Preston Ward Condra Ranks All 101 Spyro 1-3 Levels

by Preston Ward Condra

A project I made when I was 15 years old, during my sophomore year in High School in September 2009. I critiqued and ranked every single level from Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage and Spyro 3: Year of the Dragon in, one consolidated project from worst to best. It doesn't matter if you agree with my opinion or not. All that matters, is that this ended up getting finished.

94. 9: Frozen Altars

Here we have another classic and favorite level of mine from all three Spyro PS1 games appearing high in of the countdown. Frozen Altars from Spyro 3 was a very unique, creative, original, clever and very fun of a level and one of the most entertaining I have ever played from this classic franchise thanks to in part of how it makes itself stand out unlike regular levels you see out there from the Spyro PS1 Trilogy and how everything plays out different every time you could do a level run over and over again in for Frozen Altars because of how original and large the level is. Not only does this remain as the best Ice / Snow like level out there from the series, but one of the overall best ever made in the series.

Easily the biggest highlight coming out of the gameplay that causes me on ranking Frozen Altars high in of the countdown is how unique the player is able to use it. At the very beginning of the level, a fairy grants you power with special ice breath attacks to Spyro that allow you to turn any enemy in the level to ice and as such involves you to use the ice breath ability in unique ways in order to finish the level and this includes freezing an enemy, using them as stepping stones and reaching higher like platforms to reach hard like treasure and Dragon Eggs well hidden of such with the gameplay of the level. This mechanic was very unique to say the least as it allowed more on possibilities on what the player could explore in and do of the level.

Another cool unique gameplay element that the player was able to use in for Frozen Altars unlike any other Spyro level out there was using heat ray like weapon buildings in the level to melt away ice walls and crazy snowman blocking your path down in the level. This mechanic never felt cheap or like an afterthought as it alongside with the ice breath attacks you could use on the level added even more on making the level super unique and original more on gameplay mechanics on the player could and could not do in the level.

So from the unique style, presentation and gameplay going in for Frozen Altars definitely has this level ranked high in of the countdown and one of the best out there from all of the games in the series. Frozen Altars remains as one of my favorite levels out there from the series, earns a placement in my heart as like other Spyro left to rank in the countdown, are levels that are some of the most enjoyable moments I have played from gaming so far in my life. Amazing level overall and as such earns the placement it deserves for being ranked in as my #9 favorite Spyro PS1 level ever made in of the countdown.