So I was getting pretty bored at the weekend and I thought I'd go get the Playstation and the old 80s TV out of the loft. I wouldn't have long to play so I picked the best game in the box - Spyro the Dragon. I was thinking about doing a speedrun around Easter but I didn't have and still don't have a way to record it so that plan was put on ice, but I digress... Started off pretty classic in the Artisan homeworld and had no trouble on any of the home levels, not even missing out on any treasure while running around the walls of Stone Hill and not disintegrating any of the dogs before they gave treasure in Toasty. Moved on to Peace Keepers, and it was going okay until I missed out on little bits of treasure in Cliff Town and Ice Cavern which I had to run around searching for... Doctor Shemp, (best music on the game,) wasn't difficult as he failed to "watch his back..." Magic Crafters, no trouble with the druids raising those walls in Alpine Ridge, but spent more time than needed in High Caves when I couldn't seem to find one of the caves, even though it was seemingly obvious. Bashed the wizards, confronted Blowhard and moved on to the Beast Makers. No trouble with Terrace Village, and despite those awful attack frogs Misty Bog went fine too. Treetops was it's usual self, I came close to completing it without losing a life, but lost two trying to reach the far away platform with the Green Thief and the dragon Jed. Metalhead was no trouble, especially when you see the gap in the portcullis... Dream Weavers is probably the most interesting world and though I had a little trouble with the cannon I got through it and blitzed Dark Passage and Lofty Castle, then did the Super Charge early in Haunted Towers to have permanent Super Flame for the rest of the level. It was going fine until the Gnorc-adier took the red gem off the ledge with him and I had to re-enter and re-complete the level to get it... Lost one life on Jacques, over-estimating the distance I could glide after having no trouble with the fools and their platforms. The flight levels which used to be the bane of my existence were much easier and I had little trouble with them, completing Sunny Flight, Night Flight and Wild Flight first time, and Crystal Flight and Icy Flight on the second attempt. Gnorc Cove was simple and I dealt with the Gnorc Commandoes in Twilight Harbour but had to backtrack to find some red gems I missed. Gnasty himself is, as billed, "No threat", (and ugly too,) though I do enjoy the two hairpin bends in the chase. The difficult part is racing across the shrinking platforms but if you charge out of glides rather than letting them end it's no trouble. Toast the Gnorc and you're done*. The credits roll, then Magnus needs rescuing again and Gnasty's Loot opens. A rather simple final level but the ending is sublime. It was 14000 treasure and how. Your own fireworks display, and you're done. (The dragons playing basketball in the background of the following cut-scene, are quite amusing.) Credits roll and again and that was Spyro the Dragon. 120%.
