Spyro the Dragon, Reignited Trilogy (Game Review)

One of the most anticipated games this years burns up the competition.

(source)

Following the awesomeness of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy the bar has been set really high so it didn't come as a surprise when Activision delayed the release of the tiny fire breathing dragon we all love.. 

Whatever about the delay the game is fantastic. It's one of the first games I had on my PS1 released all the way back in 1998 when I was 22. The main thing I loved about the game was the play-ability, compared to modern games, the controls were simple. Walk, charge, fly and blow things up. That's it. AND thankfully this hasn't changed.  

(Although I have fond memories of banging the combination of square, square, circle, x, triangle triangle etc in Soul Calibre.) 

The plot is simple ... go around to loads of different levels, collect jewels, find the dragons and release them. Fight baddies and eat fairies on the way. Throw in a bit of flying and that's it. It doesn't have to be anymore complicated than that. 

This come to my next favourite thing about the game. Nothing has changed in this either. The story hasn't changed and so far the levels are the same. I've a bit of OCD - whilst it's great fun to get to as many new Worlds as quickly as possible - I love going back, finding all the jewels and catching the little FUXXXer that has stolen the eggs and keeps laughing until you catch him. It's lovely when you reach the 100% complete. But that laugh ... aaaarrggghhhhhh.

(source by Blaria)

The Reignited Trilogy includes remakes of Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Revenge, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon, the only one annoying this is you have to download the last two games; unlike with Crash, all three games were on the disc but this isn't enough to lose sleep or rating points over. The graphics are amazing, whilst I recently played the first Spyro on my trusty PS2 a couple of weeks ago the graphics looked sooooo bad on the big screen. There are no problems with this newest version. I especially loved the way the burnt grass regenerates and it never gets old killing chickens and sheep. Lamb kebab anyone.

One of my favourite things is the puzzle solving element of trying to fly/glide to the hard to reach spots to find hidden gems and am constantly awed at the vibrant 3d graphics, particularly when you get to a high vantage point and are looking around to find those hard-to-reach treasures. Always look behind the pillar and to the left or right of a doorway you just charged through. Apparently the whole game had to be rebuilt from the ground up as Activision lost the original coding, which even though sounds a bit mad, the complete rebuild is just awesome. The nuances of the grass interacting as you run around (although a little bit annoying when it hides gems - this didn't happen in the original version), the sounds effects are cool and if you stand around too long Spyro gives out. I love the flying stages and can't wait  to reach 100% complete in them, these were always the challenging levels and now have fab graphics.

This game has so much going for it. It suits all ages and I love the idea of Dad's finally being able to best their kids in a game. As you are flying around you suddenly remember - "hang on there's a hidden corner there with some gems" and you can surprise the yung-uns with your superior knowledge. Of course, if you can't remember where those spots are there are of course multiple walk-throughs available already. Gone are the days of buying those magazines to find the solution you spent three long nights trying to figure out.

Simply put ...

Newbies to Spyro will love it, the simplicity is it's charm and adds to the addictability, some modern games are heavy and serious. This is a fun game for all the family.

Old codgers like me will love this remake and the nostalgia factor is massive, just hearing those old sound effects transports you back to playing the games 20 years ago.

It is of course a 10 out of 10 planets for me.

John The Captain Ryan

Stand-Up against bullying. #StandUp18

This week, 12th - 16th November is National Stand-Up against homophobic bullying week.

This will be a quick blog ...

90% of LGBT youth experience mental health issues with 70% feeling unsafe in school.



Check out this heartfelt video by James Mitchell TV; he talks about the relief and support he felt after opening up to his friend Steph as part of the #BetterOutThanIn campaign for LGBT youth. Taking the brave step of opening up to someone you trust is worth it.

If you are struggling to start your conversation with a family member or friend, stick one of these on the DVD player and start watching it.

I've watched them all and love them for different reasons but Love, Simon is my fave.  I've blogged a review of the book HERE 

And the movie HERE 

Anyway, that's me done for today.

Live Long and Prosper and talk to someone today...



John The Captain Ryan

#lgbt #lgbtireland #lgbtyouth #StandUp18

The unholy trinity of Peter Casey, Bigotry and the protest vote.

For me, last week's Presidential debate has brought home to roost some worrying trends in Ireland today.

 

One week after the election I just wanted to string together some thoughts. Traditionally there has always been a protest vote, that is our right as an electorate and is a valid way of public protest. Of course the best way to do this is to write an interesting message on your ballot paper - for example - "I wouldn't vote for any of these candidates if my life depended on it" - or one could write some naughty words!  

I remember seeing some of the messages on the ballot papers during the Marriage Equality Referendum, let's just say that people were very emotional. And that's fine. But this time around people registered their "protest" by voting for the lowest common denominator, the candidate that said some home truths, showing that he was willing to be a bigot and whilst people wouldn't agree with what he said (in public), during a secret ballot they were more than happy to vote for him. He latched onto the politics of hatred and fear just like Trump and Brexit and won a large percentage of the vote. Thankfully a larger percentage of the population didn't agree with him but it is still worrying result. 

If you are of a left wing train of thought you have plenty of people to vote for, Labour, Sinn Fein, Solidarity (aka Anti-Austerity Alliance), People before Profit, Workers Party and several independants. So, if you wanted to register a left wing protest vote, against the establishment you have a lot of choice.

The right wing is more limited however, if you don't want to vote for the established parties of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael (can't link) you are stuck with either Renua or the Human Dignity Alliance. These 2 protest options are frankly sucky so you then choose a candidate that politically lies to the right and says what others are afraid to say in public. 

Role in from stage left - Peter Casey. 8 weeks ago we didn't even know who the man is and now as the national airwaves are still giving him screen time (as I'm typing he is on the Late Late Show) all we can think about is whether we are a welfare state and if Travellers should be considered as Irish, nothing more or nothing less rather than a seperate ethnic group. Casey refuses to recognise them as an ethnic group.  But hang on; this is a them and us arguement of hatred and NIMBYism. And we all know where this has led both the US and Britain - yes down the road of exclusion, fear and bigotry.

Whilst the Travelling community made clear their disapproval of Peter Casey; 342,727 of the electorate agreed with what he was peddling.

(source - Irish Times)

This vote for now is only attacking a small group of people living in Ireland but where does it end. It brings to mind this ...

(Source)

It's funny in a country that has made two huge left wing liberal changes in the last 3 years - Marriage Equality and Divorce - that we support the politics of exclusion and hate. And then in contrast we vote to repeal the blasphemy laws which is another liberal thought - free speech and all that.  

It's really hard to know where we will go from here, the right wing and those who sell their opinion of exculsion and bigotry are now free to say horrible things about those of a different faith than them, so, will the next group of people to be attacked be those of a Muslim faith (all hale the great U. S of A - wow; see where I'm going with this)    

One thing is very clear, the political landscape of Ireland is changing. We can certainly take the following from the results:

a. The protest vote is becoming more dangerous and those in the traditional parties need to pay more attention to what's being said. The far left has harnessed this vote in the past, now, it's the turn of the right wing.

b. The calibre of the discussion and debate during the election was very poor leaving a vacuum that was going to be filled with horse shit.

c. Whilst on one hand we are becoming a more experienced and learned electorate, on the other hand we can be influenced by outside interests via social media and the value of the doorstep campaign is losing traction.

d. The General Election (whenever it comes) and the Local Election next May will be very interesting, maybe ... MAYBE ... we can use this as an opportunity to mobilise the youth of ireland, just like the Marriage Referendum and help make ireland a more welcoming home for all.

John The Captain Ryan