Spyro: Reignited Trilogy

While not as complex as today's games, and the enhanced visuals don't match today's best 3D running and jumping adventures, these three classic games nonetheless manage to stand the test of time. Spyro: Reignited Trilogy's action remains instantly compelling. Slightly dizzying camera movement aside (thankfully, you can switch between active and passive camera modes in the menu), controlling Spyro as he runs, leaps, glides, shoots flames, and head butts enemies through a variety of imaginatively designed levels still feels great. And collecting items, discovering places, and unlocking new abilities provides all the reason necessary to see all three games through to their respective conclusions. The plot still barely exists beyond some amusing little interactions between characters (which basically develop personalities instead of a cohesive story), but if we started analyzing the simplistic tales of decades-old 3D adventures, then even classic games wouldn't escape criticism.

Whether today's kids will be satisfied by these older games is an open question, but anyone interested in understanding the evolution of a classic series is in for a treat. Though these games launched over a short time -- just three years -- they quickly progressed in design, growing longer, less repetitive, and more complex. More memorable non-player characters are introduced in the second and third games, unexpected yet satisfying challenges -- like skateboarding -- are added, and Spyro learns useful new abilities, such as how to hover and climb. This anthology shows how the talented designers at Insomniac Games -- who would later go on to create the blockbuster Ratchet & Clank games, and, more recently, Marvel's Spider-Man -- cut their teeth before eventually becoming recognized masters of 3D action/adventure games. Spyro: Reignited Trilogy is an easy recommendation for any family who counts among its members players with an appreciation of not only today's games, but the history of the medium.