The classic Spyro the Dragon trilogy contains a litany of well-liked mini-games. The original sequels introduced the concept to all regular realms in order to increase the variety in stages, and to allow Spyro different movesets and gameplay styles outside of the traditional platforming.
The third entry, Spyro: Year of the Dragon, even included new characters to play as in these mini-games, offering even more variety. Overall, the series' many beloved mini-games definitely outweigh the bad ones. However, there are definitely some mini-games that are remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Magma Cone is a realm well-known for having an active volcano, as the name would imply. The land is desolate and dry, but deep underground lies an icy cave. If the player locates this area they can meet Hunter, who will challenge them to a game. If they can collect more crystal popcorn from the cracks in the ground, then Spyro's feline friend will grant him a valuable orb.
The game features two stages, and the second is where things get tricky. The popcorn appears randomly, and the player only has a small window to collect it. The camera reminds behind Spyro, making locating the crystals difficult at best. Combine this with Hunter's AI becoming surprisingly competent in the second half and fifteen points being needed to win, and the reason for this mini-game's infamy becomes apparent.
In Frozen Altars, Bartholomew the Yeti has his ball stolen by another yeti, and asks his brother Bentley to get it back. Bentley and the enemy yeti agree to a boxing match to settle the dispute. This mini-game is notoriously difficult, the controls feel rather sluggish and the opposing yeti's AI is unrelenting. This is another game that comes in two stages, with both being tricky endeavors.
The Reignited Trilogy version of this game rather mercifully lowers the difficulty, making the enemy yeti a less aggressive opponent and improving the controls. No matter which version the player attempts, they will be informed after the fact that Bartholomew actually just lent his ball to a penguin. What a waste of time.
"Trouble with the trolley" is an infamous phrase within the Spyro fanbase. Breeze Harbor's Breezebuilders are at war with the Land Blubbers, and they have hidden all of Fisher's gears along a winding track. In return for collecting them all, Fisher promises the player an orb.
The gears must all be collected in one journey, and a single crash causes a reset. Considering that the trolley drives itself and the player must switch lanes, destroy obstacles and jump over gaps with perfect timing, crashes are inevitable on first attempts. The incredibly patronizing "trouble with the trolley, eh?" is the player's reward for each failure. The sheer infamy of this mini-game grants it a place on this list, and the Reignited Trilogy even added a trophy for completing the mini-game.
Escort missions are the bane of most gamers' existence, as they wander slowly behind a helpless NPC who fumbles their way into danger at every turn. In Spooky Swamp, Shiela the Kangaroo is tasked with helping two fireflies escort bombs to cages in order to destroy them and free the dragon eggs trapped inside. The twin fireflies are practically blind and need all the help they can get.
The task places the camera above Shiela making it impossible to keep an eye on the firefly if they leave the immediate vicinity, resulting in many failures as they walk into rocks far off the beaten path. This game is also played across two parts, with the second firefly being much faster. The mini-game amounts to little more than trial and error as the player learns each AI's path. The Reignited Trilogy made this game much easier by retaining the usual camera angle, but the escort mission is still a pain.
Any player that has fully completed Spyro 2 would expect nothing other than The Alchemist to top this list. Hunter has become trapped inside stone by the Earthshapers, and The Alchemist tasks the player with escorting him through the Fracture Hills to reach and free him. The Alchemist will commonly walk right up to the Earthshapers, requiring Spyro to constantly watch him as a single hit will cause a reset. The Earthshapers are invincible, and can only be nudged out of the way by Spyro's charge attack.
When The Alchemist finally reaches Hunter to free him after what likely took many attempts, the player is informed that the second part of the challenge can only be attempted when the player has unlocked the head bash, a move obtained in the following homeworld. This is frustrating, but not the end of the world. When the player returns to Fracture Hills, however, Hunter has been re-sealed and The Alchemist must be escorted all over again. This is an already infuriating escort mission that must be repeated if the player attempted to complete the level before getting the new ability, effectively punishing them for being thorough.
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