Unexpected release – popular 3D platformer worth $40 hits Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft surprised fans with an announcement on X that, starting November 12, Game Pass subscribers will have access to a remastered version of the classic PlayStation 1 3D platformer Spyro. The rights to the franchise now belong to Activision, which, in partnership with developers Toys for Bob and Iron Galaxy Studios, released the Spyro Reignited Trilogy in 2018.
Anyone who lived through the early years of the PlayStation will be very familiar with "Spyro the Dragon". Together with Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot the title is one of the very first 3D platformers. What sets "Spyro" apart from other games of its time is the open level structure, which invites you to explore freely.
The series consists of three installments, released annually between 1998 and 2000. In the first part, we have to rescue our dragon friends who have been turned into crystals by Gnasty Gnorc. In Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage, we save the magical land of Avalar from the evil wizard Ripto - and in Spyro 3: Year of the Dragon, we rescue dragon eggs, this time from an evil witch.
The gameplay promises classic platformer vibes. We jump across platforms, glide through the air and use Spyro's ability to breathe fire to defeat enemies and clear obstacles. Apart from a few new features, Spyro plays the same in all three parts. From Spyro 2 onwards, you can also swim and climb. The third installment introduced playable side characters, such as the kangaroo Sheila or the yeti Bentley.
The Reignited Trilogy is definitely worth a look for retro fans who would like to experience Spyro in a new version, or who are not yet familiar with the game. The ratings are also impressive. On Steam, where the collection costs around $40, 93 percent of almost 12,000 players have given it a positive review. On Metacritic, the trilogy has a Metascore of 82 and a user score of 8.3.
