Game comparison · NexWave Games
Which Spyro game on PS1 should you play first?
Climb a hill, look for those last gems and glide towards a platform further away: Spyro encourages exploring. PlayStation 1 received three original adventures starring the purple dragon. You can start with the first, but a later instalment can also introduce the series. The main differences concern the tasks, abilities and variety you encounter along the way.
Spyro the Dragon: learning the basics
In Spyro the Dragon, you free dragons and collect items including gems. You explore worlds, discover passages and learn how far you can glide. Movement, breathing fire and attacking provide the foundation. That makes the first game a logical introduction if you like investigating your surroundings and gradually learning how Spyro moves through a level. You do not need to know a long series of earlier games.
The clear structure does not mean you will find everything immediately. Searching for the last objects or a less obvious route can take time. If you enjoy revisiting a level after thinking you have finished, that suits this game’s approach. If varied tasks are especially important to you, look at the sequels too. Your own preference for exploring matters more than simply choosing the oldest entry.
Spyro 2 and Year of the Dragon
Spyro 2 adds more encounters with characters and more tasks. You also learn abilities that open new possibilities, sometimes returning to familiar locations with another goal. The European title is Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer; in North America it is called Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage! These are names for the same second adventure, but still check the actual language and release of an offered copy.
Spyro: Year of the Dragon centres partly on recovering dragon eggs. Besides Spyro, you play certain sections with other characters, each moving and attacking differently. This provides more variety, but means not every activity feels exactly like a standard Spyro level. Several playable characters do not automatically make it an adventure for simultaneous multiplayer. Choose it mainly if that variety within a solo adventure appeals to you.
Choose the correct original release
If you want to learn the series’ foundations, start with Spyro the Dragon. If tasks and new abilities appeal, consider Spyro 2. If you want different characters and a wider range of activities, compare Year of the Dragon. A short video of the original PS1 game can help. Do not rely solely on footage from Spyro Reignited Trilogy: that collection remakes the adventures for later systems.
When buying, check the title and platform on the disc and ask whether it starts properly. Examine your controller too: precise movement and gliding require dependable buttons and controls. Arrange a compatible memory card so you can save progress and load it again. One tidy, tested release you want to return to is a better first step than buying three games without knowing which style appeals most.