The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

36IStillLikeSpyro36 · Jul 16, 2019 3:35 AM

has anyone ever checked out the DS versions, or the GBA versions of the Legend of Spyro games?? they're not just ports, and they're not just "similar" games, with different graphics. like the GBA version of "The Eternal Night" isn't JUST the console version, made into a sidescroller -- there are significant differences. instead of Arborick, there's a snake boss called "Naga". instead of fighting waves of enemies at the end of elemental levels/dreams/whatever, you fight minibosses.

THIS IS SO STRANGE.

but you know what's even stranger?

THE GBA VERSIONS ARE EVEN DIFFERENT FROM THE DS VERSIONS

compare the footage of "Eternal Night" above, with this footage from the DS version.

it's a whole different experience. in the Ancient Grove for example, there's all this additional platforming that isn't in the console version. leaf platforms, structures, etc that are just... not in the other two versions! in ANB and TEN there are also these puzzles involving... mirrors and lights? that aren't in the console version. and at 1:28:48, why is Spyro fighting Volteer?!

this is so weird!
they're "basically" the same games, they tell the same stories, but they're like entirely different things!

thoughts??

oh yeah, i should note, there are only GBA versions for ANB and TEN. Dawn of the Dragon was (apparently?) never released on GBA.

Last edited by 36IStillLikeSpyro36 (Jul 16, 2019 3:39 AM)

Twingo · Jul 21, 2019 2:33 AM

I didn't even know there were TLOS games on GBA and DS

Mr. John · Jul 21, 2019 9:38 PM

First time I heard this bizzare.

MrXLink · Jul 22, 2019 8:03 PM

I found it strange that they released portable versions of TEN either way, considering that handhelds were not even close to being as powerful as their console counterparts at the time, so how could one possibly give the same experience?
I personally played TEN on the DS and it feels just like a completely different game, like it's some kind of knock-off that they just tended to brand similarly to the actual console versions of the game, and lore suddenly doesn't make as much sense anymore. Sure as heck didn't contribute to any faith in the corporate takeover I had at that point, more like a sellout on as many devices as possible which I guess is a valid strategy.

Dawn of the Dragon on DS though stayed more true to its version on the Wii though (and was more enjoyable either way), so perhaps they learned from this?

36IStillLikeSpyro36 · Jul 23, 2019 5:36 PM

36IStillLikeSpyro36 wrote:

and at 1:28:48, why is Spyro fighting Volteer?!

for the record, this is apparently the "end" of the elemental sections. instead of fighting waves of enemies OR fighting minibosses, you fight the ... rest of the dragon guardians?!

why do you do different things in all three versions?

Twingo wrote:

I didn't even know there were TLOS games on GBA and DS

i heard about the DS games, but never looked into them too much. i never heard about the GBA games either though -- that was a surprise to me, too.
i'm hoping to get the DS games for my birthday. i kind of want the GBA games, but regardless of context, i just can't quite bring myself to justify owning three versions of the same game, lol

MrX-Link wrote:

I found it strange that they released portable versions of TEN either way, considering that handhelds were not even close to being as powerful as their console counterparts at the time, so how could one possibly give the same experience?
I personally played TEN on the DS and it feels just like a completely different game, like it's some kind of knock-off that they just tended to brand similarly to the actual console versions of the game, and lore suddenly doesn't make as much sense anymore. Sure as heck didn't contribute to any faith in the corporate takeover I had at that point, more like a sellout on as many devices as possible which I guess is a valid strategy.
Dawn of the Dragon on DS though stayed more true to its version on the Wii though (and was more enjoyable either way), so perhaps they learned from this?

yeah, and like, i didn't expect them to be the exact same experience. i knew they had some sidescrolling, for example. looking at footage of the one version of ANB (can't remember which) Convexity is a sidescrolling area, instead of 3D. and that's fair enough, with the technology they had. but i didn't expect a random snake boss in TEN, or fighting the dragon guardians yikes that's just so bizarre, why change things like that?? they even change the dialogue at points. (though yeah, it is kind of a weird decision overall considering the technology they had, lol.)

36IStillLikeSpyro36 · Aug 02, 2019 1:54 AM

i got A New Beginning and Dawn of the Dragon! smile technically my birthday isn't until tomorrow but i got these a day early. really looking forward to playing these and checking out all the differences. especially since i'm a textbook TLOS fanboy and can probably recite most of these games from memory, lol.

as i play them, i may talk more about this in each game's sub-forum, instead of just posting everything here. (maybe we can even breathe a bit of life back into those sections?!)

but of course, i don't see why we can't talk about all this, in general, in this thread smile there's a LOT to talk about, it seems!

edit: also got The Eternal Night big_smile

Last edited by 36IStillLikeSpyro36 (Aug 02, 2019 3:50 PM)

Spyrofriend · Aug 06, 2019 10:49 PM

thats great to hear ISLS. let us know your thoughts after playing them.

36IStillLikeSpyro36 · Aug 07, 2019 12:54 AM

Spyrofriend wrote:

thats great to hear ISLS. let us know your thoughts after playing them.

here's the first one! https://www.spyroforum.com/viewforum.php?id=41

#1 Jul 16, 2019 3:35 AM

The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

#2 Jul 21, 2019 2:33 AM

Re: The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

#3 Jul 21, 2019 9:38 PM

Re: The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

#4 Jul 22, 2019 8:03 PM

Re: The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

#5 Jul 23, 2019 5:36 PM

Re: The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

#6 Aug 02, 2019 1:54 AM

Re: The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

#7 Aug 06, 2019 10:49 PM

Re: The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

#8 Aug 07, 2019 12:54 AM

Re: The Different Versions of the TLOS Games

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