Good review! Yeah, Insomniac fell into the trap that I feel a lot of other 3D platformers suffered from back then. It has way too many non-platforming gimmicks that make it a slog to get through. Year of the Dragon's platforming is definitely a lot of fun, but I agree that all of the other fluff that pads this game can get in the way of the enjoyment. I don't want to pilot vehicles or slog through mediocre other character missions (Sheila excluded as her levels retain the core platforming). I'm guessing Insomniac wanted to advertise "variety" in this game with all the gratuitous side missions and that it wasn't the same old platforming. However, that's exactly what I want when playing a Spyro game: platforming challenges (and some light puzzles). I especially don't want to race against yetis...man, that has to be one of my least favorite challenges of the entire Spyro series! 😅
"Those swirling doors strike fear into my heart". So incredibly true! 😅 When I see those swirling doors, I can hear Christine in The Phantom of the Opera sing, "I know I can't refuse...and yet, I wish I could...Oh God, if I agree what horrors wait for me, in this [Spyro: Year of the Dragon]" 😂
Its funny because even though this game is pretty flawed and objectively I understand that the first two games are more cohesive, this one always was my favourite of the trilogy and probably always will be. Is this because its the one I played the most as a child? Probably, and I never had Spyro 1 as a kid, but I did have Ripto's Rage and this one and I would almost always choose to play this one. But you're absolutely right about it being distracted and having a lot of weird mini games that arent always enjoyable to play. I bought reignited trilogy for this game specifically, but playing through spyro 1 and 2 on it made me really fall in love with them as well. Great video as always (Also I was born in 2000 too!) EDIT: I'm surprised you think Sgt Byrd is worse than Bentley. While he kinda is ass to control, I always preferred him over the monkey and bentley personally. But your reasoning makes sense.
Been catching up on all your Spyro reviews. Great videos. You should definitely check out the Reignited trilogy. Fantastic remake and easily the definitive version.
I agree with alot of your points, great video. The random mini games are tedious. I hope the next game focuses on platforming with spyro, more challenging enemies with more expansive worlds.
Eventhough I 100% this game a couple times, I can safely say that it's just like Mario Sunshine interms of having BS missions that frustrate you. But I have to say that I'm glad that they fixes Agent 9's controls in the Reignited version where he controls kinda like Ratchet & Clank. In the original, the controls where a load of rotten ass, like the aiming is awkward (even for me since I do play 3rd person shooters)
Uh. No. The missions in Year of the Dragon is nowhere near as bad as the ones from Mario Sunshine. Only one or two I can think of are pretty bad. Like Bently's Boxing & fire bomb guidance in Spooky Swamp. But even than, there nowhere near as bad as the Chuckster levels, Pachinko and many other terrible missions in Sunshine and at least Year of the Dragon is more of an polished game than Sunshine.
Game falls in the same boat as crash 3, it’s like the game is practically identical to its prequel but with shit shoehorned in, dragging the game down and making you just wanna play the previous games.
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Good review! Yeah, Insomniac fell into the trap that I feel a lot of other 3D platformers suffered from back then. It has way too many non-platforming gimmicks that make it a slog to get through. Year of the Dragon's platforming is definitely a lot of fun, but I agree that all of the other fluff that pads this game can get in the way of the enjoyment. I don't want to pilot vehicles or slog through mediocre other character missions (Sheila excluded as her levels retain the core platforming).
I'm guessing Insomniac wanted to advertise "variety" in this game with all the gratuitous side missions and that it wasn't the same old platforming. However, that's exactly what I want when playing a Spyro game: platforming challenges (and some light puzzles). I especially don't want to race against yetis...man, that has to be one of my least favorite challenges of the entire Spyro series! 😅
Hunter is also a playable character in Spyro 3 , but only in the Speedway levels ..
"Those swirling doors strike fear into my heart". So incredibly true! 😅
When I see those swirling doors, I can hear Christine in The Phantom of the Opera sing, "I know I can't refuse...and yet, I wish I could...Oh God, if I agree what horrors wait for me, in this [Spyro: Year of the Dragon]" 😂
Its funny because even though this game is pretty flawed and objectively I understand that the first two games are more cohesive, this one always was my favourite of the trilogy and probably always will be. Is this because its the one I played the most as a child? Probably, and I never had Spyro 1 as a kid, but I did have Ripto's Rage and this one and I would almost always choose to play this one. But you're absolutely right about it being distracted and having a lot of weird mini games that arent always enjoyable to play. I bought reignited trilogy for this game specifically, but playing through spyro 1 and 2 on it made me really fall in love with them as well. Great video as always (Also I was born in 2000 too!)
EDIT: I'm surprised you think Sgt Byrd is worse than Bentley. While he kinda is ass to control, I always preferred him over the monkey and bentley personally. But your reasoning makes sense.
Been catching up on all your Spyro reviews. Great videos. You should definitely check out the Reignited trilogy. Fantastic remake and easily the definitive version.
Glad you’re enjoying them! Reignited is definitely on the way. Just got a couple more games to get through first!
I agree with alot of your points, great video. The random mini games are tedious. I hope the next game focuses on platforming with spyro, more challenging enemies with more expansive worlds.
This is why I can never understand why fans say Spyro 3 is the best.
It may be different on the reignited trilogy, but the skateboarding sections were my favourite part of the game. I really enjoyed the final race.
I hope we will Get a spyro 4🙏🏻
on god🙏
We already have Spyro 4 in home
Spyro 4 in home: Enter the Dragonfly
Eventhough I 100% this game a couple times, I can safely say that it's just like Mario Sunshine interms of having BS missions that frustrate you.
But I have to say that I'm glad that they fixes Agent 9's controls in the Reignited version where he controls kinda like Ratchet & Clank. In the original, the controls where a load of rotten ass, like the aiming is awkward (even for me since I do play 3rd person shooters)
Uh. No. The missions in Year of the Dragon is nowhere near as bad as the ones from Mario Sunshine. Only one or two I can think of are pretty bad. Like Bently's Boxing & fire bomb guidance in Spooky Swamp. But even than, there nowhere near as bad as the Chuckster levels, Pachinko and many other terrible missions in Sunshine and at least Year of the Dragon is more of an polished game than Sunshine.
Offtopic, but have you thought of reviewing some of the Rayman games?
I haven’t actually played Rayman before so I’m open to that idea. We’ll see!
Game falls in the same boat as crash 3, it’s like the game is practically identical to its prequel but with shit shoehorned in, dragging the game down and making you just wanna play the previous games.
That's a issue with most platformer threequels now that i noticed...
Sounds like the brown shirts late for the antifa rally, jeez.