The original Spyro is definitely the "purest" Spyro game in that it has less of the backtracking and gimmicky minigames for extra collectibles that future games would have, there's a nice simplicity in going into a level, collecting all of the gems in one run and just knowing that you're done with that level.
Because it's the first one though, there's a few things it clearly hasn't figured out yet. Namely boss battles, all of which are a total joke which usually come down to you hitting an enemy once, watching them slowly move to their designated next platform so you can hit them again and repeating until they're dead with no challenge having ever been posed whatsoever. The dragons you have to free are also obviously supposed to function as helpful tutorial-givers as well as a progression objective, but by the late game they've clearly run out of stuff to tell you so they just pop out and say shit like "yeah cheers Spyro!" and then immediately fuck off and it feels really abrupt, LOL
Future Spyro games would build out in terms of charm. They'd have NPCs who you talk to every time you enter the level and give you some background about the place and likely why it's overrun with bad guys. Spyro 2 has opening and ending cutscenes for every level, Spyro 3 has way more characters and cutscenes etc.
Lacking these things, Spyro 1 feel comparatively a bit empty? You go in, get to the end, maybe collect all the gems in a level, that's it, and like I say - towards the end the dragons aren't even saying shit to you.
It has a lot less fluff than its sequels, but honestly Spyro 2 & 3 are rare games in that I think their fluff is generally actually really good and helps make those games more charming and enjoyable. Without them, Spyro 1 feels like it's lacking something, but it's still a fundamentally enjoyable game with some fun gameplay. Harmless and unspectacular compared to its sequels.
The biggest thing Spyro 1 has going for it is some really dope level themes, both musically and artistically. This is by far the most fantastical and whimsical the series would ever get - particularly in the late game, and I kinda miss the fairytyle-style words that felt like they were really reminding you that Spyro is a dragon. Lofty Castle and Haunted Towers will forever be favourites.
Because it's the first one though, there's a few things it clearly hasn't figured out yet. Namely boss battles, all of which are a total joke which usually come down to you hitting an enemy once, watching them slowly move to their designated next platform so you can hit them again and repeating until they're dead with no challenge having ever been posed whatsoever. The dragons you have to free are also obviously supposed to function as helpful tutorial-givers as well as a progression objective, but by the late game they've clearly run out of stuff to tell you so they just pop out and say shit like "yeah cheers Spyro!" and then immediately fuck off and it feels really abrupt, LOL
Future Spyro games would build out in terms of charm. They'd have NPCs who you talk to every time you enter the level and give you some background about the place and likely why it's overrun with bad guys. Spyro 2 has opening and ending cutscenes for every level, Spyro 3 has way more characters and cutscenes etc.
Lacking these things, Spyro 1 feel comparatively a bit empty? You go in, get to the end, maybe collect all the gems in a level, that's it, and like I say - towards the end the dragons aren't even saying shit to you.
It has a lot less fluff than its sequels, but honestly Spyro 2 & 3 are rare games in that I think their fluff is generally actually really good and helps make those games more charming and enjoyable. Without them, Spyro 1 feels like it's lacking something, but it's still a fundamentally enjoyable game with some fun gameplay. Harmless and unspectacular compared to its sequels.
The biggest thing Spyro 1 has going for it is some really dope level themes, both musically and artistically. This is by far the most fantastical and whimsical the series would ever get - particularly in the late game, and I kinda miss the fairytyle-style words that felt like they were really reminding you that Spyro is a dragon. Lofty Castle and Haunted Towers will forever be favourites.