one game. And even after the fifth time, it still stands up to even some of the bigger platform games 8 years later. It is nothing less than an enjoyable experience, with nothing too challenging about it, but nothing too easy, either. And being such an inspiring game, Spyro has become a mascot of the Playstation and still lives on today, flying and gliding around on the DS and PS2. However, no matter how much the cost, or how great the music, the experience of the original Spyro the Dragon can not be replicated, and is great if you're looking for a down to earth, fun game, or if you haven't yet seen the game that started it all.